Within The Margin of Error

Real Sports - Mike Tyson

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 04:19:00 +0000

Where do the Knicks Stand?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 04:26:00 +0000

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WHAT IT MEANS: How’s this for team chemistry?

With LeBron James barreling down the lane and the Heat down one with under 10 seconds to play, Carmelo Anthony slowed James' progress and Amare Stoudemireblocked his shot to seal the Knicks’ 91-86 win.

Fans and pundits had questioned whether Stoudemire and Anthony could come together on the offensive end since the Knicks landed Anthony in a trade on Tuesday, but it was the defensive stand on James by Stat and Melo that stood out most in a game that at times mimicked the ugly, grind-it-out nature of the Knicks-Heat battles of the late 1990s.

The Knicks rebounded from an embarrassing 115-109 loss to the 11-win Cavaliers on Friday night by holding the best team in the Eastern Conference to 50 points in the final three quarters. New York shot just 38 percent from the field but held the Heat to 43 percent shooting and 27 percent from 3-point land.

TURNING POINT: Chauncey Billups showed Knicks fans why they call him “Mr. Big Shot” in the final 2:36 when he finished with two huge steals and five points to help the Knicks turn a four-point deficit into a huge road win. Billups hit a running nine-footer with 1:43 to play and then drilled a deep 3-pointer on the right elbow to pull the Knicks up 85-84 with 1:01 to play. He stole a pass intended for Mike Miller and set up Shawne Williams, who was fouled and converted two free-throws to put the Knicks up, 87-84. The Knicks nearly lost this game in the first half, but they rebounded from a 15-point second quarter deficit with a 16-0 run to close out the half, capped off by Bill Walker’s 3-pointer off glass at the buzzer.

DIFFERENCE-MAKER: Anthony finished with 29 points on 10-of-22 shooting and grabbed nine rebounds. Stoudemire and Billups each had 16 points on a combined 25 shots and Stoudemire grabbed 10 rebounds. Landry Fields, Anthony Carter and others helped limitDwyane Wade to 12 points on 5-of-15 shooting and five turnovers in 40 minutes. James finished with 27 but made just one of five 3-point attempts.

UGLY, INTENSE: At times, the pace and execution in this game mimicked the low-scoring battles between the Knicks and Heat from 1997-2000, when the teams met in the playoffs for four straight seasons with the Knicks winning three decisive games on Miami’s home court. Neither New York nor Miami – two teams averaging more than 100 points per game – reached the 80-point mark until there was 4:30 to play in the game. They combined for 34 turnovers, shot a combined 63 of 154 (41 percent) and scored a combined 28 points in a turnover-filled third quarter. Ugly.

WHAT’S NEXT: The Knicks leave South Beach and head north to take on the Orlando Magic on Tuesday, a game that kicks off a stretch in which the Knicks play 12 games in 15 days. In all, they play 18 games in March, including eight on the road. It’s their most taxing month of the season and means Anthony and Billups won’t have much time to get acclimated to Mike D’Antoni’s system. The tough stretch starts Tuesday at Amway Arena, where the undersized Knicks take on Dwight Howard and a Magic team that lost to Sacramento but beat Los Angeles and Oklahoma City last week.

Knicks storm past Heat

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 04:00:00 +0000

Carmelo Anthony and New York rally for 91-86 win over Heat in playoff atmosphere

Anthony's 29, Amare's block lead Knicks, 91-86

By TIM REYNOLDS
Posted Feb 27 2011 10:48PM

MIAMI (AP) Carmelo Anthony scored 29 points, Amare Stoudemire added 16 points and a huge blocked shot against LeBron James with 7 seconds left, and the New York Knicks stunned the Miami Heat 91-86 on Sunday night.

Chauncey Billups had 16 points, including the go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:01 left for New York, which rallied from a 15-point, first-half deficit. Stoudemire finished with 10 rebounds for the Knicks, who improved to 2-1 since the megatrade with Denver that dramatically changed their roster.

James scored 27 for Miami, which had won seven straight at home. Chris Bosh added 20 points and 12 rebounds, and Dwyane Wade finished with only 12 points for the Heat.
Copyright 2011 by STATS LLC and Associated Press

James had a chance to tie it, but missed a 3-pointer with 2 seconds remaining, and the Knicks leaped in celebration.

