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February 10, 2012
Lisa M. Krieger: Man with defibrillator demands access to his own heart's information
David G. Savage: Why activists may not be in a hurry to have High Court rule on alternative marriage
February 9, 2012
Laura McMullen: 10 Least Expensive Public Schools for Out-of-State Students
Kimberly Palmer: How to actually enjoy -- relaxing, financially -- your vacation
February 8, 2012
Warren Richey: Why momentous Prop. 8 ruling might not satisfy gay-rights groups
Menachem Wecker: Though Controversial, LL.M.'s Can Lead to Specialized Legal Jobs
The Kosher Gourmet byDana Velden: Going to the bother of making soup? You know it better be good. This CREAM OF TOMATO SOUP certainly is! And it's a cinch to make, too (Includes techinques and serving secrets)
February 7, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Caught off-guard? President's Super Bowl interview with Matt Lauer gives those who need a reason not to vote for him, a darn good one
Suzanne Bohan: Leaping lizards! Tiny reptiles advancing robot design
February 6, 2012
Jonathan Tobin: Iran Threatens Israel With Destruction, But the New York Times Doesn't Hear It
Jeffrey Fleishman: In newly democratic Egypt, tens of democracy activists jailed, to stand trial; their groups are 'threatening the stability of the homeland'
Julie Deardorff : Researchers say antioxidants may not be that effective and could do more harm than good
Mark Clayton: How did Anonymous hackers eavesdrop on FBI and Scotland Yard?
February 3, 2012
Edmund Sanders : Israeli official says Iran is creating missile that could reach East Coast of US
Victoria Kim: Immigrant-smuggling ring used black drivers to avoid racial profiling
February 2, 2012
Jim Carney: Wrong number call may have saved her life
Reza Kahlili : Ex-CIA spy in Iran's Revolutionary Guard: What Obama doesn't grasp about striking deals with Tehran
Tina Susman: For woodchuck rescuer, every day is Groundhog Day
February 1, 2012
Brian Bennett: US officials see increasing threat of domestic attack from Iran
Emily Brandon: How to Take Advantage of New 401(k) Fee Disclosures
January 31, 2012
January 30, 2012
Paul Richter and Ramin Mostaghim: Misreading Teheran's limits -- deadly and economically devastating as they may be -- is a risk administration, Europe seem willing to take
Suzanne Bohan: Warning: Nap-deprived tots missing more than sleep, study finds
Meg Handley: Banks Revamping Rewards Programs to Woo Customers
January 27, 2012
Caroline B. Glick: Obama: Of course I intend to prevent a nuclear holocaust . . . in a few months
Yochonon Donn: In liberal New York City, fervently-Orthodox Jews may soon be getting a district to call their own
Jeannine Stein: An inflated ego and thinking you're 'all that' doesn't just make others sick of you, it can make you ill
Katy Hopkins: New budget rules may affect how much money you get for college
January 26, 2012
Ed Koch: To the New York Times, calling for the murder of Jews by those capable of having their incitement taken seriously isn't news
Jeannine Stein: Mental illness struck one in five U.S. adults in 2010: Report
January 25, 2012
Richard Simon: House passes two bills endorsing the use of religious symbols at military memorials
Fred Weir: Putin: Multiethnic Russia cannot survive as a US-style 'melting pot'; must find its own way
Susan Johnston: 5 Sneaky Coupon Strategies Consumers Should Watch Out For
January 24, 2012
Carol Clark: The price of your soul: How your brain decides whether to 'sell out'
Caroline B. Glick: America lost most in 'Arab Spring'. Sadly, many voters still don't grasp the extent
Warren Richey: Drug criminal scores win in GPS ruling from conservative-leaning high court
Erika Bolstad: Black conservatives gather to talk about gaining strength
January 23, 2012
Melissa Dribben: Jewish voters to play a key role in Florida's Republican primary
Jordan Rau: In quest to grow, Catholic hospital system will announce this morning its break from church
Ali Safi: U.S. envoy gives Taliban terms for peace talks
January 19, 2012
January 18, 2012
January 17, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney Jr.: No-kidding red lines: U.S. response to an Iranian nuke may be bluster, but Israel's won't be
David G. Savage: They sued their principals after slandering them online --- now the cases are headed to the Supreme Court
David Francis: Where to Invest in 2012: With stocks expected to rebound, opportunity abounds for investors
January 13, 2012
Ben Lynfield: Israeli lawmakers move to annex Jewish Judea, one museum at a time
Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz: Thriving through touch: Gentle massage helps older people with low mobility improve in mind and body
January 12, 2012
Warren Richey: Landmark Supreme Court ruling a 'resounding win' for religious groups
Warren Richey: Supreme Court says no to new rule on eyewitness testimony
John Fauber : Statins found to raise diabetes risk in postmenopausal women
Katy Hopkins : Consider This Before You Pay for an Online Degree
The Kosher Gourmet by Joseph Erdos: This mushroom and barley soup has an intense -- almost nutty -- flavor that mixes robust with Middle East. It has creaminess without cream
January 11, 2012
