Steve Jobs, talking truth to power, once told Robert Murdock that Fox News is a destructive force and will malign his legacy. Does he have a point? A survey of cable news viewers demonstrate that Fox viewers are less accurately informed than viewers of other news outlets. Read what Jobs said to Murdock.

YES, YOU can fairly ask what this topic has to to with health matters, largely speaking, the purported theme of this blog.  My response is something like,

“Hey, health is not only about our selves but our societies as well, so once in awhile, let’s dig into some of the cancers that make our world sick”.

With that in mind, I hereby present a snippet of the forthcoming Job-ordained biography, written by the highly regarded journalist and author, Walter Issacson.

According to Issacson’s biography of Steve Jobs, aptly named Steve Jobs (see the link and cover below), Mr. Jobs told Rupert Murdoch that Fox News was a “destructive force in our society”.  In the book, Issacson says:

“You’re blowing it with Fox News.  The axis today is not liberal and conservative, the axis is constructive-destructive, and you’ve cast your lot with the destructive people. Fox has become an incredibly destructive force in our society. You can be better, and this is going to be your legacy if you’re not careful.”

Now, please understand that I’m not posting this to alienate Fox News watchers.  I watch it too, but I also watch the other cable news shows and read a lot about policy and politics.  And I can earnestly tell you that the objective — as determined by what they do, not say — of Fox News, despite it’s banner of “Fair and Balanced”, is neither.

Since there’s nothing I can say that could convince Fox admirers of the truth of the above statement, I can, nonetheless, present something about which it’s hard to argue.

And that is that Fox viewers have proven — by their own responses — to be less informed about the facts of the subjects upon which Fox reports than viewers of other news cable outlets.

Alternet reviews — a bit pugilistically — the results of the survey that presents the following untruths about which the average Fox viewer believes — by their own account, that Alternet summarizes thusly:

* 91 percent believe the stimulus legislation lost jobs
* 72 percent believe the health reform law will increase the deficit
* 60 percent believe climate change is not occurring
* 49 percent believe income taxes have gone up
* 63 percent believe the stimulus legislation did not include any tax cuts
* 56 percent believe Obama initiated the GM/Chrysler bailout
* 38 percent believe that most Republicans opposed TARP
* 63 percent believe Obama was not born in the U.S. (or that it is unclear)

What would be healthy for our society is to have an honest debate based upon the same set of facts… there would still be plenty to spar about! Of course getting to those “facts” sure would be hard for a people who, in significant numbers, eschew science.

And that’s my two cents on the matter!

Related posts:

1. Did Steve Jobs’ Life Exemplify Zen Buddhism?
2. Steve Jobs’ Real Legacy – Teaching Us to Live Passionately
3. Saturated by Fat and TV News? Get Simple!

Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them. In his column, 545 vs. 300,000,000 People, retired columnist Charlie Reese excoriates the people who are responsible for deficits and the debt.

OK, THIS is another off-topic post, but I simply can’t help myself.  I’ve been glued to the debate and actions, or lack thereof, about America’s  deficit/debt problem.

This morning, I received an email about our politicians’ inability to govern that I guess is making the rounds. It was written by Charley Reese, a retired columnist for the Orlando Sentinel. The upshot of the column is that the 535 members of Congress are fully responsible for the state of our Union. And that’s why the title of Charley Reese’s column is, “545 vs. 300,000,000 People”

I bet you’ll find it hard not to agree with Mr. Reese’s conclusions, and would appreciate you stating your views in the Comments section below.

Do you think he’s right or wrong?

And now to Charley Reese of the Orlando Sentinel and his column, “545 vs. 300,000,000 People”:

“Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them.

Have you ever wondered, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, WHY do we have deficits?

Have you ever wondered, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, WHY do we have inflation and high taxes?

You and I don’t propose a federal budget. The President does.

You and I don’t have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does.

You and I don’t write the tax code, Congress does.

You and I don’t set fiscal policy, Congress does.

You and I don’t control monetary policy, the Federal Reserve Bank does.

One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one President, and nine Supreme Court justices equates to 545 human beings out of the 300 million are directly, legally, morally, and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country.

I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered, but private, central bank.

I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman, or a President to do one cotton-picking thing. I don’t care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it. No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator’s responsibility to determine how he votes.

Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party.

What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a Speaker, who stood up and criticized the President for creating deficits. The President can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept it.

The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and approving appropriations and taxes. Who is the speaker of the House? John Boehner. He is the leader of the majority party. He and fellow House members, not the President, can approve any budget they want. If the President vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto if they agree to.

It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million cannot replace 545 people who stand convicted — by present facts — of incompetence and irresponsibility. I can’t think of a single domestic problem that is not traceable directly to those 545 people. When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise the power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.