Miami is now tied with Chicago in the loss column, each with 17 in the tight race in the East. The Heat do have three more wins, but fell a half-game behind Boston for the top spot in the conference.

And it was there for the Heat's taking, after holding an 82-76 lead with 4 minutes left.

Billups was charged with a technical after the Knicks argued Wade knocked the ball out of bounds, and Mike Miller hit the free throw. On the same possession, James had the ball knocked away by Anthony as the shot clock was expiring but still managed to muscle an attempt to the rim.

Bosh got the rebound, quickly tossed the ball to James for a layup and a six-point Miami lead.

New York, as it had all night, came back quickly.

A 9-2 run over the next 3 minutes, capped by Billups' 3-pointer over Wade's outstretched arm with 1:01 left, gave the Knicks an 85-84 edge - and few people in the sellout crowd remained seated at that point.

Billups added a steal on the next Miami possession and set up Shawne Williams for two free throws and an 87-84 lead. James answered with two free throws, getting the Heat within one again.

Bill Walker turned the ball over with 12.7 seconds left when he was unable to handle an inbounds pass, and with that, Miami had its chance. James drove on Anthony down the left side of the lane, but Stoudemire swatted the two-time reigning MVP's try away.

Miller scored 10 for Miami. Walker had 10 for the Knicks, who won despite shooting 39 percent.

It was the fourth and final regular-season meeting for the Knicks and Heat, and Wade could only point to one reason why Sunday night seemed so different.

"Melo," he said before the game.

True, but the scene was anything but mellow.

Predictably, it was a double-feature of sorts - part showdown, part show.

Knicks superfan Spike Lee was having a conversation with Landry Fields during pregame warmups. Actor Michael Clarke Duncan and soccer star Thierry Henry had prime seats, tennis star Venus Williams appeared and Miami's notoriously late-settling crowd was in place in plenty of time to lustily boo New York's starters as they were introduced.

Oh, there was a game, too.

And from the get-go, James was in big-game mode.

Williams blocked Erick Dampier down low 2 minutes into the game. No problem - James simply knocked the ball away from Stoudemire, then threw a no-look, backward-over-his-head pass to Dampier for a dunk. A minute later, James dribbled behind his back to get clear of Billups, slapped the ball to Wade, then received an alley-oop pass back and slammed it with his left hand.

How good was that one? Someone posted the clip to YouTube within 8 minutes.

Miami's lead was all the way to 51-36 when Bosh scored with 4:25 remaining in the half, and with the building roaring, Wade attempted a 24-footer in transition on the next Heat possession.

It missed, and the game changed.

New York scored the final 16 points of the half, starting when Billups made a 3-pointer, the first of four by the Knicks before intermission, including another by Billups and a falling-down, beat-the-clock version by Walker at the buzzer to give New York a 52-51 lead at the break.

Another drought to close the third quarter proved costly to Miami.

Up 66-60 when Miller made a 3-pointer with 3:30 left, the Heat went cold for the rest of the period. Anthony elevated over James Jones for a layup with 1:13 left, added a 3-pointer 34 seconds later, and the Knicks were within 66-65 going into the fourth.

NOTES: Miller had missed the previous four games after taking several hits to the head, then battling a cold and ear infection. ... Carter appeared in only 14 games with the Nuggets this season, never playing more than 16 minutes. He logged 19 on Sunday in his first outing with the Knicks, a day after coach Mike D'Antoni told him he was still trying to figure out how to get him into the rotation.

Maino - Yeah Carmelo

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 16:17:00 +0000

Charles Barkley On 'Melo's Trade To The Knicks 21-1-11

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 04:02:00 +0000

Welcome to NYC Melo...

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 03:45:00 +0000

Stephen Colbert Launches HuffPo Parody Clone “The Colbuffington Re-Post”

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 03:59:00 +0000

Alexia Tsotsis
Tech Crunch
February 19, 2011

Aside from Sarah and Paul’s strange Bieber-based attempts at SEO, I haven’t noticed many changes around here since some AOL people and then Arianna Huffington became my uber bosses. I mean I still get paid to work and everything which is cool so + 1!

But really my AOL hat really isn’t enough to keep me from absolutely loving what Stephen Colbert just did in an acutely searing critique of The Huffington Post’s controversial content practices.