Shari Roan: Millions of atrial fibrillation sufferers at risk for devastating, but preventable, stroke
Tom Hussain: Pakistan -- recipient of more than $21 billion in civilian and military aid -- speeds pursuit of Iranian pipeline, defying US
David G. Savage: High court signals it won't be loosening TV's 'indecency' rules
Stephen Ceasar: Oklahoma's Islamic law amendment can't go into effect, court rules
January 10, 2012
Reza Kahlili: From an ex-CIA spy: US must exploit new split in Iran's Revolutionary Guard
Karen Kaplan: Study: Nicotine replacement products ineffective when used in real-life situations
January 9, 2012
Michael Doyle: Put through legal hell over dream home, couple fought back hard --- all the way to Supreme Court
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Jewish World Review
August 10, 2005
/ 5 Av, 5765
An insatiable hunger for alternative news
By
Jerry Large
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http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
What if you didn't know you were dead? No, really. I know it could
happen because there's a book about it, by a guy who has been
investigating this stuff. In fact, my first sentence is the book's
title, or part of it.
Some people think it's scary that Americans could be getting more
and more of their information from blogs on the Internet, but is
that more frightening than having spirits attach themselves to you,
which they can do?
Blogs are often full of inaccurate information, and even the
bloggers who try to be factual can make mistakes. Everyone who
writes for public consumption needs an editor (a kind, gentle
editor, preferably).
But the thing is, there have always been lots of Americans who
choose to get information from less than reliable sources.
Some people say that Tom Cruise was mistaken in his analysis of
psychiatry and psychology. But I'm sure the Church of Scientology
has studied these matters carefully and imparted to him special
knowledge with which to make judgments about other people's
mental-health needs and about the practice of mental-health care.
They wouldn't just make stuff up, would they?
Anyway, it wouldn't do to mess with anyone's religious beliefs.
Heck, I might have to go out and buy a book on creationism. There
are lots of them.
When it comes to deciding what's true and what isn't, I guess we're
not all operating from the same script.
A whole lot of people find that conventional media just don't give
them what they want, and they have always had plenty of other places
to get real news. Supermarket tabloids, for instance, have long had
a big share of the business of offering alternative news that delves
more deeply into the stuff conventional media are too timid to
report, such as stars being impregnated by aliens.
And there are tons of good old-fashioned books that give people news
they can't get in the average newspaper. Sometimes it really is
important stuff that media self-censorship won't let through, but
sometimes it's just dreck.
I received a catalog the other day that was labeled "Feature Ideas."
It was the size of a magazine and said it was full of interview
ideas for radio and television reporters and columnists, so I took a
peek inside.
There was a guy willing to discuss his book, which reveals "the
secret about scripture that organized religion just can't tell you."
And there was a new method for relieving stress that involved saying
the word "Fred" and making rhymes with it.
I was about to toss the catalog out when I saw the headline about
people not realizing they were dead and then attaching themselves to
living people.
Fred is dead; don't let him get into your head.
What's really spooky is that I myself have often been taken over by
a dead guy. This happens sometimes when I am supposed to be writing.
The dead guy makes me wander off to get coffee and visit with people
in the hallway. It's really creepy.
Anyway, radio or TV hosts who need a lively topic can call up the
dead-people guy, or the woman whose book explains love matches
between humans and vampires. Next to her blurb is a book about fun
projects to do with kids.
There are all the usual books, too: how to get rich, how to get
spectacular abs, how to reverse homosexuality and cut your grocery
bill in half.
There is someone who is an expert in just about everything. The
ghost guy's credentials say he is a filmmaker, so you know he knows
what he's talking about.
Bloggers don't necessarily have those kinds of credentials.
Can a blogger top Nostradamus for staying power? He lived in France
in the 1500s, and yet when 9/11 happened there were people who said
he'd predicted it. Whenever anything happens there are people who
say he predicted it.
For some reason the facts just don't cut it for lots of people. They
need something that resonates more deeply.
All you get in a daily newspaper is the unvarnished truth. Oh, and
the horoscopes.
Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in in the media and Washington consider "must-reading". Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.
Jerry Large is a Seattle Times columnist. Comment by clicking here.
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© 2005, Seattle Times; Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services
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