Category Archives: Media

TED Talks

by DAVID BROWN | CLEARNFO.com | March 16, 2015

TED Talks_400x400Like many people, I’ve watched and learned from the many TED Talks that have been produced over the years as published on YouTube and other places.  Lots of different, thoughtful topics have been covered, yet I have always been bothered a bit by how their audiences seem to accept the information contained within these talks as fact without question.  I have also wondered who the gatekeepers were and how the topics and speakers were filtered.  These talks use the tried and true TED format wherein someone gets up on stage and gives a personal testimony of some hidden truth or fact and the audience dutifully oohs and awes and claps in adoration.   Reminds me of my early church-going days where the requirement was to turn off all my critical thought processes and accept what the preacher was saying without question. You can find more on my religious proclivities here: On Religion.  In any event, I have wanted for some time to write an article on how TED Talks are like a religion but Megan Hustadmarch beat me to the punch with her excellent Opinion piece in the NYT linked below.  I would have taken a different approach:  Listing common features of Religion and mapping those to the TED Talks.  I applied this technique to my article entitled: Misc Musings on the surety of science or why I am skeptical of ‘Well-Established’ facts:

“Science…I believe in the empirical method. I also believe that many in our scientific community have let their emotions and political point of view turn their science into a religion. You either believe certain “well-established facts” or you do not get tenure or you are ridiculed or…. These “well-established facts” represent a dogma or a credo similar to any religion. The result is that many place their minds in a box and their ability to take in new information and process this information critically and honestly is therefore necessarily aberrated.”  – David Brown

In any event, TED Talks are part of the human condition and should therefore be part of the exhibits we proffer as we explore the world around us and what it means to be human; they are useful, but shouldn’t be taken as gospel.

Banned TED Talk- The War on Consciousness -Graham Hancock

The Church of TED  By MEGAN HUSTADMARCH 14, 2015

And just for fun, the Satire Web Site Called ‘The Onion’ does a great job poking fun at the TED Talkers:

Compost-Fueled Cars: Wouldn’t That Be Great? – Onion Talks – Ep. 1
Young media professional Cameron Hughes delivers a compelling argument for his vision of the future–one filled with cars powered by compost. He outlines the idea he came up with in detail, leaving the formalities for other visionaries in other fields. One thing is for certain: he already came up with the idea.

Ducks Go Quack, Chickens Say Cluck – Onion Talks – Ep. 3
Young media professional Cameron Hughes delivers a compelling argument for his vision of the future–one filled with cars powered by compost. He outlines the idea he came up with in detail, leaving the formalities for other visionaries in other fields. One thing is for certain: he already came up with the idea.

‘Thought Leader’ gives talk that will inspire your thoughts | This is That | CBC

Related ClearNFO thoughts on science and religion:

Astroturf and Manipulation of Media Messages

Sharyl Attkisson Gives TED Talk on Astroturf and Manipulation of Media Messages
(Published on Feb 6, 2015)
Astroturf and manipulation of media messages | Sharyl Attkisson

In this eye-opening talk, veteran investigative journalist Sharyl Attkisson shows how astroturf, or fake grassroots movements funded by political, corporate, or other special interests very effectively manipulate and distort media messages.

Sharyl Attkisson is an investigative journalist based in Washington D.C. She is currently writing a book entitled Stonewalled (Harper Collins), which addresses the unseen influences of corporations and special interests on the information and images the public receives every day in the news and elsewhere. For twenty years (through March 2014), Attkisson was a correspondent for CBS News. In 2013, she received an Emmy Award for Outstanding Investigative Journalism for her reporting on “The Business of Congress,” which included an undercover investigation into fundraising by Republican freshmen. She also received Emmy nominations in 2013 for Benghazi: Dying for Security and Green Energy Going Red. Additionally, Attkisson received a 2013 Daytime Emmy Award as part of the CBS Sunday Morning team’s entry for Outstanding Morning Program for her report: “Washington Lobbying: K-Street Behind Closed Doors.” In September 2012, Attkisson also received an Emmy for Oustanding Investigative Journalism for the “Gunwalker: Fast and Furious” story. She received the RTNDA Edward R. Murrow Award for Excellence in Investigative Reporting for the same story. Attkisson received an Investigative Emmy Award in 2009 for her exclusive investigations into TARP and the bank bailout. She received an Investigative Emmy Award in 2002 for her series of exclusive reports about mismanagement at the Red Cross.