On his show tonight Colbert, frustrated with all the free content Arianna Huffington has been glomming off “The Colbert Report” and others, announced that he would build his own site and call it “The Colbuffington Re-Post.” The Colbuffington Re-Post has “everything you love about the Huffington Post because it is the Huffington Post with a new border around it that says the Colbuffington Re-Post.”

Har har indeed, except that when you actually visit TheColbuffingtonRepost.com, it truly serves up an exact copy of The Huffington Post with Stephen Colbert’s Colbuffington Re-Post logo. a) I’m not sure this is even legal. b) Just wait ’til Arianna gets a load of this.

And sure The Huffington Post might just repost this story and somehow find a way to monetize it all and true we’re getting traffic of this too (Thank you for the free content Stephen) … But aside from what this means in terms of eCPM or whatever the business model is these days, we as consumers and producers of media must sit back and appreciate the sheer ingenuity of The Colbuffington Re-Post, at least for a moment. You win Colbert.

Notable quotes from the above clip:

“I’m a big fan of the Internet, it can answer any question from ‘Where can I get a pair of pants?’ to ‘Where is the porn?’ to ‘Woo boy where can I get another pair of pants?’”

“Huffpo is famous for its extensive comprehensive coverage of things other people produced and put on the Internet.”

“Hopefully HuffPo will be a new source of revenue for AOL, whose income currently depends on 82 year old Delaware resident Claire Meyers and the $10 an hour she still pays for dial up service.”

“You have acheived the impossible, you have made me feel angry while looking at pictures of myself. “

“Where’s my money Arianna? Don’t make me put on my rings”

“And I am proud to announce that the Colbuffington Re-Post is for sale for $316 million. Arianna if I find a buyer, I promise to give you the same cut you give me.”

Ouch.

Obama Releases $3.73 Trillion Budget

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 22:37:00 +0000

Corey Boles
WSJ
February 14, 2011

WASHINGTON—President Barack Obama released a $3.73 trillion budget for fiscal-year 2012 Monday where he sought to balance two competing and conflicting agendas: dramatic cuts to federal spending while also investing in programs to improve U.S. competitiveness.

He ended up with a product that offers up more than $1 trillion in deficit reductions over a 10-year period—three-quarters coming from spending cuts and the balance from tax increases or the elimination of existing tax breaks.

In fiscal 2012 alone, the administration proposed reducing or closing 200 federal programs at a savings of $33 billion

Cost of War

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 02:28:00 +0000

Zeitgeist – Moving Forward review

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 01:44:00 +0000

Zeitgeist – Moving Forward review
Peter Joseph’s latest documentary is setting world record in simultaneous worldwide screenings on the same day. 15th of January 2011 the film was showed in over 60 countries on over 300 locations, something that has not happened with any other documentary to date, as I am told.

This has been a highly awaited film, in other words. Two days ago, the YouTube version was released, and it has already over 340.000 views. In TWO days! Not to speak of the comments, which just passed 12.000 as I write this. The film has almost 12.000 likes and only about 300 dislikes.

It seems like the world has truly been waiting for, not only this movie, but a change on the planet. Even though there seems to be ‘business as usual’ around the world, there is a growing movement going on. Not just the Zeitgeist Movement, but in general. People want change all over the world.

So, to the film. It is a 2 hour 40 minutes long movie with lot’s of info. For me personally a lot of it was not news, but I guess for most people it is. I missed more transitional descriptions and more direct info on what a resource based economy really will be like. The film started out with a rather long winded talk about genetics and how we are not really bound by our genes, but rather more shaped by society. This is a discussion that has been going on for years among scientist.

Speaking about scientist and science. The film seems to advocate ‘the scientific method’ as the answer to most problems. It forgets to take scientists into consideration. The scientific method is well and good and is definitely the best method one can use to determine whether something is a good solution or not. The problem, though, is that scientists are just as often as ‘common people’ run by emotions and peer pressure rather than intellectual reason. There are continuous examples of this throughout history, and the ‘genes versus society’ is one field where this has been rampant.

Another thing about the movie, as with the Zeitgeist Movement in general, is the utter worshipping of The Venus Project, as along with science is the answer to everything. The truth is that TVP is not thought through thoroughly by far. It lacks both social descriptions and possible transition alternatives.

