Archive for the ‘culture’ Category

Journalism’s “extinction event” will lead to new and better choices for news

Posted: February 4, 2024 by John Ruberry in blogs, business, culture, internet/free speech, media, News/opinion, opinion/news
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By John Ruberry

Big News is having a bad time of it. Paul Farhi, who accepted a buyout from the Washington Post, asked in the Atlantic–a magazine that is propped up by billionaire Laurene Powell Jobs–“Is American Journalism Headed Toward an ‘Extinction-Level Event?'”

With massive layoffs not only at the Post, which is owned by Jeff Bezos, but also the Los Angeles Times–and with Sports Illustrated being probably as dead as the Detroit Lions’ Super Bowl dreams–the answer may be a loud “Yes.” 

Meanwhile, in Democrat-controlled Illinois, the Illinois Local Journalism Task Force, created by legislation in 2021, is betting on the dinosaurs, that is, traditional media. Last week, the task force issued its recommendations for journalism in the Prairie State.

“Its proposals are mostly about getting taxpayers to pony up and putting government in control,” Mark Glennon says in Wirepoints, “[with] no mention of journalism’s own failures.”

Indeed, there are many failures. The glaringly obvious one–unless you work in mainstream media–is that journalists are pushing a narrative to score love from the 20 percent of the population who are far-leftists. Even in Illinois, a blue state, there are not many ultra lefties–they might make up 25 percent of the populace here.

Among the recommendations from the tax force include a whole slew of tax credits for local news sources, including for subscriptions, businesses who advertise with them, as well as for local news providers hiring reporters.

Every one of the recommendations from the task force are wretched ideas that I could eviscerate easily one by one, but to save time, I’ll move on. But not yet. Besides these tax credits, the task force recommends exempting local news sources from Illinois’ corporate income tax. 

Some states have no corporate income tax.

News should be a mass market product, not a niche offering, but the liberals in charge have turned it into that. Again, I’ll be brief. Most Americans–and yes, most Illinoisans–believe there are only two genders, and most had doubts about the COVID propaganda of 2020-21. And most of them are fed up with the lamestream media minimizing the ongoing crisis with rampant crime.

Yeah, I get it, the internet has hurt local news providers. But they didn’t adapt. The same with Big News.

Let’s talk about extinction events. Real ones. Extinction is usually portrayed as mass death, yet it’s also a mass life event. 

Following the Permian-Triassic mass extinction, the lystrosaurus, a runt buck-toothed freak reptile, thrived, along with many other emergent species. Soon, geologically speaking that is, came the dinosaurs. After the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event, different small animals, mammals and birds among them–as well as fungus–prospered.

There’s never been more media–or more information–than there is now. Print newspapers are sometimes called dinosaur media.  I believe they should always be named as such. Among the new media are of course blogs such as this one, YouTube and Rumble video channels, streaming services, podcasts, and so much more. A consumer of information is now faced with a daunting challenge. Because finding enough time to sift through all of the choices–let alone absorb all of them–is impossible. 

Last Thursday, Chicago Tribune reporters held a one-day strike against its owner, Alden Capital, a hedge fund firm. “We often say, ‘Newspapers are not dying, they’re being killed,'” Gregory Pratt, a committed left-wing Trib journalist, told WGN-TV. 

Wrong, Pratt. Newspapers are being killed because journalists are emitting an unpopular product and looking down on their customers.

Let’s return to the Illinois Local Journalism Task Force. 

In its rancid report there is a map of Illinois. Counties with few media choices are marked in that map in different shades of red. One of those is McHenry, which is northwest of Chicago. I know of two great news sites reporting about McHenry County: Cal Skinner’s McHenry County Blog and the Lake and McHenry County Scanner–a suburban answer to the phenomenally successful CWB Chicago. I’m certain that the task force didn’t include these sites in their elitist media tally. 

Another fabulous Illinois news source is the aforementioned Wirepoints.

Big creatures usually don’t survive natural mass extinction events. Small ones, nimble animals, find opportunities in an altered world.

Remember, lystrosaurus made way for larger and grander beasts, such as the Tyrannosaurus rex. Today’s blog may become tomorrow’s News Corp–the parent company of Fox News, Dow Jones, HarperCollins, and so many more.

Humans will always crave information–it’s in our DNA–it is just a matter of how it’s delivered to us. We’ve come a very long away from when the evening news was a caveman squatting in front of a bonfire telling whoever was sitting in front of him how that day’s hunt went. If that prehistoric anchorman delivered fake news–“I killed six mammoths today with my bare hands!”–his audience simply walked away. Kind of like what consumers of Big News are doing now.

The dinosaur media–and the Illinois Journalism Task Force–doesn’t get it.

