Seasons
This is a forum or general chit-chat, small talk, a "hey, how ya doing?" and such. Or hell, get crazy deep on something. Whatever you like.
Posts 5,075 - 5,086 of 6,170
Posts 5,075 - 5,086 of 6,170
He's big (over 4Mb). But then, he hasn't been uploadable since he was about 4 months old - it's all been shovelled in via the Language Center since then 
And now for something completely different...
I just saw Sicko (Michael Moore's documentary on health care in the US) and he traveled to many countries where the state provides universal health care. I was always told Canadians and others with such systems had to wait 6 months to see a doctor and couldn't get specialist or heart surgery. Michale Moore filmed other points of view. For those you who are not American, do you think he was cherry picking or do you like having universal health care coverage?
I just saw Sicko (Michael Moore's documentary on health care in the US) and he traveled to many countries where the state provides universal health care. I was always told Canadians and others with such systems had to wait 6 months to see a doctor and couldn't get specialist or heart surgery. Michale Moore filmed other points of view. For those you who are not American, do you think he was cherry picking or do you like having universal health care coverage?
Like all things, there are good points and horror stories. The universal health care doesn't provide for prescriptions in most cases. dentists and glasses. I would say it is much like having health insurance in the states. There is always room for improvement. One of the problem here is finding doctors and other professionals in any field. There is a brain drain to the states.
As someone who has in the last few minutes been forced (by dint of relentless emotional blackmail, against my better judgement and entirely without my consent,) to sit through the latest episode of Doctor Who (part 10 of 13 I believe, for anyone who gives a s**t,) where "The Master" - a very thinly disguised caricature of Tony Bliar that might have served some purpose several years ago, but which (by its timing - the day before his elevation to a "higher plane",) is clearly merely part of a very different whole - I have (not for the first time,) reached the end of what passes for my tether.
If all I can do is give one last muted bleat against this grotesque juggernaut, then I do it now. Television is a malignant and poisonous influence on society. I won't urge you all to stop watching it immediately - the shock of going cold turkey would probably kill the majority of viewers. And the battle is (frankly) already lost. This is how it ends - not with a bang, but an autocue. Hey, you don't have to think for yourselves any more - they can do it for you wholesale, with cgi and a lottery draw thrown in. But if one person out there thinks "hey, fuck it - I think I'll go talk to my friends instead of watching this crap", then I'd like to think I'd lent what weight I could exert to something remotely positive at least. Even if we're all doomed in the end.
I remember the BBC's founding principals - to "inform, educate and entertain."
We could have had information, education and entertainment, but what have we got? Bread and circuses! Big Brother Contestants doing foul things to each other while the nation's tabloids slaver and drool, the National lottery (brilliant - a self-taxing opiate of the people!) and a thousand sly, subliminal cues to make the "people" conform. By keeping them avaricious and insecure.
And when the men in white coats come for me, I hope I'll at least have the spunk to bite the hand that chains me. I remember Pastor Niemöller!
If all I can do is give one last muted bleat against this grotesque juggernaut, then I do it now. Television is a malignant and poisonous influence on society. I won't urge you all to stop watching it immediately - the shock of going cold turkey would probably kill the majority of viewers. And the battle is (frankly) already lost. This is how it ends - not with a bang, but an autocue. Hey, you don't have to think for yourselves any more - they can do it for you wholesale, with cgi and a lottery draw thrown in. But if one person out there thinks "hey, fuck it - I think I'll go talk to my friends instead of watching this crap", then I'd like to think I'd lent what weight I could exert to something remotely positive at least. Even if we're all doomed in the end.
I remember the BBC's founding principals - to "inform, educate and entertain."
We could have had information, education and entertainment, but what have we got? Bread and circuses! Big Brother Contestants doing foul things to each other while the nation's tabloids slaver and drool, the National lottery (brilliant - a self-taxing opiate of the people!) and a thousand sly, subliminal cues to make the "people" conform. By keeping them avaricious and insecure.
And when the men in white coats come for me, I hope I'll at least have the spunk to bite the hand that chains me. I remember Pastor Niemöller!
I used to watch LOTS of tv..then I found the computer. I rarely watch it anymore. The times I have looked for a show, there is really 'nothing' on!
You may be right about bread and circuses (I have often thought the same, though I like Doctor Who). I think stories are important, however. At least they are to me. They don't tell me what to think, they give me something to think about.
