A look at the leads stories of various news organizations

New York Times:

Strike on Iran Seen as a Huge Task for Israeli Air Power

By ELISABETH BUMILLER

An attack would take at least 100 planes, American defense officials and military analysts said, and take far more time than earlier strikes on nuclear sites in Syria and Iraq.

• U.N. Nuclear Inspectors Return to Tehran 6:21 AM ET

Washington Post:

Gingrich records show contradictory stances

(Joe Holloway, Jr. / AP)

Jerry Markon

An examination of the papers collected over nearly three decades reveals a politician of moderate-to-liberal beginnings, a product of the civil rights era who moved to the right with an eye on political expediency and privately savaged Republicans — such as Reagan — he praised in public.

• 500+ comments: ‘Anything can be taken out of context’
• For Santorum, faith inspires — and judges

USA Today:

Economic crisis slows U.S. population growth

Downturn's effect on birth and immigration lingers.MORE: World population hits 7BU.S.: Cities show declines

• 3 skiers killed in Wash. avalanche; 4th survived
• Storm dumps snow on parts of South
• U.S. urging Israel not to attack Iran, general says
• Apple OKs environmental audits of China suppliers
• Lin keeps improving as Knicks beat Mavs
• Whitney Houston dress, earrings up for auction

 CNN.COM:

Nuclear officials meet Iranian leaders as war talk rumbles

Israel has made it clear it is thinking about attacking Tehran's nuclear infrastructure. Iran has warned it may block the strait used by oil tankers in the Persian Gulf. FULL STORY

Zakaria: Israel, don't strike Iran




FoxNews.com:

• University of Maastricht
  In its test-tube form, it doesn't quite get your mouth watering, but Dutch scientist Dr. Mark Post of the University of Maastricht is betting that his stem cell 'meat' is going to 'look like and feel and, hopefully, taste' like real, juice-dripping burgers — would you take that bet?
• YOU DECIDE: Would You Eat a Test-Tube Burger? | Egypt Eyed as Possible Source of Fake Version of Avastin
• Boy Survives After Being Born With Heart Outside Body

Major props to the New York Times and to CNN for making the TOP STORY an international one that has serious implications for Americans. Not sure what to make of Fox News' lead story titled, "Test tube meat to be available this fall ..."

That is just weird.

Their next top three stories are also "not critical."

• 

  Expert Skiers Buried Alive
  In Washington Avalanche

  Skier says she was 'completely buried' in snow after group swept away by avalanche near popular resort, killing 3
  • VIDEO: Deadly Avalanche at Popular Ski Resort
  • Extreme Weather Center
  • Winter Storm Causes Power Outages, Accidents in South

• 

  Obama Team Defends Policies as Gas Prices Soar

  Re-elect team defends energy policy, touts more domestic oil production, amid criticism of gas price hikes
  • Oil Prices Jump After Iran Halts Exports to Britain, France

• 

  Police Find Remains of
  Girl Missing Since 1999

  Ohio teen's remains found in house of accused rapist who had been suspected in her disappearance
  • South Carolina Police Urge Help in Search for Missing Executive

All that matters in Boone: Crime and sports

You can see it from the local news, every single day. They are the only two issues that are covered here.

What does this say about us as a people that we either: a) only care about these issues; or b) care about other issues but don't demand that the local media cover them?!?!?!

GoBlueRidge.Net

Vigils Planned, Search Continues for DaraTwo vigils, one planned for Mount Pleasant and one for Boone, will be held for those expressing their love and concern for Dara Lee Watson and the Watson family. The Boone vigil is at 7pm on King Street, where friends and anyone interested can express themselves by bringing a note, picture,Full Story Mabel Community Thanked for Water Crisis ResponseSuperintendent, Dr. Dick Jones, opened Monday evening’s Board of Education meeting by expressing thanks to many people for their response to the concern over potentially contaminated water at Mabel Elementary School.Full Story UPDATE: Surveillance Photos Released in Boone Business Break-InBoone investigators converged on the scene of the Gold & Closeout Connection on East King Street where a smash and grab type of break-in occurred this morning. The alarm sounded there at 3:28 this morning with the front door forced, and police were on the scene within two minutes,Full Story ASU Adds Two Assistant Coaches Appalachian State University football head coach Jerry Moore announced on Thursday that Dwayne Ledford and Bryan Brown have officially joined the ASU staff as assistant coaches. Ledford will serve as Appalachian’s offensive line coach and Brown will be an assistant coachFull Story

Your local news in Boone

See? Even in Boone, NC, it's all about crime.

