John Swinton was the former Chief of staff of the New York Times in 1953 and was revered by his peers as being one of the best."The Dean of his Profession"

John Swinton,"There is no such thing ,at this date of the world's history,in America,as an independent press.You know it and I know it.There is not one of you who dares write your honest opinions,and if you did,you know beforehand that it would never appear in print.

The business of journalists is to destroy the truth;to lie outright to pervert;to vilify;to fawn at the feet of mammon and to sell his country and his race for his daily bread.

We are the tools and vassals of rich men.We are jumping jacks,they pull the strings and we dance.Our talents,our possibilities,and our lives are all the property of other men.We are intellectual prositutes."

If the power of the corporate elite was so great then,what must be it now when even the US Govt is cowered into submission by threatened bankruptcy and an all powerful Federal Reserve that seems intent on destroying the world economy with more cyber money?

My question is this;Can the WEB with the aid of sites like OLO educate the general population before real disaster strikes? Even back then John Swinton acknowledged the power of money but they cannot buy the multitude of sites we can now access on the WEB.

Arjay,

I find the question of the value of the Internet a very interesting one.

There is no doubt that, here in China for example, the Internet has impacted very largely and positively. Unlike people in the West, the majority of Chinese realise that newspapers reflect certain viewpoints and are not objective sources.

Access to the Internet, and the ability to post therein has had an enormous effect.

However, like every new phenomena, I think the Net is a two edged sword. The very freedom that enables the truth to be told also opens the floodgates to people with unbalanced personal agenda; those with limited experience in recognising such; mischievous trouble-makers; the ignorant; and just plain crazies.

People with anti-social ideas; fundamentalists of every creed; those who hold views which, in previous times, would never find a platform, can find support, open blogs and gain credibility and acceptance through those of similar beliefs. One only has to think of paedophiliac rings which flourish through the net, to see how this works.

So I remain unsure of whether, in the fullness of time, we will have cause to curse or condone this Pandora's Box we have opened.

Personally, I, like millions of others, rejoice wholeheartedly in the unbelievably wide avenues to academic research that my computer allows me to stroll down.

But the kind of person who once believed everything in print was the truth is unlikely, I think, to be able to discern between the dross and the gold strewn before them on the world wide web.

I think too many people go around calling the populous sheep, lemmings, need waking up and other such descriptions. I personally think most people are pretty aware of what's going on Arjay, it's just they have no idea how to change it and don't really want to. They go along to their voting booths at election time and just tick boxes knowing that one box smells like dung and the other like - well dung.

Like you, I've read so much about the corruption in our system of society and the injustices performed every single day, but no where have I read, heard, seen a way to change it, nor can I think myself how to change it. Do "you" have any ideas?

The problem has gotten so big and out of hand, I don't think there's an easy answer, nihilism comes to mind. Most people are just happy going about their lives with the measly scraps they're thrown without ever questioning change, they're afraid things might be worse for them if they rock the boat. As long as they can have a roof over their heads, a belly full of food and their favourite sporting event on TV, then anything else is just an inconvenient truth best left for someone else to worry about. Until those things are threatened directly, they won't even consider upsetting the status quo.

About the web. All over the world people have been talking about this for eons, but no ones going to stand up and fight, they're all waiting for someone else to start, though recently I feel things have begun to heat up but I have no idea when the pot will boil over, or even if it will. I guess it all depends on how much more the PTB push everyone. I share your frustrations.

Interesting topic Arjay.

Perhaps we are all prostitutes to the system to some extent. At this early stage in Internet history it is interesting to ask how will it all turn out. Will it make us a more honest society and by implication, a better one?

RawMustard makes a good point, most of us are aware but we are either too powerless or too scared to make waves.

Will access to the Net make those rich men any more accountable? I think probably not.

Having been in the public service for many years, it is still rife with those who are willing to play the game for the sake of career and financial stability. Or willing to whitewash and coverup major breaches, fraud and corruption. How does one fix it and how do you change an entrenched culture.

With the public service in mind, potential whistleblowers might find an outlet on the Net but in reality they are still constrained by the APS Codes of Conduct or by the obligations of their security clearances. Access to the means of distributing information does not mean that it is 'safe' or legal to use them.

The second point is that information on the Net, like newspapers, is not always verifiable or true. Which picks up on Romany's comment: "But the kind of person who once believed everything in print was the truth is unlikely, I think, to be able to discern between the dross and the gold strewn before them on the world wide web."

I miss the days when journalists reported the news rather than fabricated the news or twisted the facts for a better story. An old friend once did a piece for a major newspaper and by the time it went to print, she didn't recognise it. Not only were the facts twisted but some were added for good measure. She left soon after.

Interesting thread.

Currently I'm reading two books that may be
of interest to others.

1) "Silencing Dissent," by Clive Hamilton
and Sarah Maddison.

