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The Media Blitzkrieg That Won’t Stop: Corporate Consolidation Of The Media Industry

By RD Bentley on June 1, 2026 in , ,

Corporate consolidation in the media industry threatens diversity of viewpoints and local journalism, leading to fewer independent news sources and diminished community accountability. This trend can result in a significant loss of local voices and critical reporting essential for democracy.

The media giant Ted Turner warned us about the dangers of consolidation in this educational piece from Washington Monthly (My Beef With Big Media):

“The media giants now own not only broadcast networks and local stations; they also own the cable companies that pipe in the signals of their competitors and the studios that produce most of the programming.”

And this was published in July 30, 2004. As Turner recognized this many years ago, the consolidation has only increased, and is far greater than ever before. This is dangerous.

More recently, the deals have gone off the chart. News staffers say a certain new owner ‘just can’t be trusted’, as a promise not to “politicize” the network was looked upon with a great deal of skepticism. CBS is undergoing significant changes under Bari Weiss, which some speculate may align its programming more closely with conservative viewpoints, similar to Fox. However, whether it will fully become “the new Fox” remains uncertain as it continues.

The chairman and CEO of Paramount Skydance is David Ellison, son of Larry Ellison, which oversees CBS News following its merger with Paramount Global in 2025. He has made significant changes to the network, including hiring Bari Weiss as editor-in-chief.

Nexstar has already completed its acquisition of Tegna for $6.2 billion on March 19, 2026. However, integration activities have been halted due to a preliminary injunction.

The acquisition of Tegna by Nexstar is expected to create a media giant that would control over 80% of U.S. television households, significantly exceeding the FCC’s previous ownership cap of 39%. This consolidation raises concerns about reduced competition, potential job losses in newsrooms, and a negative impact on local news diversity and quality.

On July 15, 2025, Stephen Colbert made a “big fat bribe” joke. Then on July 17th, only a couple days later, he made this announcement: “Next year will be our last season.” Then on Thursday, May 21, 2026, Stephen Colbert Signs Off The Late Show’s Final Episode.

Joe Rogan to 60 Minutes? Please take notice of the mergers…

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The Situation In The Strait of Hormuz Will By No Means Return To Pre-war Conditions

By RD Bentley on June 1, 2026 in

PARS Today — “However, the most controversial part of Trump’s claims concerns the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s maritime security measures. The U.S. President speaks of a dream to return the Strait of Hormuz to its pre-war status and to neutralize alleged mines — a dream that Iran has explicitly rejected, emphasizing that “the situation in the Strait of Hormuz will by no means return to pre-war conditions.” The field reality is that the United States, despite all its efforts during the period of tension, was never able to eliminate Iran’s sovereignty over this vital artery. Interestingly, Trump speaks of “lifting the naval siege,” unaware that this very issue has been one of Iran’s main preconditions for ending the war. Tehran says that as long as its ships do not navigate freely as before and this unblocking is not operationally realized, it will not change its monitoring mechanism in the Strait of Hormuz. It is worth noting that Iran fundamentally denies charging tolls for vessel transit; what it collects is a service fee for providing security and safe passage.”

MORE HERE:
1. Deal in delusion: What Trump narrates about an agreement with Iran is a wish, not reality | PARS Today
2. Trump may sign deal with Iran for ceasefire extension; Hormuz Strait central to negotiations | The Hill

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Laguardia Airport Incident March 22, 2026: Air Canada Express Collides With Port Authority Fire Truck

By RD Bentley on March 23, 2026 in

A crash at LaGuardia Airport on March 22, 2026, involved an Air Canada Express plane colliding with a Port Authority fire truck, resulting in the deaths of the pilot and co-pilot, and injuries to 41 others.

The incident appears to be the result of miscommunication between air traffic control and ground control, leading to a fire truck being cleared to cross the runway while the jet was landing. Experts suggest that the air traffic controller made a critical error by allowing the fire truck onto the runway at the wrong time, which ultimately caused the crash.


When ATC Messes Up

A CRJ-900 operating as Air Canada Flight 8646 collided upon landing with a firetruck that was attempting to cross a runway. The 2 officers who were in the firetruck were hospitalized but stable. Both of the 2 pilots died after the aircraft sustained substantial damage to the nose.

MORE HERE:
1. Air Traffic Control Audio Reveals Cause of Deadly New York Crash
2. List of accidents and incidents at LaGuardia Airport

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Headphones: Get Bluetooth On Almost Any Device

By RD Bentley on May 16, 2020 in , ,

JOIN THE BLUETOOTH PARTY WITH EASE

Bluetooth is here to stay. It’s fashionable, practical, and it’s polite. One thing to think about. Will the Bluetooth headphones pair with any device? I’ve had trouble in the past, until I acquired this item: COWIN E7 Active Noise Cancelling Headphones Bluetooth Headphones…

After unboxing and taking a look at the product, I didn’t know what to expect. The COWIN E7 product sounded good right out of the box. The bass was there, along with clarity. I wish there was more volume on all of my headphones, however, my ears are probably grateful.

