TV And The Lowest Common Denominator

In mathematics, the lowest common denominator is the smallest number of all the common multiples of the denominators when 2 or more fractions are given. In the media, it refers to the appeal to as many people as it possibly can so that advertisements are worth more and the revenue stream will steadily increase. 

Since the most prominent media in our culture is network television, one can expect that the level of education of the target audience would be the lowest in this media. Thus, the proliferation of mind-numbing shows like "The Housewives of (fill-in-the-blank)", fake wrestling, "not-very-funny" comedy, and network news that promote "fair and balanced" reporting and opinions without consideration of facts and the findings of science. For example, it is rare for them to truly present the harmful effects of religious activities, as well as alternatives to medicine, conspiracy theories, and other pseudoscience. 

In light of the above, there has never been a greater need for mandatory age-appropriate education in critical thinking and rigorous, timely fact-checking of all media. A gullible society can be easily molded by unscrupulous actors, including but not limited to corporations, politicians, and organized religions.

Society has figured out how to handle physical trash (sort of, at least). It's more than time for brain trash to be appropriately handled.

Health Ad Scam Detection

The science-based thinking community understands the need for fact-checking all claims for their truthfulness. There are many fine websites that can do so. Fact-checking health claims of ads on the internet, unfortunately, it's not as easy as political or religious claims because the Google search in this area usually overwhelms the searcher with more ads posing as research. There is one proven website that focuses on scams in general and health claims in particular: Scam Detector.

Facts And The Political Spectrum

"MeidasTouch was featured last night on 60 Minutes. MeidasTouch Network host Ben Meiselas reports on the segment and why it shows the problem with the “both sides” media and what we need to change."

Why "both sides are equal" is bullsh1t. The truth is not automatically in the middle!!! FACTS will always be the TRUTH over fiction. Click on the link below for a 15-minute video explaining in-depth why being a "centrist" in politics is not the place to be. If you still have doubts about the difference between progressives and conservatives regarding facts, I invite you to peruse this blog in depth.

Lies without rebuttal do not warrant coverage in the news

Elon Musk is the poster child of the dangerous "balancing" way of looking at voting (link).

Undocumented Immigrants

"On June 6, 2022, a caravan of over 6000 migrants, including many from Venezuela and Guatemala, embarked on a 1,270-mile journey from the southern tip of Mexico to the United States. News coverage of their journey has re-ignited fears about the types of immigrants entering the U.S. But Americans need not fear. In fact, our perceptions about undocumented immigrants are generally very wrong."

Click on the link below for a fact-based look at an easily misunderstood issue:

How We Are Wrong About Undocumented Immigrants

Well-Baby Medical Visits

• Well-baby and well-child visits are regular checkups with pediatricians that are intended for the purpose of monitoring growth and development in babies and children.

• Doctors, health organizations, and data stress that well-child visits are incredibly important for a child’s health.

• Children are more likely to get sick from outside sources like school or family, not doctor’s offices, experts say. 

In the present environment of magical thinking/anti-science promoted by one US political party, it is important to fact-check every claim you are not sure of. PolitiFact is one of the best resources for this. Click here for a debunking of claims that well-baby medical visits are harmful.

Are You Using Wikipedia?

The internet can be a treacherous place if one is looking for unbiased information. Unfortunately, the political right and other magical thinking entities muddy the waters in an attempt to discredit legitimate resources. One such target is Wikipedia. The truth about Wikipedia is that it deserves to be at least an initial "go-to" resource. One of the top fact-checking websites is Media Bias/Fact Check and it has included it in its "Least Biased" sources (link).

Click on the link below for a podcast discussing in detail the history, policies, and procedures of Wikipedia:

The Endurance of Wikipedia

Think Of The Possibilities If All Were Science Based Thinkers

A friend of mine, who is as high a quality of a person one could meet but also a strong Evangelical Christian, sent me the follow message:

• "Alright my friends...PLZ READ THIS AND FORWARD IT TO EVERYBODY YOU KNOW WHETHER THEY ARE CHRISTIAN OR NOT ...THIS BILL WILL AFFECT THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES IF WE DON'T STOP IT EVERYTHING STARTS IN CALIFORNIA AND IT SPREADS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES I HAVE READ THIS AND LISTENED TO IT AND IT'S LIBERAL LEFT-WING GOVERNMENT AND GOVERNOR IN CALIFORNIA HAS A BILL TO BAN THE SALE OF THE BIBLE BECAUSE IT IS CONSIDERED HATE SPEECH!!!!!! THEY ALSO WANT TO TELL YOU WHAT YOU CAN THINK AND WHAT YOU CANNOT THINK WHAT YOU CAN READ WHAT YOU CANNOT THIS HAS GOT TO STOP. IF YOU KNOW YOUR BIBLE EVEN JUST A LITTLE BIT YOU ARE BOUND TO KNOW THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT WILL BE COMING NEXT SO PLEASE FORWARD THIS TO EVERYBODY YOU KNOW WE HAVE TO MAKE A HUGE OUTCRY TO STOP THIS."

Honesty In Politics

In this morning's edition of The Charlotte Observer was an editorial from its editorial board concerning how Republicans lied about a previous editorial of 10 days ago.