2) "Do Not Disturb : Is the Media Failing
Australia?" Edited by Robert Manne.

I took this from the blurb of ,"Silencing
Dissent." : "The boiling frog ," story...

It is said that if you drop a frog in a pot of
boiling water, it will jump out straight away, but
if you put it in cool water that is slowly brought
to the boil, it won't notice and will die.

This is used as a metaphor to illustrate how people
don't notice that gradual change is leading to
disaster until it is too late...

the net is not any'saviour',it is stricly monitored in real-time, every key/stroke..[every link veted by machines and machine/men]..there are truths to be sure and yes extreem faulsities,..but the number/counter records each visit,..the powers that be make sure they[we]remain scattered little fires

that being said we each face a moral/choice..[to fear evil or not]..i dont fear cccrap,..will fearlessly peddle that which sounds true,to the posters of my 5 sites,hoping that an honest reply or rebuttal will appear in time

i dont waste my time on'who'says'what',..all i know is'they'were willing to put their fears/facts or fictions into print,its on them if it proves true or faulse

i have only my own to'vile'to concern about,..i know i dont want to help the a'holes of this world,..thus do the best i can to expose vile..[while fastly holding in my heart as much love for mine enemies]..knowing they too were decieved..[who am i to judge anyother]

you see i wanted to know/what i know,..it would be an easier-path not knowing..,but then what was this incarnate/life i lived,..lived for,..i will expose the truths as they are revealed to me,..and let others make their own/minds up wether to speak out against that we percieve vile or pull their heads into the sand

all i know is in the next/life more..of the same will be given,..im not aiming for the fruits or curses of this life,..clearly this is the realm of satans-temptations,..life has taught me everything has a cost

i dont want their material/benefit's..because their spiritual/repayment cross over into the next realm,..in the next realm nothing is hidden..[all the plastic-surgery of this realm stays in this realm..[i want my spiritual clothes as stain free as my works have earned]if any]

but i also realise that laying down with dogs you catch fleas,..and being a prostitute everyone knows you lied down with the dirtiest of dogs,and what your price is,..i dont want to sell my self[soul]cheaply,..but allready may have sold more than i own..[thus need to take care of the little i may have left]..the straw that breaks the came-el's back comes to mind

To offer a technical aspect to this visa vi issues like anonymous broadcasting etc I have had

TOR

recommended to me. By an Oz Fed actually ..

It provides some interesting reading for say journos in high risk areas.

The Han say where *Romany* is have what some call:
"The Golden Shield"

As far as I understand, the publicly accessible fibre optic cables have a reflector at the exit point, reflecting each and every bit of data into mass data banks, where teams of goons trawl up and down looking for, amongst other things, so called dissident activity.

In other countries no doubt the same tech serves as part of a "legitimate" security apparatus.

It all comes down to the math of the encryption. Some keys take even super computers weeks if not longer to crack.

I don't bother with TOR myself but can imagine that some people in some countries would need it. Al Jazeera actually advertises and advocates it use curiously.

Raw Mustared,Romany,Pelican and Foxy,there is a great war being fought in the US at the moment;ie the auditing of the US Federal Reserve.You won't see it in the popular media since it strikes at the power base of the corporate elites.They have had a free run for over 100 yrs and now with economic collapse people who have worked tirelessly to carve out an existance are asking serious questions about an banking elite who steal wealth from ordinary people by creating money through debt and thus inflation which destroys savings,and eventually the collapse we are experiencng now.

It matters not whether you think the Fed Res is a positive or negative force.The basic principle is this,the US Govt has borrowed money from them and now must let them distribute it through the economy,but the Fed is under no obligation to say where the money has gone.Much of it has not been loaned to businesses or individuals for which is was intended and the suspicion is that the Fed is just buying up depreciated assets to feather their own nests.

Ron Paul now has 20% of Congress supporting him in this audit.Just a month ago it was only 10%.The intellectual prostitutes have surpressed knowledge of this powerful elite for too long.The importance of this audit cannot be under estimated,since when the real facts are revealed,the popular press cannot then ignore them.

oh dear arjay[mate]i thought the same thing numerouse times[like when aids was proved to origonate from polio incubated in monkey serum, or when proof emerged re 911,building 7 symtex flakes,mossad involvment and named dead terorists still living, like the hung sadam insane with crooked teeth that got hung,instead of the perfect sadam insane[cia operative],

even you note how the tea party got highjaked in live time by fox faux reporting , the list gets endless, we can hear live time confessions by dickkk cheeney man never went to the moon and it dosnt even rate making the news[lol]

if the fed did get through[and it wont]it wil just get hushed up[have you heard how the swine/bird/human flue is now just the swine flue, no mention is made about the 3 viles gone missing 6 weeks ago, nor of the dead bioengenerers who engeneered the 'swine' flue,

the boys club is too clever.. if some thing does get out it becomes conspiricy theory[if an audit goes ahead it will just be like the two 911 whitewashes, that founf nothing;;lol

anyhow dont get too caught up in one issue, there is so much other stuff going down..[as you would be aware of]intelectual hookers are hookers because they have their price...[be it fame, peerage, money or children..the best way to keep the prostitutes[elites]in line is to have the dirt on em,..the system serves those who serve them,they will love being in the same fat=earn-ity in the dark hells

many others know cccrap is going down ,but feel if they just pretend it isnt..well we just have to do as we do and them as they do, here and the next realm[it all depends on how we chose to react[or not]more will be given..

