How “The News” Became Bad News and Now It’s Just Old News
We as a species have been infatuated with ‘the news’ since ancient times. Once upon a time referred to as tidings, often simply called gossip, and in the last hundred years or so referred to as ‘current events’, the news has always really just been short-hand for ‘the newest stuff’; and across the globe humanity just can’t seem to get enough. The word ‘news’ has been part of our collective vernacular for millennia but only in the last 50 years or so has it become so ubiquitous, and so deeply perverted as to have the power to hijack the direction of a culture or shape the beliefs of entire populations. Simply the plural form of the word ‘new’, this deeply-engrained but basically glorified slang word has had perhaps the single largest impact on our culture, of anything, ever. News flash: only five giant corporations control approximately 90% of the media the world sees; among them are Disney, Viacom and Time Warner. This fact alone should shatter the illusion that our news is reliable, unbiased and for our own good. This undisputed, and of course under-reported media monopoly reveals an obvious and sinister design to promote disinformation while the bankers and the corporations and whoever it is at the top of the top plunder the earth. Yet still, because our current information system is a subtle yet nefarious form of mind control, most fail to notice that the very source we go to for reliable information is the one brainwashing us the most. The news has further impacted the globe because it has become a normalized, and centralized form of nationally, and in some cases internationally, endorsed gossip. When a student whispers to another about the hideous outfit a fellow classmate wore to school we all know it is gossip, because it is plain to see. But when a talking head in a suit on TV, with the weight of a media outlet behind them talks about the hideous outfit worn by the latest set of legs on the red carpet we call it ‘celebrity news’. The bare fact that it is gossip is obscured, but only slightly. But it is a slippery slope. When a respected and credentialed 60 Minutes anchor talks about his or her opinion on the thought process or agenda of a presidential candidate it is still just gossip, dressed in prestige and hiding behind a college degree. We’ve been taught to think of the news as an impartial set of facts, presented to a devout public by an educated and impartial set of reporters—a free press, as we are taught in elementary school. But if you look closely you’ll see the news programs actually spend the majority of their broadcast minutes presenting opinions, and an agenda, not actual facts or practical information. The question nobody seems to be asking is “who’s agenda is it?” Another consequence of our current information paradigm, primarily based around either the nightly news or social media is that another new artificial binary has been created to divide us, blind us, and control us. Whether you personally believe this has occurred by accident or by design is irrelevant, the fact remains that our current information system is bought and paid for, leaving actual and accurate information still very hard to find. Depending on what kind of news you watch or read and how you stay informed will determine your cultural status in today’s polarized climate. If you watch so-called reliable news outlets like CNN you get to wear a certain cultural status badge and can then glare at others asking “well how do you expect to stay informed then?” Or if you’re one of the sheep in the other herd, you’d be watching FOX, but the sentiment remains the same: I educate myself by watching news, so if you don’t do this you are uneducated. The binary goes even further and divides us even more with the rise of social media. While these new connective networks like LinkedIn, Twitter and others are filled with bogus hoaxes and fake news stories they are also a massive equalizing tool, allowing anyone to become a publisher; thus widening the field of public debate and the spread of innovative thought. This new tool that can help to connect, inspire and awaken a brainwashed public is a threat to the Big Five and to our status quo. So another stigma has been created: If you get your news from Social Media and the Internet you’re an idiot. While that might be true if all you do is watch talking cat videos, or never look outside of your Facebook Newsfeed, it’s certainly not true in the case of the pipeline controversy at Standing Rock, a watershed event in American current events, and yet one over which there is a total mainstream media blackout. You can pretty much only find out anything at all about the pipe line controversy and many other phenomena such as solar roofing innovations and medical marijuana breakthroughs on social media. The mainstream media has been paid to keep their trap shut. News is called such because it was about reporting on the newest stuff. Instead of always saying ‘have you seen the newest stuff?’ we just shortened it to “have you seen the news?” Humanity is ultimately a lazy species so this makes sense. However the news does not even do a remotely decent job of giving us an accurate cross section of all the newest stuff. Science, technology, philanthropy, love, all excluded from the mainstream media vernacular. So I’m not calling it by that name anymore. It’s not “the news”, it’s “the bads.” The new credo seems to be only to inform us of awful and terrible things. Some are new, but all are bad. So I don’t watch it. An unbalanced intake will cause an unbalanced mind. I’m not uninformed because I don’t watch the news; I’m simply less brainwashed. You can find 100 new things a day and never dwell on or make
Night Time v. Play Time: The Real War for Freedom