In such a long movie I would have expected more detailed descriptions on how to get there and how a resource based economy will work in praxis. Still, for all of the worlds people who still doesn’t know about what the worlds problems stem from and haven’t heard about a resource based economy, it serves it’s purpose. Except I am afraid it will suffer many shattering comments when put under scrutiny in classrooms around the world.
From: http://www.theresourcebasedeconomy.com/

ZEITGEIST: MOVING FORWARD | OFFICIAL RELEASE | 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 23:51:00 +0000

Arianna Huffington Won’t Tell Bill Maher She’s Voting For Obama In 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 04:26:00 +0000

Video From The Hangover Part II Set

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 22:47:00 +0000

Entertainment Tonight had the chance to visit the set of Warner Brothers. The Hangover Part II, while it was filming on location in Thailand. Check out their video from the set above!

Coming to Theaters Near You on May 26th.

Opening in theaters on May 26, the Todd Phillips-directed film is a follow-up to the hit comedy The Hangover in which Phil (Bradley Cooper), Stu (Ed Helms), Alan (Zach Galifianakis) and Doug (Justin Bartha) travel to exotic Thailand for Stu's wedding. After the unforgettable bachelor party in Las Vegas, Stu is taking no chances and has opted for a safe, subdued pre-wedding brunch. However, things don't always go as planned. What happens in Vegas may stay in Vegas, but what happens in Bangkok can't even be imagined.

X-Men: First Class - Official Trailer

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 22:37:00 +0000

X-MEN FIRST CLASS -- In theaters 6/3/2011.

X-MEN FIRST CLASS charts the epic beginning of the X-Men saga, and reveals a secret history of famous global events. Before mutants had revealed themselves to the world, and before Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr took the names Professor X and Magneto, they were two young men discovering their powers for the first time. Not archenemies, they were instead at first the closest of friends, working together with other Mutants (some familiar, some new), to prevent nuclear Armageddon. In the process, a grave rift between them opened, which began the eternal war between Magneto's Brotherhood and Professor X's X-Men.

Category: Film & Animation

As Seen On: aintitcool.com

Rep. Giffords speaks for first time since shooting

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 22:04:00 +0000

PHOENIX -- Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords spoke for the first time since she was shot in the forehead, her spokesman said Wednesday, yet another significant milestone in her recovery from a traumatic brain injury.

Giffords first spoke within the past few days and is speaking "more and more," spokesman C.J. Karamargin said Wednesday. He didn't know what her first words were, but said that at breakfast one morning she asked for toast.

"She's working very hard and it's paying off," he told The Associated Press. "We're elated at this. We always knew Gabby is a fighter and that she's not going to let this thing win. And you know, every day is proof of that." Six people, including a 9-year-old girl and a federal judge, were killed in the attack outside a grocery store where Giffords was meeting with constituents.

Thirteen people, including Giffords, were injured. Other news organizations, including Politico, earlier reported that Giffords had asked for toast and was able to speak. In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Giffords' husband Mark Kelly said his wife had her appetite back and was eating three times a day, "even though it's hospital food."

"It is hard to believe that only one month has passed since Gabrielle was shot," he wrote. "The doctors say she is recovering at lightning speed considering her injury but they aren't kidding when they say this is a marathon process."

He said "there are encouraging signs every day," pointing to her renewed appetite. "Your prayers are being heard, so don't stop," he wrote. Kelly, a NASA astronaut, said last week that he expects his wife to be well enough to be at his space launch in two months.

The space shuttle Endeavour will leave April 19 for a two-week mission to the International Space Station, and Kelly will be on board leading a veteran, all-male crew. The mission will be Endeavour's final flight and Kelly's fourth. Dr. Gerard Francisco, who is treating Giffords at a rehabilitation facility in Houston, said Tuesday that he hopes the congresswoman can make enough progress to attend the space launch, but said it's too early to say.

Arizona state Sen. Ken Cheuvront, a friend of Giffords who shared a house with her and another lawmaker when they served together in the Legislature, said he was excited to hear that she is speaking again.

"It gives all of us a lot of hope that she'll have a full recovery," Cheuvront said. "She's a fighter, there's no ifs, and or butts about that. She's always been very tenacious, and I have no doubt whether it's politics or her recovery that she'll still have that same amount of energy."