but those who did return vile for good,get so much more vile..those with their heads in the sand mearly get the dark realm of the mindless[the beasty,crawly what if nightmare realm]..but they chose to love the dark,..its all our freewill,..we chose

UOG,you cannot reduce everything to conspiracy.It is best to work from known truths.We don't know that these viruses are natural mutations or engineered by humans.The struggle will happen in the US since it they who still the most powerful in terms of weapons.The Fed can also over play it's hand and suffer self or imposed destruction.

The US pop is the most armed on the planet and if they ever learn the truth about the Fed,everyone of them will be hanging from light posts as the Italian people did to the facists in Italy.

Obama at the moment looks like pushing the war into Pakistan.This will be used only as a distraction from home woes.I don't think that the US people will fall for it.

arjay the fed inquiry just isnt going to be allowed to reveal the real vile they been doing[you must have come across the many statements[and real attempts to end the fed scam]

jfk, mate he made pres order 11,110[3 days before he got killed]not from the grassy moll..[but the drain running under the grassy mol]..the vice president was part of the sceme[and busche seniour]cheeney as well..[even way back then]cfr and the builderbergers run a lot of scams..their boys are in every facit of govt, industry, banking insurance[law medicine, media, policing even prisons]

as for the bird/swine flue, it is a recombination of 3 flues, specificlly engeneered...after sars and bird flue[and mad cow, and hoof and mouth all failed..[timming is everything]..runour is it even includes a specific,gene combo from rabies that causes the agression[reportedly]it was tested on a horse[the herbivor murded and ate its victim[a mare in heat]

those vile creatures who think to run this realm are truelly vile[i havnt confirmed by research the rabies gene link[or the horse]but the other stuff i posted here
http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?discussion=2711#60993

i of course hope im wrong[but cheeney loves shoting lawyers..busche apparently loved watching the torture vidio's, we know vile is capable of killing over 1 mil iraquis just to get control back over iran[blow up buildings,or murder presidents

[they havnt come this 'far'..to just give up,..their omnipotant powers..to an auditer...lol]

correction that should have read killed 1.3 million iraqies just to get an attack base to bomb bomb iran[but even that sceme seems to be thwarted[see israel wants us to do it for them]

thats the real root of all the con,..teutonic zionists the northern 'fax jews' of the talmud,..not the real judeans of the torah[its wolves in sheeps clothing [that use cover to do their vile[like the recent attacks by georgia..[with american arms and zionist instruction via their zionist stooge.[read bolchovic]

recall the same bolchovics who murded 25 million of xtians in the purge to get rid of the russion czar[using of all things his cousen running germany]part of which is being revealed here
http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?discussion=2714#61198

other bits as posted at the other links posted at the topic

but even despite the cfr loaded obama zionista obama appears to no be taking his commands from israel[for now][many his advizers have very strong links into zion]as some may have realised[but so as to not cast all as serving the talmud[not the torah]

try the search box to see the other exposures i have posted re the talmudic truths[that are plenty vile]i wont advise what sites as links have a habit of disappearing, such is the omnipotant power of those you feel will audit the fed...lol, 20 or 25 percent is not the required majority [in both houses],

even then 'if' an enquiry, they will see to it it sees nothing

[see govt dont own the fed anymore]if govt owned it could[but you know govt dont own it,anymore]thus the fed thing as well as this bird/swine flue thing is a red herring[for much worse, remember no matter how many die ..thats only hiding even worse stuff, pushed off the news by the mex flue..lo,l ita allreaDY GOT ITS CODE WORD

on cabal; warning[global warming/cooling?
http://www.infowars.com/gore-denies-that-ken-lay-goldman-sachs-ceos-helped-develop-c02-trading-scheme-video/
Al Gore tries to put a lid on Congressional testimony about the CEOs who have played a role in crafting the Cap-and-Trade C02 trading schemes and carbon swapping systems that he now promotes.
http://www.infowars.com/democrats-refuse-to-allow-skeptic-to-testify-alongside-gore-at-congressional-hearing/

http://www.infowars.com/betrayal-of-the-people-by-wall-street-banks-and-government/
How long will it be before Americans forcibly take their government back?..PEACEFULLY
http://www.infowars.com/obama-rejects-truth-panel/

swine flue-[bird flew?]
http://www.infowars.com/flu-pandemic-hype-another-pretext-for-world-government/
Ban Ki-moon said the Mexican flu outbreak is the “first test” of the “pandemic preparedness work undertaken by the international community over the past three years.”

