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12-18-2007, 04:35 PM
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#21
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Lake Livingston, Tx
Posts: 4,204
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I think the news, in general, is interested in bad news. I also think a section of the press has a political agenda. Well maybe all the press. Some one way and some the other. It certainly has occurred to me that it is to one sides advantage to make people think things are in the dumps. Would we be hearing more about the 4.7% unemployment rate? Is the economy really in the tank? Are we really spending less?
I don't know the answers to these questions, I do know I don't really trust the main line press. Fox, CNN, ABC, CBS or NBC. So therefore I think we should 'trust but verify'.
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12-18-2007, 04:36 PM
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#22
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 5,105
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Quote:
Originally Posted by barbarus
Are the j*bs (or income streams for those retired) for readers of this board so secure then?
Prudence yet again raises her ugly head and says, while it's unhealthy to dwell on the idea, at least remain vaguely open to the fact that you too may fall into dire economic circumstance.
For some, the prospect is quite distant, for others, imminent.
Merry (Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, Saturnalia, Jule and whatever) to all and to all a good night.
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Read this book and have a Happy New Year.
Amazon.com: The Culture of Fear: Why Americans Are Afraid of the Wrong Things: Books: Barry Glassner
After reading the book, the pattern became clear of how the media spins its stories to make them deliberately misleading in order to sell fear and keep viewers and readers plugged in. I believe this educational experience has made me a more savvy and skeptical consumer of the news.While Glassner's primary target in "The Culture of Fear" is the media, other groups are also shamed along the way (and they aren't all conservatives, either!)
__________________
Sometimes death is not as tragic as not knowing how to live. This man knew how to live--and how to make others glad they were living. - Jack Benny at Nat King Cole's funeral
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12-18-2007, 04:43 PM
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#23
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Laurel, MD
Posts: 8,327
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TromboneAl
Every night on the news they'll have a story about how people are spending less this Christmas. They'll always interview some 20-something mall shopper, who says something like this:
"Yes, I'm cutting back this year, because I've heard that the economy isn't doing that well."
Now, unless that person expects to lose his/her job, that makes no sense, right?
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Maybe they saw a TV interview of a mall shopper that's decided to cut back this year because of 'the economy'. Maybe they DO expect to be laid off. Maybe they think it unwise to run up the credit card like they did last year.
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12-18-2007, 04:46 PM
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#24
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Laurel, MD
Posts: 8,327
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Quote:
Originally Posted by barbarus
Merry (Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, Saturnalia, Jule and whatever) to all and to all a good night.
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Festivus! Oh never mind you did say whatever.
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12-18-2007, 04:53 PM
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#25
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 433
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Thanks Dex.
Looking at the reviews of the book, it doesn't seem to deal with any of the true problems we are facing. Just debunks the bovine feces the media dwells on to sell themselves. For instance, airline accidents.....I fly a powered parachute so a commercial jet airplane trip seems kinda bland.
Wonder if he deals with real issues like the economy?
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12-18-2007, 05:23 PM
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#26
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,450
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My favorite is the 10 pm news preview during the prime time programming....."Guess what the government isnt telling you that could kill you....details at 10"
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12-18-2007, 05:26 PM
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#27
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 47,500
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That looks like a terrific book, Dex! I really do think he is right. The media presentation of some issues is overly alarming.
__________________
Already we are boldly launched upon the deep; but soon we shall be lost in its unshored, harbourless immensities. - - H. Melville, 1851.
Happily retired since 2009, at age 61. Best years of my life by far!
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12-18-2007, 07:51 PM
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#28
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 899
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Want2retire
I worry about the possibility (that we all face) of undeserved lawsuits costing me millions and years, .
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Do you have umbrella insurance? Might want to look into it?
MB
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12-18-2007, 08:09 PM
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#29
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,733
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12-18-2007, 08:17 PM
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#30
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 4,898
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I, on the other hand, am spending more this Christmas because I suspect that we are headed into a recession and I know I won't feel comfortable taking a trip when the stock market goes down or is flat. Strange logic, huh?
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12-18-2007, 09:54 PM
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#31
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 655
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I don't worry about what I spend for Christmas, but rather what I spend for the whole year as I learned from Joe Dominguez.
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12-18-2007, 10:08 PM
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#32
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Columbus
Posts: 769
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Yeah, when you go to the races, ya wanna see real flame'in wrecks not just fender benders.
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12-19-2007, 09:07 AM
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#33
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Northern IL
Posts: 26,895
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I wonder if the average person isn't saying:
"Ewwwww, the economy is bad? That is sooooo depressing! I think I'll go to the mall and buy a bunch of stuff to make me feel better".