Story by Kim Wendel Updated: 2/9/2011 4:36:13 PM Posted: 2/9/2011 4:35:17 PM

Fans sue over ticket issues

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 21:25:00 +0000

ESPN.com news services

The NFL has offered money, tickets, merchandise and more to roughly 400 fans who had to give up their seats at the Super Bowl. It might not be enough.

Approximately 1,000 fans sued the NFL, the Cowboys and owner Jerry Jones on Wednesday saying they were deceived by not getting seats or received inadequate seats. The federal lawsuit, filed in Dallas, alleges breach of contract, fraud and deceptive sales practices.

"We think that this is a pretty straightforward matter," said Michael Avenatti of Eagan Avenatti which is representing the fans, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "People did not obtain what they were told they were going to get."

The lawsuit seeks $5 million in actual damages for the plaintiffs -- but that number can be tripled under the state's trade law -- and unspecified punitive damages, according to Bloomberg.

Spokesmen for the Cowboys and the NFL had no comment.

About 1,250 fans were displaced after some temporary seating sections were not completed in time at Cowboys Stadium on Sunday in Arlington, Texas. Other seating was found for 850 fans, but 400 were forced to watch the game on monitors or use standing-room platforms.

The league initially said Monday those fans would get $2,400 -- three times the face value of the ticket -- and tickets to next season's Super Bowl. The fans also were allowed on the field after the game and given merchandise and food.

On Tuesday, the NFL added a second option: They can choose to attend any future Super Bowl instead of being limited to the 2012 game and receive round-trip airfare and hotel accommodations. If fans choose that option, they will not get the $2,400. They can wait until after the conference championship games each season to see whether their favorite team reaches the Super Bowl.

If fans choose the first option of next year's game plus the $2,400, the ticket is transferable, which means it can be sold on the secondary ticket market. It won't be transferable in the other option.

Some fans who were moved want compensation as well. Mike Dolabi said that when he paid for his seat license at Cowboys Stadium, he was promised "the best sightlines in the stadium" for the Super Bowl, according to Bloomberg.

Instead, some fans received "temporary metal fold-out chairs" in an attempt to break the Super Bowl attendance record, according to the complaint.

"The NFL and Jerry Jones sold something to fans they weren't able to deliver, and they knew they weren't able to deliver it," Avenatti said, according to Bloomberg.

The Green Bay Packers beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-25 on Sunday.

The NFL said it is working with the Packers, Steelers and Cowboys to track down all of the affected fans. Contact information can be e-mailed to SBXLV@nfl.com.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

STRIKES BREAK OUT ACROSS EGYPT

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 21:17:00 +0000

P/The Huffington Post Posted: 02/ 9/11 02:45 PM

CAIRO - Thousands of state workers and impoverished Egyptians launched strikes and protests around the country on Wednesday over their economic woes as anti-government activists sought to expand their campaign to oust President Hosni Mubarak despite warnings from the vice president that protests won't be tolerated much longer.

Some 8,000 protesters, mainly farmers, set barricades of flaming palm trees in the southern province of Assiut, blocking the main highway and railway to Cairo to complain of bread shortages. They then drove off the governor by pelting his van with stones. Hundreds of slum dwellers in the Suez Canal city of Port Said set fire to part of the governor's headquarters in anger over lack of housing.

Efforts by Vice President Omar Suleiman to open a dialogue with protesters over reforms have broken down since the weekend, with youth organizers of the movement deeply suspicious that he plans only superficial changes far short of real democracy. They refuse any talks unless Mubarak steps down first.

Showing growing impatience with the rejection, Suleiman issued a sharp warning that raised the prospect of a renewed crackdown. He told Egyptian newspaper editors late Tuesday that there could be a "coup" unless demonstrators agree to enter negotiations. Further deepening skepticism of his intentions, he suggested Egypt was not ready for democracy and said a government-formed panel of judges, dominated by Mubarak loyalists, would push ahead with recommending its own constitutional amendments to be put to a referendum.

"He is threatening to impose martial law, which means everybody in the square will be smashed," said Abdul-Rahman Samir, a spokesman for a coalition of the five main youth groups behind protests in Cairo's Tahrir Square. "But what would he do with the rest of the 70 million Egyptians who will follow us afterward."

