Gastonia, NC Correspondent-I’m in the “media business” and an issue that is always at the forefront of our minds when we’re breaking a big story is sourcing. How many times have you seen BuzzFeed, TMZ or some other news-ish site “break” a sensational story that later turns out to be inaccurate, if not completely fabricated? Single-sourcing of news items is what makes this happen. It’s the equivalent of the neighborhood gossip hearing that the preacher is fooling around with the church secretary and running door to door to tell the neighbors without finding out that, in fact, the church hasn’t HAD a secretary for months. Continue reading
Society
Is it time to make English the official language of the United States? What could happen either way?
Gastonia, NC Correspondent-I surely don’t mind English becoming the official language of the United States, but we need to be sure to specify that it’s American English unless we want to start calling our car hoods “bonnets” and telling Tom Brady he can’t grab the ball with his hand unless he’s the goalie. Continue reading
Should There Be Regulation On Artificial Intelligence To Prevent a “Rise Of The Machines”?
Myrtle Beach, SC, Orlando, FL August 27, 2015
Gastonia, NC Correspondent-Hawking, Musk and Gates are really smart guys, and while I’m tempted to give them credit for foresight here and get behind efforts to “pre-regulate” artificial intelligence before Skynet comes on line and starts wiping us all out, I simply can’t bring myself to buy into their doomsday scenario. The human brain is an insanely complex web of neurons, dendrites and other components my one year of college biology doesn’t allow me to recall clearly. The most powerful computer on Earth can’t do 1/1000th of what a human brain can do. It may be able to calculate Pi to tremendous length, beat us at chess, calculate the proper trajectory for a spacecraft to land on Mars or tell traffic lights in what sequence to operate to keep the cars flowing, but it’s actually very limited. Continue reading
Is There Really A “War On Women” Or Is This Just a Media Driven Frenzy?
Myrtle Beach, SC, Orlando, FL August 20, 2015
Gastonia, NC Correspondent-So the question this week is one that any heterosexual man fears to answer, lest he displease the object of his affections or even the potential object of his affections. Continue reading
In The Light Of Cecil, The Protected Lion In Zimbabwe, Being Shot And Killed By The American Dentist Walter Palmer, Do Laws Need To Change Regarding Trophy Hunting Or Hunting For Sport?
Myrtle Beach, SC, Orlando, FL August 11, 2015
Gastonia, NC Correspondent- The arguments in favor of continuing trophy hunting always come back to the fact that hunters support the societies where they hunt by buying permits, hiring guides and spending money on food, lodging and incidentals. Continue reading
Should Business Owners Be More Proactive With Disruptive Guests (Restaurants, Bars, Airlines, Retail Shops, Etc.)? For Example The Owner of Marcy’s Diner Recently Asked A Couple To Leave…
Myrtle Beach, SC, Orlando, FL July 31, 2015
Prescott Valley, AZ Correspondent-Business owners should be more proactive with disruptive customers, guests or patrons whether it be in hotels, restaurants, airliners, retail shops or other public places. Without constraints, disruptive individuals will take advantage of a situation that angers or frustrates them and create havoc over a perceived offense. In order to protect their business reputation and policies, as well as their customers, guests and patrons, businesses must set ground rules for “disruptively challenged” individuals. Continue reading
Has Society Lost Its Creativity In The Arts? Is There Anything Being Produced Today That Has The Staying Power Of Mozart Or Shakespeare For Example?
Myrtle Beach, SC, Orlando, FL July 16, 2015
Gastonia, NC Correspondent-During Mozart’s day, the only way for his works to be spread
among the populace was for orchestras to learn them, practice them and then perform them in concert. This led to a very high level of reproduction quality, as no conductor worth his salt wanted to be known as the man who butchered “The Magic Flute.” Continue reading
Is The gay Marriage Ruling The End Of The Civil Rights Movement Or Does It Trample On The Rights Of People Who Object To It On Religious Grounds?
Myrtle Beach, SC, Orlando, FL July 10, 2015
Asheville, NC Correspondent-There’s a strain of thought in American jurisprudence which holds that rights are a zero sum game. That is, if one group gains rights, another group must lose them. This thinking is clear in the public pronouncements of those concerned about the implication of the recent Supreme Court decision, Obergefell, et. al. v Hodges, in which the court held that marriage is a right to which same sex couples are entitled. Continue reading
In The Wake Of The Tragedy In Charleston SC People Are Calling For The Removal Of The Confederate Flag. Is The Flag Just a Scapegoat For Bigger Issues?
Myrtle Beach, SC, Orlando, FL July 1, 2015
Gastonia, NC Correspondent-I’m not sure “blaming society” is the direction to go with the
Confederate flag donnybrook. Dylann Roof was undoubtedly a deeply disturbed individual, and interviews with those around him indicate that there were numerous warning signs that his grenade of lunacy had its pin pulled quite some time ago. Continue reading
How Has The Ability To Easily Document Effected Our Willingness To Intervene In Bad Situations?
Myrtle Beach, SC, Orlando, FL June 26, 2015
Prescott Valley, AZ Correspondent-Both regular media and social media sources have affected the willingness of ordinary citizens to intervene in complicated, dangerous and bad situations due to the preponderance of media outlet overkill and the instantaneous follow up documentation that is disseminated through televised sources and the internet. The combination of these influential sources has overpowered and neutralized the will of people to look at a volatile situation rationally and make decisions as to how to assess a situation, intervene and resolve a predicament. Problem solving appears to have been left to the media giants rather than law abiding citizens and the proper authorities. Continue reading
Thinking Outside The Boxe 