I was surprised, even stunned, and then of course delighted with all the kind words you readers and viewers added as comments under my New Year’s Eve video message on Thursday night.
I read them while taking a day off at the coast, where it’s been raining pretty much nonstop since Thursday night. The weather didn’t stop me from venturing out on the bike, but it seemed unwise to continue as the wind got stronger and appeared to become a gale.
So I shot this very brief video and headed back under cover (better turn your sound down because of the wind noise on my phone’s microphone):
Rain or shine, though, I’m grateful for our life in Oregon. And to those of you who have sent me comments and Facebook messages the last two days, I was touched. Thanks very much. (hh)
HH, one question for your NYE post. You said we should pay more attention more “legitimate” news organizations.
I am curious what those are in your mind?
Happy New Year btw. 2022 will be here soon. LOL
For actual developments locally and around the country — events and such — I mean the papers and TV. If they report there’s been an earthquake or a fire, you can be sure that’s what happened. As for political news, you have to learn to disregard the adjectives and anything not attributed to a named person. Once you recognize the bias and have learned to compensate for it, that can be informative too.
“As for political news, you have to learn to disregard the adjectives and anything not attributed to a named person.”
And even then, you have to be careful that statements aren’t taken out of context or haven’t been edited to fit the narrative. We’ve seen this time and time and time again over the last twenty years.
“Once you recognize the bias and have learned to compensate for it, that can be informative too.”
Exactly. There has to be some grain of factual information, even if it has been heavily ‘spun’ as to be something entirely different.
I absolutely believe in the First Amendment, but I have always held that just because you have the ‘right’ to do something, doesn’t mean that you don’t have the right to do it. There needs to be more accountability in journalism as a whole…less “opinion” and more facts, and a heck of a lot more respect. I miss Walter Cronkite.
Some of the “more opinion vs. facts” can be attributed to the major networks coverage of the 1968 national conventions. Back then, there were only the classic REAL news reporting’s on the only 3 networks: ABC, CBS, & NBC. ABC was running a very distant third in the ratings and had a very limited budget to cover the conventions. (They were gavel-to-gavel coverage back then.)
To offset that limitation, they hired two well known polar-opposits commentators of the day: William F. Buckley & Gore Vidal (who absolutely detested each other on a visceral & personal level).
Over the course of the two conventions, they had 10 “debates” on live TV. It went seriously downhill each debate. To the point they were almost at blows with each other.
The upshot? ABC had monstrous ratings and the the other two networks then jumped on the bandwagon and hired commentators to do same – with disregard to the facts.
Source: https://www.pbs.org/independentlens/films/best-of-enemies/
Where at the coast were you at in the video? I love the coast in a good storm.
Yachats…
You are a good one H. H….! An even temper, a level keel, sound judgement, and yatta, yatta, yatta!
I love the Oregon coast in all kinds of weather. Thanks for the video.
Love the stormy days at the coast ! Thanks for the video.
Love the coast sunshine or storm Thanks for the video, I’ll have to make another drive over soon.
We were at Yachats as well! A great place to bring in the New Year despite the weather. You’re a braver soul: we opted in this year, but any day is a good day at the beach, even when it’s tryin’ to blow you off the planet! Always a pleasure to read your works. Happy New Year HH: this year has got to be better!