http://www.infowars.com/swine-flu-in-mexico-the-new-bird-flu/
Government plans include methods and drills for global inoculation with a vaccine that will no doubt have the same deadly consequences as the Swine Flu vaccine in 1976.

http://www.infowars.com/baxter-to-develop-swine-flu-vaccine-despite-bird-flu-scandal/
The fox has been given the duty of guarding the henhouse.
http://www.infowars.com/swine-flu-vaccination-propaganda-from-1976/

banking cartel sceme
http://www.infowars.com/corporate-cfr-members-get-most-of-the-bailout-money/
New American..Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner served as a staff member of the New York City-based Council on Foreign Relations before being hired in 2003 to head the New York City branch of the Federal
Reserve Bank.
http://www.infowars.com/mexican-government-decrees-special-powers-in-flu-crisis/
http://www.infowars.com/chinese-virologist-we-are-counting-down-to-a-pandemic/
http://www.infowars.com/government-template-for-mass-vaccination/
http://www.infowars.com/on-the-flu-bug-and-those-disappearing-microbiologists/
http://www.infowars.com/merck-drew-up-hit-list-of-doctors-to-be-neutralized/
other topics
http://www.infowars.com/preparing-for-years-in-afghanistan/

or 911 fallout[plus the red hering[faux news]
http://www.infowars.com/video-pentagon-photo-op-planes-terrorize-new-yorkers/
http://www.infowars.com/former-911-commission-vice-chairman-makes-bizarre-comments-about-intelligence-failures-before-attacks/
http://www.infowars.com/records-for-reported-wtc-renovation-work-destroyed-on-911/
other stuff
http://www.infowars.com/the-destabilization-of-pakistan-finding-clarity-in-the-baluchistan-conundrum/
http://www.infowars.com/plan-to-monitor-all-internet-use/
http://www.infowars.com/israel-to-go-to-war-with-iran-hours-after-order/
http://www.infowars.com/clinton-imperative-to-stop-iran-on-nukes/
http://www.infowars.com/clinton-warns-of-iran-sanctions/

alexjones listen live
http://www.infowars.com/stream.pls

UOG

Maybe you are retired and have excess quantities of time on your hands, but no-one else has the time, let alone the mental room to thoroughly read your mountains of links.

Pick out something clear that illustrates your point and move on. You may achieve more success, at present I see your long meandering lists and posts and move on. Life is too short.

We don't live in a perfect world and for every action there is usually an equal and opposite reaction. So it is with nearly every development through history. From the time that gunpowder was invented that began to replace bows and arrows, both could be used for good and evil. Radio and TV have the power to broadcast good and bad and it could even be argued that the power of the atom is another discovery that can be harnessed likewise. So the internet is not unique in any way. We will learn to use its benefits, rather like the motor car that we couldn't live without in spite of being a lethal machine that has maimed and killed millions since it was first produced.

Oh Fractelle, I do enjoy your posts. You manage to cut to the chase so well and I find I so often agree with your succinct remarks and arguments.

The internet is thus a doubled edged sword,there is a lot of mis -information as well as truths surpressed by the popular media.

Graham Young is trying to keep a balance between reasoned civilised debate and some of the outrageous abusive sites that use Daily Telegraph bi-polar disease to make money or push their agendas.Some mistake his policies as being censorship,however you have to back up your assumptions with reasoned debate backed up with facts,otherwise OLO loses credibility.

I think we are currently at the most crucial time in our history both politically and economically.If Obama doesn't confront real issues of,economic sanity, liberty and justice soon,then the rest of the free world will descend into a new dark age.

I just watched a doco on BBC Knowledge entitled "Global Dimming."

Pollution particles on mass in the atmosphere attracting moisture molecules which end up on mass in clouds reflecting back the sun's rays into space, resulting in less reaching the surface.

It is suggested that the resulting "less heating" of the oceans north of the tropics resulted in the monsoon not arriving to sub Saharan Africa and the consequential Ethiopan famine.

Of course, this effect seems to have been masking some of the heating effect of global warming, and in tandem as say Europe was cleaning up its fossil fuel burning habits, packing on catalytic converters etc because they only addressed half of the problem they did give the global warming effect a boost and that in turn it is supposed accounted for the hell heatwave of recent times.

One source of evidence for the global dimming is in what they call "pan evaporation" where bods go out and measure how much water is required to top up the pan each morning. This has been done globally for more than 100 years and it appears to be a global phenomena of less evaporation.

