Sol's Culture Wars

The top news editor job at CNN must be done with Zoom from home. It's so easy. After all, there are only a select few areas of stories to assemble for a day's offering. The desired article topic categories are: Trump, fear over the weather, Trump, racial issues past and present, Trump, fear over the environment, Trump, fear over right-wing media and Christian patriots, Trump, fear over new global viruses, Trump, any Republican scandals, Trump, and all the very best Amazon bargains. The top CNN editor just picks from the daily menu, phones in the choices, done. The rest is automatic, programmatic, and dogmatic. Format is always the same, and it's meant to jar both our attention and emotions. Big, bold verbs, and perilous words coupling negatives when possible. The team back at the office knows how it's all supposed to look. And, yes, the other legacy networks, they have the same easy gig, meant to influence towards their respective but hardly respectable narratives. ...

Feeling thankful today that our great but troubled Republic has built into its genius design a strength of checks and balances, ensuring democracy will endure thru any negative process. It is truly a miraculous structure of personal autonomy, plus the protections of rights for all Americans.  It is still possible to have coordinated, partisan legal cases that defy precedent, and are constitutionally wrong at their core. All it takes is openly biased judges and DAs, their own campaigns financed thru donations from very influential special interests.  However, it's not possible to have a partisan general election for U.S. president. That involves the Electorial College, all fifty states, not just some local fiefdom of political power. Nov 5, the voters determine what is really true, and most relevant.

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...

Getting money donated to you goes by many arbitrary titles. It's all a matter of perspective. On the streets, asking for change, you're likely a hungry panhandler. Collecting from the pious pews on Sunday, you're a church member.  But, on the 22nd floor, senator's luxurious office, you're a lobbyist.

Politics, so harsh in our culture, isn't functioning very well. How'd we get to this schizoid place? Two very flawed and hopelessly divisive candidates who a solid majority wouldn't choose, that's a process? Looks more like a chronic illness.  Democracies are a messy affair, that fact is well-known, and our Republic is no exception- but, this is extreme. Must be that we all share blame. The collective "we" somehow let things sink too low, as life-critical standards- trust and faith- are lost to weaken the whole.  And, that's how America stumbles into this next election: severely compromised by uncertainty, cynicism, and disappointment.

(Opinion) Highly unlikely you'll ever see this headline: Hamas and Iran are the true Slave Masters of Gaza.  The provocative fact that Senate Majority leader Chuck Shumer is himself Jewish doesn't help him. The senator could not be more wrong and off-target with his call for new Israeli elections, and the immediate auster of Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.  The gross entitlement, insolence, and arrogance of Shumer's words are loathsome and repugnant, yes; but also they are unprecidented. Never has an American politician called for elections and new leadership of a trusted ally, the only democracy in the region, with its current duly elected leader presiding with a unified war council that includes all parties, as Israeli fights to simply exist.  Senator Shumer, with his foolish and dangerous rhetoric, has only helped Hamas and all extremists continue their jihadist quest to destroy Israel, and also the US. Shumer's concern about civilians in Gaza include...

This is where we've arrived, all at once it seems, before thoughtful policy or some sense of reason. I read this story- I don't own the stock- but, you can laugh or cry at the details, what happens now when we assign tasks requiring human context to flawed machine learning and algorithms, obviously leaving much to be desired.  "Google parent Alphabet lost more than $70 billion in market cap in a single trading day on fears that its artificial intelligence tool is programmed to be woke. (New York Post story) The stock sank 4.4% after Google paused its Gemini AI Image Creation Tool, because it was churning out historically and factually inaccurate images. These included a Black George Washington, female NHL players, Black Vikings, and an Asian Nazi."  (New York Post)

This era of limitless info, yet much of it wholly unreliable, poses challenges of credibility no past world has ever faced before. Can we even know now when we're being censored, coerced, or guided thru a cloaked and crooked narrative? Can we even know when we're being fooled? No, says AI.  Manipulation often manifests with happy, friendly expression, or even benevolent invitation. Reflexively accepting when the word "free" is used, and other beguiling tactics, the influencers know their game.  Could be much of our sense of reality is subtlety influenced by the same media that distracts and entertains us. They also control the data, limit the information for profit. You start reading an article, three paragraphs down, a nuisance box pops up: "To unlock this story, subscribe below." When did that crap start? When media platforms concluded that relentless ad revenue wasn't enough, make content exclusive, charge for anything with tiers of membership. Pay mo...

