Sol's Culture Wars

Consider for a moment how there is an intrinsic encouragement to spend more and more time online. However, the ubiquitous and pervasive exposure to today's social media platforms makes it increasingly difficult to differentiate between reality and pure fantasy. Fake fame is real. The technical anonymity of the Internet is such that impressions of nearly anything can be created. It's only too easy to mechanically fake something's popularity, as measured by clicks, likes, shares, comments, and other activity. Bots- fake, automated accounts, can be easily generated by the hundreds of thousands towards any interest, promotion, product, person, or cause. The programmed bots react and multiply, thereby making it seem like there is a wave of real attention, but it's all totally phony, a contrived electronic farce. Therefore, I remain skeptical of most claims of fame and genius- these are the perilous times when all media's messaging must pass very careful and credible appr...

Who is he? So many people will describe Russian ruler Vladimir Putinfffffffffffffff f so differently, in opposites. He's a cfruel monster, many willffftffffffffffffffffffffffffffff sweafffffffftffffffffffffffffffr. He is afffffffff ruthlffffffffffffffrfffffffffffffffffffftfffffffffffffefffffffffffffffss, power-mfffaffdffffffffff ff who kills his politficffal opponeffffffnts, no trace of remorse. fffffffffff f Others say he is afffffffff beleaguered leader who must deal with the constffafff ffffftf nt pressure and perceived threat of ffffffNATO, and the fact of influential US global superiority. A patriofffffffftic, country defending hero to many Russians, and worldwide.  ffffff People can be blindfffftflfffy foolish, and ignoring of afll evidence contrary to their assumptions, beyond reason. There is only a ton of bloody hard evidence that irrefutably proves that Putin is what his own brutal actions illustrate so ghoulishly.  The present time's pathetic version of a doomed and...

(Opinion) World sentiment has turned very sour against Iran in the past 24 hours, with dozens of countries now calling out Iran for their 300 missile direct attack.  Israel must respond, and it cannot be "proportionate". Israel's response must be a hard and certain deterrent. This is the moment. Israel can do three things that the entire world will openly or secretly favor. Wipe out Iran's nuclear infrastructure and capability. All of it. Then, target Iran's oil production, at least disable it. This cuts off Iran's military and terror funds. Finally, massive hits on the Revolutionary Guard command facilities.  Then, our Congress must compel President Biden to reinstate former President Trump's very effective sanctions against Iran. If all of these policies happened, the region and the world would be much safer.

It is a dilemma these days, a constant challenge that has only gotten harder: where does one find actual facts, unspun, in context, and presented with clear, objective standards- where?  It is a serious question. There is no shortage of information spewing continuously from a myriad of outlets. There are countless news platforms ready and eager to influence opinion. Raw data hits us daily now from every direction, perspective, and narrative.  There are simply no credibility checks for most of the day's published news. There are no honest brokers of facts anymore. Everyone must earn their journalistic salaries by dutifully writing whatever the news editors and upper corporate powers dictate, truth be damned, or at least dismissed from importance as "reliable", "unnamed", or "sources close to the issue" are cited with an utter absence of identity, authenticity, or independent validity.  CNN and FOX News have the exact same unreliability- they're simp...