RELIABLE Media Sources from Around the Globe

No, that is not a catchy head line with a witty turn.  It is the truth.

This is the second ´re-posting´ of this blog posting.  Weirdly the post seems to become more pertinent with every re-posting.
 

To make my point: I first wrote this blog in spring 2011, a full five years before ´Fake News´ became a real phenomenon and not just a funny sketch on a comedy show.

And yes, there is indeed a lot of rubbish to be seen, heard and read in the media offerings of most every country.  But there is great, going on to excellent, media resources to be found in America, and elsewhere. One just has to look in the right places.

As far as I am concerned, the best sources for reliable news six years ago, are still the best today.  See below my own personal favorite, but hopefully impartial, media offerings.* 

Another thing you will find with these media sources: not all news is bad, a lot is, but not all.  There is indeed much to be hopeful about in this little part of the universe we call "world" -  as you will see, should you check out the media resources mentioned below.

1)  The Christian Science Monitor                      www.csmonitor.com

‘The Monitor Rocks".  So say I!

The is 'the little newspaper that could'.  And does. The writing is balanced and thoughtful. The topics may not be the top themes in your local area, but they can be of importance and interest globally.

Do not assume the paper’s content will have a ‘Christian Science’ leaning. It does not.

Back in 1906, the founder of the paper Mary Baker Eddy, (also the leader of the Christian Science denomination) was so disturbed by the mis-information written about her in the newspapers of the day, she decided to publish a newspaper that offered impartial news coverage.

She passionately believed “truth is the beginning of solutions” and as such, it would be untruthful NOT to have the word ´Christian´ in the name of the paper, even though it is not a paper for people of her faith.  - There is however one religious article in the newpaper every week.

(Full disclosure: I am a shameless plugger of the Christian Science Monitor. They do a great job at a world class level and this with a circulation of less than 100,000 so you know they are not in it for the money! And I am not a Christian Scientist; I don’t believe I even know anybody who is).

Founded: 1908.

Head Office: Boston U.S. A.

Owner: Christian Science Publishing Society.

2)  NPR                                                                www.npr.org

Formally National Public Radio. The blurb on their website says “We produce, acquire, and distribute programming that meets the highest standards of public service in journalism and cultural expression”. They do all that and they do it superbly. I am particularly taken with anything from Democracy Now with Amy Goodman.

Launched: 1971

Head Office: Washington D.C.

Owner: NPR is a membership media organization that is privately and publicly funded.

 

3)  Al Jazeera English (ALJ)                               english.aljazeera.net

Al Jazeera English is the Middle East’s equivalent of CNN. It offers 24 hours day news and current affairs programs. All in English. Although they offer news from all parts of the world, they really have ‘an insider perspective’ on life in the Middle East. Anyone reading this article that might be aghast that Al Jazeera sounds ‘too much like THEM and not enough like US’, should bare in mind Donald Rumsfeld, Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice all choose to be interviewed by Al Jazeera at one time or other. (If you don’t know who the above mentioned people are, then you definitely need a serious catch up on current affairs!)

Al Jazeera English Launched: 2006.

Its parent company, Al Jazeera was launched in 1996.

Head Office: Qatar.

Owner: Qatar Media Corporation.

4a)  BBC World                                                   www.bbc.co.uk/news/world

British Broadcasting Company – World Service. Launched: 1932.

Head Office: London, England.

Owner: The English tax payers. In 1922, the B.B.C. received a Royal Charter from the then English monarch George V.

4a)  Cable News Network (CNN)                       www.cnn.com/world/

Launched: 1980.

Head Office: Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.

Owner: Turner Broadcasting System Inc (a Time Warner Company).

CNN, and BBC, you just can’t beat for being there - where ever ‘there’ is on any given day. Their journalists and reporters are on the ground when ever and where ever breaking news is happening. (Full disclosure this writer is somewhat biased towards Anderson Cooper on CNN - How can one not be?)

5)  Link TV                                     https://www.linktv.org/about
 The TV channel and website offers “a global perspective on news, events and culture” They draw “on varied reliable news sources from all over the world for its content”. They also offer news and cultural programs for non-English speaking audiences. They really do live up to that, for example, you can see Al Jazeerea on Link TV when you cannot receive it in your own cable network area.

Launched: 1999

Head Office: San Francisco, U.S.A.

Owner: Media Link.

 6) Raidió Teilifís Éireann the Irish National Radio and T.V. Network.  http://www.rte.ie/
Great bang for your buck.  A little station that, in my opinion goes big on news, the arts, satire, sport, documentaries. You name it, RTE covers it. 

If one took 10 minutes a day 6 days a week to inform oneself on news and current affairs – just one hour a week, I suggest, that would give you at least a sense of “what is going on in our world now.”

Note: I am not financially or in any other way connected with any of these news outlets, save I have a very great respect for people and news sources that strive to offer relevant impartial news coverage.

* I only speak English fluently so I can only comment on English language media. But several of these media resources also offer excellent non-English news program options. This is a quick overview; you can find out more about every news source mentioned above on their website.

Oh and did I say... I LOVE the Christian Science Monitor!

In the sunny week between Christmas and New Year...

... We took some walks around the lake.  Perhaps you might enjoy a perusal of same...

- Please, scroll down and enjoy.

 

Is that photo above not the coolest shot of what appears to be ´naughty art´somewhere in the woods... No, not ´naughty art´but a geological phenomenon called Churfirsten in Sippling on the Bodensee.  You can see a clearer view of the Gesteine   here on the right.










.... Onwards and upwards  and ´nicht so schlimm´ at all at all.  Or, as you non- German speakers might say. .. Not so bad at all at all. ...

.

   The profile of a mysterious (!!!) woman  in lilac....