Here are your top stories:

GoBlueRidge.Net

Lenoir Teen Arrested in Assault on Two Boone WomenBoone Police have charged a Lenoir man in that Saturday morning assault of two women, followed from the lot of the Cook Out restaurant on Blowing Rock Road. In what the police release call “a notable assault incident,” Ketoine Jamahl Mitchell, 19 of Lenoir,Full Story Watson Search Continues in Two AreasThere was a two-front search for Dara Lee Watson yesterday, an effort at the property she shared with fiancé David Hedrick, and in the Francis Marion National Forest, where her GMC SUV was found just over a week ago. Other details surfaced yesterday, like that friends arriving at Hedrick’s house in Mount PleasantFull Story Guns Taken in Early Morning Boone Break-InBoone investigators converged on the Gold & Closeout store on East King Street where a smash and grab type of break-in occurred this morning. The alarm sounded there at 3:28 this morning, and police were on the scene within two minutes,Full Story SECOND Fire Set at Old WHS Overnight; Three ChargedA second fire was apparently set at the Old Watauga High early this morning, and three suspects have been arrested and charged. Watauga deputies and Boone Police responded at 1:13 to 400 High School DriveFull Story   Smile! You've been arrested!

Time Magazine AGAIN shields poor American eyes from world events

This is a great reminder of a lesson from the book about how the mainstream media in the US ignore world events, even though they don't do this around the world.

And why are we so unprepared for things that hit us right in the face even when we should have seen them coming? Could it be due to their ignoring of important world events in favor of the trivial?

Thanks media!

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-february-14-2012/time-magazine-s-u-s--edition?xrs=share_copy

Lead stories today

Check out the variation from newspaper to TV to radio station. Now which do you think you should be more exposed to?

Newspaper:

CAPTION

By Apichart Weerawong, AP

Iranians eyed in Bangkok blasts

New study: Millions of voter records flawed

More than 24 million voter-registration records in the United States are inaccurate, out-of-date or duplicates.

• Fresh violence in Syria as U.N. warns of civil war
• Israeli attack on Iran would be complex operation
• Obama to push for payroll tax cut extension
• Tax time can be costly for gay couples
• Lottery official: $1B prize only a matter of time
• Kate Upton unveiled as 'SI' swimsuit cover model 

TV station:

The lost art of romance

Has texting replaced the love letter? Has romantic courtship been hijacked by reality TV? Vexing questions for Valentine's Day. STORY | SEXY CHOCOLATE | IS DAY A RELATIONSHIP DEFINER? | TYRANTS' LOVER LETTERS




Radio station:

View caption Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Study: 1.8 Million Dead People Registered To Vote

A new report finds that about one in eight U.S. voter registrations are invalid or inaccurate. While there are few documented cases of voter fraud, the study finds that cooperation among states could improve the accuracy of voter registration lists nationwide.

On Morning Edition

• Pew Poll: Good News For Santorum, Better News For Obama
• America Is Angry, Very Angry. Why That's Not All Bad

GASP! Another celebrity is dead

And it is ALL over the news. Even the real news. You know, the serious news.

See?

I know many people care about this woman and her sad ending. But no one should be shocked by it. It's just another multi-millionaire success story who could not handle how great her life was who reportedly ended up killing herself through a drug overdose after years and years and years of drug abuse problems.

What I'd like to see the news talk about in this case is how this relates to the drug war--i.e., what it says about US drug policy that star after star (along with lots of regular folks too) continues to die from drug-related problems.

But nope, you won't see that in the news, Even the real news. You know, the serious news.