Let’s put the product to the test. Here are some on the list: Amazon Firestick, iPhone, iPad, MacBook Pro, etc. You name it, it finally connected with Bluetooth. I’m streaming movies, music, videos, and the like. There was only a brief amount of patience required and now I’m a happy camper.

The cans feel comfortable, look good, so what more can I say?

Battery life is also an issue with many of the cheaper headphones. Frustration is likely when the battery goes down before the movie is over. The COWIN E7 offers 30 Hours Playtime Per Charge at Bluetooth Mode. That’s putting us in the game. Plenty of battery to get through the day.

Let’s hope the performance and battery life holds up over time…

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Wanted: Office Ink Pen That Writes Smoothly

By RD Bentley on January 12, 2019 in ,

Wanted…Work in an office type of environment and want an ink pen that writes smoothly. Sorry to the other guys that make pens. I’m now a Zebra guy. I like the way that this Zebra G-301 pen writes: Zebra G-301 Stainless Steel Retractable Gel Pen, Medium Point, 0.7mm, Black Ink…

Some gel pens may be considered too messy or blotchy according to varied consumers. Fortunately, this just isn’t the case with the Zebra G-301. The writing is nearly flawless.

A continuity of flow is the strong point here, pun not intended. The other guys’ pens sometimes stop writing, especially during colder weather. If you are writing outside in severe weather conditions, this doesn’t cut it. You need a smooth flow of fluid.

Another selling point is the sturdy stainless steel barrel with a stylish design that will not go unnoticed! I really like the feel of the pen as well as the looks of it.

I know it’s just an ink pen, but why settle for an average looking ink pen?

Awesome!

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Background Singer In You’re So Vain Is…Mick Jagger

By RD Bentley on September 5, 2018 in

If you’re like me, you’ve listened to You’re So Vain by Carly Simon many times. But, after listening today I noticed a subtle difference, a background voice which sounded familiar. There were Clouds in my coffee. Wait, is this voice Mick Jagger?

Wouldn’t you like to hear Mick sing this song?

Carly is quite the entertainer and she has an awesome voice. She sang for Howard Stern (1995) without music and she was dazzling. As usual, Howard was so vein but got some good responses from Carly. She handled him with class.

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Is It Inappropriate To Smell Other People’s Food?

By RD Bentley on September 1, 2018 in , ,

If someone offers you a home-baked cookie, should you smell the cookie in front of them? Absolutely not! Do not make the mistake of smelling the food! How dare you? How could you? Who does this?

You stuck your honker in the cookie? Oooh! Nasty! Boogers!

If you must use your talented senses, please do it in a manner that does not get you noticed. Otherwise your friends might label you as a “food sniffer” and you will certainly be ostracized. At all costs, avoid this mistake and be very subtle. Use extreme caution and keep your nose out of the cookie!

Do not be overly (overtly) observant or suspicious because this will be construed as being completely rude. Yes, just plain old rude, especially if a friend or coworker brought the food in from home.

I know your significant other is a fantastic cook and the no-bake cookies they make are out of this world! Nevertheless, you must never let your guest know that their food is subpar. Don’t go there friend!

Just change subjects perhaps…maybe talk about the weather or sports. Do not be considered a judge of cooking. Again, do not go there. You will have the stigma of being a “sniffer” and who needs this sort of rubbish? (I’m currently seeing a therapist.)

Savor the cookies at home and be polite, even if the cookies your friend made are bland (bland as cardboard). And I do not mean to imply that this ever happened to me personally…Yuck!

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The Perfect Office Clock That Keeps Military Time

By RD Bentley on July 16, 2018 in , ,

If you wanted a perfect office clock, what would the features require? What makes a good clock for home or office use? Maybe a Digital Battery Atomic Alarm Clock (hito) would be the ultimate office clock, especially one that keeps military time.

Operated by 2 AA batteries, a key feature is the auto night light which makes the atomic clock glow in the dark. If there’s a power outage it will not matter. That’s certainly a nice feature.

If military time is important, this one offers that capability, even if it not represented in the description. Trust me it works.

The large, easy to read display is the kicker. Large numbers in the room. Anybody can read this giant display, and the top button conveniently turns a light on in the night, for a quick reading. Now that’s nice.

Who doesn’t appreciate an atomic clock which keeps perfect time even during a power outage? How good can it get?

This palm-sized device also displays the month, date, day, inside temperature, and digital second hand. All this in one package.

I couldn’t think of a nicer gift to hand someone and see them satisfied, especially if the other party is into gadgets. And who isn’t these days?

I bought one and would not hesitate to get another. Here is the link: hito 3.8″ Digital Battery Atomic Alarm Clock…

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How I Got My Old iPhone 4 to Work with TracFone

By RD Bentley on May 2, 2018 in ,

Have an old smartphone lying around and want to get cheap monthly cell service? I have discovered a way to use my old iPhone 4 with TracFone and I can tell you that it works.

