1. Television that encourages viewers to hate, despise and fear "the enemy." George Orwell predicted the rise of Hate TV in his novel "1984." Usually found on the cable channels, Hate TV is the fastest-growing type of pseudo-news. Key characteristics include:
- Scapegoating (blaming a small group for the problems of all)
- Fear-mongering (raising the specter of impending tyranny)
- Simplistic thinking (condensing complex issues into a few hate-filled slogans)
- Truthiness (presenting rumors as established fact)
- Repetition (to give lies the ring of truth)
- Stereotyping (along racial, ethnic or religious lines)
- Assault Interviewing (attacking guests who disagree with the party line)
- Pandering (filling a studio with partisan crowds who will cheer or boo on cue)
- Thematic Aggregation ("packaging" a variety of fears, prejudices and hot-button issues under a common theme)
- Code Words (using substitutes for common racial slurs, insults, etc.)
- Multi-Media Marketing (combining TV with publishing, radio, websites, etc. to reinforce the core message)
- Narrowing (redefining the boundaries of "acceptable belief" to ostracize moderates)
- Movement Hype (promoting a specific group of people as the only "true" Americans)
- Event Manipulation (exaggerating the size, impact or diversity of a protest or political rally)
Hate TV inevitably leads to greater political polarization, up to and including acts of violence against the perceived "enemy."
- Scapegoating (blaming a small group for the problems of all)
- Fear-mongering (raising the specter of impending tyranny)
- Simplistic thinking (condensing complex issues into a few hate-filled slogans)
- Truthiness (presenting rumors as established fact)
- Repetition (to give lies the ring of truth)
- Stereotyping (along racial, ethnic or religious lines)
- Assault Interviewing (attacking guests who disagree with the party line)
- Pandering (filling a studio with partisan crowds who will cheer or boo on cue)
- Thematic Aggregation ("packaging" a variety of fears, prejudices and hot-button issues under a common theme)
- Code Words (using substitutes for common racial slurs, insults, etc.)
- Multi-Media Marketing (combining TV with publishing, radio, websites, etc. to reinforce the core message)
- Narrowing (redefining the boundaries of "acceptable belief" to ostracize moderates)
- Movement Hype (promoting a specific group of people as the only "true" Americans)
- Event Manipulation (exaggerating the size, impact or diversity of a protest or political rally)
Hate TV inevitably leads to greater political polarization, up to and including acts of violence against the perceived "enemy."
"Did you hear about that guy who crashed is plane into the IRS building in Austin, Texas?"
"Yeah, he killed two people, including a father who served in Vietnam."
"Well, Hate TV is saying he was a patriot and should be congratulated for standing up to the government."
"Scary stuff...What's next -- public lynchings in prime time?"
"Yeah, he killed two people, including a father who served in Vietnam."
"Well, Hate TV is saying he was a patriot and should be congratulated for standing up to the government."
"Scary stuff...What's next -- public lynchings in prime time?"
by Peter Kobs April 09, 2010
1. The next wave of personal computing from Apple.
Set to be introduced in late spring or early summer 2010, the Apple iSlate is a new tablet computer with a high-resolution touch screen and sleek black design. The device is about the size of a telephone book cover, but less than 1/2-inch thick.
The iSlate offers all the functionality of an Apple laptop (e.g., iMac Air), but in a sleek one-piece design with many new extras. The virtual keyboard is similar to the iPod "electronic keyboard," but is almost the same size as a regular physical keyboard.
Besides thousands of computer applications, the iSlate also plays movies, music and games. With optional services, it can also work as a video-conferencing device (using the built-in video camera) and a telephone. Of course, it comes with built-in WiFi access and optional 3G wireless Internet access.
The iSlate takes advantage of recent advances in super-thin flash memory, battery design, smudge-resistant coatings and thin-film transistor display technology. Essentially, the iSlate is an advanced next generation "hybrid" of the iPod Touch, iPhone and MacBook Air laptop, but with many new cool features and a stunning new user experience. It may eventually replace the standard laptop for many users.
Set to be introduced in late spring or early summer 2010, the Apple iSlate is a new tablet computer with a high-resolution touch screen and sleek black design. The device is about the size of a telephone book cover, but less than 1/2-inch thick.
The iSlate offers all the functionality of an Apple laptop (e.g., iMac Air), but in a sleek one-piece design with many new extras. The virtual keyboard is similar to the iPod "electronic keyboard," but is almost the same size as a regular physical keyboard.