Suleiman is creating "a disastrous scenario," Samir said. "We are striking and we will protest and we will not negotiate until Mubarak steps down. Whoever wants to threaten us, then let them do so," he added.

Nearly 10,000 massed in Tahrir on Wednesday in the 16th day of protests. Nearby, 2,000 more blocked off parliament, several blocks away, chanting slogans for it to be dissolved. Army troops deployed in the parliament grounds.

For the first time, protesters were calling forcefully Wednesday for labor strikes, despite a warning by Suleiman that calls for civil disobedience are "very dangerous for society and we can't put up with this at all."

Gary Moore Dead: Thin Lizzy Guitarist Passes at 58

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 20:33:00 +0000

LONDON — Bandmates say rock guitarist Gary Moore, a former member of influential Irish band Thin Lizzy, has died. He was 58.

Manager Adam Parsons told the BBC that Moore was found dead Sunday at a hotel on Spain's Costa del Sol, where he was on holiday. The cause of death was not immediately known.$

Thin Lizzy drummer Brian Downey said Moore's death was a "total shock," and guitarist Scott Gorham said he was "a great player and a great guy."

Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland in 1952, Moore was a member of Dublin band Skid Row before joining Thin Lizzy in 1973, playing on tracks for the "Nightlife" album. He left after four months, but rejoined four years later and played on the band's "Black Rose" album before going solo once again.

He had a successful solo career, and his accomplished, bluesy playing won plaudits from other musicians.

Thin Lizzy had global hits in the 1970s with songs like "The Boys are Back in Town" and "Whiskey in the Jar." Frontman Phil Lynott died in 1986, but with a different lineup the band continues to tour today.

Funeral details were not immediately available.

COURTESY OF HUFFINGTON POST

Wasted Potential: A Cost Benefit Analysis

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 01:23:00 +0000

Click image to enlarge and use to Enlarge further.

Big Media: Ready to Silence the Revolution

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 00:07:00 +0000

For anyone who feels there is more than meets the eye.. to this systematic society in which we are encouraged to live…. From the Mind of Doc Rx… to a blog that can redefine the ages…. all content you view here, of course… is, “Within The Margin of Error”

I am astonished by recent statistics, illustrating our country’s overwhelming opinion that our government is in need of major reform. It is not so much the consensus that startles me, rather the fact that we tolerate having our needs ignored. We are willing to disagree but not to disobey or demand reform, as Gandhi did in India, as Mandela did in South Africa, and as Dr. King did for our great nation. Are we so used to prevailing in the end, that we have forgotten how much effort is needed to achieve greatness?

We have many leaders living here today who have taken the first step towards reform, however instead of taking the next step, they choose to serve themselves financially and ultimately reform nothing. They criticize policies, administrations, and legal precedents that shape our nation today, and they enjoy the support of millions while talking about what needs to be done. Michael Moore is one of these people: a left wing extremist

who makes controversial documentaries criticizing our government from elected officials to the legislation. Like many reformists in the entertainment industry, he enjoys an extremely large liberal following made up of fans waiting for his next work. Bill O’Reilly is another extremist who is quite influential, but not by making documentaries, rather by giving his opinions on a news telecast aired daily on Fox News. Contrary to Mr. Moore, Mr. O’Reilly represents an extreme right-wing point of view and is an advocate for Republican agenda. Bill Maher is another man, who is increasingly influential as a politically driven comedian discussing issues in a comedic format for on national television. Currently his show, Real Time, is aired on HBO where he is free from the censorship that governs non-premium cable networks.

Though he tends to support liberal-minded thinking more than he does conservative-minded thinking, he does not blindly support either agenda; rather he is a comic and criticizes anyone in the government who he does not agree with. I have examined three media icons who discuss political issues with very different styles from three different areas of media: film, daily cable talk shows, and weekly premium channel talk shows. I would have to say that Bill Maher is the closest of the three to actually encouraging followers to take steps towards reform. While Moore tends to distort and deceive in order to prove a point, and O’Reilly tends to be overly concerned with his own ego, Maher seems to slice through the boundaries of what most consider to be politically correct across lines wouldn’t dare cross

Again, I reiterate, the criticism voiced by the people mentioned above is not what bothers me. I am bothered by the fact that the criticism is coupled with a lack of intention to use their influence to make a difference. They need to see the potential that comes with a sea of ready and able followers, not only to believe, but to take appropriate action until a difference is made. However, instead of joining forces with someone with a plan, they are content manipulating facts in effort to distort opinions about the system while doing nothing to correct it.

