More of the top stories of 2008
Leave it to the Rams to make some big moves on Christmas Eve with John Shaw stepping down and the promotion of Billy Devaney. Maybe Christmas Day will be a little quieter at Rams Park although it looks like San Francisco 49ers interim coach Mike Singletary is having a better holiday than Rams interim Jim Haslett. The Sacramento Bee is reporting that Singletary will be retained although his offensive coordinator Mike Martz will not return. And in respect to the holiday, we’ll refrain from comment on Charlie Weis managing to get Notre Dame past Hawaii in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl on Christmas Eve.
The Water Cooler
An abbreviated version today as we continue to look at Post-Dispatch reporters and their thoughts on some of the top stories of the year:
Tom Timmermann
The top story of the year was anything to do with the Rams, whose dreadfulness was worse than the Blues and more noteworthy than the surprising legs the Cardinals showed. The owner died, setting the stage for a sale — and possible departure — of the franchise and the team stunk, leading to the firing of the coach and the overhauling of the front office. In a year, we may not recognize the Rams. And in a few more, they might not be here.
Jeff Gordon
The demise of A-B. This will have a huge and unfortunate impact on local sports. Combine the adverse impact on the economy and the potential loss of long-term sponsorship and you have a catastrophe.
WHY AMERICANS WILL BELIEVE ALMOST ANYTHING
by Tim O’Shea
It is an exhausting and endless task to keep explaining to people how most issues of conventional wisdom are scientifically implanted in the public consciousness by a thousand media clips per day. In an effort to save time, I would like to provide just a little background on the handling of information in this country. Once the basic principles are illustrated about how our current system of media control arose historically, the reader might be more apt to question any given story in today’s news.
If everybody believes something, it’s probably wrong. We call that
CONVENTIONAL WISDOM
In America, conventional wisdom that has mass acceptance is usually contrived: somebody paid for it.
Examples:
• Pharmaceuticals restore health
• Vaccination brings immunity
• The cure for cancer is just around the corner
• Menopause is a disease condition
• When a child is sick, he needs immediate antibiotics
• When a child has a fever he needs Tylenol
• Hospitals are safe and clean.
• America has the best health care in the world.
• Americans have the best health in the world.
• Milk is a good source of calcium.
• You never outgrow your need for milk.
• Vitamin C is ascorbic acid.
• Aspirin prevents heart attacks.
• Heart drugs improve the heart.
• Back and neck pain are the only reasons for spinal adjustment.
• No child can get into school without being vaccinated.
• The FDA thoroughly tests all drugs before they go on the market.
• Pregnancy is a serious medical condition
• Infancy is a serious medical condition
• Chemotherapy and radiation are effective cures for cancer
• When your child is diagnosed with an ear infection, antibiotics should be given immediately ‘just in case’
• Ear tubes are for the good of the child.
• Estrogen drugs prevent osteoporosis after menopause.
• Pediatricians are the most highly trained of al medical specialists.
• The purpose of the health care industry is health.
• HIV is the cause of AIDS.
• AZT is the cure.
• Without vaccines, infectious diseases will return
• Fluoride in the city water protects your teeth
• Flu shots prevent the flu.
• Vaccines are thoroughly tested before being placed on the Mandated Schedule.
• Doctors are certain that the benefits of vaccines far outweigh any possible risks.
• There is a terrorist threat in the US.
• There is a bioterrorist threat in the US.
• The NASDAQ is a natural market controlled by supply and demand.
• Chronic pain is a natural consequence of aging.
• Soy is your healthiest source of protein.
• Insulin shots cure diabetes.
• After we take out your gall bladder you can eat anything you want
• Allergy medicine will cure allergies.
• Your government provides security.
• A commercial airliner can be flown with professional precision by a group of crazed amateurs into a 100-storey building so as to cause that building to collapse on its own footprint. Twice.
• The Iraqis blew up the World Trade Center.
This is a list of illusions, that have cost billions to conjure up. Did you ever wonder why most people in this country generally accept most of the above statements?