Journalism or Sensationalism?

According to the Encarta Dictionary, English North American Version, Journalism is a noun, and is the profession of gathering, editing, and publishing new reports and related articles for newspapers, magazine, television or radio.

Using the same reference, we find that Sensationalism, on the other hand, is the practice of emphasizing the most lurid, shocking and emotive aspects of something under discussion or investigation, especially by the media.

These two definitions are the basis of my thoughts today.

We live in an era where the “news” is everywhere we turn. It is on the radio; it is on the television; it is on our computers, iPads, iPhones, Kindles, or any one of the other devices we carry. The only problem is that this “news” is reported in many different ways.

Some media like to spread the news like the farmer spreads fertilizer. The intent here is to plant a seed and watch it grow. It doesn’t make any difference to the person reporting it whether it is true, has been investigated thoroughly, or is just idle gossip. If that particular media agent feels it is going to generate money for the media outlet, that is apparently all that counts. It could also have a domino effect and generate some unfortunate incident caused directly from their improper reporting..

Other media only write or talk about subjects they feel will benefit them. Our political system is like that. It doesn’t make any difference what party you are a part of, you can find information that makes you feel good about your decisions, regardless of their authenticity.

We are all guilty of bad reporting, from time to time. What? You say you don’t think you are? Well, perhaps you are perfect, although I have yet to meet a perfect person.  

Here is an example of bad reporting by good people.

The other day a friend called to get additional information about a party to be given by a mutual friend. I had no idea what the caller was talking about. When the caller found I had no knowledge of the party, he became concerned that my feelings were hurt since I apparently had not been invited. As it turned out, this party was barely into the planning stage, and was just conversation between two acquaintances.

Information comes from all kinds of sources. It is our responsibility to check not only the sources,  but also the content of that information. I lead the pack in getting busy, half-reading something that fits my thinking at the time, and sending it out, only to discover later what a fool I was for not checking it out first.

The next time you hear something, or you read something, or you see it on your special device or television set, check it out before passing it on. Be sure it is Journalism and not Sensationalism.

A Tragedy

Trayvon Martin, a tragedy, a conundrum for many, a traumatic loss for his parents and those that loved him. The first thing anyone with a conscience should do is extend their prayers to the families who have suffered this,  loss and pray that it does not happen again, although we know that it will, sometime, someplace.

The big question should be, “What caused this, why did it happen?”

According to the news media, this is a young man who was loved by his parents, parents who gave him all that they could to help him become the man they wanted him to be. This is something that all of us, as parents, do with the hope our sons or daughters  will grow up to be what we ourselves had hoped for ourselves.

Unfortunately, we don’t always measure up as parents, or as sons and daughters for that matter. I was one of those young fellows once, one that had a father who found greener pastures away from home. Although I saw him from time to time, he was not there when I needed him the most.

I am sure that my mother did her very best to bring me up and to help with that she solicited the help of my older brother, who in turn did his best. Still, there was no father figure. No father to help me make decisions; no father to see and join me in my achievements; no father there when I needed him the most.

Who is to blame? Anyone? Will no one step up to bat?

All we know is what we have read and seen on the media since day one of this incident. During that time we discovered that this little boy, who grew to be over six feet tall; this little boy the prosecution continued to call a “youth,” had become a man. Did he get the right direction along the way to manhood?

When I was seventeen I had a car, a job, worked the last year of high school part time. I had cigarettes, often had blended whiskey, and nodoubt, other things I probably didn’t really need. One thing that I needed was a father figure to emulate.  I never achieved that six-foot status. I didn’t have a record as a juvenile; I never tried to intimidate anyone; I didn’t hang out where I knew I was not supposed to be. Did I get into trouble? Not any more than any other teenager that thought that he was beyond  reproach,  smarter than everyone else. Do you remember how brilliant you thought you were at seventeen and eighteen?

How can we judge a person? Should be even try?

Our country will now get involved as an afterthought. Where were these “upstanding” individuals when Trayvon really needed them? Have you ever noticed how those that seek revenge, those that seek publicity, those that try to sway their fellowmen and women to a perverted  way of thinking, only come out of the dark when there is a person in agony that they can easily prey upon and  use as a spear to plunge into the side of our justice system, or our liberty?

It is not my place to judge or to condemn. I leave that up to the judicial system, as wrong as it can be from time to time, it is the only thing we have that can form  the balance between good and  bad.

Before any of us act, we must stop, think, perhaps even meditate ,or pray if so disposed, about what we are about to do, and be sure it is truly the path we want our children and our fellow citizens to follow.

 

A Final Request

 

 

When we feel our days are numbered, when our thoughts reveal our soul,

We reflect on things that might have been, had our visions met our goal.

Our memories of days gone by, of things that could have been,

We recall every thought that we ever had, of every little sin.

 

The times when we made bad choices, times when hope was thin,

Those are the times that we remember most, of things that could have been.