The Big Microphone platforms monitor viewer ratings by the hour. You have to love those dopey daily headlines on FOX and CNN. Their respective editors play the Fear Card like it's every card in the deck!  Tall, bolded typeface gets your attention like a shrill visual siren, even font style carefully chosen for maximum shock effect. It can be humorous, it's so clownish and obvious, the copy thoughtfully worded to preview each imminent danger. Typically for CNN, the fear topics are Trump, Trump, Trump, Climate Change, several race-baiting topics that dredge up past controversies and conflict; and lately, some anti-Musk hit pieces.  For FOX, it's the Joe & Hunter Biden Show, bank records and laundered cash, Commies, Lefties, and Liberals, crossdresser storytime, and taxpayers footing for convicts Wi-Fi. Those are the kind of daily, bread and butter headlines they both go with, but editors can get artful whipping up the adrenaline. Like..."GIANT SPIDERS POISED TO INVAD...

Here, some thoughts on the comparable logic of three ways that the "bottom line" ends up being you and me, taxpayers. It may also be seen less generously as you the chump, the patsy, the stooge; and yes, you the sucker.  Big sucker. The one who pays, picks up the tab, or hands over the card. Please note here that the same argument is used, and comically, used by avowed enemies, political opponents, same logic, so it doesn't matter.  Consider these three major issues: taxes, healthcare, and shoplifting. We hear that folks who don't pay their fair share of taxes, whoever defines that, increase everyone else's tax burden. Remedy? Lower tax rates across the board? Flat tax? Maintain or cut spending? Nope, no chance, too sensible. Instead, let's use nore public funds to hire ten thousand enforcement personnel, now that's a solution! New agents, more collections!  Same logic plugs in for healthcare. We hear that those who don't enroll in a poorly structured,...

For me, there are degrees of "not perfect". Regarding history, the nations of the world, the degree of collective evil is key. But, it's always a subjective call that won't bring easy consensus. If I had to compress into succinct bumper sticker meme fashion, I'd submit that America, with all its faults and degrees of imperfection is still a universe better than any dictatorship where personal freedoms, law, protection simply don't exist. These morally corrupt regimes are cancers to their populations, and must dominate all with fear, attempt aggressive expansionist policy, and continually finance world terrorism.  Yet, starting with the USA, my country, there is also no shortage of bad news. History documents some truly evil and ugly chapters, with the horrific legacy of slavery and discrimination certainly the worst of all.  The unnecessary or wrong-headed US wars, like with Vietnam and Iraq.The massively destructive actions of a deceitful military industrial ...

The Democrat's convention in August is primed for surprises. The Big Money Boys have done the math, they know Biden's in deep trouble. Now the chairs are being re-arranged for Plan B, the Big Sell, failure not an option for team blue. You'll be asked to ignore the real platform of record at the executive level of the nation's largest state. Forget the border disaster, the monstrous fiscal deficit, highest taxes, businesses fleeing from costly, state-wide over-regulation, the preventable floods and fires.  Forget the irresponsible lockdown mistakes during the Covid years, the soaring crime rate, the myopic state senate, mismanaged policies that only ensure political control.  The Big Sell is coming soon, you'll be asked to accept the switch like it was all meant to be, you'll see.

What a fine mess we're in, the US. Snapshot this moment, Feb 2024, what do we see, what do we have?  America's economy isn't healthy. Inflation has slowed but continues. Unemployment is low, but personal debt is very high, housing is unaffordable everywhere, rents soaring rapidly, and pay raises eaten up instantly by steadily rising costs for commodities from food to fuel. Most Americans still work from paycheck to paycheck, just one unexpected setback away from personal or family crisis.  Americans have largely lost much confidence in the corrupt legal and political systems of government, and the feckless leadership both partisan blinded parties exhibit. For the first time in the country's history, this presidential cycle features two very flawed candidates that few voters desire or even like- what a mess! Meanwhile, one candidate and his party are doing everything even remotely possible to prosecute the other candidate off the ballot, and preferably to convict and imp...

It was just a moment in time- actually it was several aggravating moments- but nonetheless, not a huge matter. Just a fine example of the kind of entitled behavior we commonly see in today's culture. True, it's always been with us in various forms, not new. But, it's an attitude or value system that too often lacks awareness.  The traffic was packed, but moving steadily on Wilshire Blvd. We were making good progress until a very large pickup truck loomed ahead. The driver, pulling away from the curb, decided for whatever mindlessly myopic logic to make a u-turn the opposite way. Because the truck was way bigger than its driver's brain, a relatively simple although goofy maneuver quickly became a seven-point turn. We all waited patiently for this clown truck to flip around, maybe twenty cars, all of us just watching this dude twirling the steering wheel left then right, inching each time to reverse direction- before us we had the grinning, unaware face of rank Entitlemen...

BlackRock and Vanguard essentially control about 18 trillion (!) in assets, a big chunk of the entire world's total wealth. Their combined influence is beyond most folks comprehension or awareness. These mega-managers of other investors shares manipulate the global markets around the clock.  This Reuters article claims that there is contextual error in assuming that these two entities are so worrisome. You be the judge.  https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSL2N2WI1K4/