Negative Media Strikes Again!!

Over & Over again we are told "negative
reporting just makes things worse"

...and yet, as the economy worsens, the media just gets more negative.

Take a look at today's (Mon.) Florida Sun Sentinel.
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Front Page ...Headlines...The New Frugality it may be with us for awhile.

Negative sales numbers featured, such as ...minus 8.2% vs. 2007

Bad news for the economy...Edgy consumers cutting back!!

Page 2..........Survival Mentality takes over...story follows about people who
stopped spending.


Page 3..........Large picture of shuttered Packard plant in Detroit...oh yes, nearly

forgot...it was closed in 1950.








This kind of journalism may be good to sell newspapers but it does not help we Seniors who worry enough about our finances. I am not suggesting that we do not have problems in this country today, but to subject your readers to a constant bombardment of negative...negative news

is irresponsible at best, morally reprehensible at worst.





For goodness sake, think of your mothers & fathers and their generation who frighten easily enough when it comes to their finances, and stop distorting the news beyond what is prudent. Provide some balance by reporting some uplifting news once in awhile. C'mon...there must be some out there. Like "Editor gets fired for unbalanced news reporting."


Reply to: http://www.seniiorblog.blogspot.com/

Seniorblog







THE SUN-SENTINEL CONTINUES AS THE VOICE OF DOOM, THE NEGATIVE PURVEYOR OF BAD, BAD NEWS.

SAT. JAN 3, 2009 EDITION
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FRONT PAGE...(in bold, black, reverse background...)MORE BANKRUPCY MISERY
Right column, front page...

Another blow hits colleges finances

But don't worry, Superman will save us...isn't that his logo or a close likeness SunSentinel is using?? A possible infringement? More bad news...for the SunSentinel??
But this time they're not reporting on it.

Inside, YOUR MONEY PAGE...Headlines: Personal and business bankruptcies increase... Post 3..... THE RACE

THE RACE
It was the 1970-1980 period of my life and I was working for an international Licensing company. I had the responsibility for the Far East and Canada as well as certain accounts in the U.S. I needed to make a business trip to Japan and so I contacted our Agent in Tokyo and asked him to make reservations for me at a reasonably nice Hotel.
My only requirement was that there be a nice place close by for me to Jog. I was really into Jogging at that time (having run in a number of competitive races and that was an important consideration for me.)

He set me up at The Imperial telling me that was where most of the foreign business men stayed while in Tokyo on business.Right across the street was Hibya Park," perfect" he explained, "for Jogging".

First morning I had free I laced up my shoes and rolled out the front door of the Hotel into Hibya Park. Harry was correct. It was beautiful and did have a jogging trail. Only one problem. I was running 10k's (6.2 miles) in those days and this park was small.

In fact it took me about 10 minutes to run the entire course. So I did it twice around...3 then 4 times round."this'll never do" I thought, What could I do to
correct the situation? I could see days on end with no jogging. and I was a jogging junkie. Woe is me!!!


Then, the next morning as I was leaving the Park after my morning run, I saw 2 men dressed in jogging clothes, approaching me from the opposite direction and running towards the Imperial. I stopped them and asked where they were coming from. They saw I was dressed in my running outfit and so felt comfortable sharing that information with me.

"The Palace" they shouted excitedly. It's right up the street and a perfect 3.5 miles in a loop around the Imperial palace. "Beautiful view of the Palace grounds too, with a lake in the middle." The path took one in a climb around the grounds and when the top was reached, the view was fantastic.

...and so I thanked them profusely and the next morning set out upon a jog around the Palace grounds, about 5 blocks from the Hotel. It was everything they said and more...

I ran there whenever I could get time away from my duties.

On Friday Harry explained that he had Sat. all planned for me as I did not have any appointments. He planned a trip to see some Japanese Art.which, interestingly enough, in Tokyo were displayed on the top floor of their major Department stores.

Saturday morning dawned sunny and beautiful and accordingly I laced up my running shoes, put on my running clothes and rolled out the front door of the Hotel in the direction of the Imperial Palace to the amused stares of the Hotel employees. "Bucatadi" they quietly whispered shaking their heads as I passed them in the lobby. Roughly translated it meant...ginja nut (Japanese for non-Japanese)

I picked up the path at the bottom of the trail that led around the Palace and started jogging. After a while on the path I began to notice distance signs. Suddenly from out of nowhere, runners began passing me from behind. When I picked up the pace, they picked up the pace.

"My God" I thought..."Im in a race." My competitive juices began to flow and I picked up the pace still more.(Ask any runner and they will tell you exactly how I felt.)

...and we kept passing little Japanese men posted on the side of the path glancing at their watches & speaking into 2-way radios. "My God, they are timing us," I thought. I really am in a race!!

We mounted a rise and as we got to the top I could see the entire Palace grounds lying below us To my left near the bottom of the hill was a huge wooden gate, the entrance to the grounds.!!! and the huge doors were open!!!

There were only 3 runners ahead of me and they were turning into the open gates. " I started REALLY getting excited. The doors were closed during the week so this meant I would have a chance to see the Palace grounds and possibly....WIN THE RACE. I had a split second to make a decision.

I went running through the huge gates, turned right and saw a large reviewing stand, filled with people watching the race. I suddenly realized they were looking & pointing at me in puzzlement and saying "How round-eye get in race??? "

I felt one japanese runner close behind me slowly closing the gap between us.

My breath came in short bursts, my legs were starting to go and I put forth one last effort. We raced past the reviewing stand and all I remembered was I was supposed to stop and accept a trophy or plaque ?...I ran right past everything... out the other side....AND KEPT ON RUNNING. Since I was the first runner to pass the reviewing stand I assume I had won the race. Where were my registration papers?? Where was my number?? I thought I was in deep trouble...I never stopped until I got to the street leading to the Imperial Hotel. I was afraid I would be arrested or something worse.

That Saturday I got to see the Palace Grounds without being bothered.

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