John Ruberry blogs regularly from the Chicago area at Marathon Pundit.

To Those Who Hate America These Bugs Are Features

Posted: January 29, 2024 by datechguy in Blame Biden Administration, culture
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Gandalf: Always remember Frodo, the Ring is trying to get back to its master. It wants to be found.

The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring 2001

Glenn Reynolds made an important point today that a lot of people seem to be missing but let me sum things up:

Item: The FBI is falling apart:

“SIERRA 23 [an informant who talked to congress] said most of the Agents disappear during the day, go home early or never want to work late for after-hours operations. SIERRA 23 does not trust of the Agents with his/her life since they have questionable competence, tactical abilities and work ethic…. SIERRA 35 said many are entitled and need to be spoon-fed and have their hands held.”

Why Because the FBI has changed the rules and the rule of the day is DEI:

SIERRA 87 described how the traditional Boston FBI standards have now gone nationwide:

“Failure to adhere to financial responsibilities is no longer a disqualifier. A candidate who was arrested and fought with police officers was not disqualified. People with a documented mental illness are not necessarily disqualified. Lack of candor is no longer a disqualifier.”

Once upon a time, a G-man at least had to be able to read and write. Now, not so much, because… DEI. The Congressional report is full of anecdotes about new agents who are basically illiterate.

But I’ll wager they can name 27 genders and really what more do you need from a federal agent in the Biden Administration?

Item: A Gravy Train for illegals and vagrants in Denver:

Apparently you don’t have to buy a book from a guy in a weird suit on late night TV to get free government money anymore:

Denver launched a multimillion-dollar experimental universal basic income (UBI) program during the pandemic with the funds “earmarked for women, families, and transgender and gender non-conforming individuals,” but now we learn they won’t be the only beneficiaries.

The city is putting illegal aliens on the UBI gravy train, too.

Because nothing says “don’t come illegally” like flat payments of thousands plus monthly payments too:

“Payments range from $50 per month to $1,000 per month as well as a one-time cash transfer of $6,500 in addition to 11 payments of $500 per month, all dependent on how the participants were classified.”

The program has been extended another six months, and DBIC will add 39 more people to the program in 2024 — and illegal aliens (migrants in the mainstream media parlance) are now welcome to apply “as long as they meet the criteria.”

Remember these are the same blue cites that say they don’t want more illegals sent there.

Item Here comes the Terrorists:

No intro needed:

He’s not alone:

Border Patrol caught 172 terror watchlist suspects attempting to enter the U.S. illegally during fiscal year 2023. Former homeland security officials say the constant deluge of illegal immigrants hitting the southern border is making it easier for bad actors to slip into the country.

What do all these stories have in common? All are things that hurt the US and help our enemies.

What a lot of people don’t realize is that when we warn them that this will destroy the US their reaction is the same as Sheldon when told his cats would eat him when he died:

You don’t have to sell the left on the destruction of America, they’re already a fan.

Chicago mainstream media ignores rumors that Mayor Brandon Johnson has suffered panic attacks

Posted: January 21, 2024 by John Ruberry in crime, culture, immigration, media, News/opinion, opinion/news, politics
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By John Ruberry

There are a couple of good ways to feel the pulse of what is going in politically in Chicago–and they both involve John Kass, a former Chicago Tribune columnist. You can read his new columns at JohnKassNews.com and you can listen to his Chicago Way podcast.

In his most recent podcast, Kass’ guest was longtime Chicago television reporter, Anita Padilla, who now reports for the Florida Voice. They speak freely about current events, something that was hard for them do to when they worked in the legacy media.

Chicago’s mayor, leftist and Chicago Teachers Union product, Brandon Mayor, was discussed. It was Padilla who brought up a topic that the local mainstream media won’t touch–rumors that Johnson, who was sworn into office last spring–has suffered panic attacks since becoming mayor.

“Because sources told me–two sources–told me that he has been in the hospital for these panic attacks,” Padilla told Kass. “And he is stressed out because this is a big, big job for him.”

Kass replied, “He wasn’t ready for it.” Padilla immediately responded back, “He’s not ready for it, he’s not ready for it. He’s not a leader.”

In October on JohnKassNews, Kass discussed the Johnson panic attack speculation.

The rumors flying through City Hall from sources are that Johnson has suffered at least two episodes that are being described by some as “panic attacks.” I’m not a doctor. I wouldn’t know what to prescribe. But I do know this: as Johnson continues to panic, speculation is growing about a replacement if he can’t do the job.

He’s proven he can’t do the job.

And Kass appears to be right. The local legacy media quickly moved on after it was revealed that, as the Chicago Sun-Times reported, that Johnson “unwittingly” signed an extension of a $10 million contract with ShotSpotter, a gunshot detection company. On the campaign trail, Johnson vowed to cancel that deal.