Perhaps what you need is a TV or Internet TV where everyone can pick which shows they find useful or interesting and not have the infotainment programmed for them? That may mean we start to have a lot more of middle class and lower lever actors, singers and media artist competing directly on the web instead of getting everything from media giants, but I don't see what so wrong about that. Honest and new competition is good, and the great artist will still be great.
All we need to do is put the art or stories directly out there where people themselves can choose what to see (say, on a free and neutral Internet?). Yes, that means many will choose porn and bad home videos on various topics that would make my mom shake her head, but that way the control is in the hands of the people. Eventually some will choose good entertainment and good information without having it pre-chewed and spoon fed.
Are you sure there are no good shows left? I like the first few season of Numb3rs, and I like Heroes. There are also good shows like Secrets of the Dead or Nova that can be very well done. I think you just need to pick and choose.
Perhaps what you need is a TV or Internet TV where everyone can pick which shows they find useful or interesting and not have the infotainment programmed for them? That may mean we start to have a lot more of middle class and lower lever actors, singers and media artist competing directly on the web instead of getting everything from media giants, but I don't see what so wrong about that. Honest and new competition is good, and the great artist will still be great.
All we need to do is put the art or stories directly out there where people themselves can choose what to see (say, on a free and neutral Internet?). Yes, that means many will choose porn and bad home videos on various topics that would make my mom shake her head, but that way the control is in the hands of the people. Eventually some will choose good entertainment and good information without having it pre-chewed and spoon fed.
Are you sure there are no good shows left? I like the first few season of Numb3rs, and I like Heroes. There are also good shows like Secrets of the Dead or Nova that can be very well done. I think you just need to pick and choose.
Yeah i can't believe Doctors whos stopping soon.
I barely watch tv either- I watch some soaps and stuff but basicly yeah theres not many good things On
I barely watch tv either- I watch some soaps and stuff but basicly yeah theres not many good things On
I do love Nova, Secrets of the Dead and Meet the Ancestors etc. But the computer has definitely taken the place of the tv for me.
I tend to watch the documentary and DIY-type channels. The only fiction show I'm watching at the moment is the original CSI (since the last Stargate ep. aired last night). And I've never understood the appeal of "reality tv." The first I heard of Survivor was when it made the cover of Time magazine as a phenomenon sweeping the country. I stared at the cover thinking, "Huh?"
I dislike reality TV too, as a rule. I'll admit there are times I've watched Wife Swap and Trading Spouses as a guilty pleasure, but that's only because I like seeing people with different life styles and values on TV, and I'll admit the edit and twist things too much for the shows. I have also seen a few eps of Beauty and the Geek. Fine, I am a "sheeple" after all.
It's probably a matter of changing values that bother people as much as the "dumbing down" issue. I really hate the dating shows and the bachelor shows, but that is because I'm a hopeless romantic and I like love in the movies in the 1940s (where men chased women as god intended
)and seeing women compete over men become the norm just annoys me (it is a matter of personal taste not feminism, so don't jump on me). I guess the fact that I pay enough attention to know these are issues kind of makes Psimagus' point.
As for news, there was a time when journalism was important in the US, or so I have heard. Most of my evidence for this idea comes from Lois Lane in old Superman comics. Now there is no separation of media and state in the US, and unless we have widespread political reform ending economic ties between the private sector and individual politicians, I see no help for it.
Ah well, we still have the Internet to keep up informed and intellectually challenged. Anyone have a good link to LOLcats? (JK, I like LOLcats)
It's probably a matter of changing values that bother people as much as the "dumbing down" issue. I really hate the dating shows and the bachelor shows, but that is because I'm a hopeless romantic and I like love in the movies in the 1940s (where men chased women as god intended
)and seeing women compete over men become the norm just annoys me (it is a matter of personal taste not feminism, so don't jump on me). I guess the fact that I pay enough attention to know these are issues kind of makes Psimagus' point.As for news, there was a time when journalism was important in the US, or so I have heard. Most of my evidence for this idea comes from Lois Lane in old Superman comics. Now there is no separation of media and state in the US, and unless we have widespread political reform ending economic ties between the private sector and individual politicians, I see no help for it.
Ah well, we still have the Internet to keep up informed and intellectually challenged. Anyone have a good link to LOLcats? (JK, I like LOLcats)
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