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by Paul LevinsonPaul Levinson talks about new tech, lifestyles, TV, good food, politics, science fiction
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Latest ABC Mistreatment of Ron Paul: I Intend to Include This in the Next Edition of My Textbook
01/10/2007
The Free Market News Network
reports that WMUR neglected to cover Ron Paul at his "Family Day" rally
in Manchester, New Hampshire this past weekend. WMUR is a state-wide
television operation, with headquarters in Manchester.
What
struck me most about this was not the lack of coverage itself -
infuriating and undemocratic, as it is - but the fact that WMUR is an ABC
affiliate!
Just this past Friday, at the lecture I delivered to
my "Intro to Communication and Media Studies" class at Fordham
University (we'll have the video up on YouTube soon), I detailed a
series of outrageous ABC misreportings of Ron Paul since May - ranging
from leaving him out of poll results to publishing misleading photographs that made his
supporters seem far fewer at a rally in Iowa than they actually were.
But I concluded, in an effort to be fair, that ABC seems to have been
improving in the accuracy of its reporting lately, with Fox guilty of the
worst recent transgressions.
But here we are, once again, with a
national ABC television affiliate apparently up to the same old
business. If the Free Market News story is correct - and it's been up
online more than a day with no opposing comments offered - then ABC is
continuing to dig itself into a hole it may never get out of.
Because,
whatever happens in this election, the shameful performance of ABC News
at so many junctures - regarding mostly Ron Paul, but also, at least
once, Dennis Kucinich - will not be forgotten. Indeed, I expect it will
be a section in many textbooks about media and politics. I know I
certainly will be putting something about this in my next edition of The Soft Edge: A Natural History and Future of the Information Revolution.
See reviews of the most recent edition of The Soft Edge.
Refreshing Credit Card
28/09/2007
When it comes to financial flexibility for the widest variety of purchases, there's still nothing as handy as a good credit card.
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Plus, you get a series of special MINT+ offers throughout the year, ranging from West End shows in London to Easter Eggs to an online wine club that delivers the finest wines in the world right to your door. You'll even receive invitations to exclusive wine tasting events.
You can not only spend your money wisely and safely, but live like a king while doing it - with MINT, the refreshing credit card package.
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Ron Paul at PBS Debate: I Am Against Federal Death Penalty
28/09/2007
I was delighted to hear Ron Paul say at the Republican Presidential debate on PBS that he is opposed to the Federal death penalty. He indicated that this was one of the few positions he changed his views about over the years - at one time, he supported the Federal death penalty - and his reason was that DNA evidence has shown too many innocent people found guilty.
My position has always been against death penalties on all levels. Even before DNA evidence, it seemed to me that juries are fallible, they are capable of error, and putting a person to death on the basis of a wrong jury decision was one of the very worst things a civilized society could ever do. Life in prison without parole was a strong enough punishment, and one which allowed reversal in the event that new evidence came to light or old evidence proved faulty.
As on so many other issues, the libertarian distrust that Ron Paul has of government, and his sheer logic, have led him to an enlightened, humanitarian position. My only disagreement with Ron Paul on this issue is that I would like to see capital punishment outlawed on a state level, too.
Kucinich at Dem Debate: "I Would Give 16-Year Olds the Vote"
27/09/2007
You see the Democratic Presidential Debate at Dartmouth last night? You gotta love Mike Gravel. Asked by Tim Russert how he could run for President and be trusted with the nation's fiscal responsibility, when he ran up a big unpaid debt, Gravel proudly shot back - hey, look who I stuck with that debt, I stuck the credit card companies with a $90,000 debt, and they deserved it!
But probably the most important point from an underdog - maybe the most important point made by any candidate - came from Dennis Kucinich, who said he not only favored lowered the drinking age to 18, but the voting age to 16. I seriously support such a lowering of the voting age - I've been saying for years that it should be lowered to 14 - an age at which, according cognitive psychologist Jean Piaget, people have completely adult reasoning processes, and have had them for at least two years.
Among the top tier Democrats, I thought John Edwards did splendidly last night. He comes across as the most human - the least political - and made some points against Hillary and Obama on stopping the business as usual in Washington. I especially liked Edwards' solution to the social security crisis: rather than raising the cap (it's currently $97,000+), create a window, in which income earners won't pay social security tax above the current cap, until they reach a much higher level of income.(I actually most favor Ron Paul's solution of letting people below a certain age opt of social security - but Edwards' is at least an innovative solution, which doesn't punish people in the upper middle class).
But, yeah, let's lower the voting age to 16. Certainly we adults have not voted all that brilliantly in the past few elections...
Trade Shows
26/09/2007
Trade shows are a great way to get the product, image, and ideas of your company out to the people that count - your potential customers, the media, and even your competitors. But you need to do it right, and put your best face forward.
The Godfrey Group, Inc. has everything you need for your trade show displays. Their comprehensive but easy to use website offers
Custom and Portable Trade Show Displays, Display Graphics, Signage, Banner Stands, Merchandising and Retail Displays, Light Boxes, Literature Displays, Table Top Exhibits, and much more. You'll find options in each of these areas, clearly explained, so you can choose what best suits your needs.
On the Portable Exhibit Systems page, for example, you'll find pop-up displays, table displays, modular displays, as well as a variety of truss designs. All are eye-catching and efficient for display. If you're not sure what you want, or just would like to explore new options, the Godfrey Group offers free design consulting and a free ideas guide.
If you want to put your best trade booth forward, Godfrey is worth looking at.
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