Media

Observational Bias in Mass-Shooting Stories

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Why do we spend so much money on fire proofing buildings when we seem to have so few major fires?  

Via Instapundit comes this  news story  of an armed college student preventing a mass killing. I think the most interesting facet of the story is where it was reported. This story of a lawful citizen killing a home invader and preventing a mass killing didn’t appear in the New York Times, just the website of a local TV station.  

On the other hand, had the criminals carried out their apparent plan to murder the 10 victims in the apartment, does anyone doubt that such a horrible crime would have made nationwide news in every form of media? Does anyone doubt that a blizzard of opinion pieces would claim the murders as evidence of the need to disarm the  citizenry?  

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“As Leftists Mock and Belittle Carrie Prejean She Becomes More Popular Than They Can Possibly Imagine”

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GayPatriotWest:

Do those who mocked her know how nasty they sound? Do they have any sense how people outside the liberal enclaves where they reside will react to such bile?

Of course they do. The main point of the viciousness is not to convince anyone but rather to intimidate critics into silence. This tactic probably won’t work with Prejean, but it will work with most critics of the gay/feminist/multiculti Left who aren’t driven by publicity.

Decaying in Front of Our Eyes

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I have stumbled across a couple of musings on the MSM from different perspectives that throw into sharp relief a lot of the problems with our present media that we regularly discuss on this site. First, from my friend Jim Wright comes an insider’s view of the biggest Alaska story to hit since Sarah Palin: “Alaskan Middle School Students Scare Moose to Death“.

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Arrogance

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The meldown of old-media credibility continues. Here we have a CNN reporter, covering a “tea party” event, who instead of conducting a normal interview with a participant, debates him, quite rudely (IMNSHO) and in a manner that makes it very clear where her own preferences lie. Be sure to read this unbelievable interchange and, if you have time, also watch the video.

In addition to the obvious lack of objectivity, note also the primitive quality of her arguments…”you’re eligible for a $400…” [stimulus payment, I presume she means], and “did you know that the state of Lincoln gets fifty billion dollars out of these stimulus — that’s fifty billion dollars for this state, sir!” Heck, why not make it five hundred billion and then you’ll really have an unbeatable proposition!

Note also the remarks of Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), who blasted the “tea party” protests as “despicable” and shameful.”

“It’s despicable that right-wing Republicans would attempt to cheapen a significant, honorable moment of American history with a shameful political stunt,” she added. “Not a single American household or business will be taxed at a higher rate this year. Made to look like a grassroots uprising, this is an Obama bashing party promoted by corporate interests, as well as Republican lobbyists and politicians.”

I’ve written about Rep Schakowsky before, in conjunction with the CPSIA issue and her unbelievably obnoxious letter to an individual who has been trying to point out the problems with this badly-drafted legislation and the damage that it is doing to small businesses and to consumers. Apparently, Schakowsky is as irritated by Americans expressing their opinions on economic policy and taxation as she was by a businessperson expressing a knowledgeable opinion about regulatory policy.

I note that Schakowsky’s degree is in elementary education. Nothing wrong with that, but what in her education and/or experience gives her the confidence to believe so absolutely that her ideas about economics are so entirely correct that disagreement with them is “despicable” and “shameful”?

When talking about terrorists and other national security threats, Democrats are all about “nuance” and “shades of gray.” When talking about American citizens who disagree with them on economic matters, the shades of gray go away, and everything must be portrayed in pure primary colors.

(Schakowsky link via Neptunus Lex.)

Monocle and Strategy & Tactics

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The masthead of our blog at Life in the Great Midwest used to say that we “shill for no one” and it is true, no one that pays us, at least. But Dan and I are big fans of the magazine “Monocle“. Monocle covers obscure topics – the first magazine covered the modern Japanese navy (which is why I picked up the initial issue on the spot and wrote about it here). The magazine has beautiful pictures from expert photographers and covers topics like the Falklands, Iceland, and other interesting spots around the globe. Fashion and art are also frequent and well-written topics.

I heard that Monocle was going to open stores so I stopped and took a photo as I walked past this shop in London. Unfortunately it was closed at the time but I wish them the best in their stand-alone stores. Dan bought me a subscription to Monocle for xmas which was much appreciated. I send the issues on to my nephew at college when I am done – even if he doesn’t read them he will look cultured to whomever he brings back to his cinder-block dorm room.

Another favorite of the blog is the magazine Strategy and Tactics. This magazine covers military topics from the ancient world to WW2 to today. Every year when I renew my subscription I also buy one for Dan and now Gerry, as well (he might be wondering why that shows up in his mailbox every month). The magazine came from the era of physical (not PC) war games and they used to put a game in every issue – but now most of the magazine focuses on relevant articles.

I particularly like the “for your information” column where individuals write pithy articles of 2000 words or less on topics that I, at least, find fascinating. Here are some highlights from the latest issue:

– the statistic that 2008 was the first year that the US air force added more pilot less drones to the armory than manned aircraft
– an article about how the Israeli army used armored bulldozers to level enemy strong points in their wars in Gaza
– A very good article on Gerald Bull, the artillery genius who designed a long range 155mm cannon and worked on a gun large enough to launch satellites into orbit – he was assassinated (likely by the Mossad) as he worked on a project for Saddam
– an article about the survival of the battle cruiser Seydlitz, which barely escaped sinking after Jutland in 1916

It helps that I already know a lot about these topics, I guess (I added the part about Bull and the Mossad from my general knowledge – I think when he was shot he had tens of thousands of dollars on him that was untouched, which you’d figure an average assassin would have taken).

If you have some time I’d check out both of these interesting magazines. If anyone has shopped at the Monocle store, pop in a comment.

Cross posted at LITGM