Comments on: From the Dept. of We’re Not Going Away, So Get Used to It… http://firedoglake.com/2006/09/07/from-the-dept-of-were-not-going-away-so-get-used-to-it/ Firedoglake weblog Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:25:02 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: rob ryan http://firedoglake.com/2006/09/07/from-the-dept-of-were-not-going-away-so-get-used-to-it/#comment-292880 rob ryan Thu, 14 Sep 2006 00:57:12 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/09/07/from-the-dept-of-were-not-going-away-so-get-used-to-it/#comment-292880 <p>Today, 9/13, Scholastic replied with a form letter which does not address specifics and merely attempts further damage control. </p> <p>It contradicts the corporation’s earlier statements and indicates that Scholastic will dismiss concerns in favor of further distortion.</p> <p>No indication that they acknowledge their mistake in being complicit and no indication that they intend to renounce the film or their participation in foisting that folly on the masses.</p> <p>Scholastic needs to be denied access to our children.</p> Today, 9/13, Scholastic replied with a form letter which does not address specifics and merely attempts further damage control.

It contradicts the corporation’s earlier statements and indicates that Scholastic will dismiss concerns in favor of further distortion.

No indication that they acknowledge their mistake in being complicit and no indication that they intend to renounce the film or their participation in foisting that folly on the masses.

Scholastic needs to be denied access to our children.

]]> By: Dave http://firedoglake.com/2006/09/07/from-the-dept-of-were-not-going-away-so-get-used-to-it/#comment-289005 Dave Mon, 11 Sep 2006 15:17:39 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/09/07/from-the-dept-of-were-not-going-away-so-get-used-to-it/#comment-289005 <p>I didn’t watch the whole thing but one comment I must make, on a purely aesthetic note: More and more TV dramas these days are using this maddening neo-’realist’ technique of shaky hand-held cameras in every single scene. I could only take about five minutes of ‘P29/11′ before I felt a headache coming on.<br /> This constant shaky camera (some of which I suspect is done in post production) and frequent use of zooming, rapid cutting, etc. during even the most undramatic scenes is ridiculously annoying.<br /> On a political note, it also might lead certain unsophisticated viewers into believing that these dramas are actual documentaries, tho they flash disclaimers.</p> I didn’t watch the whole thing but one comment I must make, on a purely aesthetic note: More and more TV dramas these days are using this maddening neo-’realist’ technique of shaky hand-held cameras in every single scene. I could only take about five minutes of ‘P29/11′ before I felt a headache coming on.
This constant shaky camera (some of which I suspect is done in post production) and frequent use of zooming, rapid cutting, etc. during even the most undramatic scenes is ridiculously annoying.
On a political note, it also might lead certain unsophisticated viewers into believing that these dramas are actual documentaries, tho they flash disclaimers.

]]> By: richie hammered http://firedoglake.com/2006/09/07/from-the-dept-of-were-not-going-away-so-get-used-to-it/#comment-283964 richie hammered Fri, 08 Sep 2006 16:46:10 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/09/07/from-the-dept-of-were-not-going-away-so-get-used-to-it/#comment-283964 <p>For residents of Texas and Ohio: Go to ABC’s website and get a link to your local ABC affiliate. Let them know you will be listening to the Ohio State v. Texas game on the Longhorn or Buckeye radio network rather than watching the broadcast on their station.</p> For residents of Texas and Ohio: Go to ABC’s website and get a link to your local ABC affiliate. Let them know you will be listening to the Ohio State v. Texas game on the Longhorn or Buckeye radio network rather than watching the broadcast on their station.

]]> By: 3rivers http://firedoglake.com/2006/09/07/from-the-dept-of-were-not-going-away-so-get-used-to-it/#comment-283833 3rivers Fri, 08 Sep 2006 15:13:56 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/09/07/from-the-dept-of-were-not-going-away-so-get-used-to-it/#comment-283833 <p>Moderator, could you delete comment 186? Its </p> <p>an accidental send and duplication of 187,</p> <p> which is shorter and more</p> <p>to the point.</p> Moderator, could you delete comment 186? Its

an accidental send and duplication of 187,

which is shorter and more

to the point.

