October | 2020 | Piss and Moan

Journalism is dead

Posted on October 30, 2020 by backuphill

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

Or at least it is nearly dead. There are still people out there who are doing their best to write and publish from a neutral perspective and this is EXTREMELY rare these days.

Glenn Greenwald isn’t the poster child for complete neutrality, but at least he comes close. While he may be a left-leaning journalist, he hasn’t pulled his punches when it comes to criticizing the left. He has pursued the truth and has exposed some very dark corners in American politics and government. But, that obviously can only go so far. Up to now, he hasn’t seen much in the way of censorship (or at least that is the way he describes it).

But, that has changed. Balanced and honest journalism requires that you see things from both sides and attack both sides when necessary. Yes, that is a little like biting the hand that feeds you, but a true journalist can’t ignore one side of every story. If they choose to do so, the sully the profession (as I am sure you are fully aware that most Americans don’t trust the media any longer).

Greenwald has resigned from the media outlet he helped co-found. Because they wanted to censor an article he wrote on Hunter and Joe Biden, one that was critical of the Democratic darling and the media cover-up of revelations related to business dealings in foreign countries. He is justified in asking questions and form an analysis, apparently that other journalists are even unwilling to think about, because others are not asking the questions and are not willing to be critical.

We have known journalism is dead for a long time. Thus, the distrust of the American media. But this, this is a whole different level of censorship and verges on conspiracy by the left to support a political candidate purely because he is the alternative to a candidate they have tried repeatedly to destroy over the last six years. Their mantra has been and continues to be, “Anyone but HIM!” So much so that they even eat their own when people don’t fall into line with their narrative.

I hope you take a look at the information provided by Greenwald. It is fascinating and eye opening. It is enlightening, but also confirms what many already know. Only now, we know it without a shadow of a doubt.

Perfect storm

Posted on October 29, 2020 by backuphill

I could use a perfect storm. Not just any perfect storm though. I want a specific perfect storm of relief, not one that full of problems either.

I want a perfect storm that:

Gives me unlimited free time (I don’t want a job).
Gives me an unlimited amount of money (ok, doesn’t have to be unlimited, but a VERY VERY large amount).
Gives me freedom from all current responsibilities…read that however you’d like…

That’s it.

I am easy to please (ok, not really but those things would go a long way to pleasing me).

You might be thinking, “Oh, but money creates problems too, so it won’t solve all your problems.” If you’re thinking that, you can just take your negativity some place else. I am the only one around here that can have this kind of attitude.

Besides, I have never had that kind of money, time, and freedom. I would like to see if I can handle those “problems” that arise from this perfect storm of relief. I think I can do it.

I know I can!

Who wants to perfect storm with me?

Suppression

Posted on October 28, 2020 by backuphill

Did you see that post from yesterday? The one where I asked people not to vote if…

I am guessing probably not.

Wonder why I ask? Because I believe WordPress is suppressing it.

I can’t think of any other reason why it wouldn’t have gotten at least five times as many views (I don’t ask for much, really). Honestly, wouldn’t people be interested just to see what it is about? I click on stuff to read all the time just because I wanna know what point of view the author is coming from, even if I don’t agree. Am I the only person who does this now? Do you only read the headline and move on without giving it even another thought or shred of curiousity?

As of this morning, it only had TWO views. Of those two views, none of them were from the Reader – those people (roughly, there is a lot of spam) who actually have followed the blog. There are no views on it today yet either.

I can only come to one conclusion…it’s being suppressed because it is telling people not to vote. Well, not exactly, but essentially that is the suggestion if you can’t meet certain qualifications, most of which are pretty straight-forward and common sense.

I guess asking for people who are educated, well informed, and have common sense to vote is wrong.

Interesting. How the politics of free speech play out on social media and other platforms, right?

Please don’t vote…

Posted on October 27, 2020 by backuphill

…if you take advice from celebrities or athletes on who you should vote for.

…if you only get your news from one source or one perspective.

…if you only follow the party line all the time.

…if your only research is memes about who not to vote for.

…if you don’t do your own research.

…if you only take advice from your family.

…if you can only see “the issues” in regards to yourself.

…if you can’t see or won’t accept an “issue” from more than one perspective.

…if you can’t acknowledge or understand the concerns from an different perspective than your own.

…if your vote is out of spite regarding someone else’s vote.

…if you get your information from any social media platform.

…if your vote is based on information from tv commercials.

…if you you take an “endorsement” from a media outlet as legitimate.

…if you aren’t a citizen or have a legal right to vote.

…if you haven’t payed attention at all but received a ballot in the mail.

…if you didn’t pay attention in school and don’t know how the process works.

…if you don’t value your right enough to get educated about the issues and candidates.

…if you’re too stupid to vote with some intelligence.

Anything you would add to the list?

Thieving

Posted on October 26, 2020 by backuphill

Corporate thieving of the little guy. Unfortunately, there isn’t much you can do in the world of “allowed monopolies.” The cable company has you over a barrel and if you don’t fight them tooth and nail, you’re gonna take in the tail.

Friday night saw an email come to the inbox that indicated I hadn’t paid my cable (internet) bill. I knew that wasn’t the case, but immediately went and reviewed the checkbook (yes, I keep a hard copy) and then the online transaction roster for my bank. Sure enough, payment was made in the middle of the month. Mind you, I have paid the same way via the bank with an electronic payment for years. Never any trouble. So why now?

