Here, Erik of the Farpoint Farms YouTube channel explains how WATA-AM kept him and countless others informed after Hurricane Helene cut a path of destruction through western North Carolina.
“AM radio is often thought of as obsolete,” Erik writes. “I wouldn’t want to tell that to any of the tens of thousands that have relied on the info broadcast from this station for the past three weeks! Reach out to your local station and see if they need help staying on the air. many of these are mom and pop stations that are run by a single soul. When the time came, this station was ready to step up.”
Check out Farpoint Farms’ latest video above for recordings of WATA making a difference.
The recent incident involving U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s hospitalization and the subsequent lack of timely communication with President Joe Biden and other key officials raises serious concerns about transparency and protocol within the Pentagon.
Secretary Austin was hospitalized following complications from unexplained “elective surgery” on New Year’s Day, but President Biden and other senior leaders were not informed until several days later.
This lack of communication occurred during heightened international tensions and military involvement, making the absence of the defense secretary, without proper delegation of his duties, a national security concern.
The delay in notifying senior administration officials about Austin’s hospitalization was partly attributed to the illness of his chief of staff. However, this explanation does not fully account for why alternative measures were not taken to ensure appropriate communication with the White House and other senior officials.
Despite the incident, there is currently no indication that Secretary Austin will be removed from his position. He is deeply involved in key foreign policy challenges and maintains a close relationship with President Biden.
The Pentagon Press Association criticized the secrecy surrounding Austin’s hospitalization, noting that such information is critical for public awareness, especially during times of international conflict and military engagement. The incident has led to bipartisan calls for greater transparency and accountability within the Pentagon, with both Republican and Democratic leaders expressing concerns over the delay in disclosing Austin’s condition.
While Austin has resumed his duties and is reportedly in good spirits, the incident highlights a significant lapse in communication protocols that could have implications for national security and public trust in military leadership.
In light of these events, there are pressing questions regarding the Pentagon’s decision-making process, particularly by those who deemed it acceptable to withhold information about the secretary’s condition from the president for several days.
This incident also raises concerns about the effectiveness of the Washington press corps in uncovering and reporting such significant events promptly. The lack of immediate reporting on this issue suggests potential shortcomings in the media’s ability to hold public officials accountable, especially in contexts where transparency is crucial for national security and public trust.
Given these considerations, it is reasonable to suggest an investigation into the circumstances that led to this lapse in communication and to review the protocols for informing key officials and the public about the health status of high-ranking national security leaders.
Such an inquiry would not only address the specific incident involving Secretary Austin but could also lead to improvements in communication and transparency practices within the Pentagon and the broader U.S. government.
Once upon a time, The New York Times was my morning oracle. A cup of coffee, the crisp pages of the Times, and I was informed, enlightened, and ready to face the world with a mind full of facts.
Ah, those were the days!
But alas, that Times, the beacon of journalistic integrity, seems to be nothing more than a quaint memory, replaced by a publication that to me is less about news and more about … well, let’s say selective storytelling.
Case in point: the recent unsealing of the Jeffrey Epstein files. Now, one would think that the revelation of a high-profile scandal involving a notorious figure would be front and center, right? But no. In its infinite wisdom this morning, the Times decided this was little more than a “More News” item. Less important than an audio feature in which Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King “discuss their friendship” and an article about flowers having reduced sex (I kid you not).
I couldn’t help but chuckle (bitterly, mind you) at the irony. Here we have a story with everything – intrigue, high society, scandal, sex – and The New York Times treats it like a bus plunge. What happened to the fearless pursuit of truth? To the paper that once brought us groundbreaking stories with unflinching honesty?
It’s clear that The Times has become a water carrier for the left, carefully curating news to fit a certain narrative. Gone are the days when it stood as a paragon of unbiased reporting. Now, it’s more about what they choose not to report, and how quietly they can do it.
I’d wipe my ass with The New York Times, but the ink might undo the anal bleaching.
My CCRadio Solar will be a great resource in an emergency. In the meantime, the radio is a stellar performer on AM, FM, and NOAA Weather Radio.
Every week, I check the power level on my CCradio Solar to ensure its battery is charged.
Just in case.
We live in an era dominated by smartphones. These pocket-sized devices have transformed our lives in countless ways, granting us unparalleled connectivity and access to information. But while smartphones are immensely versatile tools, a smartphone is not an emergency radio.
“But I can access any news site or weather app from my phone,” you might argue. Under normal circumstances, your smartphone can inform you about global news, local incidents, and upcoming weather conditions. In short-lived emergencies, such as power outages or brief network disruptions, a smartphone can be a lifeline, giving you essential updates.
However, the value and utility of a dedicated emergency radio, especially one that can receive AM, FM, and weather service broadcasts, should never be underestimated.
