YesBut can we trust it?

In the preparation of my Wednesday blogs “Memorial day”, I have to research the history both of the memorial’s subject and the sculpture. To do this I rely heavily on the internet. But how reliable is the information posted on web sites?

I have in previous blogs decried the accuracy of reporting in both newspapers and television.

In the main, non fictional books go through a review procedure to ensure the facts are correct - even if the subsequent interpretation is questionably.

But there is no peer review of information posted on the web. The result of this is the perpetuation of miss- and dis-information.

I enter into Google a name > a list of relevant web pages appears > click on what is judged the most pertinent and read the information. Unfortunately the author of the web site has made a typo, the date quoted is 1998 when in should have been 1989; I do not spot the error and quote 1989 in my blog. The next person comes along reads my blog sees 1989, thinks that’s not correct, checks the web site I had looked at sees 1989, shrugs thinks it must be correct, and quotes 1989. Now there are three sites which say 1989 so it must be correct!

Even Wikipedia isn’t 100% correct! This is due to genuine errors by the contributors; but unfortunately also due to the perverted actions of dingbats who think they are clever in corrupting published information.

So a word of caution, if you are relying on information obtained from the web:

1. Ensure the reliability of a site - you can be fairly (but not absolutely) confident of information provided by official sites but treat with extreme caution information stated in blogs, (especially this one!).
2. Try to verify any information, using independent resources - go back and check original source data.

Having said all that, take the opportunity to add further to the store of erroneous information. Click here and enter YesBut’s Images caption competition.

YesBut what’s the news today?

I love a good rant, what would life be without them? I was pleased when YesBut’s Wales correspondent drew my attention to the article in this weeks Llanelli Star newspaper. The headline is:“Childish Ranting”. It’s a letter from Councillor John Jenkins and starts

“There’s going to be a shortage of crayons in Llanelli if Councillor Eric Smith is going to keep writing his ridiculous, childish ranting letters to the Llanelli Star. At the risk of incurring Eric’s wrath, I feel the need to respond to his letter”.

Isn't that a great rant against ranting? The rest of the letter is about local politics and only of interest to the two Councillors

We have all sat in front of our computers and thought “what can I blog about today?” no problem if nothing comes to mind. But each week the editors of local newspapers, such as the Llanelli Star, have to fill their pages. A challenge in a small town where nothing much happens. The only exciting story I recall the Star reporting this year is, during the night someone climbed up the sign in a garage forecourt and altered the price of petrol! Exciting or what?

I thought I would surf the net and see what other thrilling stories were being reported in local papers.

The Mercury - the voice of Tasmania reported under the headline “Gentle tug and its free” - a tug boat stranded on a beach at Burnie has been freed. That’s a relief; I was really worried it might be stuck there permanently.

The Burlington Hawk Eye - Iowa’s oldest daily newspaper had the headline “Couple sues Wal-Mart over slip in vomit”. Yes well that’s enough of that story.

The Evening Mail - reporting on events in North-West England under the headline “Bin Collections To Stay Weekly”.

”Barrow town hall chiefs are set to bin plans to pick up rubbish every fortnight. Much to the relief of residents, Barrow Borough Council looks likely to continue with its once-a-week collections”.

Collection of household rubbish has been a national story in the UK. Councils are proposing to make fortnightly collections with limits set on how much rubbish each household will be allowed to put in their bins.

The Daily News, Fairbanks - the voice of Interior Alaska since 1903, had the headline “Grizzly killed off Farmers Loop”. The report states:

“A Fairbanks man shot and killed a grizzly bear early Thursday morning off Farmers Loop, just a mile or two north of town, when the bear and its siblings expressed an interest in his backyard farm“.

B.T Bear who frequently visits this site will be upset by the story; but I bet the editor of the Llanelli Star would love to report on the shooting of a grizzly!

If you have an interesting or amusing story in your local newspaper, please let me know.

Enough excitement for today. If you want a little more click here and post your caption entry on YesBut’s Image.

Conspiracy Theories

David Icke is just one of many, making a good living in the Conspiracy Industry.

Politicians build their careers on conspiracy. George Bush and Tony Blair declare they are the true protectors of Western Civilisation. Claiming to be the only ones we can trust to protect us from the massing menacing Islamic hordes, (so they claim).

Blair & Bush cannot do it by themselves; they are assisted by the “Gentlemen” of the Press. Newspapers need stories. And no story sells more newspapers than a good conspiracy (well with the exception of those about sex and or Princess Diana).

Of course THE all time story had the combination of:
Conspiracy, sex and Princess Diana.

But conspiracies have to be worked at, nurtured. The fires have to be periodically stoked, with a splash of kerosene thrown on. This is the daily drip, drip:

Islamic women hiding behind their burkas (shock horror).

Islamic youths visiting Pakistan (the clouds of war are gathering).

Tanks sent to guard Heathrow.

News the Country is on Orange alert.

Police to receive training to deal with dirty bombs.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6215795.stm

Thirty or is it three hundred known terrorist plots under investigation by the Security Services. (They probably read this blog - Hi Guys & Girls Happy New Year)

“We as a Nation must unite and protect our citizens”. More laws, more restrictions, more surveillance (install more CCTV cameras at each street corner and under all beds, (seen it in the Movies, spies always hide under a bed)). ID cards, biometric passports. What’s the next step? Well it’s obvious. Why have old fashion cards and passports, why not implant a micro chip in each persons forearm. Not only can it be used to identify the individual, but in conjunction with satellite navigation it could be used to keep a record of everyone’s movements. Think of the advantages of that to solving crimes. “If you haven’t got anything to hide, you’ve got nothing to worry about”. Who could object? Only those liberal lefties.

But this is nothing new. Conspiracy thrives on fear, which is sustained by ignorance and exploitation of the unknown. Now what else relies on fear and the unknown? Religion. “Out there are evil forces, worship Me and I’ll protect you”. “Don’t worry about death, worship Me and you’ll have eternal life”. Religions have always built conspiracy myths to entice people to become followers. Today’s “enemies” were also yesterday’s enemies. In the eleventh century Europe was marshalled and organized to fight in a total of seven Crusades against the Muslim hordes.

David Icke isn’t stupid he combines politics and religion in his conspiracy theories. No wonder he sells so many books.

I think with a little bit of effort I could start my own conspiracy theories devised while under the influence of Tesco’s Rich Chocolate Fudge Yule Log - dam, the wife eat the last piece yesterday. Must be my Karma, or is it a conspiracy?