Instead we'll be bombarded with details about her death and life. And this is because we like it. So what does that say about us?

Holding guity corporate criminals accountable

The banks played a major role in the collapse of the housing market AND the collapse of the US economy. One of the best explanations of it is here.

Stated simply, banks loaned money to people they knew could not pay it back. They also created mechanisms for people to make vast amounts of money on the bad loans, knowing the people would default. It was basically a pyramid scheme invented by and that benefited extremely wealthy and powerful people. Meanwhile the rest of us suffer immensely.

The Obama Administration pledged to go after them and hold them accountable. And the FIRST agreement has been reached. Large banks will pay $26 billion to help homeowners right bad mortgages and keep their homes.

States are free to sue for more, and the federal investigation can still produce arrests, convictions, and incarcerations. The story made the front page of CNN:

Mortgage deal: Critics on both sides

Conservatives say the $26 billion deal to settle charges of mortgage fraud unfairly rewards those who miss payments; liberals say it doesn't offer enough relief. FULL STORY | WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOU | NEW RULES FOR BANKS

On Fox, it is here:

Feds announce $25B settlement for foreclosure abuse, victims to receive only $2G

No picture, no celebration.

Notice both headlines. Notice the different highlights in the two stories. What explains the difference?

This is not NEW but it is still news

And I am placing it here because, if you are like the average American, you are totally unaware that it happened!

"I believe that when more of my colleagues and the American public come to understand how the Patriot Act has actually been interpreted in secret, they will insist on significant reforms too," said Sen. Ron Wyden, an Oregon Democrat who tried to block the renewal. Sen. Mark Udall, a Colorado Democrat, offered a similar warning.


The cautionary note from two members of the Senate Intelligence committee -- who are briefed on classified activities and are tasked with overseeing the NSA, CIA, and the Justice Department's "intelligence activities" -- is highly unusual, and perhaps even unprecedented.

And it's prompted intense speculation about what kind of constitutionally dubious surveillance, which could include vacuuming up cell phone location records, the Obama administration might be engaging in.


Patriot Act renewed despite warnings of 'secret' law

Patriot Act Extension Signed By Obama 

Read the summary in the book, as well as how little media coverage it generated. Then tell how you can possibly think the media did its job with regard to this law.

Yes, Bush signed it into law. But so did Obama!

But ... but ... but Boone is a really nice place to live

Local news today?

Guns, crime, crime, sports, car wreck, crime, car wreck, crime, missing man, car crash.

Is all that happens here?

No, lots of great stuff happens here, but the media generally fail to discuss it.

GoBlueRidge.Net

Ashe Commissioners Deal with Gun Issue“There will come a day, a point in time, when that frog is cooked, and all our rights and all our freedoms and all our liberties are going to be gone, folks,” comments made by Ashe County Commissioner, Gerald Price, in support of a motion he had made to not ban the carrying of concealed weapons on county property. Full Story   Two Arrests in Mountain City Double MurderTwo arrests have been made by Tennessee authorities, a week to the day after a Mountain City Couple were found dead in their home—their son still unharmed in his mother’s arms.  The arrests were made this morning, according to WCYB, saying Jamie Curd and Marvin Potter Junior are in custody facing two charges of first degree murder. Full Story   Two Asheville Teens, Driver Charged in 1st Degree BurglaryBoone Police have made three arrests—two in connection with an early-morning break-in at a Sunset Drive home—and a driver.  19-year olds Grant Weldon Gousby and Owen Dean Alspaugh Jr., both of Ashville were arrested and charged with one count each of first degree burglary. Full Story   Presley, Quick Invited To NFL CombineAthlete DeAndre Presley and wide receiver Brian Quick of Appalachian State University head a list of 22 Football Championship Sub-Division players that have been invited to the National Football League Scouting Combine Full Story   Another Wreck Just South of Blowing RockInjuries were called in with a crash on US 321 on the south end of Blowing Rock last night, but no one was transported after Watauga Medics arrived at the scene along with Blowing Rock Fire/Rescue.  The crash was said to have been just a short distance south of the Green Park Inn Full Story