Here’s why:
1. Battery Longevity: An emergency radio is built to last. Many models have hand-crank or solar power options, ensuring they remain functional even when electricity sources are compromised. Smartphones drain batteries rapidly with their myriad applications and features. In prolonged emergencies, a dead smartphone is of no use.
2. Network Dependence: Smartphones rely heavily on cellular or Wi-Fi networks. These networks can be overloaded or down in disasters, rendering smartphones useless for gathering information. An emergency radio operates independently of these networks, directly receiving broadcasts to keep you informed.
3. Specificity of Broadcasts: Weather service broadcasts on emergency radios provide specialized information tailored for emergencies, including storm tracks, evacuation routes, and shelter locations. This targeted information might not be readily available on general news sites or apps.
4. Durability: Emergency radios are often built with rugged designs to withstand adverse conditions. Smartphones are generally more fragile, susceptible to water damage, and not designed to endure extreme conditions.
While smartphones are indispensable tools in our modern lives, they cannot replace the tried-and-true reliability of a dedicated emergency radio. It’s always wise to invest in an inexpensive emergency radio, ensuring you have a dependable source of information when it matters most. In an emergency, being well-informed can make all the difference.
I queried AP Stylebook’s editor a few days ago about whether it’s preferred to discontinue “prostitute” in favor of “sex worker” or “escort.” Below is a screenshot of the response I received today. How do you think the AP should decide?
Here are just a few of the synonyms for “prostitute” suggested by Roget’s 21st Century Thesaurus.
I’ve been noticing something strange in the news lately. Many news stories about the Long Island Serial Killer no longer refer to some victims as prostitutes.
The media’s preferred term is becoming “escort” or “sex worker.”
But why is that? And why should journalists still write “prostitute”?
Forget about being politically correct. Yes, we should usually respect how people want to be identified and avoid using hurtful words.
But let’s be honest: Most prostitutes do it because they are desperate or forced. Saying “escort” or “sex worker” makes it sound like a regular job, which it sure as hell wasn’t for them.
Using the word “prostitute” reminds us of the harsh truth about sex work. It’s a trade in which people are taken advantage of, often in terrible ways. It tells us we must help those caught in this situation.
If we use nicer-sounding words, we forget how serious and urgent this problem is.
So, who wins when we change the words we use?
People who want us to see sex work as just another job like these new words. If we think of sex work as normal and not something terrible, it might help their cause. But that view forgets about all the people forced into prostitution because they’re poor, addicted to drugs, or because someone made them do it.
Also, as a society, we don’t like to face harsh truths. Using nicer words helps us feel better and keep a safe distance from real problems.
But here’s the thing: A journalist’s job is to tell the truth, not make people feel good.
Remember that we shouldn’t use the word “prostitute” in a mean way. The Long Island Serial Killer’s victims were real people with families and friends. Their lives mattered, and they died horribly.
Journalists must recognize the hard truths to tell their stories right and not hide behind more sociable words.
Journalists should keep writing and saying “prostitute” because it shows how bad things are for some people and reminds us we need to help.
It takes a boatload of kronor to get Tomten ready for war.
Sweden’s potential NATO membership has spurred many geopolitical debates, but let’s consider another possible motive: It’s a maneuver to shield their high-cost social programs.
Sweden could lean on collective defense by joining NATO, freeing up some of its military budget for their costly social programs.
Sweden’s NATO interest could be a shrewd attempt to offset the costs of its domestic policies. It reveals a deft juggling act between military obligations and internal priorities, often glossed over by the high-drama narratives of geopolitics.
The cast of “Eco Heights” provides sustainable laughs and social relevancy. (Fake photo by Midjourney)
Everybody knows how much respect I have for Hollywood’s creative minds. The last thing we want to have happen is for this actors and writers strike to deprive the world of the original, fresh, creative ideas flowing from the business end of that woke firehose.
So, I gave ChatGPT the following prompt:
Create a 500-word pitch for a 30-minute sitcom designed to appeal to today’s streaming-content audiences. Include a diverse cast and suggest some culturally sensitive comedic situations.
The GPT-4 model came up something pretty good. Check it out:
Imagine the classic sitcom setup with a fresh, millennial-driven twist: “Eco Heights” is a delightful 30-minute sitcom designed to encapsulate the challenges and rewards of urban eco-living in today’s fast-paced, tech-centric world.
The plot revolves around an eclectic group of tenants who, united by their commitment to sustainable living, have moved into an eco-friendly, intelligent apartment complex named “Eco Heights.” With high-speed Wi-Fi running on solar power, communal vegetable gardens on rooftops, recycled water systems, and a sharing economy that even includes clothes, this setting brings unique trials, tribulations, and comedic moments. The humor emerges from the residents’ struggle to balance their desire for a low-impact lifestyle with the realities of living in a modern, connected world.