The viewers represent the nature of the vast majority of our citizens. Meaning, they hear viewpoints from members of the media, like O’Reilly, Moore, and Maher, and they adopt them as their own. Whereas, in the past, newscasters reported facts and it was up to us to interpret these findings and form our own opinion. For this very reason, Walter Cronkite once said, “It is clear to me, that the present day media has taken over the world.” If today’s journalists only aspired to report with the integrity and respect of the late Mr. Cronkite, instead of the partisan reporters of today, perhaps that quote would not be so sadly accurate.

However, since reporters today are employees of large media conglomerates with varying political agendas, company executives ensure a political twist is added to the actual story. Stations employ people who have viewpoints directly in line with the view of their respective stations. This ensures that fans of various comedians, journalists, and hosts will adopt the viewpoints and opinions of the mother corporation. While viewers claim that certain television personalities speak their mind, they fail to realize that these people only speak their mind within the political boundaries in which they are directed to abide by. Popularity and ratings mean nothing if the host does not fall in line with the greater agenda of the mother company. Glenn Beck had the second highest rated show on CNN but was fired for his “unconventional” views, which happen to be conservative which clashed with CNN’s normal liberal feel. This is why he is now a star on Fox News; his popularity is only important if he can manipulate his audience to have the same opinion as the higher-ups at the mother station. All TV personalities must stay in line with the beliefs of the corporation at large, thereby proving (as Mr. Cronkite stated) that the media has indeed, taken over the world. When the news is allowed to be reported in a way that deceives viewers to think a certain way, vote a certain way, dress a certain way, etc. it should no longer be called news. This should alarm every last citizen who values our freedom as Americans; for freedom is dying right before our eyes and we don’t even have the ability to have an opinion on it anymore.

This essay, no doubt, will be written off by the masses as the ramblings of a conspiracy theorist as they flip the channel to get their instruction on how to behave in this bi-partisan system. So, if you must see concrete evidence of the mind control being performed by our media, consider the chart below. Of the 1000+ channels on various cable services, 95% of the channels are owned by only six corporations. This is not a typo: News Corp, CBS, Viacom, Disney, Time-Warner, and GE have systematically tapped into every demographic in this country and even created competing stations under the same umbrella as to appear diverse. When you turn on the TV, as much as you like to think you have 1000 choices, at best you have six political viewpoints, cleverly disguised into a variety of entertaining shows. When cable was invented, the CEO of CBS accidentally spoke while his microphone was on backstage saying, “We are going to create enough networks to appeal to every demographic in this country. Eventually they will all tune in to what we tell them to, ultimately ensuring that they tune-out from reality.”

As a member of one of the most innovative and resourceful generations in this country, I see the potential crisis looming. Our predecessors had the challenge of maintaining our nation’s greatness while working towards a better tomorrow. However, as the time to pass the reigns nears, this nation is crumbling, and my generation is being handed the reins to a chariot without wheels, let alone a horse at the other end of the reins. I am capable of rallying masses around me for numerous reasons, but one in specific: my observations and opinions represent those of the majority of this nation. I do not claim to be one of the great men I mentioned in my opening, but I aspire to be in their company one day. I aspire to join forces with the critics mentioned above and really make the viewers begin to think. The problem is that if I inspire too many people to follow my lead, on any one of these 1000 channels, I will be taken off the air and effectively silenced. We have allowed them to have enough power to actually eliminate anyone who has ideas contrary to their agenda. Who will stand by me and scream that we, the people, will not be silenced and our minds will continue to be free. The time for change is now and it is up to every one of you to start demanding it. There are 49 million people in this country living below the poverty line. They are tired of being stuck in a system that is built to fail them. Imagine what 49 million people could do with the right leader at the helm, if we all stood up together in protest. There isn’t an army in this world that could stop us; after all we only want what so many have died to give us. We want what the power elite have taken away and we will not stop until we get it.

Imagine the masses I could motivate if given the chance. Does anyone doubt me? They doubted this man… and I’m twice as motivated. I am tired of being kept in the dark about my own life. How about you?