That's just a quick excerpt of my recollections from the doco. Its obviously quite a bit more involved but rams home strongly the bottom line that it is crucial that both pollution and global warming gasses are addressed pronto pronto, not later she'll be right mate, or we ought expect some more hot, hot, hot.

Snake

Thank you very much for your compliments. Been having a tough time lately so your words were like a tonic.

Only 15 years an exchange like ours could never occur. Believing as I do that the majority of people are simply trying to get along and 'do the right thing', the internet can be a force for true democracy. For that we need those nerdy hackers who can circumvent any walls that government or corporations try to implant. A little anarchy goes a long way.

Where we have difficulties is in our selection of leaders; we mistake authority for leadership. The difference is that one dictates while the other inspires. Obama is certainly inspirational, but he is up against a lot of entrenched authorities, whether they be Democrats or Republicans. He will have to compromise on many issues in order to maintain power. However, out of what was on offer in the USA election he is probably the best hope we have. My problem with Hilary was that she appeared to be more about power than vision.

It is going to get very interesting, and if I can keep my head above water for long enough, I may just get a glimpse of a more hopeful future.

Agreed Fractelle

Obama is still only early in the job and as inspirational he is, he may just be finding out how hard it will be to be a force for change. Change that we need so desperately to bring back some measure of restraint and equity in our economic system. I think and hope with a combination of softly-softly little steps and some big steps, we might just see a more positive world ahead.

Sorry to hear you are not well. It is difficult to remain positive at the moment but I reckon we need to take strength where we find it. Family, friends, interests, our core values/beliefs, charity work or even the simple things like tending a garden.

Keep well.

from
http://www.mybudget360.com/fdic-insures-47-trillion-in-deposits-with-a-136-billion-deposit-insurance-fund-this-is-like-going-into-a-hurricane-with-a-99-cent-store-umbrella/

FDIC Insures $4.7 Trillion in Deposits with a $13.6 Billion Deposit Insurance Fund...

This is Like Going into a Hurricane with a 99 Cent Store Umbrella.


On Friday, three banks failed and the FDIC took them over. ..Now this isn’t the big news necessarily... What it significant is that one of the banks taken over was Silverton Bank of Atlanta,..Georgia. Silverton bank has $4.1 billion in assets and will cost the FDIC $1.3 billion from their dwindling insurance fund.

This will be the costliest bank takeover since U.S. Bank took over Downey Savings and Loan in November of 2008 for a cost of $1.4 billion to the FDIC Insurance Fund.

So how much is left in the fund?..Not much...In fact,if we throw in Citigroup and Bank of America,..two banks that have failed without government support and massive intervention,the fund would be broke. But let us set those two banks aside and start running the numbers.

As of December 31, 2008 the FDIC fund had $18.9 billion in it. Already in 2009 we have seen 32 bank failures,above the 25 bank failures for all of 2008...And with commercial real estate and residential real estate still facing record foreclosures,we can expect that more money will be drained from the fund.

Now most of the times, you will get bank failures that cost a few million but every once in awhile you’ll get a moderate sized bank like Silverton that will cost the fund $1.3 billion...Let us first take a tally of the 2009 bank failures:..continued at link[abouve]

other info
http://newsbusters.org/node/11149
http://uruknet.com/?p=m53873&hd=&size=1&l=e
next might be a sound file..?[i cant open it]
http://theinfounderground.com/archives/TiU.Radio.30th.April.09-guest.Cynthia.McKinney.mp3
supposed to be an interesting talk re us poli-tricks

Pelican

Thank you for your kind words. Friends, family, interests and as you said core values are very important to keep oneself in perspective.

One of my techniques is to let go of any grudges I may be feeling. Enough negativity exists in the collective subconscious to fuel an eternity of hatred. Not believing in any formal religion, I am not restricted to the rules which restrict freedom of thought. However, I do know that the way we are feeling can be detected by others and either contribute to a bad atmosphere or lighten a difficult time.

Therefore, I believe it is paramount to counter the judgemental such as on a thread like this. I admit I was immediately judgemental of George W, I also believe I had good reason to be concerned by the manner of his election in 2000. And history has unfortunately confirmed my misgivings. However, there is none of the controversy surrounding either Obama's election or his words of hope. We (the human world) have a slender chance of change. Change to how we conduct business, use the environment and treat our fellow beings on this planet.

Yes we can (change).

Wish Ya luck wit' dat, Kiddo, I don't have much hope.
Given the enormous inertia of an entrenched system with it's billions of dollars and it's barnyard full of "good ol' boys" backslapping and pork-barrelling away, Prince Charming himself would be hard put to make a difference, let alone an American politician with all his baggage.
At best we can hope for a reduction in the Bush B-S, and a return to "business as usual" as it was a while back, with all it's ills and woes.