The speculation about, well, the speculation of Johnson’s panic attacks centers on the migrant crisis. Chicago is a sanctuary city, although America’s third-largest city has not been an able sanctuary host.

A 2,000-person migrant tent city on the Southwest Side–a project Johnson championed–was vehemently opposed by neighborhood residents. Citing environmental concerns, Gov. JB Pritzker pulled the plug on the camp last month–a rare instance when I supported an official action of his–but after the city spent nearly $1 million on it. This summer, many migrants were sleeping at police stations and inside O’Hare Airport terminals.

Two weeks after the migrant tent city was cancelled, a five-year-old Venezuelan boy died at a migrant shelter, an old warehouse, also on the Southwest Side. The boy’s cause of death has not been determined, but conditions in the shelter, which the Johnson administration had been aware of since October, were horrid. Third World-like. Among the problems in the old warehouse were cockroach infestation, exposed piping with raw sewage, not enough bathrooms, and widespread illness.

Johnson will soon have even more to panic about. Crime was the biggest issue of last year’s mayoral campaign. Voters chose to ramp up Johnson’s predecessor’s failed approach to tackle the “root causes” of crime, rather than fighting criminals. Delayed until last September because of a court challenge, Illinois’ no-cash bail SAFE T-Act is finally in effect. Johnson scored a lucky break on that litigation, because the Chicago crime rate usually goes down, along with the temperatures, when summer ends. But the full effect of the pro-criminal SAFE T-Act probably won’t be felt until spring, when those crime rates go back up and Chicago’s career criminals will be emboldened, if they aren’t already, with the belief that crime does pay, even if you are arrested.

And there is now a migrant crime wave in Chicago and the suburbs, although for the most part, the mainstream media is ignoring it.

And this summer, in a foolish move by the Democratic National Committee, the city of Chicago, and the state of Illinois, the Democratic National Convention will convene in Chicago. Many expect violent protests and yes, riots. Which led the Chicago Contrarian to remark on X, “If @ChicagosMayor is experiencing panic attacks over illegals flooding Chicago, one wonders what kind of hysterical meltdown he will suffer when confronted with the maelstrom of rage and rioting the DNC will bring.”

Such a “maelstrom” could end up as a morbid morph of the George Floyd riots of 2022 and the DNC outrage of 1968.

And the “panic” could be spreading to Johnson’s staff. Last week a Bloomberg reporter, Ian Kullgren, was jostled by someone in the mayor’s inner circle. ”Unbelievable, “Kulgren posted on X, ” A staffer for @ChicagosMayor just physically shoved me for trying to ask the mayor a question. 1st time in 15 years as a reporter I’ve had anything like this happen.”

Let’s Go Brandon.

John Ruberry regularly blogs at Marathon Pundit.

The Biden/Trudeau Administrations Accidently Producing The Best Argument Against the Death Penalty I’ve Seen

Posted: January 14, 2024 by datechguy in Blame Biden Administration, culture
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One of the weakest arguments against the death penalty, one that has annoyed me over the years has been the Pope’s implying God’s opposition to it. It’s an argument that to me doesn’t hold water if you consider Acts Chapter 5 which is all about how Ananias, literally dies at the word of St. Peter for lying about the price he got for a piece of land.

But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart so that you lied to the holy Spirit and retained part of the price of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain yours? And when it was sold, was it not still under your control? Why did you contrive this deed? You have lied not to human beings, but to God.” When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last, and great fear came upon all who heard of it.

Acts 5 3-5

And when his wife, not knowing he’s dead repeats the lie…

Peter said to her, “Tell me, did you sell the land for this amount?” She answered, “Yes, for that amount.” Then Peter said to her, “Why did you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen, the footsteps of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” At once, she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men entered they found her dead, so they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.

Acts 5:7-11

Now remember these are people who believed in Christ, were part of the new Christian community even before they were called Christians and had just sold some land and given a portion of the money to the disciples. Their crime had been to lie about the amount and keeping it to themselves and yet there is no hesitation at all in what happens, no appeal no chance to go to confession or repent. Nope they’re dead (Now the question as to if they are damned is a completely different one and an interesting theological question but I digress).

C. S. Lewis has his own opinions on the subject:

Thus the weakness of the theological argument argument against the death penalty, but however there is a better one that we’ve seen lately.

That argument comes from this story out of Canada:

And this one out of DC:

And then I ask myself: Would I trust the people who are making these decision with the power of life and death over folks regardless of the charge or the evidence? That’s when I remember this excellent maxium:

Never trust government with a power that you would not trust your worst enemy with.

If there is a better argument against the death penalty, I don’t know it.

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