WHAT A SHAME- A look at the low points in the modern media. PSEUDOSCIENCE ON TELEVISION- LOGIC AND THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD NEED NOT APPLY. PT 6.

What is really sad, is that some Cable Channels are mixing in legitimate Science Programming, just to dress up the garbage that pollutes the rest of their schedule. 

However, all the Sound Bites, Fuzzy Photographs, Second and Third Hand Anecdotal Accounts remembered years later and, Plaster Casts of "Footprints", are no more credible now, then they were Ten, Twenty or Thirty Years ago.

In other words, using the same Research Methods, and repeating the same catch phrases, still adds up to zero credibility.

To put it on the line, here are shows I have viewed on at least two occasions, in entirety, and find them Intellectually Lacking and Scientifically Valueless.  This is by no means a complete list.  A few shows, like Jesse Venturas CONSPIRACY THEORY, I couldn't stomach more than 10-15 minutes.

In no specific order:                                        

-  ANCIENT ALIENS.                    

-  AMERICA UNEARTHED.

-  MONSTER QUEST.

-  UFO HUNTERS.

-  LOST HISTORY.

-  CURSE OF OAK ISLAND.

-  IN SEARCH OF...

-  FINDING BIGFOOT.

-  ANY GHOST "HUNTER" OR "INVESTIGATION" show.  They all run together, and I can never tell them apart.

To be fair, here are a few shows that I recommend:

-  THE BIG BANG THEORY-  Laugh if you will, but I contend there is more legitimate Science in one half-hour of this sitcom, than there is in a seasons worth of episodes in the above list.

-  HOW THE EARTH WAS MADE.

-  MANKIND- THE STORY OF ALL OF US.

-  THE UNIVERSE.

-  MYTHBUSTERS.

-  COSMOS.

If any reader feels I am being unfair, I would be more than happy to print any Comments, Arguments, or Rebuttals.  Provided, that they are Family Friendly, and not Libelous.

11/8/2014.

WHAT A SHAME- A look at the low points in the modern media. HUMILIATION TELEVISION; IT DOESN'T GET ANY LOWER THAN THIS. PT 9.

As we search for truly embarrassing situations people are willing to be put in, just to get on T.V., some don't really shock us anymore.  Talk show formats, as I discussed in an earlier post, are so intellectually repellent that it actually says something about a person who considers it entertaining, and watches on a regular basis. 

Anyone who decides 15 minutes of fame is worth revealing Personal Failures, Family Discord, Social Faux Pas and any Humiliating Decisions they have ever made, deserves any form of condemnation they receive.  However, there is another type of programming that tries to cover the obvious lure of Degrading Guests, with the supposed solemness of the Courtroom.  I guess this is done to try and add an air of legitimacy to the proceedings.  Unfortunately, all it does is give our legal system another Black Eye.  It turns Legal proceedings into a Three- Ring Circus, and the noble position of Judge into that of Ring Master. We can call this REALITY TELEVISION-  AN UNREALISTIC AND IDIOTIC LOOK INTO THE U.S. JUSTICE SYSTEM, REGARDING CIVIL LAW.

I am not going to list the multitude of variations that make up this genre.  Feel free to let it apply to any "Judge...." or "...Court" programs that you can find.  Having sampled a variety currently airing, they seem basically interchangeable. The only difference I found was the amount of condescension, and the the type of insults that would issue from the mouth of the Baby-S..., uh, I mean Judge.

Before I go any further, let me offer a few things that may be unfamiliar to my readers outside the U.S., regarding Lawsuits in the Fifty- States.

-  Anyone can sue virtually any other Person, Corporation, Group etc. for basically any reason at all.  There are very few exceptions, and these are usually Lawsuits against Public Agencies and Individuals employed in the Public Sector.

-  Just because a Lawsuit is filed, does not mean that the reason behind it is any more valid or true then if no legal action had been taken at all.

-  Often, Lawsuits are settled before any Trial at all, with the Defendant paying Damages without admitting guilt or responsibility.  The Reason? Defending the Suit would be more costly, even if they were to prevail by verdict. 

Look for PT 10.

WHAT A SHAME- A look at the low points in the modern media. THEY SAID...WHAT? ARE YOU SURE? PT 1.

As more and more of the information we get about Politics, Economics, Law, and Health Issues comes from Television, and not the printed word, a New Awareness must be recognized.  That is the Realization that News and Information on the screen is now Entertainment First, with Public Service a Distant Second.