If the tax code is unfair, it’s because they want it unfair.

If the budget is in the red, it’s because they want it in the red.

If the Army & Marines are in Iraq and Afghanistan it’s because they want them in Iraq and Afghanistan …

If they do not receive social security but are on an elite retirement plan not available to the people, it’s because they want it that way.

There are no insoluble government problems.

Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power. Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exists disembodied mystical forces like “the economy,” “inflation,” or “politics” that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.

Those 545 people, and they alone, are responsible.

They, and they alone, have the power.

They, and they alone, should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses.

Provided the voters have the gumption to manage their own employees…

We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess!”

– Charlie Reese is a former columnist of the Orlando Sentinel Newspaper.

Related posts:

1. The Debt Crisis and the Health of the American Political System
2. 60 Votes Reached for Health Bill
3. Bill Maher’s New Rule on the American Rat Diet

A community service announcement…

Facebook vscam, an email that claims you can see who visits your profile.

FROM TIME to time I post things rather unrelated to “health” (this being a health blog of sorts), and such is that time.

I’d guess that most visitors to this site are members of Facebook, so this is relevant to you.

Here’s what’s up: There’s now a Facebook application (software) that promises to reveal to you those who viewed your profile.

It’s BS! Don’t believe it or click on the link in the message emailed to you.

Get the details here.

If this has happened to you, please let us know what you experienced in the Comments section below.

When does full disclosure undermine our government and society?  Where’s the balance between openness and effectiveness?

WikiLeaks -- right or wrong?

YES, THIS is (mostly) a blog about health matters, but every once in awhile I need to spout off about something unrelated to health; unless you’re willing to stick issues associated with politics, policy and good governance into a category called, “Health of the Nation”.

Let this post be so considered.

Today, the online exposé of “truth”, WikiLeaks, will publish very sensitive, secret information that the US government is, appropriately, sweating bullets over.

There is always an uncomfortable balance between secrecy and openness in a democracy.  Often this teeter tottering happens beyond the glare of public scrutiny, but now in the age of the Internet we have WikiLeaks.

I agree with the government’s position that people will regard the “candid and often incomplete information” that is “not an expression of policy, nor does it always shape final policy” as policy, as decisive, as fully representative of the US position.  And, accordingly, they will inappropriately judge and react.  And both people and our interests will be harmed.  (More on this here.)

The last 10+ years amply demonstrate how reactive our population is to sound bites and pieces of inflammatory language.  Too many of us do not study issues, but bash our heads against headlines.

That said, it would be a good thing for all governments to know that they cannot be nefarious, that people are watching and will shine the light on torture, warmongering, ecological devastation, hypocrisy and corruption!

Again, where’s the fulcrum that will hold it all in balance?

Given WikiLeaks access to sensitive, potentially life threatening information, it, and its media partners, have a duty to purge documents of information that compromise the lives of people, while at the same time expose intended or established policy and actions that comprise the very ideals (often shouted through the largest megaphone) of this and other countries.

My 2 cents.  What’s yours?  Weigh in at the Comments section below.

I RE-POST this tribute to our veterans, which was first put up on this blog one year ago, cause I can’t make it any better.

If you need some numbers to reflect on, here are the faces of the fallen in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

Now, to my re-post:

TODAY, November 11, 2010, I remember our soldiers and sailors, particularly my Father.  Today, you can choose your celebratory term: Remembrance Day, Veteran’s Day, Armistice Day, even Poppy Day.  It doesn’t matter.  What does, is that today we remember the signing of the armistice that concluded WWI, and honor those that served all America’s wars, justified or not.

A military man, my Father was shaped by WWII, and was reshaped again in Korea. Again in Vietnam, three tours.

The total American dead and wounded of those three wars tallied over 1.4 million.  Add those in WWI, and the number increases to 1.7 million. Add U.S. allies and enemies, and that number soars by several million more.

From the black quagmire of such horror, my Father stumbled away with just an injured back that would flare up from time to time over the course of his life. As well as memories sealed tight.

My Father lived to marry, have children, divorce, remarry, become distant… hiding himself somewhere deep and safe.  He died in a hospital at the age of 82, rather than in Germany or Japan at 18, or Korea at 30, or Vietnam at 45.  Lucky guy.

The poppy came to symbolize WWI. In the lore of war, the Flanders Poppy was said to be the first flower to show itself after the initial battles had spilled blood in Flanders; the red color representing the blood of fallen comrades returning to the light of the Sun.

So, to my Dad and all the others who served, let’s read this poem and remember them.