Sorry guys, for ducking off on this one - after initially saying it was a topic that interested me, too. But I've been having some real probs with this site the last coupla days and when this particular thread seemed to be changing into a Required Reading list - while appreciating the effort made - I kinda let it lie.

But now I have a question. Fractelle says says she lets go of grudges, others try to stay positive etc. But there is little doubt that Westerners are, generally, more inclined to the gloom and doom scenario than they used to be.

Is this something we can lay at the Internet's door too? Used to be, if one was truly convinced the world was coming to an end, you grabbed a sandwich board and patrolled the streets declaring this. A lot of things people believed that were depressingly negative stayed as personal mindsets and didn't affect anyone but the nearest and dearest.

Now, however, no-matter what your belief, you can trawl the Net and find hundreds, if not thousands of supporters for this view. You can convince yourself it is realistic. You gain confidence enough to get onto sites where you can try to convince others it is realistic.

Doesn't this become sorta like the Dung Beetles load - it gathers momentum as it goes? Its out there; it enters the public realm and attracts more and more to it? Even those who don't subscribe therefore, are surrounded to these negativities which were once fringe but now become mainstream?

You may have noticed that I specifically mentioned Westerners above. This is because, living and travelling constantly through less developed countries where the Internet is not part of peoples daily lives, I continually observe the outlook is markedly different, optimistic and up beat. Even though thier living conditions and futures are nowhere near as bright as those in developed nations.

It's just a theory, but I reckon it's got plausibility going for it?

Romany

I do think this 'doom and gloom' appears to be a western phenomenon. For exhibit #1, I submit Maxi's depressing posts - no slur intented Max. I have learned in countering my own bouts of depressive illness to focus on the positives, I'm even grateful if the only positive I can find in a day is that I remained pain-free. Other days are full of wonderful little events; my neighbour's offer to remove a couple of overgrown small trees - for free, the free gift of a tough hessian bag at a shopping centre, even though I hadn't spent the pre-requisite $20, an echnida snuffling through the undergrowth on a hot summer's afternoon, the man who stopped and reconnected the faulty wiring between the car battery and alternator, the all round hugs at the end of a particularly good 'take' when on set. That my mother can still sit back and laugh with gusto at Spics & Specs, despite tied to an oxygen machine 24/7.

Sorry I'd better stop now, I suspect that people's eyes are glazing over.

I wonder if in eastern culture the influence of Buddhism and Hinduism plat a part in acceptance of the here and now. Living in the present; mindfulness. When you don't have a lot it pays to appreciate what you do have.

And like negativity, positivity can be contagious. A simple choice, but it takes a lot of practise. So you can either think of life as pushing sh#t or collecting fertiliser.

Fractelle, Romany, I hear exactly what you say. I　find my most frequent criticisms on OLO are of those who engage in extreme left/right diatribes, or those who create this world of conspiracy theories as can be seen on this thread (sorry OUG, but honestly, there's more wild conspiracies in there than you can shake a stick out. Get out and about once in a while).

I believe one reason why I so frequently disagree with people in these instances, is that these views often come back to the entrenched negativity that can be seen by many posters.

Travelling less developed places, I can only echo Romany's point. I've got a few theories.

There are a number of factors here - I think we're hardwired to focus on threats to our well-being. When we have such a large amount of information, we often end up focusing on it.
Just look at how much news is about violence.
It comes back to the 'car accident' effect: people slowing down so they can gawp. Unfortunately, this tends to inflate the sense of doom.

Now, here's where I think the difference between the west and less developed countries comes in - by taking so much about the world through the media and the internet, we rely less on our everyday experiences.

It's funny, because I think many OLO posters are quite capable of going out one day, walking through a sunny place with trees and beautiful weather where they see smiling children, before coming home to a large house and delicious dinner - then getting on OLO and explaining why the world is so screwed up.

I try to keep things in perspective.

On the other hand, people who rely more on their everyday experiences are more likely to appreciate this as reflective of the wider world. The funny thing is, that these people come from less developed places.

Rather ironic, huh?

No worries Fractelle, point accepted.
I regret you find my posts depressing, I am merely putting a point of view based on what I know and think, it is not reflective of me or my view of life generally. The negativity is what is really happening in this world, whether your in Oz, Japan, or Terra Del Fuego, so that the fact others don't know what's about to happen and are positive etc in no way alters my points, surely?

turning left and turning right..made a comment aimed at me,quote<<my most frequent criticisms on OLO are of those who engage in extreme left/right diatribes''>>..,[like turning left then turning right?..lol..''..<<or those who create this world of conspiracy theories as can be seen on this thread>>...one comnspricy you didnt rebut ..lol

<<(sorry OUG,but honestly,there's more wild conspiracies in there than you can shake a stick out.Get out and about once in a while).>>..well dear turning about 180 degrees of seeperataion[in lue of rebuttal],...lol..how about using..your own topic...and your own comment..to expose the truth,

so lets try the topic..you yourself started
http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?discussion=2729&page=0

quote topic subject<<Swine flu.How serious is this going to be?

