-> On 28 May 09  10:20:14, Richard Webb got back to Dan Ceppa 
-> Re: Using What Works

 RW> right now by a fellow named Andro Linklater on how borders boundaries
 RW> and property rights shaped the U.S.  Just received it from the library
 RW> in the mail today. 
 
 DC> That sounds interesting...  

 RW> So far it is.  I'm probably still not more than maybe 100
 RW> pages into it, haven't had much time to sit down with a book last
 RW> couple days, but so far from my reading MR. Linklater's conclusions
 RW> are logically drawn with plenty of information from historical records
 RW> to back him up.  I'd bet you would find it interesting.  sOrry, can't
 RW> get you an isbn but with author you should be able to find it.  TItle
 RW> is "the fabric of America ... "
 
The title sounds familiar...  Was he ever a guest on The Daily Show or 
The Colbert Report?  That's where I get a lot of my book reviews!  


 RW> Yes, but real journalism is a thing of the past, and the
 RW> internet with all its apparent free flow of information is
 RW> easily stifled and censored.  Look at what they're doing in
 RW> CHina.
 
 DC> That's why a free, level internet is so important.  Too many are 
 DC> pushing for a tiered system.  Such a system would be good for
 DC> corporate profuts, as well as the control factor that can too 
 DC> easily be abused.  

 RW> OF course it is, and I have never liked that approach.  but, the
 RW> internet still can't supplant real quality investigative journalism. 
 RW> ONe has to be able to trust those engaging in such activity, and those 
 RW> who would wish to pursue it need funding.  sOurces of information need
 RW> to be verified, research conducted, traveling to various places, etc. 
 RW> All this takes money, and just as with music and other creative
 RW> work done from one's basement on a computer, the right
 RW> expertise needs to be brought in at certain points in the
 RW> process.  editors are an integral part of this process.  YOu don't get
 RW> that with some guy just throwing up any old thing on his blog or web
 RW> site.  YEs, a free and open internet is a must, but we still need
 RW> quality journalism, and it can't be replaced by every fool with an
 RW> internet connection.  But, we've already lost the battle for quality
 RW> journalism.  THe internet's what's left to us, and if the corporates
 RW> and the governments get what they want it won't be there either.

Can't say much to that but that I agree.  Individuals are great 
starting points. But, as you mention. they don't have the resources nor 
oversight to full flesh out a story.  There are some out there that are 
moving in that direction.  But, the real problem is that the local 
community gets lost in the shuffle.  Everyone reads whar they want and 
there ends up being little local debate on any item.  



 RW> have been so great.  EAsily to spin it away, explain it away however
 RW> you like.  But, the photos were there for the world to see.
 
 DC> As they say, one picture is worth a 1000 words.  

 RW> YEp, and if you further compromise real journalism and
 RW> stifle the internet you can be sure that the Abu Ghraib that happens
 RW> after all this is done will never be shown to the public at all.  With
 RW> a simple click of the mouse and a flick of the swithc your right to
 RW> know, and your right to question just got flushed, along with your
 RW> right to privacy. 

Sounds like what happens when my Windows system crahses, but on a more 
permanent basis. 


... Oxymoron:  Honest Politician
--- OMX/Blue Wave/DOS v2.30