I cover how this Affects; Current Events, Politics, Education, Science and General Knowledge in other Categories and Pages on this Website, and won't duplicate those efforts here.

The Purpose of this Article, is to point out some Common Assumptions, Irregularities, Misconceptions and Red Flags that will often indicate the Dubious Nature of Whatever Information is being Broadcast, regardless of the Subject Matter.

1) WATCH OUT FOR QUALIFYING WORDS AND PHRASES.

This is a Common Tactic by those who want you to think that they are; "EXPERTS", "WELL- READ", "IN THE KNOW", or part of the INNER CIRCLE that is in touch with the MOVERS and SHAKERS.

It is also the Bread and Butter of PSYCHICS AND FORTUNE TELLERS.

Listen carefully, when you hear examples like the Following:

-  "IT COULD BE A...."

-  "MAYBE IT'S..."

-  "SOMETIMES WE MUST..."

 

   "SOMETIMES WE SHOULD..."

-  "WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO..."

-  "A REAL POSSIBILITY THAT..."

-  "THEY MIGHT BE WILLING..."

-  "IT MIGHT END UP..."

I could go on and on.  Whenever Such Words or Phrases are used, it is an attempt to avoid the possibility of being HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR INCORRECT/INACCURATE INFORMATION, OR PROVIDES A WAY OUT FOR AN OPINION OR PREDICTION THAT FAILS TO COME TRUE.

These WORDS OR TERMS offer no real MEASURING STICK INDICATING PROBABILITY...

See PT 2.

BLAST FROM THE PAST: THE SUPREME COURT CONTROVERSY. DESTROYING THE CONSTITUTION: WHAT CAN BE DONE? #1.

The Controversy Concerning the Appointment of the Next Supreme Court Justice still has not been resolved, so I Think its Important to remember the Vital Role it Plays in Shaping our Legal System.  To do this Properly, we need to Leave Politics Behind, and Analyze its Purpose and Function, with a Desire to Understand the REASON IT WAS CREATED. 

When the Framers of the Constitution Met to Create a Document that would be Designed to become ULTIMATE LAW OF THE LAND, They had to ASK AND ANSWER CERTAIN VITAL QUESTIONS. IF THIS WAS NOT DONE PROPERLY, THE SURVIVAL OF THE NEW NATION WOULD BE IN JEOPARDY. To Ensure Success, the Founding Fathers Set up a System that Borrowed Elements from GOVERNMENTS THAT EXISTED AT THE TIME, AND FROM THOSE THAT HAD LONG SINCE VANISHED.

THE FINISHED PRODUCT WAS UNIQUE. IT ADOPTED AND FINE TUNED A SET OF CIVIL AND CRIMINAL "INSTRUCTIONS," THAT SET PRECEDENTS IN ESTABLISHING A GOVERNMENT THAT MIRRORED THE "AGE OF ENLIGHTENMENT" ATTITUDE THAT STRESSED INTELLECTUAL AND HUMANITARIAN IDEALS, A MOVEMENT THAT WAS FLOURISHING IN EUROPE DURING THE 18TH CENTURY.

LETS GET STARTED:

#1-  AT ITS HEART, THE U.S. CONSTITUTION IS A CONTRACT.

#2-  THE 3 DIFFERENT PARTIES TO THIS CONTRACT:

-  CENTRAL GOVERNMENT.

-  STATE GOVERNMENT.

-  INDIVIDUAL CITIZEN.

EACH PARTY HAS ESTABLISHED RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES THAT ARE BINDING ON ALL THREE.

#3- A CHECKS AND BALANCES SYSTEM WAS ESTABLISHED TO

PROTECT ALL PARTIES TO THE CONTRACT. THIS WAS DONE BY

CREATING THE EXECUTIVE, LEGISLATIVE, AND JUDICIAL BRANCHES

OF GOVERNMENT.

#4-  THIS CONTRACT IS NOT JUST A COMMERCIAL AND LEGAL 

DOCUMENT, BUT ALSO A MORAL PROGRAM TO CREATE A SYSTEM

THAT BEST REPRESENTS A "GOOD" OR "ETHICALLY" SUPERIOR FORM

OF GOVERNMENT.

We will look at these in further Detail in the Future.

Date-  4/1/2016.