Society's Child

German publication to file criminal case against fake news journalist, hastened decay of trust in MSM

Sputnik
Mon, 24 Dec 2018 15:41 UTC

Der Spiegel is set to file a criminal complaint against Claas Relotius, a former journalist of the newspaper, who admitted to falsifying reports and disseminating fake news. Alan Bailey, a UK-based political commentator, spoke to Sputnik about the reputational damage the case has caused for one of Germany's leading media outlets.

Sputnik: In your view, why was one of the biggest German media outlets not checking what its journalists were putting out?

Alan Bailey: It's a combination of two aspects. Are the articles the journalist produces popular? Do they attract readers? If they do (as appears to be the case with Relotius) then why mess with a successful formula? And secondly, are the journalist's articles backing up the narrative the publication wishes to push? Again, yes, in this case. Anything outside the Liberal 'soft-left' viewpoint is called out as extremist and dismissed as niche and dangerous. Claas Relotius was a textbook case of both these and was over time given a free hand to write and say whatever he wished. He realised over time that this was the case and pushed his luck further and further until his luck ran out.

Comment: Readership does not dictate the truth, nor should it dictate the news, no matter its views. News is to inform, not conform.

See also:

Criticism of Israel immediately triggers its army of outraged partisans

Kamel Hawwash
Middle East Eye
Wed, 12 Dec 2018 14:14 UTC

Israel was created through violence and terror, which it continues to heap on Palestinians to this day, as it works to fulfill the dream of Zionism - a Jewish state from the river to the sea.

How, then, does it continue to portray itself as the victim, while painting the actual victims - Palestinians - as the aggressors?

It has become a tired and broken record, one that Israel and its ardent supporters play, regardless of the rationality of their arguments. Any criticism of Israel, or any peaceful act to put pressure on the state, draws the same outrage, expressed through carefully thought out, yet irrational, talking points.

Total impunity

Anyone, or any organisation, who dares to criticise the self-proclaimed "only democracy in the Middle East" is accused of being motivated by anti-semitism. Any critical act or protest aimed at pressing Israel to uphold international law, no matter how peaceful, is denounced.

Israel's treatment with kid gloves is not new; what is new, however, is its launching of the bullying trigger button within seconds of an attack.

'Completely insane': Patriarch Kirill warns Kiev's law demanding name change of Ukrainian Orthodox Church 'risks blood'

RT
Wed, 26 Dec 2018 15:46 UTC

© Sputnik
Ukrainian Orthodox believers rally against parliament bill, which can deprive the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church of its name. Sputnik

Kiev's new law demanding that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church change its name to show affiliation with Moscow is "insane" and may ignite "bloody conflicts," the primate of Russia's Orthodoxy has warned.

Ukraine's parliament recently passed a controversial bill which basically demands that any religious entity tied to Moscow change its name to reflect this fact. Kiev now wants it to be called the Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine, requiring the church to make the change within four months.

Commenting on the move, on Wednesday, Patriarch Kirill said the Ukrainian law was "completely insane in terms of modern law" and rules of secular state. In the West in particular, the government has nothing to do with what a church calls itself, he argued.

"When the state invents a name for a religious entity, desiring to discriminate and destroy it, it breaks all rights and laws of a civilized society," the Russian Patriarch said. The government's "openly blatant interference in church affairs" is unparalleled and leads to a "civilizational catastrophe."

Comment: Anything that can stir dissent and widen the gulf between Ukrainians and Russia is fair game - those behind this current crisis are indifferent to its effects on the lives of ordinary citizens. See also:

'Woke Twitter' forgets Queen of England is rich, gets outraged when she gives Queen's Speech in front of lavish gold piano

Gavin Allen and Bradley Jolly
The Mirror
Tue, 25 Dec 2018 20:25 UTC

The Queen's Christmas Day speech has been slammed on social media for being "out of touch" and disrespectful to families "struggling to make ends meet".

In her annual address, broadcast at 3pm today. the head of state talked about Brexit and austerity.

But she also praised the Comonwealth for "the bonds of affection it promotes, and a common desire to live in a better, more peaceful world.

"Even with the most deeply held differences, treating the other person with respect and as a fellow human being is always a good first step towards greater understanding."

Cause of death a mystery for children found buried in Georgia family's backyard

Joshua Sharpe
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mon, 24 Dec 2018 20:06 UTC

As expected by authorities, autopsies have confirmed the identities of two children found buried in their family's backyard in Effingham County, though many questions remain about the deaths, coroner David Exley said Monday.

"The cause and manner of death is still pending," he said, adding it could take weeks.

The trouble, he said, is partly that Mary Crocker and Elwyn Crocker Jr. had been buried so long ago - Mary for perhaps a few months, Elwyn for maybe as long as two years. The remains of the siblings, who were both 14 years old when they were last seen but hadn't been reported missing, were discovered Thursday in the rural town of Guyton by the Effingham Sheriff's Office.

Deputies went to the house after a tipster called 911 to express concern regarding the whereabouts of the girl. An interview with the father, Elwyn Crocker Sr., revealed information that sent deputies to check the backyard for the bodies.

ACLU sues federal agencies over failure to disclose gov't hacking activities targeting American public

RT
Wed, 26 Dec 2018 20:16 UTC

The American Civil Liberties Union, along with several non-profits, has sued seven US federal agencies over their failure to disclose information regarding government hacking activities that target the American public.

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit filed last Friday in New York calls on the FBI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and four other agencies to disclose which hacking tools and methods they use, how often they use them, and the legal basis for employing such methods.

