Hi, I'm going to Amsterdam next week end with a few friends and i'd like to know where we should go and what we should avoid. I'd love to find some great music/ party etc... out of the main tourist scene.

Any great tip for friday sept 3rd and sat 4th.

Thanks

Pierre

 

I have traveled on vacation to many European cities on vacation, and I must say, that Amsterdam is the most beautiful, and the most friendly. I didn't go there because of the stories I heard about sex, drugs, and debauchery, but the windmills, the tulips, and the history of the country. Having said this, I have a different explanation for the popularity of Fox News also called “Faux (fake) News” in America. First of all, people must remember that their most popular product is fear. Americans have turned into a very paranoid and fearful people, and they only pay attention to things that reinforce that fear, or things that make them afraid of things they were never afraid of before. Everyday, Fox News starts off with some terrible event, a crime, or natural disaster, then they try to imply that it can happen to you next, or that if it does happen to you, the current government, the Democrats, either caused it, or will not help you. They try to impose on their audience, a sense of helplessness, and that only they have the right answers. Second, many of the “newsmen and women” are not really journalists…they are just attractive people who read whatever is placed in front of them. Not being journalists frees them from the burden being honest or unbiased. Third, many of the people you see on Fox have little or no higher education. Sean Hannity and Karl Rove for example, like Glenn Beck and many of the other frequent guests on Fox, are college dropouts. Some of the others who did manage to graduate from college, have their degrees in totally unrelated areas, or immigrated to Fox News, after disgracing themselves elsewhere, and Fox was the only network that would hire them. This allows them to deliver a very simplistic, relatable message to their audience, without the need for careful analysis, verification or promoting skepticism. For example, when they say” President Obama is a socialist,” even though 99.9% of Americans don't know what a socialist it, the way it was said ( like saying “child molester”) it must be something bad, so they hear it, and repeat it. If you don't believe me, ask the next American you meet, what a “socialist” is. To be fair, if you are asking an American in your country, he or she is likely to be much better educated than the Americans you see on television, but I'll take that chance. Guest presenters such as Oliver North (convicted felon) Mark Furhman (convicted felon), G. Gordon Liddy (convicted felon), Greta von Susteren (disgraced former lawyer from West Virginia), Geraldo Rivera (need I say more), or disgraced politicians (Newt Gingrich), constantly pound home one message...be afraid...be very afraid. Americans have the gift of amnesia, and forget they would never allow any of these people to watch their children. Bill O'Reilly an alleged phone sex pervert, lost a sexual harassment lawsuit a few years ago and either he or Fox had to pay a huge settlement. Dick Morris, an alleged a toe-sucking pervert who's only job is to attack President Obama, gets plenty of airtime from Fox, because he is the least concerned about his personal shortcomings or reputation. Fox diverts your attention from the damage the Republicans have done to our country, by telling you that your house is on fire, or soon will be.

Let me ask you to do one thing.  Anyone you see on Fox News, just “Google” their name.  Chances are, they are a disgruntled politician, disgraced former military, or are just one step ahead of some criminal or moral scandal, and Fox News is the only television station (cable) that will allow them to vent their frustration, and only at President Obama or the Democrats. Fox News is obsessed with minority crime, and continually hold themselves up as paragons of virtue, patriotism, and godliness, when nothing could be further from the truth. If however, you are a fearful bigot stories like the one on Amsterdam makes you feel morally superior to other people, and justifies your ever increasing paranoia, and fear of people who are different.

Most of Fox's audience have never traveled out of the country, and many have never lived more than 100 miles from where they were born. President Obama's recent victory in 2008, indicates a shift in attitudes, and the Republican Party, afraid of never regaining power, having abused it so much, are relentlessly lashing out in every direction, at anyone, or anything, that reflects this shift. They attacked Canada for nearly one year straight for their medical system.  I mean, really, who attacks Canada?  They have yet to demonstrate how our medical system is superior to any other system in the world.

Finally, I wouldn't pay much attention to Fox News. No matter what you say, they will twist it against you, and their viewers will just have more reasons for believing them. It is correct though, to tell your side of the story, and denounce the source of misinformation, so that Fox doesn't come back accuse you of “attacking the American media.” Bill O'Reilly has some obvious problems with his own inner morality, that I believe he struggles with every day. If you watch his show, almost every three days, he does some lurid expose on some sex scandal, complete with scantily-clad young women, with the naughty parts blurred out. Then he plays the segment over and over again, like he's so surprised and shocked, and tries to get his buxom, blond co-anchors to laugh at his sleazy comments.  He's a classic “dirty old man,” and I'd keep my children away from him.

 

I suppose multiple answers were possible, but to use a pie chart here??????

I agree: Fox News only when on the Daily Show or Colbert Report.