Besides thousands of computer applications, the iSlate also plays movies, music and games. With optional services, it can also work as a video-conferencing device (using the built-in video camera) and a telephone. Of course, it comes with built-in WiFi access and optional 3G wireless Internet access.
The iSlate takes advantage of recent advances in super-thin flash memory, battery design, smudge-resistant coatings and thin-film transistor display technology. Essentially, the iSlate is an advanced next generation "hybrid" of the iPod Touch, iPhone and MacBook Air laptop, but with many new cool features and a stunning new user experience. It may eventually replace the standard laptop for many users.
by Peter Kobs January 13, 2010
A morally repugnant act, suggestion or idea associated with Barack Obama; a pejorative word used by right-wing political activists to discredit mainstream positions of the Democratic party and/or Sen. Barack Obama during the 2008 presidential campaign; a slur against a black political candidate masquerading as a religious objection.
by Peter Kobs June 17, 2008
Many people have a stash of old keys in a drawer or cabinet for "future use." Some keys have been there so long that you no longer remember what they're for. A bike lock? An old car? A cabinet at work? These are Orphan Keys.
"Honey, can we get rid of those stupid Orphan Keys in the strong box?"
"Absolutely not! One of them might open that safe we buried in the back yard during the Nixon administration...if we can find it."
"Absolutely not! One of them might open that safe we buried in the back yard during the Nixon administration...if we can find it."
by Peter Kobs August 25, 2009
1. A politician who openly heckles, threatens or attacks the President of the United States on the House Floor during a joint session of Congress.
2. Any person who brazenly violates the code of civility and decorum of the U.S. House of Representatives, especially elected officials.
3. Rep. Joe Brown of South Carolina, who yelled "You lie!" at our first African-American President during his speech on health care to Congress on Sept. 9, 2009. (Brown's contention that the proposed health care reform bill would somehow insure illegal aliens was later deemed false on both FactCheck.org and Politifact.org.)
2. Any person who brazenly violates the code of civility and decorum of the U.S. House of Representatives, especially elected officials.
3. Rep. Joe Brown of South Carolina, who yelled "You lie!" at our first African-American President during his speech on health care to Congress on Sept. 9, 2009. (Brown's contention that the proposed health care reform bill would somehow insure illegal aliens was later deemed false on both FactCheck.org and Politifact.org.)
"Did you ever meet Joe Brown? He's that infamous House Heckler who called Obama a liar on the floor of Congress during a speech by the President."
by Peter Kobs September 10, 2009
1. A new name for the American middle class as people try to survive the current economic crisis by "muddling through" with less money and less security.
2. The growing spirit of economic fatalism in mainstream America.
2. The growing spirit of economic fatalism in mainstream America.
by Peter Kobs April 01, 2009
1. An idealized town, hamlet or village built solely for propaganda purposes -- usually by a totalitarian or autocratic government.
The most famous example is Kijŏng-dong ("Peace Village"), a mostly uninhabited village located in North Korea just beyond the demilitarized zone. It was built in the 1950s to encourage South Koreans to defect to North Korea. (Fat chance.) Officially, Kijŏng-dong is a 200-family collective farming town with all the amenities. In reality, it is used to house DPRK soldiers who patrol the DMZ. The world's tallest flagpole stands nearby.
2. A Propaganda Village is a real-life version of a "Potemkin Village." According to myth, Russian ministry Grigory Potyomkin tried to impress Empress Catherine II in 1787 during her visit to Crimea by building fake peasant buildings (facades only) along her travel route. Historians now believe this was a rumor drummed up by Potyomkin's enemies. What he really did was get local peasants to spruce up their homes in advance of the monarch's visit.
The most famous example is Kijŏng-dong ("Peace Village"), a mostly uninhabited village located in North Korea just beyond the demilitarized zone. It was built in the 1950s to encourage South Koreans to defect to North Korea. (Fat chance.) Officially, Kijŏng-dong is a 200-family collective farming town with all the amenities. In reality, it is used to house DPRK soldiers who patrol the DMZ. The world's tallest flagpole stands nearby.
2. A Propaganda Village is a real-life version of a "Potemkin Village." According to myth, Russian ministry Grigory Potyomkin tried to impress Empress Catherine II in 1787 during her visit to Crimea by building fake peasant buildings (facades only) along her travel route. Historians now believe this was a rumor drummed up by Potyomkin's enemies. What he really did was get local peasants to spruce up their homes in advance of the monarch's visit.
by Peter Kobs June 08, 2010