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Lt.-Col. John McCrae (1872 – 1918)

Related posts:

1. Today, Remember Your Soldiers

NO ONE that I know gets through the gift-giving season of Christmas and Hanukkah without scratching their heads from time to time trying to come up with something worthwhile.  This certainly includes me.

So, I’ve been paying attention to what’s interesting and innovative in giftland out there and have collected a few ideas to share with you.  From coffee to computerized pens, here are 11 gift ideas just in the nick of time.

Fair Trade Coffee:  $12/lb

The True Aroma of Fair-Trade Coffee

Since nearly everyone you know drinks coffee, this selection has a probability of being appreciated, used, or re-gifted.  Through the Community Agroecology Network, you can send fair trade coffee in a finely dressed package directly to someone’s front door and feel good about it. CAN ensures that this coffee is organically grown and that a fair price is paid.

Solar Style Charger: $13.50.

Solar Charger on the Go

It’s compact, lightweight, and extremely affordable, not to mention that the solar charger from Solar Style can power many brands of cell phones, digital cameras and MP3 players.  An AC wall charger and car charger are included as well.

USB EcoStrip: $39.95.

Eco Power Strip

Save as much as a surprising $150/year with the USB EcoStrip 2.0. What’s trick about this powerstrip is, while it may look and functions like a basic power strip, it can turn off when the connected computer goes to sleep and save energy. The power strip is designed to connect to a computer through a USB cable; when the computer goes to sleep, all the outlets on the strip turn off. The strip will turn on again when the computer restarts.

New Balance Eco Sneaker: $80.

Powered by Rice Husk

New Balance’s 070 is the company’s first eco-friendly shoe. In this instance, “eco-friendly” means the shoe was designed to minimize waste in its production process, while fully utilizing recycled materials. Rice husks are used to make the outsole, thus reducing rubber waste. Available in men’s and women’s styles, with different widths.

Planet Earth DVD Collection: $30.49.

Planet Earth DVD Set

Often touted as the greatest and most expensive nature documentary ever made, Planet Earth captivated me when I watched it, with stunning footage and insightful commentary about the world’s various wildlife habitats/geographic regions, from the poles to the deep ocean. Filmed on all seven continents in over 200 locations, with state-of-the-art technology, the DVD set features 11 episodes about the different regions, in addition to three episodes about the future of the planet. You can see the world without separating yourself from the couch.

The Bean Cranko Light (my name): $19.

Crank for Light

One minute of cranking will keep the flashlight lit for 25 minutes. Who couldn’t use a flashlight with that capability, especially one that’s waterproof?  Seriously, if you’re like me, you’ve spent way too many minutes of frustrated time seeking new batteries to replace the dead ones in you flashlight, and then wondered where to recycle them.  Better to spend that time cranking — build those wrist muscles.

The Amazing Handpresso: $100.

Espresso a Go-Go

Want your espresso when and wherever the impulse strikes? Make delicious, premium express espresso with this portable espresso maker. The Handpresso will brew up a shot of java with just water and coffee pods.)

The Smartpen: From $169.

Smartpen Saves What You Write

As the name suggests, this is a very, very smart pen. It’s equipped with a voice recorder that can take notes, and then synchronize the recording with what was written. Then the recordings can be

uploaded to your computer for future use. The Smartpen now has its own app store enabling you to download third party applications that augment the pen’s usability in numerous useful and creative ways.

Flim Camcorder: From $150.

Flip: A Camcorder with Attitude

The Flip Video Camcorders, available in a range of sizes, colors, and models, are the most user-friendly HD video recorders out there. I have one and use it quite a bit.  In fact, I’ve shot quite a bit of video with the Flip that’s supposed to make it’s way to this blog some day.  The Flip camcorders are hand-held, smaller than many photo cameras, and boast a quick startup, 8 gigs of memory for 120 minutes of HD video, and easy plug-and-play USB connection.

CharityChoice Donation Gift Cards: $As much as you want.

Make a Charity Choice

From their site: “This makes a wonderful gift because the gift-recipient gets to give the funds to a cause that is close to their heart. Your gift entitles the recipient to select the charities.”  Sounds good.

Macro Greens Food Bar

Macro Greens Food Bars – Chocolate Cinnamon Flavor (1Box, 12 Bars):$28.49.

This is one of my favorite food bars. It tastes great and is a healthy snack that should always be near so that you eat it, rather than garbage. Greens™ Bars is derived from fresh, raw, certified organic, vegan, whole food ingredients that do not contain preservatives, or artificial flavors/ingredients. As an additional bonus, these food bars are gluten free and are full of probiotics. Note: As with all ProHealth products on this site, I receive a percentage of sales made from this site.