You remember your children, think of them when they were small,

And how life could have been better for them, had your hopes been at your call.

 

But at this time when you look back, and see the things that you did wrong,

You think of things you could have done, that would not have taken long.

Times you could have spent, playing ball, or maybe fishing by the stream.

Of times you could have been better, that your life was not that extreme.

 

Yes, when we feel our days are numbered, and we look back at our life,

We see that we made it what it was, whether it was calm or strife.

We could have done things better, and made things easier for this day,

When we should be able to leave things calmer, rather than a-sway.

 

So to all of you who are reading this,  it is time you must be strong,

You know your days are numbered, your hours left, not long.

So make amends if they need be made, and let your children know,

You did your best, and only ask they forgive you before you go.

SCAM or SPAM?

Lately it is difficult to tell the difference between scam and spam....or is there one? You receive that odd looking email that should be in spam but you investigate it and discover it is really spam. Is it possible that spam and scam are in cahoots?

A few weeks ago a friend of mine received a phone call from a fellow we will just call Willy for now. Willy told my friend he would be in line, if he wanted to be in line, to receive a territory that someone had retired from, in his state . The territory would produce a reasonable income and he would have a small Limited Liability Corporation assigned to him by the state and federal EIN Number.

My friend asked what would be involved  and he was told that, "due to federal regulations the company could not send its representatives out to call on accounts without a referral." That was where my friend would come in. He would run some ads in places like "Craig's List" and the prospect calls would be directed to a special division of the company. At that point the "salesman" for the area would be given the names and told to call on that prospect. If the sale was made my friend would receive 1% of any loans made, 2% for all business done through their credit card terminals, and "X" dollars for each terminal to accept credit cards that the prospect might purchase. Sounds cool, right?

Well, the next phone call, after my friend paid the "reasonable fee of $695.00," came from a gentleman who insisted he had several "sharks" under his command that only had to invest $50,000.00. They could expect a return of at least $15,000.00 per month. That was when he decided this was sounding a bit strange and not a part of the training program he had been promised.

Since then he has had the paper work sent to him for the start up corporation, but with the wrong name on it, and the "attorney?" that supposedly handled his "corporation start-up"  has never answered any of the phone calls my friend made to him. The trainer called him once with a list of free "on-line" advertisers like the "Craig's List" and was told that was the training he would receive.

Well, to make along story short, my friend, who will remain anonymous, is discouraged, embarrassed and out almost $700.00. He has learned that you cannot trust anyone that calls you for any reason that concerns investments, jobs, or the lovelorn.

Thought for the day...trust no one, and as my fake fish that hangs on the wall of my office says when his button is pushed, "Be Happy!"

Ault's Paradise: Preview "SCAM or SPAM?"

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Boston

I don't like to get too involved with things that happen, at least when they are on a political basis or something that I think is just for publicity, but this Boston Race was something else.

Not many of us are vigilantes, but this time I think I could become one. It is inconceivable that someone could be so ruthless, so non-caring, so ignorant that they could concoct devices that kill and maim innocent bystanders. There is no reasonable excuse for this kind of behavior.

I like to think of myself as a reasonable person, but lately I am beginning to wonder just how far a reasonable person is supposed to go regarding the acts of mindless idiots!

There are those that suggest prayer for the perpetrators is the best solution. Others feel that they should be put into mental institutions. Still others suggest counseling. Now I believe that all of these are nice and realistic solutions...for some things.

The humanoid is a complex being. He/she should think for themselves; they should develop intelligent strategies during their lifetime that fit their particular pattern of life. What they should not do is take it for granted that the movies and other programs they see are real or acceptable.

First, let's not start blaming Hollywood for everything, although I do believe they need to accept some level of incrimination for their lust for prime time, sales regardless of quality, and misleading our youth into the belief that nudity, children without marriage, language that should never be uttered, and actions beyond reasonable norms are something that need to be emphasized, publicized, or even produced. Profit appears to be their one and only goal, and that is a god we should not worship!

Now, to be really off the grid, I have to believe that since we have these actions on television,  in theaters, and in the computer games, that it seems our youth are being forced to accept these situations as "normal adult behaviors." Perhaps we should consider being more "normal" with our punishment as well. How about finding the worthless coward(s) who perpetrated this horrible thing on the bystanders in Baltimore, hang them upside down in the park, and post guards around them so no one can touch them, feed them, water them, or do anything else to help them. It could be published by every newspaper in the country, and every news link on the computer could feature that picture, and the same  on every television station! That would surely get the attention of those that have warped minds!

Yes, I know this is not acceptable in this day in age. It is cruel, inhumane, non-Christian treatment. Yet, if people could see what could happen to them rather than the hand-slapping that has replaced, what used to be, real punishment for crime, it might be a big shock to those that are being taught daily that it doesn't make any difference what they do, they will no longer be sheltered by the law.