]]> By: 3rivers http://firedoglake.com/2006/09/07/from-the-dept-of-were-not-going-away-so-get-used-to-it/#comment-283806 3rivers Fri, 08 Sep 2006 14:56:12 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/09/07/from-the-dept-of-were-not-going-away-so-get-used-to-it/#comment-283806 <p>Chinaberry books is a good place to look<br /> for an alternative children’s bookseller to Scholastic.</p> <p> TV-free America or the anthroposophical society may be good places for folks looking<br /> to deal with changing off or partially off video. Education professor Steyer’s “The Other<br /> Parent” is a very good guide to the political<br /> context in which our media regulation has changed, and also practical suggestions for<br /> parents to guide their kids with both TV and<br /> internet. West Point professor Grossman’s<br /> studies of media and violence are fascinating.</p> <p> Any small alternative video companies out<br /> there to replace the Disney?</p> <p>Silver lining to all this effort- check out<br /> former ad-man Jerry Mander’s Four Arguments for<br /> the Elimination of TV. </p> <p> Also:</p> <p> More than 25 years ago psychologist Tannis M. MacBeth Williams of the University of British Columbia studied a mountain community that had no television until cable finally arrived. Over time, both adults and children in the town became less creative in problem solving, less able to persevere at tasks, and less tolerant of unstructured time.</p> Chinaberry books is a good place to look
for an alternative children’s bookseller to Scholastic.

TV-free America or the anthroposophical society may be good places for folks looking
to deal with changing off or partially off video. Education professor Steyer’s “The Other
Parent” is a very good guide to the political
context in which our media regulation has changed, and also practical suggestions for
parents to guide their kids with both TV and
internet. West Point professor Grossman’s
studies of media and violence are fascinating.

Any small alternative video companies out
there to replace the Disney?

Silver lining to all this effort- check out
former ad-man Jerry Mander’s Four Arguments for
the Elimination of TV.

Also:

More than 25 years ago psychologist Tannis M. MacBeth Williams of the University of British Columbia studied a mountain community that had no television until cable finally arrived. Over time, both adults and children in the town became less creative in problem solving, less able to persevere at tasks, and less tolerant of unstructured time.

]]> By: 3rivers http://firedoglake.com/2006/09/07/from-the-dept-of-were-not-going-away-so-get-used-to-it/#comment-283796 3rivers Fri, 08 Sep 2006 14:47:48 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/09/07/from-the-dept-of-were-not-going-away-so-get-used-to-it/#comment-283796 <p>Some alternatives & some more bias problems–</p> <p> Chinaberry is a pretty good children’s book provider.</p> <p> I’ve considered Scholastic unethical for quite some time. Scholastic was marketing cosmetics to 4rth grade girls in the margins of its book catalog.</p> <p>My child’s school explained to me that although they didn’t like the marketing, they did like<br /> the commission they received from book sales<br /> through Scholastic.</p> <p> Scholastic also marketed the “goosebumps” series of children’s books for approx. 7 year<br /> olds, which were quite controversial due to<br /> their violent and sadistic content, such as<br /> featuring teens burning down a house hoping the<br /> occupant would die, and being deemed “not that<br /> bad” by the other kids.</p> <p> A version of Time magazine marketed for schools, Time for Kids also features heavily<br /> biased material. Their coverage of genetic<br /> engineering was reckless, one-sided cheerleading, practically an<br /> advertisement.</p> <p> A good<br /> book for parents on TV is James P. Steyer’s<br /> “The Other Parent”. It features moderate, workable recommendations for making conscious<br /> choices about media consumption. I believe<br /> he also had a company for marketing alternative<br /> video. I recommend<br /> getting a group together with your kids friends<br /> parents to work out some community standards.</p> <p> I raised my child TV-free, and found the things people worry about not to be a problem.<br /> She didn’t have any trouble fitting in or being popular and it wasn’t the cause of<br /> endless struggles–alot of my friends found trying to do limited video to<br /> be much more of a source of conflict with their<br /> children.</p> <p> Former ad-man Jerry Manders “Four Arguments for<br /> the Elimination of Television” is something everyone should read for background, even if they intend to continue moderate watching watching.</p> <p> If folks could list some small, alternative<br /> providers of kids videos/books–that would<br /> probably help everyone with the work of<br /> turning off Disney, ABC and Scholastic.</p> <p> The organizers of the national TV turn-off<br /> week in April probably have some good resources. The Anthroposophical Society also<br /> may.</p> <p> Some more silver lining:</p> <p>Jerome L. and Dorothy Singer of Yale University, among others, have suggested that more viewing may contribute to a shorter attention span, diminished self-restraint and less patience with the normal delays of daily life. More than 25 years ago psychologist Tannis M. MacBeth Williams of the University of British Columbia studied a mountain community that had no television until cable finally arrived. Over time, both adults and children in the town became less creative in problem solving, less able to persevere at tasks, and less tolerant of unstructured time.</p> Some alternatives & some more bias problems–

Chinaberry is a pretty good children’s book provider.

I’ve considered Scholastic unethical for quite some time. Scholastic was marketing cosmetics to 4rth grade girls in the margins of its book catalog.

My child’s school explained to me that although they didn’t like the marketing, they did like
the commission they received from book sales
through Scholastic.