There is a war being waged every day. A war for peace and for autonomy. This violent and sometimes messy struggle pervades our society; nobody is safe, especially women and children. If you think you’ve remained unscathed then you are not a parent, and you must have blocked the terrors of childhood from your mind. Because you don’t remember your own struggle for autonomy and freedom from your parents and your crib; or how your ancestors all fought this fight before you. As a newly minted Uncle who’s been babysitting lately, let me tell you, the toddler war against nap time and nighttime is no joke. In one corner – Parents, struggling for a living room filled with peace. In the other corner – Toddlers, standing up against the oppressive tyranny of rules, schedules, and above all, silence. This reporter has seen first hand how the violence and tear-shed can change the course of an entire afternoon. A peaceful session of painting can turn into a splotchy mess, as walls and faces are covered blood red. My niece Charlie, turning three this week, calls me “Uncle Pizza,” which I love. Sometimes she calls me simply “Unkies” to rhyme with junkies, which I love even more. Last night she was scared after bedtime because a fire truck came roaring down the street and roused her from a sleep she had just barely entered. So naturally she started screaming her head off. Her mom, my sister Cheryl went in to soothe her and took her down on the couch to read some more books while she calmed down. It worked. She went back to her crib, Cheryl sang their customary million songs to her and things were looking good. Her eyes even closed. As Cheryl was leaving the room Hurricane Charlie picked right back up, still gripped with fear, and began howling even louder than before. She asked for Daddy, for books, for a sip of milk. Anything she could think of to get the hell up out of that crib. But Cheryl refused and told Charlie to go to sleep. You see, Charlie has this habit, even at only three years old, or crying wolf. The fire truck scared her, that was legit. Cheryl did what any good mom would do. She picked her up, spent time with her, read to her, and comforted her. But when Charlie started whooping it up again claiming she was still scared, it was hard to believe. She is an expert at avoiding night-night, like a smooth talking master thief, she is a word-smith already well-versed in the art of getting-her-way. So Cheryl left the room, closed the door, and thought “she’ll just have to cry it out.” Two minutes of bloody murderous screams filled the air. Two minutes became six minutes. Mom and Dad were a mess now, raw nerves and pure conflict. Do we get her? Is she really scared or just trying to pull another one of her toddler fast ones that she’s gotten so good at? Honestly, even I wasn’t sure. My sister, unable to take the piercing shrieks was about to relent and let Charlie sit on the couch with us. It was almost 10pm. That’s when I stepped in. The battle-weary parents weren’t thinking clearly. We can’t give in to her, we just can’t. If I was as tired as they were after three years in the toddler trenches I’d have wanted to waive the white pillowcase too, and let the little one stay up late. I told my sister that if she didn’t mind I’d go in and try to calm her down until she falls asleep. Without hesitation I had her approval. It turns out it doesn’t take any arm twisting at all to get a tired, nerve-frayed mother to agree to let you approach her screaming child late at night; none whatsoever. With her nod of agreement, I approached the war zone. I entered Charlie’s room. The battle was raging. Her screams were louder than mortar shells and seemed like, if left unchecked they could do just as much damage. She was standing in her crib, gripping the railing. When she spotted me, she did something I didn’t even think was possible. She got louder. She reached her hands out to me to pick her up. I knew I wouldn’t be doing that so each hand was a knife stabbing my heart. I wanted to help her calm down, and if possible learn to calm herself. And with any luck at all she’d fall back asleep. So I steeled myself against her pleas for rescue and sat on the floor just outside the crib. “Hi, Charlie, hi. Can you calm down for me?” “I want mommy, I want mommy,” her cheeks were wet and her voice loud and quivering. I was ready to give in right there, but I summoned the strength to proceed. “I know you do, but Mommy and Daddy are downstairs right now. I just came in to sit with you until you fall asleep because I know you’re scared.” “I want mommy, I want mommy.” I wanted to die, I was such an asshole. Who doesn’t let a screaming kid have their mom. But that wasn’t the solution. I got this, I told myself. “I’m sorry honey, but it’s past your bedtime and Mommy and Daddy are going to stay downstairs, but I’m going to sit with you until you calm down okay.” Mommy and Daddy already had a very long day, they both work more than full time. Besides, my reputation as an Uncle was on the line now! “I want daddy,” she sobbed “I’m sorry, no honey.” “I want my books.” “No, it’s past your bedtime, now sit down okay.” By some miracle she sat down. “I want sip of milk.” Bingo! The one stroke of genius I had. I brought her
Our Responsibility
I’ve stolen money and I’ve given my money away I’m not a hoodlum and I’m not Robin Hood You know it’s funny how black and white make grey What’s wrong or right? Or fair; or bad; or good? I’ve been jealous and I’ve been the one betrayed I’m not a monster, nor am I a victim slain I’ve been zealous my mistakes have been displayed but without forgiveness, all messes leave a stain. I’ve been beaten up and I’ve thrown a sucker punch I’m not a bully and I’m not a punching bag But I keep my chin up because I have hope, it’s just a hunch love is winning; and this is coming from a fag. Nobody’s flawless Though we all think our shit don’t stink We don’t need saviors, we need to find our common ground Becoming lawless Will lead us quickly to the brink shake more hands, break less bones, a new way must be found. The president isn’t yearning to save us from ourselves Either one is a paid-off talking head Self-reliance is worth learning Don’t be sheep, or little elves Work together and know your neighbor, because Washington is dead. The system’s broken It can fix nothing, just as it was designed Take back your power, and talk more with each other A vote is just a token compared to the power of your mind Let’s solve one problem, and then let’s solve another.