References:

Sharyl Attkisson’s web site

What Brian Williams and his pals are NOT telling you

Brian W Liar Lyin Brian

Yes, they lie to us constantly and as they are found out, a decreasing percentage of Americans tune in to watch, but there is a more sinister side:  Here are a few things Brian Williams and his pals are NOT telling us …

  1. The War in Ukraine is completely orchestrated by the USA and NATO
  2. Obama removed the democratically elected government in Kiev, Ukraine (Western Ukraine) and installed his own puppet government backed by neo-Nazis
  3. Out of fear of the new Obama regime in Kiev, 90% of the citizens in Crimea (Eastern Ukraine) voted to associate with Russia for protection
  4. Ignoring the Crimean vote and to support Obama’s propaganda, the US News media falsely reports that Russia invaded Crimea
  5. Joe Biden’s crack-head son –Hunter Biden—was appointed to board of major Ukrainian gas company
  6. Ukraine Agreed to a Monsanto “Land Grab” to Get a $17 Billion Loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF)
  7. IMF said no more money to Kiev until they get the Donbas area under control
  8. Obama’s puppet in Kiev starts bombing cities and villages in the Donbas area (central Ukraine) killing thousands of innocent men, women and children.
  9. Kiev forces start to defect this illegal and criminal genocide orchestrated by Obama and team
  10. Obama puppet starts to shell Donbas area cities with white phosphorus
  11. Complete news blackout by the US Press on the human carnage and atrocities committed by the Obama regime in Kiev.

Some lies and omissions –with the intent to deceive– are more impactful than merely fluffing one’s resume, eh?

Additional Reading …

War in Ukraine

Operation Gladio

Monsanto’s part

 

Episode 001 – Meet Joe Plummer (Video)

Joe Plummer SnowPlease join me in a video conversation with author and researcher Mr. Joseph Plummer below.  Joe is the author of several excellent fiction and non-fiction books including  Leaving the Illusion, Dishonest Money and Tragedy and Hope 101. You can find reviews on each of these books and many others at ClearNFO.com.  Despite some serious Skype issues, this interview turned out great. Enjoy!

Meet Joe Plummer

Episode 001 – part 1 of 6: ‘Meet Joe Plummer’ by ClearNFO.com

Episode 001 – part 2 of 6: ‘Meet Joe Plummer’ by ClearNFO.com

Episode 001 – part 3 of 6: ‘Meet Joe Plummer’ by ClearNFO.com

Episode 001 – part 4 of 6: ‘Meet Joe Plummer’ by ClearNFO.com

Episode 001 – part 5 of 6: ‘Meet Joe Plummer’ by ClearNFO.com

Episode 001 – part 6 of 6: ‘Meet Joe Plummer’ by ClearNFO.com

 

The Kerry-Abdullah Secret Deal

Folks, if you seek to understand the geopolitics at play and cut through the MSM fog, you must apprise yourself the benefit of articles like the one below.

The Kerry-Abdullah Secret Deal
Oil-Gas Pipeline War On Iran, Syria And Russia

By ​​​​F. William Engdahl
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article40089.htm

Larry King lives …

I remember listening to Larry King when I was about 12, late at night on my short wave radio while my parents were asleep. Bouncing off the ionosphere, I felt lucky to receive this valued signal in the small desert town of my youth. I was impressed with Larry’s big, booming, articulate voice and the fact he represented my only alternative news at the time since my only other sources of information were dominated by the three headed dog (Cerberus) of ABC, CBS & NBC all barking in unison.

Though I never watch TV, or CNN or Larry King these days, I mention this only because after watching Larry King interview Ron Paul yesterday on RT-TV (Below), my old late night friend and radio announcer is looking pretty darned pitiful. In fact he looks like someone I would expect to find in an assisted care facility driveling split pea soup out of his mouth; yet there he is, perky, articulate and in the game and no drivel. While I have never agreed with Larry’s ‘politics’ or his personal life, kudos to Larry for getting up in the morning, putting on his suspenders and making the best of a declining career laughing and smiling. Hope I’m that spunky and functional at his age.


Ron Paul: Ebola panic is much more dangerous than the disease itself

Early Check Out: The World Gets Crazier and Obama Goes Golfing

 

While I always love Bill Whittle’s brilliant, fearless and pointed analysis on PJ Media’s ‘Afterburner’, Bill like so many others who oppose Government tyranny, have yet to fully open their eyes to the ‘unbelievable’; though supported by all the facts that surround them. What is this unbelievable I speak of? The unbelievable is that there are criminal elements within our government who work in tandem with the prevailing power structure to spread death and destruction across the globe for their own well-publicized Geopolitical goals (See Zbigniew Brzezinski’s ‘The Grand Chessboard’). They hide behind national security and behind propaganda but for anyone who chooses to take a sober look at the facts, the picture is very clear indeed. The USA is the major force for evil on the world stage today.

If Al, Jessie, Barry, Eric & the media really cared about Blacks

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by DAVID BROWN | CLEARNFO.com | August 22, 2014

If Al, Jessie, Barry, Eric & the media really cared about Blacks, they would be concerned about Blacks with no father: 72.3% of blacks have no father. This was not true during the 60’s before the government insinuated itself into the black family substituting itself for the father. In 1960 the illegitimacy rate in the black community was 2.3%–then the Great Society started.