-ERD50
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12-19-2007, 09:13 AM
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#34
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Lake Livingston, Tx
Posts: 4,204
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I saw a story on TV awhile back that said something like 80% of the people surveyed said they were doing OK, but thought a majority of others were in trouble.
What this told me, was that the news media has done a good job of hyping the negative. So it will not surprise me if holiday spending goes either way. People know they are OK, and may spend more, however, they may be worried they will be like the rest of the economy and decide to save a little. If they do decide to spend less it could be a self fulfilling prophecy.
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12-19-2007, 09:34 AM
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#35
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 193
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dex
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Thanks for the citation, though it is based on 6-year old data. It contains the sentence:
These figures are from the Federal Reserves 2001 Survey of Consumer Finances, one of the most comprehensive assessments of what Americans own and owe. (The survey is updated every three years; a summary of 2004's results will be published in early 2006.)
The Federal Reserve Board published newer data (from 2004), though I've not been able to find it on the web yet.
__________________
Retired in 2001 at age 49.
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12-19-2007, 09:39 AM
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#36
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 47,500
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ERD50
I wonder if the average person isn't saying:
"Ewwwww, the economy is bad? That is sooooo depressing! I think I'll go to the mall and buy a bunch of stuff to make me feel better".
-ERD50
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LOL!! Could be.
I was wondering if the economy might have had a damping effect on those legendary HUGE Christmas bonuses that are doled out to high dollar earners in NYC and on the East Coast. Presumably these bonuses go for high end Cadillacs and Ferraris, Lear jets, spectacular large diamonds, weekend trips to Paris and such. This is beyond my milieu or station in life, so I am just guessing.
In difficult economic times, these poor fellows might have to tighten the belt and just make do with new flatscreen TVs, cubic zirconia, or a weekend trip to New Jersey.
__________________
Already we are boldly launched upon the deep; but soon we shall be lost in its unshored, harbourless immensities. - - H. Melville, 1851.
Happily retired since 2009, at age 61. Best years of my life by far!
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12-19-2007, 11:48 AM
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#37
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Columbus
Posts: 769
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Quote:
Originally Posted by template
Thanks for the citation, though it is based on 6-year old data. It contains the sentence:
These figures are from the Federal Reserves 2001 Survey of Consumer Finances, one of the most comprehensive assessments of what Americans own and owe. (The survey is updated every three years; a summary of 2004's results will be published in early 2006.)
The Federal Reserve Board published newer data (from 2004), though I've not been able to find it on the web yet.
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2004 Survey results
FRB: 2004 SCF
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12-19-2007, 11:51 AM
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#38
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Rio Grande Valley
Posts: 38,145
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dex
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You had to read a book to figure that out? LOL!
Sorry - just couldn't resist the tease! That's just been so darn obvious to me for > past 10 years and a minor peeve. The local nightly news is the absolute worst at this type of fear-mongering manipulation. If it's not the lead in your toy or your tuna it's the pedophile living next door.....
I don't know how many times I see them plug an outrageous or sensational headline many, many times. Finally get to the story - and the story either in no way backs up the headline - sometimes even directly contradicting it, or the headline was way blown out of proportion to the actual story.
So sloppy and just plain bad journalism, but unless people actually pay attention and weight the content, they'll miss the truth. I can only assume most people don't? I suppose there is a level of critical thinking required to wade through the BS and most people are just too lazy?
Maybe, maybe not. Not my problem (that's why it's a minor peeve). I decided not to worry about that a long time ago, just like I decided to never waste time worrying about whether society is "going to hell in a hand basket" or lose too much sleep over it when someone I don't like is voted in for president.
Audrey
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12-19-2007, 12:13 PM
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#39
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 12,880
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Quote:
Maybe, maybe not. Not my problem (that's why it's a minor peeve).
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When we come back: Think that scare tactics in the media can't affect you? You might be surprised at what leading experts say about how sensationalized news stories and responses of your own neighbors can destroy your peace of mind, elect a president who is not qualified to serve, and make you a victim of identity theft. So stay tuned to Action Eyewitness News 7.
__________________
Al
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12-19-2007, 12:22 PM
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#40
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Rio Grande Valley
Posts: 38,145
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TromboneAl
When we come back: Think that scare tactics in the media can't affect you? You might be surprised at what leading experts say about how sensationalized news stories and responses of your own neighbors can destroy your peace of mind, elect a president who is not qualified to serve, and make you a victim of identity theft. So stay tuned to Action Eyewitness News 7.
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ROFLOL!
Audrey
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