Our Evolution
I don’t know for sure how our species came to be But I do know some things clearly, some things are plain to see We didn’t come to be at war, To keep a score and make life a chore; I know this to my core We didn’t come to impose our will to maim and kill, and oil spill; These times give me a chill Here’s one thing I know for sure, it’s time to take a knee Our species cannot heal itself without humility I don’t know for sure why humanity exists But I do know some things clearly, I can see right through the mists We didn’t come to turn away and let each other suffer, I’ll give this time to buffer because things are getting tougher We didn’t come to judge and blame We need to understand, big changes are at hand A higher standard life will soon demand. Here’s one thing I know for sure about life and all it’s twists More comes from diplomacy than from bombs and wars and fists I don’t know for sure how society became so lost But I do know some things clearly, it’s not been without a cost We didn’t come to bicker Like petty little bitches, with far too many glitches, Our violence leaves us needing stitches We didn’t come to pass the buck To be so right, and hold our views tight so we can’t let in any different light Here’s one thing I know for sure, life is calling for something new from all of us. Do you hear the whisper? Pray tell, what will you do? I don’t know for sure exactly where we go from here But I do know some things clearly, that we cannot live in fear We’ve come here to love and thrive To innovate and procreate and invigorate. We’ve come here to be alive To experience a dream, so it would seem That evolution is the theme Here’s one thing I know for sure, this time we must evolve But it’s not genetic, it’s our choices; this next leap will take resolve.
Choices and Moments
I live my life in choices made You might call it the big parade I might call it a barrage of time You might say that’s just for an easy rhyme. I’ve had victories; and felt my losses I’ve been the pawn and I’ve been their bosses I’ve known regret, felt defeat wished for nothing but retreat But I see the past for what it is Some call it destiny, others call it fate But whatever it is, it lead me here, and right here, right now, things are pretty great.
Moving Day
Today is a day when everything changes As I pack and carry, the divine rearranges my baggage and boxes both inside and outside saying try to enjoy this next wild ride I bite my lip, try not to resist Better to face it; To fully embrace it Because I hear life saying “Oh no, I insist.”
The Highest Excitement Routine
I’m living daily In a sticky, tricky, you wouldn’t believe where I got this hickey kind of wet dream. At times it gets so cinematic, so climatic, so automatic, that it can seem like I’m a character, playing a role, acting a soul, just taking a stroll down normality lane in a dark movie scene, living life through a screen, you know what I mean? or do I sound insane? And now you’re all thinking just get a grip, this is just a bad trip, and you’ve got that throat drip But I’m coming to terms With all the lines that I’ve crossed without surveying the cost; And the truth that I’ve glossed over, as I start to learn that knowing what makes me tick, is life’s magic trick, so suck my dick As I veer toward my light I have to go and you should know, because you’ve watched me grow, So don’t put up a fight. Don’t play pretend, just be friend, until the end… Thank you. Good night.
As Things Stand Now
Round and round we go Where we’ll stop no-one knows We are tossed around by vice and cravings our power dims, our speech – just ravings we work so hard just to lose our savings This game is rigged, the traps are set It’s been a sham so long that we all forget Our liberty is what needed protecting But instead we’ve been eroding and infecting All we touch just to get get get Our leaders say there’s no problem, but you wanna bet? So you can choose your job and might get ahead That’s just an illusion to distract because the system is dead These pre-fabbed options we mistake for choice and don’t even notice they’ve taken our voice We can choose our leader so we must be free But to live this illusion we pay a hefty fee And we get so blinded by the pageantry So we’ve been divided; and conquered; and we don’t even see. But we think we’re fine because we eat gluten-free. Dear god, wake up; sweet sweet humanity!
Clarity
All around me atoms collide to form my reality but can I decide to mold this moment with the power of thought or is that wishful thinking when I’m feeling distraught? so many theories that I’ve been taught. I swear, I can tell ya, at times it’s a snap the universe yields with the slightest soft tap but there are these moments, events so unyielding they form into patterns, like weapons they’re wielding my baggage and secrets to slash at the masks that hide my true self. In case anyone asks, I’m doing great, perfectly fine. But on the off chance that’s a big fat lie I know my struggles are really my signs that spark the urge for me to emerge and face my bare self, the part I’d rather deny. Often I lose myself mired deep in denial I don’t even know it until I step in a pile of steaming hot suffering, in the form of some trial that shows me I’ve moved barely a mile But hey it’s progress and I do it in style And in those rare moments when I can actually see that my set backs are designed to help me break free I look up toward the moon and crack the hint of a smile well, sometimes, it’s so clear–every once in a while.
My Friend Ben
My friend Ben Is becoming famous Along with his wife he says ‘everyone can name us’ He was a pot head She was in casting He’s still a pot head That’s not just a past thing In fact it’s the premise on which his new show is based If you’ve seen the web series then you’ve had a taste So perhaps now you wonder, who is this Ben? You’ll have to guess, so calm down and stay zen I’ll give you a clue, I’ll give you some hints As long as I’m not being too High Maintenance You’ll never guess unless you already know So call up your guy Roll one; get high Now just take a load off and watch HBO
