Message to base: All Clear

President Obama was on the front page of my morning paper today ("Obama to withdraw 33,000 troops from Afghanistan"). Why 33 thousand? Why not a good even 30K or 35K? If you look around in the news look for the number 33 you will see it pop up in many places.

33 killed by suicide bomber, 33% increase in FedEx profits,  33% fuel price increase, and so on.

The number 33 is like the secret handshake or a message to the base that all is clear and good and on track. Next time you see the number, look closer.

Persistent Contrails or Chemtrails?

If you mention chemtrails you are a crackpot. No such thing we are told. Those are just contrails that persist. Well, not really. Compounds and chemicals are being sprayed out at high altitude for a variety of reasons. Weather modification, pesticides, vaccinations, and oil spill dispersant are some of the more common "aerial applications" of planes outfitted with sprayers. But for some reason, authorities deny that these things take place on a regular basis. Perhaps because of the non-discriminatory nature of aerial spraying? Don't let the photo of small crop duster planes fool you - jets are equipped with sprayers too. Poison in the sky?

What is a Meme?

Merriam-Webster defines meme as an idea, behavior, style, or usage that spreads from person to person within a culture.

You don't have to look far or that carefully to find memes in our corporate media. Memes in our media are started by those with a political or profit agenda. For example, the meme of "trains good, planes bad" has been propagated by the very successful PR firm Hill & Nolton who seeds the media with negative stories about airline travel while simultaneously seeding positive stories about train travel. Their clients have ties with the freight industry who are trying to bolster public sentiment towards high-speed rail projects in order to get public funding to build new rail infrastructure. The public thinks they will get great train service for passenger travel when in reality it is private corporations who will benefit by more infrastructure to move freight by rail.

Memes are also used in times of conflict to bolster public opinion about a government's actions. For example, mentioning Iraq, Saddham, and yellow cake over and over sets a meme in motion eventually used to support illegal actions.

Here is another meme example about the TSA and guns.

Rob a bank, get free health care

A news story out today tells of one James Verone, a North Carolinian who needed health care so badly he gave up his freedom by robbing a bank of $1 and demanding jail time. He has an appointment with the doctor this Friday.

The story has kind of gone viral today. Too bad Mr. Verone doesn't have a talent that we know of else he could have been on the Today show.

UPDATE: James interviewed for the local news.