Back to the Words

Writers Write.

Its a simple statement. In fact, its so simple that one could be argued is so simple it needn't be stated at all. But its true: Writers write. They synthesize ideas, and record them in some written, visual medium. It can be misleading, though, since writers are not the ONLY individuals that write. In fact, the vast majority of the population of any first world country can write. If writing were the ONLY activity or quality that defined a writer, then practically everyone would be a writer. This hypothesis is easily disproved as we look around to see that, while the vast majority of individuals that surround us are able to write, they are not, in fact, writers. So, given that all writers write, but not everyone who writes is necessarily a writer, some other quality or activity must separate writers from the rest of the population.

Writing is required for to interact in society, more-so now than in the past due to the "digital revolution". Therefore, we all write more frequently than we would have years ago. well, we technically type now, instead of write, but the distinction isn't meaningful in this context. Anyway, with people writing more as part of their daily routines, the line between writer and non-writer may be more blurred now than it has been in the past.

I believe that one of the things that separates the writer from the non-writer is the purpose behind the writing. Writing is required to interact with society (as noted above), but a writer writes when it is not required. If this is true, a writer writes when it is not necessary, then I suppose writing is the end unto itself.

Another possibility is that a writer writes to actively improve their ability to write. If this is the case, hopefully I am doing this for the right reasons.

My goal is to be a writer. Therefore, as we have established, I must write. Following this line of thought, I am now writing. I also find the act of writing cathartic. By writing them down, the ideas in my head can purged from my mind, leaving room for fresh ideas.

I think, in a nutshell, this is what I'm setting out to understand with this Blog. This blog will invovle other issues (e.g. personal politics, religion and opinions, technology, and science, to name a few.), but I am primarily writing these blogs to write these blogs.

And, hopefully, become a writer in the process.

Slainte!

Today's word counts:

Blogs 417

Landscape Genetics Paper 33

Dissertation Proposal 0

The Loss of the Lion

Nothing major to report lately, But I would like to say rest in peace to Senator Kennedy. He was a great man who did great things from his position in the senate. He will be missed. I hope that the conservatives can respect him for his successes and bipartisan efforts during his tenure in the senate, instead of dwelling on an incident 40 years ago. Please, let him go peacefully: avoid dancing in the streets like extremist Muslims after a suicide bomber kills an Israeli.

-FV

The Left Fights back, at least a little

So finally, after all the shit being slung by the conservatives to scare their constituents into opposing a public health care options, the left side has begun to VERY quietly fight back. It helps that some old insiders are coming out like Wendel Potter. And Obama has posted actual FACTUAL information on the White House website here.

But this raises a point that has perplexed me for years: Why do so few elected liberal leaders defend their positions and beliefs as aggressively as their conservative counter-parts? Don't get me wrong, the liberal constituents can be just as loud and aggressive as their conservatives, but the liberal elected officials just don't seem to get mad. Ultimately, I like and respect this, but sometimes its necessary to call bullshit when people (in this case "conservative" media like Fox News) straight out lie.

What really concerns me is the underlying reason for this pro-conservative and anti-liberal take from Fox "news" is neither due to their belief in the conservative rhetoric, or their concern about the AMerican condition, but instead stems from a desire increase viewer-ship and therefore increase advertising revenue. Fox, in ALL of its branches, is fundamentally an ENTERTAINMENT broadcasting corporation, and in the business to make money. NBC, CBS, ABC all have a long history of reporting news, they've had their ups and downs, but overall, reported the news, all the while trying to maintain a neutral stance. Conservatives shouted and howled that since they weren't in agreement with their stance, they accused them of their "liberal" bias. The right solved this problem about 10 years ago when they invented Fox news. There has never been any kind of cover on what Fox "news" is intended to be: a conservative response to the other legitimate "liberally biased" media. And they do a wonderful job running around without any restraint reporting what they want.

The business strategy is pretty straight foward when you look at it: If you report what your targeted viewership WANTS to hear, regardless of its veracity, they will watch. This creates a cycle in which a conservative minority has their inaccurate beliefs reinforced by inaccurate news, allowing them to grow in volume as "victims" and increase their viewership of the inaccurate news networks; Then, these netwroks see their increased viewership, and are encouraged to continue their dishonest reporting stances. Their recent increase in viewship has recently led Fox "news" to claim that, compared to other news networks, they are clearly the most powerful force in news today... I can't believe a self-respecting news network would actually make such a claim.

While I never truly saw Cronchite in action live, the recordings where he simply and straightforwardly delivered news that he believed to be true are inspiring. He did NOT take a stand, and he did NOT flavor his reporting with his own beliefs. Reporting ACCURATE news was paramount. I can't help but wonder how Fox "news" missed that day in reporting school. How can they claim to be a powerful news agency if their network simply cannot or fails to include some of the most important tenets of reporting: Accuracy and unbiasedness.

I'm sorry Fox, but you will NEVER be a news agency. You will continue to sell your hot air, and have your reporters, and you'll even make money at it, at LOT of it. But you will never be a news agency and I look forward to when the American public see the truth that you constantly hide behind your red faces and victim attitude.

WOOT FIRST POST!!

No, but seriously.

So I've started this blog because I've got enough stuff up and running around in my head about whats going in the world that I want to get out. I figure if the retards on Fox News and psychotic conservative public can shout in front of a camera, then for sure I can do it to a browser window.

Yep, I just tossed my hat in the ring with the "liberal left wing conspiracy". I'm just a marxist socialist Obama supporter looking forward to our upcoming government health care death panels...

Seriously people, what the fuck?

You actually believe that?

This kind of propaganda produced by the right wing conservatives (and this includes "their" media outlets, such as Fox "News") is driving me nuts. Its the reason that I created this blog. It seems that once the conservatives understood that they would be losing the exectutive branch of government, they started these absurd campaigns of slander, interference, and just pure bullshit to throw as many obstacles as possinble in our current administration's way. And I see no REASON for this, other than "if we can't be the ones in control, then we will pout, scream, and otherwise throw a tantrum to be as disruptive as possible until we, as A MINORITY, get all the special attention and interest that we demand".

I am personally overjoyed that we finally have a Democrat president AND a Democratic majority in Congress. We have a chance to break free of the last 8 disasterous years of Bush. I'm not going to provide a history lesson to outline my attitudes, if you've lived in the USA during the last 10 years, you're aware of it. But somehow, the conservatives are still trying to play their fear and propaganda game, spreading lies, half-truths, misinformation, and whatever else they can think of to derail positive attempts to improve the country. I can't even understand what the republican/conservative agenda IS anymore. If the conservatives are against a government health care system, what are you FOR? leaving the system the way it is? I can't see how that is sustainable. Either prospose an alternative, or stop whipping the public into a frenzy with false info.

Why is there even a birther movement? Why in the hell would the Democratic Party have even placed Obama on their ticket if they weren't ABSOLUTELY sure his Birth Certificate is bullet proof, that he was a natural born citizen. There's a lot more people than Obama who decided it was Obama that should run for PotUS. His BC is legit, deal with it.

Alright, this post has gone on long enough. Stay tuned for more rants and opinions.

Peace
-FrozenVoodoo