Scholastic also marketed the “goosebumps” series of children’s books for approx. 7 year
olds, which were quite controversial due to
their violent and sadistic content, such as
featuring teens burning down a house hoping the
occupant would die, and being deemed “not that
bad” by the other kids.

A version of Time magazine marketed for schools, Time for Kids also features heavily
biased material. Their coverage of genetic
engineering was reckless, one-sided cheerleading, practically an
advertisement.

A good
book for parents on TV is James P. Steyer’s
“The Other Parent”. It features moderate, workable recommendations for making conscious
choices about media consumption. I believe
he also had a company for marketing alternative
video. I recommend
getting a group together with your kids friends
parents to work out some community standards.

I raised my child TV-free, and found the things people worry about not to be a problem.
She didn’t have any trouble fitting in or being popular and it wasn’t the cause of
endless struggles–alot of my friends found trying to do limited video to
be much more of a source of conflict with their
children.

Former ad-man Jerry Manders “Four Arguments for
the Elimination of Television” is something everyone should read for background, even if they intend to continue moderate watching watching.

If folks could list some small, alternative
providers of kids videos/books–that would
probably help everyone with the work of
turning off Disney, ABC and Scholastic.

The organizers of the national TV turn-off
week in April probably have some good resources. The Anthroposophical Society also
may.

Some more silver lining:

Jerome L. and Dorothy Singer of Yale University, among others, have suggested that more viewing may contribute to a shorter attention span, diminished self-restraint and less patience with the normal delays of daily life. More than 25 years ago psychologist Tannis M. MacBeth Williams of the University of British Columbia studied a mountain community that had no television until cable finally arrived. Over time, both adults and children in the town became less creative in problem solving, less able to persevere at tasks, and less tolerant of unstructured time.

]]> By: Dorothy Mangino http://firedoglake.com/2006/09/07/from-the-dept-of-were-not-going-away-so-get-used-to-it/#comment-283528 Dorothy Mangino Fri, 08 Sep 2006 07:30:57 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/09/07/from-the-dept-of-were-not-going-away-so-get-used-to-it/#comment-283528 <p>all of you make me feel good. The Democrats and the decent people of this country are finally tired of this BS and are showing this brazen Pres.and all his {Charlie McCarthy}followers what we are made of,and are not going to take it anymore.<br /> Thank you all You have made my day.</p> all of you make me feel good. The Democrats and the decent people of this country are finally tired of this BS and are showing this brazen Pres.and all his {Charlie McCarthy}followers what we are made of,and are not going to take it anymore.
Thank you all You have made my day.

]]> By: Michael Reynolds http://firedoglake.com/2006/09/07/from-the-dept-of-were-not-going-away-so-get-used-to-it/#comment-283422 Michael Reynolds Fri, 08 Sep 2006 05:17:04 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/09/07/from-the-dept-of-were-not-going-away-so-get-used-to-it/#comment-283422 <p>An outragous abuse of the airwaves–if I wanted this sort of biased propoganda ,I would watch Fox.</p> An outragous abuse of the airwaves–if I wanted this sort of biased propoganda ,I would watch Fox.

]]> By: James Grant http://firedoglake.com/2006/09/07/from-the-dept-of-were-not-going-away-so-get-used-to-it/#comment-282896 James Grant Thu, 07 Sep 2006 23:59:25 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/09/07/from-the-dept-of-were-not-going-away-so-get-used-to-it/#comment-282896 <p>The current administration has their own propaganda wing. They don’t need ABC/Disney doing their misinformation for them.:-(<br /> JG-L.A.</p> The current administration has their own propaganda wing. They don’t need ABC/Disney doing their misinformation for them.:-(
JG-L.A.

]]> By: Barbs http://firedoglake.com/2006/09/07/from-the-dept-of-were-not-going-away-so-get-used-to-it/#comment-282867 Barbs Thu, 07 Sep 2006 23:43:45 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/09/07/from-the-dept-of-were-not-going-away-so-get-used-to-it/#comment-282867 <p>I have already e-mailed the superintendent of my school district. I informed him that my child is not to watch The Path to 9/ll. In our school district, children are not allowed to watch controversial material without a notefrom home. I also informed him about the scholastic material. I will now call the people at Scholastic and thank them for pulling the material and request that theyplease send a letter that is not in support of the material that has already been sent.</p> I have already e-mailed the superintendent of my school district. I informed him that my child is not to watch The Path to 9/ll. In our school district, children are not allowed to watch controversial material without a notefrom home. I also informed him about the scholastic material. I will now call the people at Scholastic and thank them for pulling the material and request that theyplease send a letter that is not in support of the material that has already been sent.

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