QUOTE from your initial post[i note your last post rebuts the fewars of your first ..lol..quote<<..My guess is we're looking at deaths that will probably reach into the tens of thousands globally...
..Perhaps into the hundreds of thousands,...[lol]..though I'm hoping it doesn't go that far or higher.>>..lol....wow 180 degress of turn to no good result;..thats a bi-polar 180 degree reversal of the sentiment of your last post ...lol

look 180 degrees..i like the new you..who is more relaxed than the uptight you who posted the topic..[how far are you prepared to stretch a point to make a point ..lol]..180 degrees?

[turn left turn right]that puts you right back to where you began..[of null affect]..two 90 degree turns ...all that effort for nuthin

OUG, the regular flu killed 35,000 last year in the US alone.

Given this, place the deaths in perspective.

There is still a threat, and I'm still concerned, and I still think the vast majority of conspiracy theories are paranoid idiocy, especially when you cram a whole bunch of them together. Try to stick with one brand of paranoia at once, it'll make you a whole lot more credible.

But the news since then has indicated that the 150 deaths at the start of the outbreak, were false reporting.

Also, there's the fact that the spanish flu killed on its second round, after it mutated. This flu spreads quickly and still has devastating potential, but given that it's just potential I'm reasonably sanguine. If it does turn out bad, we've got prior warning.

I reiterate - I've done no U-turn. Read it again, and deal with it.

P.S. I'm watching you from a secret camera hidden in your lampshade! I'm actually a secret/agent/corporate/alien/9-11/co-conspirator! Boo! Greetings from the grassy knoll!

oh dear agent turn leftwing right, it is sad bro as you said 35,000 REGULAR FLUE DEATHS annually[WHY SPIN UP less than 10?]

look we both agree on your quote..<<..But the news since then has indicated that the 150 deaths at the start of the outbreak,were false reporting...>> so lets agree to disagree as to by how much they tried to spin this...[yet spin it is]..its certainly not a pandemic

i comment on only a few topic's mainly where the intelectual prostitutes are playing their mind fuc...you were the origonator of the swine flue topic[and it has proved to be totally inacurate[your fears on the numbers]..as well as the affect

[the 35,000 regular flue deaths would have been a better point made at the swine flue post[yet you chose to not relate that fact there and then,infact chose to spin the fear,by that alone are you revealed]

more from the intelect/prostitutes[..quote from bigthink/newsletter]

Avoiding Catastrophe..Environmental/economist Nicholas/Stern..reports on Planet/Earth?

<<..lead author of the British/government's'groundbreaking'Stern Review,which tabulated the economic-cost of doing little or'nothing'..[sound familour?]..to reduce the impact of climate/change,..spoke with Big-Think today about the potential for long-term climate disruptions and the steps..'we'..can..take to avert them...>>..remember the'we..he'speaks of is the'money/makers'..[so of course their solution..includes/precludes them making more money..;lol..[but back to'his'..solution

<<Calling increases in electricity prices of between 30 and 50 percent.."a modest price to pay for the damages that we are avoiding,?wtf..">> ...lol

<<Stern is energized by the growth/opportunities coming as part of the transition to a low-carbon economy."It's going to be like the railways,"he says.>>..in case you dont recall the'railways'[lots of little people went bust]..building the big monoploply

Nicholas Stern was chief/economist and senior/'vice'-president of the World-Bank from 2000 to 2003,and was a civil/servant and government economic adviser in the United Kingdom...

http://bigthink.com/?utm_source=Big+Think+Main+Subscribers&utm_campaign=97a598fff3-Live_From_the_World_Innovation_Forum5_5_2009&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Big+Think+Main+Subscribers&utm_campaign=97a598fff3-Live_From_the_World_Innovation_Forum5_5_2009&utm_medium=email

[the carbon tax scam]...lets get railroaded]..again..lol

more insane'big-thinking'..lol..New Rules

Paul Saffo with four bright ideas to fuel tomorrow's innovation

Rule#1:Uncertainty is possibility...Uncertainty is opportunity.
And you don't want to get surprised by missing an important opportunity>>...no we certainly wouldnt..lol

Rule#2:Some of the greatest dangers for an innovator who is able to identify future trends is to mistake a clear view for a short distance,?..>>..clearly this dude is insane

but thankfully'explains'it<<..to be too early,and to think that things are going to arrive more quickly than they actually are.>>..like the swine/flue?..or the carbon tax?..or seek to bring on the latest/next bubble?

Rule#3:Don't let your hope..about what will happen/interfere with your judgment..of what you think could happen.>>or hope to make happen?