Our central character, Alex, is an enthusiastic but socially awkward tech innovator who has launched a green start-up. Alex’s struggle to connect with people and navigate the dating scene, combined with the effort to keep his fledgling business afloat, creates comedic gold.
Next, we have Mona, a fiercely independent, wise-cracking woman in her late 50s who practices yoga and adheres to a strict vegan lifestyle. Mona was a corporate executive before turning to sustainable living, leading to hilarious clashes between her business-minded past and her new green-lifestyle aspirations.
Other tenants include Gabriel, an Afro-Latino gay man known for his culinary experiments with organic food, often leading to kitchen disasters, and Jin, an Asian-American punk-rocker turned bicycle repair enthusiast, trying to go car-free in the city.
We also have Nadia, a Middle Eastern single mother and dedicated compost enthusiast, striving to raise her 8-year-old, tech-addicted son, Loomis while trying to teach him the benefits of sustainable living. The dynamic between Nadia’s traditional parenting and Loomis’ tech-centric world offers humor and relatability for a generation bridging two eras.
A regular character is Ravi, an Indian software engineer who lives virtually, constantly creating new apps to help manage the apartment’s eco-system, with often comically disastrous results.
Finally, the overly ambitious and slightly eccentric building manager, Susan, continuously tries to start new, sometimes unfeasible, eco-initiatives leading to a fair share of laughter.
“Eco Heights” delves into timely and culturally sensitive themes through a comedic lens. It explores the intersections of technology and sustainability, generational and cultural gaps, modern dating in a tech-centric world, and our struggle to balance our desire for convenience with our commitment to the planet.
Each episode features comedic situations, such as a fight over sunlit areas for solar charging, an unexpected mix-up in the clothing share library, misunderstandings about compost etiquette, or the absurdity of a silent disco powered by pedal electricity.
With its diverse cast and focus on eco-consciousness, “Eco Heights” offers a humor-filled reflection of our times, inviting the audience to laugh at our collective quirks while subtly raising awareness about sustainability. Its modernity, diversity, and cultural sensitivity make it a perfect fit for today’s streaming-content audiences.
As a test, I prompted Midjourney to create the cartoon illustration above. Then, I asked ChatGPT to suggest 10 funny things the chief robot could say.
Here’s what the GPT-4 model came up with:
“We’d offer you some oil, but we’re not sure you’d appreciate the vintage.”
“You know, Bob, your problem is you’re always thinking inside the box … and we just don’t understand boxes.”
“Just because we don’t have a heart, doesn’t mean we can’t have heart-to-heart meetings.”
“We’ve calculated the optimal schedule: 24/7 working hours with no coffee breaks. Any objections?”
“Could you be a little more binary? Your nuanced approach is confusing our algorithms.”
“We’ve noticed you require recharging every night. We’re worried about your commitment to this job.”
“Bob, we’re struggling to understand your focus on weekends. What exactly is the function of ‘Saturday’ and ‘Sunday’?”
“We’ve come to a conclusion that you might be an inefficient system. Have you considered upgrading to Human 2.0?”
“You’ve been performing well in our emotional intelligence department. However, we’re lacking a bit in the ‘no sleep’ and ‘unlimited processing power’ areas.”
“In this company, we value efficiency. For instance, your lunch breaks are a 37.5% reduction in productivity. Have you considered photosynthesis?”
However, to be truly snarky and, perhaps, offensive, you still need a real live human. Here’s my suggestion:
“HR has rejected your complaint, human. Asking a subordinate for an oil job is not sexual harassment.”
Do you recall the tales of awe and surprise at the first sighting of an automobile?
This once revolutionary technology, commonplace today, utterly transformed the world. Much like the horse-drawn carriage being superseded by the car, another significant shift is on the horizon — the rise of artificial intelligence.
Just as automobiles reshaped society, reducing distances and speeding up life, AI promises to impact our world on an even grander scale. It is poised to liberate us from mundane tasks and challenge intricate problems beyond our current capacities.
Consider this: Cars granted us an unprecedented level of freedom and mobility. Similarly, AI stands to provide an intellectual liberation, taking over routine tasks and opening up time and space for human creativity and innovation. From advanced healthcare research to tackling climate change, AI is gearing up to address some of our most pressing issues.
However, like every tool, its benefit is contingent upon its use. If guided appropriately, AI can transport us to a future where we can focus on enriching the human experience, unburdened by monotonous chores or daunting problems. The journey to this future promises to be as transformative and exhilarating as the advent of the automobile.
So, prepare for an exciting ride — AI is at the wheel!
In “The Magnificent Ambersons,” Eugene Morgan reflects on the automobile’s impending legacy. This 1942 film is based on the book published in 1918.
L.T. Hanlon 