If you don’t need one of those costly unlimited plans and just want to use your phone for a quick call home and for emergency situations then a TracFone plan is the way to go.

Some of us aren’t addicted to mobile phones believe it or not!

I’ll give you the rundown on how I got my iPhone to work with TracFone.

The Process

At first I went on over to TracFone’s website and shopped for a Bring Your Own Phone plan. Then I proceeded to activate it. It asks “What type of smartphone are you going to activate today?” and I selected the “I’m Bringing My Own Smartphone” option.

It then asks if I have a TracFone sim card which I do not. Then they ask what carrier is your phone compatible with? I have a Verizon CDMA model.

TracFone prompts you for an IMEI or MEID number for verification purposes. Being that I have a Verizon CDMA model I had to find the MEID number.

On my iPhone I went to the Settings app and then to General and About. The MEID was listed there, but the TracFone website would not accept it. Turns out I had to use a MEID converter because the phone lists it in a hexadecimal format and it needs to be converted to a decimal format. I copy and pasted the MEID DEC number and it worked perfectly.

Only $15 A Month For Cell Service

I chose the cheapest plan for only $15 a month with the auto-fill option. This gives me 200 minutes of talk time, 500 text messages, and 500MB of data on a monthly basis. Base your decision on how much you will be using it and what you can afford to spend.

Use Your Home Address For The Zip Code

Be sure to use your local ZIP code during the setup process. Your phone number’s area code will be reflected upon what you enter.

After your purchase is finalized you will need to call *22890 using your phone’s keypad. You will need service during this process. It took about half a minute until I received a text message from TracFone which gave me a designated phone number.

In Case You Chose The Wrong Zip Code

I put in the wrong ZIP code and had to chat with TracFone’s customer service to get my number changed.

If you would ever like to change your phone number you will need to get in touch with TracFone’s customer service via phone or chat (the chat option gives you a human being). You will have to call the *22890 number again to get your new number to activate on your phone.

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Nietzsche’s Übermensch Becomes Superman Of The Future

By RD Bentley on March 26, 2018 in ,

Superman where are you now? Can the iconic Superman figure be accredited to Friedrich Nietzsche, or was it a creation which evolved over a period of time? Nietzsche does supply humanity with the Übermensch concept in his 1883 book Thus Spoke Zarathustra, rated often as the philosopher’s magnum opus.

The reference points to humanity in general. Nietzsche’s idea of Übermensch was a new way of thinking; an aspiration to be higher, instead of becoming a couch potato. Should we inquire with Manfred?

To be more specific, Nietzsche does NOT see Übermensch as an evolutionary goal, as discussed in What Nietzsche Really Said (Rumor # 27), by Robert Solomon and Kathleen Higgins.

If we examine the origins of Superman, we find that Nietzsche’s Superman is probably the opposite of today’s Superman SuperHero, the latter possessing supernatural or superhuman powers. Yet we find both versions to be very intriguing.

c. AD 125 – AD 180 The Books by Lucian, of Samosata

Let’s examine The Books by Lucian. Was Lucian’s Kataplous or Downward Journey the source of Nietzsche’s Übermensch? Lucian was wildly popular in antiquity and more than eighty writings attributed to him have survived to the present day.

The Downward Journey or The Tyrant: A group of dead people, including the tyrant Megapenthes, are carried to the Underworld in Charon’s boat. Only the cobbler Micyllus accepts his fate with resignation.

1905: Shaw Employs The Term Superman In Man and Superman

May 23, 1905 cues the premier of Man and Superman, a play based on the famous Don Juan theme and written by George Bernard Shaw.

“Although Man and Superman can be performed as a light comedy of manners, Shaw intended the drama to be something much deeper, as suggested by the title, which comes from Friedrich Nietzsche’s philosophical ideas about the Übermensch“.

Shaw distances himself from Nietzsche by placing the philosopher at the very end of a long list of influences.

Nietzsche’s theme that mankind is evolving is used by Shaw, through natural selection, towards superman, and he develops the argument to suggest that the prime mover in selection is woman. This is based on The Revolutionist’s Handbook and Pocket Companion, as the plot centers on the character John Tanner.

1933: The First Superman Is A Bald-headed Telepathic Villain aka Bill Dunn

In The Reign of the Superman, the title character of the story is a telepathic villain, unlike the physically powerful and altruistic entity known as today’s Superman. This was the first published use of the name Superman, created by the dynamic duo of Siegel And Shuster.

Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster can be credited with today’s version of Superman, the first of the great comic book superheroes. Both artists come from Cleveland, Ohio.

The Boys of Steel Sell Rights Of Superman For A Paltry $130

“That $130 contract signaled the beginning not just of the Superman character but of what would become a multi-billion dollar industry: comic book heroes,” as attested in Superman: The High-Flying History of America’s Most Enduring Hero.

The publishers gave up the rights, the power, and everything to the buyers.

More:
1. Genius Of The Modern World ➟ Friedrich Nietzsche
2. Superman ➟ The Comic Strip Hero

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