Early Morning Burglary Yields Boone ArrestsDetails are still being derived as Boone Police have a first degree burglary—a serious felony—under investigation this morning.  Officers and detectives followed a trail of goods stolen in the break-in along Sunset Drive just off NC 105 Extension through the early morning darkness, and have taken suspects into custody. Full Story   Foggy Crash in Deep GapThick fog lead to a two-vehicle crash in front of Blue Ridge Diner in Deep Gap this morning late in the 8 ‘o clock hour.  Injuries were initially reported in the crash, but the state patrol said no one was transported from the scene.  Trooper Collier cited a driver trying to turn left across the south-bound lane Full Story   Boone Ford Break-In; B&E's Continue in BooneAnother business break-in was  filed with the Boone Policed Department—the second recent break-in at Boone Ford Lincoln Mercury, and incident that occurred sometime between February 3rd and 4th.  It was reported that the unknown suspect(s) made entry in several offices taking an undisclosed amount of cash. Full Story   Avery Searchers Locate Missing ManAvery authorities quickly mounted a search late yesterday afternoon after a 72-year old man left a Grandfather Golf & Country Club residence and disappeared.  The man, suffering some sort of dementia, was missed by family within five minutes of his leaving the home, and within 20 minutes, Full Story   Three Injuries in Late Saturday Afternoon AccidentsSeveral injuries came in late Saturday afternoon traffic accidents, with three transported by medics.  An Ashe County woman backed out of her Island Ford Road home and into the waters of the New River.  The emergency call indicated she was trapped in the vehicle, but as first responders arrived, Full Story

This is news because ...

From Fox News ...

• 

  Hatchet Wounds on Dead
  Boys, Killer Dad 'Sorry'

  Josh Powell reportedly apologized in voicemail to family before chopping sons' necks with hatchet, setting blaze
  • VIDEO: Boys Killed in Fire Suffered Hatchet Wounds, Autopsy Says
  • Missouri Teen Killer Had Depression, Troubled Family

Notice the linkage to other, unrelated stories.


And then there is this, also from Fox News:

• NYC vendor who alerted police to bomb seeks office
• Man's 'nearly skeletonized' body found in home 4 years after suicide 
• Anti-doping agency to feds: Hand over Armstrong info
• Man dies after spinal injury at trampoline park
• Court: Italy cruise captain to stay under house arrest
• Facebook, Twitter more addictive than cigarettes?
• Golfer impaled on broken putter during fight

Let's review. Crime, crime, crime, crime, crime. Bad stuff. Criminal justice stuff. Horrible stuff. Random awful stuff. That is the news!

The "local news" at 4pm

This is why I don't watch the local news ...

Channel 36, NBC from Charlotte, at 4pm, which they declared to be "news you need to know" ...

Top stories:

1) Super Bowl champs return home (this is relevant for us because???). Perhaps this is due to the fact that NBC carried the Super Bowl?

2) Man walks into Wal Mart, steals a flat screen TV that was on display ... they showed his picture and said "We need your help finding this man."

3) Fatal accident, charges pending. Story includes video from the scene.

4) Man on bike exposes himself while riding the bike!

5) Speaking of sex offenders! Did you know there is a new APP for your phone that allows you to search for sex offenders in your area, and even can alert you via text messages if you sign up? We'll show you how later in the news!

6) Water line breaks, causing a major delay in the local courts! People show up only to be turned away. Angry woman with poor English skills expresses frustration.

7) "More unrest in the Middle East." True (Syria) but relevant for the local news?

8) Riot at UMASS after Patriots lose Super Bowl. Police come out, use tear gas. And this is news because?

9) Speaking of the Super Bowl, the ratings show it was the most watched show even on US TV!

10) Man loses hundreds of pounds, we'll show you how!

11) Quick weather update, more coming later.

So I think you get the point. This is where I turned it off, 15 minutes in.

Only thing left -- weather, sports, feel good story.

Did I feel more informed? Nope. So what is the point of the "news?"