Saturday morning I called Comcast/xFinity and asked what the heck was going on since I had confirmation from the bank that the payment was made. I didn’t have all the real specific details because I honestly didn’t think I would need it. Turns out, I did and will need to talk to them again.

They proceeded to tell me that a payment was never received and I know owe them for two months (past and upcoming).

Uh, I don’t think so! The payment has clearly been deducted from my bank, so you can eat my shorts.

I called the bank and got REAL specific details and will need to call the thieving corporation back.

Hopefully I have better luck this time…I can’t wait to wait on hold for hours on end…

Have you had this happen before? Have you had this happen with Comcasst/xFinity, specifically? What did you do or how did you get it resolved?

Group texts

Posted on October 23, 2020 by backuphill

I feel very strongly about this. Like, VERY strongly.

Group texts (and even group chats, for that matter) are impossibly stupid and annoying.

I don’t want to participate in all the inane drivel most people have to talk about. I especially don’t like my phone getting lit up because of a stupid conversation.

Please don’t include me, unless it is an emergency or something needs to be coordinated. Otherwise, leave me out! AND once those few instances need to be used, stop using the group chat asap. Delete it so there is no accident in choosing the wrong one.

UGH. I despise their use…and, quite frankly, I despise people who feel the need to use them often.

Now you know why I am so grumpy all the time. I just don’t like people. Really.

Fiddling

Posted on October 22, 2020 by backuphill

OK, anyone else find it really annoying when people change stuff just to change stuff, or specifically, change stuff just to be politically correct and more inclusive?

It’s a small thing and of small consequence, but does Words With Friends really need to change the legend of the Headless Horseman to be the Headless Horsewoman?

There is no such story. There is no such legend. There is no such tradition.

So why do people feel the need to put this stuff out there? Sure, if a female would like to dress up as the Headless Horseman, not a big deal. There is space in the universe to do that and I don’t have a problem with that. We have freedom to do so. BUT, if you look at the theme of the game this week, “Haunting Visionaries,” there is no room for a female headless rider.

Let’s leave the old stories as they are and stop trying to cram the PC stuff down our throats.

Abyss

Posted on October 19, 2020 by backuphill

If you need help deciding who to vote for this year, maybe this can help. I came across this video the other day and while I don’t normally stop to watch something from the source, I was intrigued. The pillars mentioned here are powerful and can’t be ignored when it comes to making a choice for your ballot.

Are the choices we have perfect? Hell no! I would prefer that it was neither of them. But, when it comes to the things that are most important, there is a clear choice. History has proven time and again where Socialism and Communism leads, and we don’t want to head down that road.

If you have 26 minutes to listen, I think you will find this informative, powerful, and impactful.

Authenticity

Posted on October 15, 2020 by backuphill

Social media has a huge problem with authenticity and they actually keep making it worse.

Did you hear that one about Joe Biden and his son Hunter and perhaps some questionable behavior in the past when dealing with foreign governments?

No?

Weird. The article is from a major news outlet with huge readership and is well respected. Apparently a follow-up article is being censored too. Did you see that one?

Well, it is likely that the big tech companies (Twitter and Facebook and Google) are censoring information in order to protect a political candidate they favor. In their words, they justify such behavior out of a campaign to stop “misinformation” to have a chance to “fact check” the story. In doing so, they are actually meddling in the election and doing exactly the behavior they say they are trying to stop.

Double standard much?

There are lots of thoughts on this whole thing (here is a good article that lines it out well) but the thing that sticks out is that the policies these companies claim to use is used selectively. They use it for stories and information they don’t like, but don’t use it when it helps them or hurts someone they don’t like. Application is selective and that’s shady at best.

The best thing would let ALL INFORMATION flow and let the people figure it out for themselves. Censoring some and not others as it fits with your agenda is a bad look.

Neither of these stories showed up on the Google News Feed, except for stories that are commenting about the censorship of the original reporting. Strange? Nope. Google has as much at stake and has made MANY efforts to stem the flow of information on it’s multiple platforms and outlets.

“Houston, we have a problem.”

It will only get worse as their influence grows and they continue to control the flow of information? Remember when there was concern over that whole “net neutrality” and having ISPs and cable companies having control over the flow of traffic? Yeah, this is the same thing but at a different level. That issue involved throttling the actual data (all of it) and this is the throttling of content (all of it, or at least that which they don’t agree with).

Ever felt like your blog isn’t reaching everyone it should? I have often wondered if WordPress isn’t doing the same thing when it comes to posts that they don’t like or agree with. Could it be true? What do you think?

What do you think of the idea of censorship from tech?

Tired menu

Posted on October 14, 2020 by backuphill

Anyone want to be a cook with dinner responsibilities four nights a week? Are you someone that has tasty ideas, likes to cook a variety of foods, and can work within a budget?

Specifically, can you be my cook? And I say four nights a week because I am not opposed to eating leftovers the other three nights, especially if the original meal was tasty!

I am tired of coming up with ideas. I am tired of cooking up those ideas.

What I really want is restaurant quality food at home and I want someone else to produce it. I want variety. I want classics and I want something new. I want simple foods and I want fancy foods. I’m not asking for much, really.

If I could order out four nights a week, then I would. That way there is no prep, no dishes, little clean-up afterwards. I could enjoy other aspects of life while still eating great meals.

Anyone else tired of cooking and all that it entails? Anyone up for the job?

**OK, there really is no job. If I can hire someone to cook for me, I could likely also afford to eat out anyway. It’s just nice to dream…isn’t it?**

Piss and Moan

Because there ain't no making me happy

Month: October 2020