The lawsuit also seeks any internal audits or investigations related to American citizens being subjected to government hacking programs. The ACLU brought the suit after its FOIA requests regarding government hacking went unanswered.

107yo NY man is the world's oldest working barber

CBS New York
Tue, 25 Dec 2018 17:30 UTC

The oldest working barber in the world is making sure his clients look and feel their best this holiday season.He works right here in New York, in the small upstate town of Windsor, the town's oldest resident is still at work.

"How old am I? 107," said Anthony Mancinelli.

He's in the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest barber in the world.

So how does it feel?

"I don't know, I am just happy I am still a barber," Mancinelli said.

Patreon's deplatforming policy leaves content providers facing an uncertain future...just in time for Christmas

Barret Wilson
The Post Millennial
Tue, 25 Dec 2018 00:00 UTC

Patreon’s new pastime of arbitrarily policing people’s speech has led to many creators losing thousands of dollars and facing an uncertain future just in time for Christmas.

On Christmas Eve, the New York Times finally covered what's going on at Patreon. The paper of record weighed in for the first time on the #PatreonPurge that effectively began with the deplatforming of YouTuber Carl Benjamin (Sargon of Akkad) and escalated when Sam Harris walked away last week.

The article by Nellie Bowles features comments from Jordan Peterson, who is building a free-speech Patreon alternative along with Dave Rubin; Jack Conte, CEO of Patreon; Jacqueline Hart, head of Patreon's Trust and Safety team; and other players in the growing scandal.

Bowles seeks comment from both sides and produces what is probably the most useful piece of reporting on the Patreon debacle thus far. But this piece also reveals that what Sam Harris said is true: "These recent expulsions seem more readily explained by political bias."

With regard to the specifics of the Carl Benjamin/Sargon of Akkad situation, Hart says, "You cannot say those words on our platform. It doesn't matter who you're directing them at."

The thing is, Benjamin did not say those words on their platform. He did not violate their terms of service at all, and Hart unwittingly confirms this in the New York Times of all places.

It has been noted and confirmed by various sources that he was booted from Patreon for off-platform activity-politically incorrect language on a relatively small YouTube channel years ago.

Comment: With any luck, Patreon's days of dictating what is 'appropriate' content are numbered...

'Bisexual Godzilla?' Twitter reacts to suggestion next Bond should be transgender

RT
Tue, 25 Dec 2018 09:25 UTC

Dominic West has been bombarded with sarcastic comments on Twitter after he suggested that a new James Bond should be played by a transgender woman. But what about female Thor, vegan Batman... and can 007 be a cat, people asked.

So far, six male actors have played the fictional British secret agent working for MI6 during the whole 50-year-old franchise. The current Bond, Daniel Craig, has been in the last four movies and the fifth, currently being made, is expected to be his last. So, the vacancy is open.

English actor and director Dominic West decided to pitch his view on Bond's successor in an interview to The Times. And he suggested a sex change. But not to a cisgender woman - this 'road' has already been taken by writers of the British sci-fi show Doctor Who, who introduced the first-ever female Doctor.

Comment: Are people so shallow and compelling plots so light on the ground that the novelty of a transgender bond is necessary to keep people watching? Or is this whole gender 'swapping' mania a sign of something more insidious?

Bond could be portrayed by a transgender woman, West believes. He has already found one, Hannah Graf, who is the highest-ranking transgender soldier in the British Army.

Comment: See also:

And check out SOTT radio's:

The world has been switched to safe mode

Barrett Wilson
The Post Millenium
Wed, 05 Dec 2018 16:54 UTC

Wall Street, Tumblr, Jordan Peterson, Quillette, Teen Vogue, Penthouse, Punk Rock, and the IDW. Just another week in the culture wars

The culture wars have officially reached the next level. First, Wall Street has been segregated for all intents and purposes as men refuse to have private meetings with women out of fear they will get caught in a #metoo situation; then Tumblr decided to ban porn from its platform in an effort to make their platform safer; and perhaps most interesting of all, Penthouse released its culture wars issue featuring Jordan Peterson, Dr. Debra Soh, and Quillette founder Claire Lehmann on its cover.

Bloomberg reports that the new rules for the men of Wall Street are as follows: "No more dinners with female colleagues. Don't sit next to them on flights. Book hotel rooms on different floors. Avoid one-on-one meetings." In fact, there is a widespread fear of false accusations that is sweeping across all of our industries. An unintended consequence of the weaponized #metoo movement is that women are now finding it hard to get ahead in industries that are historically male-dominated. Men have started to protect their careers by reverting back to the old boys' clubs that equity feminism fought so hard to get rid of. It's clear that North America is still in the grips of a powerful and destructive sex panic.

Is this not a case of, The pot calling the kettle black.

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Society's Child

German publication to file criminal case against fake news journalist, hastened decay of trust in MSM

Criticism of Israel immediately triggers its army of outraged partisans

'Completely insane': Patriarch Kirill warns Kiev's law demanding name change of Ukrainian Orthodox Church 'risks blood'

'Woke Twitter' forgets Queen of England is rich, gets outraged when she gives Queen's Speech in front of lavish gold piano

Cause of death a mystery for children found buried in Georgia family's backyard

ACLU sues federal agencies over failure to disclose gov't hacking activities targeting American public

107yo NY man is the world's oldest working barber

Patreon's deplatforming policy leaves content providers facing an uncertain future...just in time for Christmas

'Bisexual Godzilla?' Twitter reacts to suggestion next Bond should be transgender

The world has been switched to safe mode

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