Rule#4:The essence of executive/wisdom is the ability to make the right/decision..based on incomplete/information.>>..lol..correct its time to reveal..ALL THE FACTS..audit the fed and the world-bank[..and enron[and 911,and the truth of no..al-cia-da[=duh]

<<The sooner..you'can be..comfortable'that you have the right-decision..with less information,..the faster you can move..over your competition.>>..lol..but what if you are wrong/decieved?..[you turned the world into paper,..but the paper/caper..cant buy your next meal]..you idiots forget the basics..[someone has to create[that you fools take down]

Paul Saffo is a technology/forecaster and futurist...lol..all theory

the builderburger prostituters[pimps]..are meeting again shortly, some details of this years adgenda are being revealed[last years was to drop the price of petrol
http://www.propagandamatrix.com/articles/june2008/061008_secret_agenda.htm
[to keep the peasents in their auto,mobile[cash cows]..anyhow on the adgenda so far is

The future of the US dollar and US economy:..The plan is for the Bilderberg Group players,through their allies in Washington and Wall Street to continue to deceive millions of savers and investors who believe the hype about the supposed up-turn in the economy...They are about to be set up for massive losses and searing financial pain in the months ahead.

The bank“stress tests”now being conducted by Washington are little more than a shameless hoax:..Based on the irrational assumption that the economy won’t get as bad as it already is!

US unemployment: Solutions and assumptions(Stated as such in the pre-meeting booklet sent out to attendees.)

Bilderberg is quietly assuming that US unemployment numbers will hover around 14% by the end of this year,..far higher than the official numbers released by the US government.[aimed at impoverishing the fast growing middle classes,into serfs renting and working for food]

Depression or a prolonged stagnation?(Stated as such in the pre-meeting booklet sent out to attendees.)

Bilderberg is looking at two options: Either a prolonged, agonizing depression that dooms the world to decades of stagnation,decline,and poverty ... or an intense-but-shorter depression that paves the way for a new sustainable economic world order,with less governmental/sovereignty.

There will be a final push for the enactment of Lisbon Treaty, pending on Irish voting YES on the treaty in Sept or October.One of their concerns is addressing and neutralizing the anti-Lisbon treaty movement called “Libertas” led by Declan Ganley.

One of the Bilderberger planned moves is to use a whispering campaign in the US media suggested that Ganley is being funded by arms dealers in the US linked to the US military.

http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/10854
http://republicbroadcasting.org/?p=1750
http://search.yahoo.com/search?ei=UTF-8&fr=sfp&p=bilderberg+agenda&SpellState=n-1914233252_q-Nlmw33MQgO5MviZV92LmlwAAAA%40%40&fr2=sp-top

Billionaire media mogul[AND BILDERBERGER]Rupert Murdoch gave a strange response when asked about plans for mainstream news websites to charge for content,declaring,“The current days of the internet will soon be over.”
http://www.prisonplanet.com/rupert-murdoch-internet-will-soon-be-over.html

Cyberbullying Bill Not About Protecting Kids, It is About Shutting Down the Opposition
http://www.prisonplanet.com/cyberbullying-bill-not-about-protecting-kids-it-is-about-shutting-down-the-opposition.html

Arianna Huffington,the liberal darling in bed with the globalist George Soros by way of the Bermuda-based Atlantic Philanthropies,..has posted an article on her website penned by Rep. Linda Sánchez, he Democrat congress critter from California.Sánchez is behind the so-called Megan Meier Cyberbullying Prevention Act,an effort to impose draconian regulations on the internet.

http://www.prisonplanet.com/david-rothschild-climate-change-ad.html
another bilderberger..lol
their plan is to shut down the web

The End of Free Speech?..Criminalizing Criticism of Israel
http://www.prisonplanet.com/the-end-of-free-speech-criminalizing-criticism-of-israel.html
On October 16,2004,President George W. Bush signed the Israel Lobby’s bill,the Global Anti-Semitism Review Act.This legislation requires the US Department of State to monitor anti-semitism world wide.

http://www.prisonplanet.com/ban-ki-moons-moral-failure.html

Rupert Murdoch:“Internet Will Soon Be Over”..dont say you wernt told

http://www.prisonplanet.com/newspaper-britain-officially-totalitarian-state.html
http://www.prisonplanet.com/leaked-agenda-bilderberg-group-plans-economic-depression.html
http://www.prisonplanet.com/taleb-global-crisis-vastly-worse-than-1930s-buy-gold-and-copper.html
http://www.prisonplanet.com/group-names-25-lenders-responsible-for-economic-meltdown.html
http://www.prisonplanet.com/uk%e2%80%99s-royal-mint-uses-75-more-gold-as-investor-demand-expands.html
http://www.prisonplanet.com/police-terror-stops-occur-every-three-minutes-in-london.html