So there we were tra la-ing tra la-ing along, and then I thought I was not seeing what I was seeing. Namely:  a heap of cow dung outside the door of the house.  - But I was seeing what I was seeing.



Yep, a real live heap a cow dung outside the door .. for a better view see below...

 I am sure you dear reader, like me, you may not be enthused about living in the house above.  But walk down the road a bit and you see a short distance away a house cosily nestled at the bottom of two adjoining hills....

.... Same house - different view.  How decieving appearences can be.

I tell you, it was there, right there...

Well what ever they are pondering, they have a great view for it....

(B.T.W. did we not see that lilac beret somewhere before?)

A teppe with no top, is well like a bar with no beer.  Oder?

Aha! That´s what they were pondering... Suzanne in her ´naked´teppe!!!

This past year was one of dismay and dissapointment and worse for many.  Let us hope it will be a ´sunnier´year for this one!

With hope for 2017.

Frohe Weihnachten

       Frohe Weihnachten

                                 Nollaig Shona daoibh

                                              

                                                                 Joyeux Noël

                                                                                      Happy Christmas

Mother and Christchild by the lake.  Stone balancing and picture: Micheal. 

Ahh the mirror is the problem!

Dear blog readers,

The truth is, this matter with the Donald being president elect in the U.S. has discombobulated me a bit, so not into witty words.   But, not to leave you dear reader bereft of same (!!), I enclose for your perusal a poem from the Irish philosopher Edmund Burke. 

The heading may sound a bit philosophical, as one might assume with the topic coming from a philosopher.  But, is not a heavy dissertation to ponder on, rather a light read to, hopefully, cause you to smile in empathy.

The Mirror 

 

By Edmund Burke 1729 - 1797, Irish Philosopher.

 

I look in the mirror

And what do I see?

A strange looking person

That cannot be me.

For I am much younger

And not nearly so fat

As that face in the mirror

I am looking at.

Oh, where are the mirrors

That I used to know

Like the ones which were

Made thirty years ago?

Now all things have changed

And I`m sure you`ll agree

Mirrors are not as good

As they used to be.

So never be concerned,

If wrinkles appear

For one thing I`ve learned

Which is very clear,

Should your complexion

Be less than perfection,

It is really the mirror

That needs correction!

I am a shameless fan of Sugru.

 Sugru  is the Irish word for fun.  Sugru is also a product -  a kind of moldable glue. 

The best description of Sugru I´ve  ever heard is: ´if Playdough and Uhu had a baby together it would be Sugru!´  (Full disclosure, Jane Ni Dhulchaointigh, or Jane Delehanty in plain English who invented Sugru, is from up the road from us in Kilkenny.)

So I don´t know about you, but I feel a little creative self expression may be in order these days; it is a time perhaps to be in a place where you can enjoy, be creative and be a bit in control in your corner of the world at least.  Very timely Sugru sent me an e-mail with all sorts of things you can do or make, to have fun, be creative and be in control in your corner of the world at least.  

To read more about same, see below and do enjoy.

 - Oh and if you want to know more about Jane and her invention, link to:  https://sugru.com/story

-------------------------------------------------- Does the thought of the upcoming festivities make you secretly cringe? In these serious times — taken for what they really are, the rituals of Christmas are an amazing opportunity for having a properly good time with friends and family. Here are a few for starters!   Christmas rule 1: Christmas decorations should be traditional. No! Break the rules and have a laugh while you're at it. Being the handy one in the family, one thing the holidays can offer is a chance to get creative! Decorating doesn't have to be traditional. Get the place ready for a cosy time with friends and family - and make it look cool at the same time. Here's our take on good old fashioned Christmas tree! Isn't it awesome? It's made from Sugru hooks, lights, leaves and...walnuts. We chose the corner of a room but Sugru sticks to almost any surface, so you could make this in almost any space - on a wall, on the back of a door, on a window... come on over to Sugru.com and see just how easy and fun you can make it in our how-to tutorial. Inspired?

Christmas rule 2: Shop till you drop. Why? Make your own gifts instead. This may take a little more time than a dash around town, but it has the added satisfaction of putting the effort into something for someone you love, and doing an awesome project. I've done this a few years now, and my top tip would be - think about making a limited-edition collection of something. One year I made a collection of potato printed pillow cases, another year I made a collection of hand-painted dinner plates, and the year after that a set of Sugru decorated mugs - all went down a storm. People feel so special to be included in your limited edition number. We've put together a page full of personalised gifting inspiration for you. Take a look through, give it your own personal twist and then... get planning.

Need some Sugru for your Christmas projects? Get started! Which project will you do? Maybe you have lots of your own ideas we haven't even thought of yet. Either way, it looks like you'll probably need some Sugru for that... so we're doing 15% off all orders in the Sugru shop this week. The offer will finish on November 17 (midnight PST). Use the code MYWAY. Just click on the link below or enter the code at checkout.

Christmas Rule 3: Sing carols as a family. Hmm... Do what you enjoy! If baking's your thing, get stuck in. If you're more of a mountain climber – go climb a mountain. If you crave the sun, think about a cheeky little getaway? And if you love nothing more than time to yourself with a video game, don't let others guilt you into singing carols instead - carve out some time during the break for just having fun the way you want. Our new Rebel Tech Kit is all about personalising and taking control of your tech - like this game controller. Made perfect for its owner's hands with Sugru. Watch the video. [Fix of the Month] A beautiful mobile made with Sugru stamps Maybe a Christmas tree can be just part of a tree... literally! Look at this beautiful mobile that Elias made using fabric, a branch, a stamp made from Sugru and some gold paint. Congrats Elias - we love this project. The rest of you - take a look over on his website to see how to make your own.