Canadian COVID-19 News

[Lake-Effect]

Anybody remember The McLaughlin Group? Back when I was more of a news junkie, that was part of my weekly intake.

The link gives a great description of the format. In a nutshell, it was the host (John McLaughlin) and a panel of four US "pundits" of national prominence, from across the US political spectrum. The host would hit them with 4 topics, one at a time, ("Issue One!...") and a short backgrounder, then the pundits would weigh in. They all got pretty much equal time, there was lots of back and forth, it sometimes became loud and a bit raucous, WITHOUT needing to attack the integrity of someone the speaker disagreed with. So... a show that was basically nothing but opinion. Even the host would often close a segment with his own opinion or prediction. The great thing about that show was that the viewer got pretty much a full survey of the viewpoints on the covered issues, and got to hear the various viewpoints challenged. There was no consensus arrived at, no agenda pushed, and the viewer is left to think about what they've heard. THAT'S how to do opinion, IMO.

I don't know of a modern equivalent. A short segment with a host and just two commentators... usually these are short and very shallow, the guests are usually quite entrenched in their positions, and there's nothing resembling dialogue or challenge to either position. And breaking every issue down to just two allegedly "equal" positions can be distorting in itself.

With the plethora of "alternate" media outlets - the blogs, FB groups, even several higher profile outlets - these are truly echo chambers that intentionally aggregate and promote just one viewpoint. And much of their appeal is the tribalism of it - come hang with us like-minded people. Let us stoke your outrage. You're not wrong, brother/sister. THEY (the MSM, politicians and commentators you disagree with) are not only wrong, they're evil and they have an agenda. Anything from them can't be trusted. Amirite?

The internet-fuelled proliferation of such silos, and the success with which they's displaced the traditional news outlets, to the point where fewer of any outlets are trusted, seems to be the problem.

[N Coast Murray]

Originally Posted by Zippee

It seems we are at the point - being well-trained consumers of bias - which we have been force-fed by the algorithms: to the point that all we need now is our daily dose of confirmation-bias feeding, endorphin producing, reassuring
headlines.

Yup. If I want to read how the 'right wingers' are interpreting things, I have go out of my way to find it online...the algorithms will never feed it to me!

My parents subscribed to news magazines and newspapers from all over the world, so I grew up knowing there are many ways to interpret/massage facts.

[pcmm]

Originally Posted by N Coast Murray

Yup. If I want to read how the 'right wingers' are interpreting things, I have go out of my way to find it online...the algorithms will never feed it to me!

My parents subscribed to news magazines and newspapers from all over the world, so I grew up knowing there are many ways to interpret/massage facts.

In fairness those "algorithms" feed both ways... It takes effort online to look for and maintain a balanced view on things.

One of the worst developments on the internet has been those predictive search algorithms.

[Zippee]

Originally Posted by Lake-Effect

Anybody remember The McLaughlin Group? Back when I was more of a news junkie, that was part of my weekly intake.

The link gives a great description of the format. In a nutshell, it was the host (John McLaughlin) and a panel of four US "pundits" of national prominence, from across the US political spectrum. The host would hit them with 4 topics, one at a time, ("Issue One!...") and a short backgrounder, then the pundits would weigh in. They all got pretty much equal time, there was lots of back and forth, it sometimes became loud and a bit raucous, WITHOUT needing to attack the integrity of someone the speaker disagreed with. So... a show that was basically nothing but opinion. Even the host would often close a segment with his own opinion or prediction. The great thing about that show was that the viewer got pretty much a full survey of the viewpoints on the covered issues, and got to hear the various viewpoints challenged. There was no consensus arrived at, no agenda pushed, and the viewer is left to think about what they've heard. THAT'S how to do opinion, IMO.

I don't know of a modern equivalent. A short segment with a host and just two commentators... usually these are short and very shallow, the guests are usually quite entrenched in their positions, and there's nothing resembling dialogue or challenge to either position. And breaking every issue down to just two allegedly "equal" positions can be distorting in itself.

With the plethora of "alternate" media outlets - the blogs, FB groups, even several higher profile outlets - these are truly echo chambers that intentionally aggregate and promote just one viewpoint. And much of their appeal is the tribalism of it - come hang with us like-minded people. Let us stoke your outrage. You're not wrong, brother/sister. THEY (the MSM, politicians and commentators you disagree with) are not only wrong, they're evil and they have an agenda. Anything from them can't be trusted. Amirite?

The internet-fuelled proliferation of such silos, and the success with which they's displaced the traditional news outlets, to the point where fewer of any outlets are trusted, seems to be the problem.

Loved that show. You've nailed it. For we - as in ALL the people - this algorithm/robotic pre-digested new world is a tragedy. If there was a ever a time we need unity - with Covid, accelerating environmental destruction, transfer of wealth to a handful of the mega-wealthy, et al .... NOW is that time. What we get instead are automated and divisive, fact-bending propagandic information.

The system(s) know everything about each of us via our electronic leash-trackers, second-by-second, but we know nothing about them. Policy is corporate driven by just a few monopolies, under oligarch-driven control... I was ordered to say that, lol...

[pcmm]

The closest thing we have to that now might be TVO- The agenda, or global- The West block maybe CTV's Question Period but the last 2 are primarily political. "The agenda" has more breadth in its topics. But you'd have to convince the average person to pay attention for a whole hour!!

[Lake-Effect]

Originally Posted by Zippee

... this algorithm/robotic pre-digested new world is a tragedy. If there was a ever a time we need unity - with Covid, accelerating environmental destruction, transfer of wealth to a handful of the mega-wealthy, et al .... NOW is that time. What we get instead are automated and divisive, fact-bending propagandic information.

The system(s) know everything about each of us via our electronic leash-trackers, second-by-second, but we know nothing about them. Policy is corporate driven by just a few monopolies, under oligarch-driven control... I was ordered to say that, lol...

For me the solution was to not seek or consume algorithm-pushed news. I'm not on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc. I don't use any news feed or aggregator, I don't subscribe to lists or alerts. I go TO the newsites; they don't come to me. There's a list of national and international papers and broadcasters that I visit.

(This stamps me as a bit of an Internet luddite... but having worked in Internet, I've become very selective in what of it I expose myself to. No listening/talking devices (Alexa, Echo) in our house )

When I do a news-related search, it's almost always with a specific topic or event in mind. I've learned, especially with Google, to look past the first page. You find much more interesting stuff once you're 3 or more pages in. And for any item-related search, the first Google page is mostly ads, sponsored stuff and chaff, so again, I go deeper.

#fightthepower #quitFB #oldFart

Originally Posted by pcmm

The closest thing we have to that now might be TVO- The agenda, or global- The West block maybe CTV's Question Period but the last 2 are primarily political. "The agenda" has more breadth in its topics. But you'd have to convince the average person to pay attention for a whole hour!!

All true. The Agenda is definitely a news-nerd's news program. We watch it occasionally.

[Lake-Effect]

To momentarily veer back on topic:

People say they want COVID-19 to become 'endemic.' But what does that really mean?

"Here's what [endemic] doesn't mean: It doesn't mean where we're at right now," said Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious diseases specialist with Toronto General Hospital.

"We're seeing health-care systems stretched and society significantly impacted by the virus. That's not endemic. That's still pandemic."

...

"Politically, the word [endemic] seems to be being conflated with: 'We're done with this and let's move on,'" Deonandan said.

That's clearly not the level we're at with COVID-19 right now, which is unsustainable for health-care systems, both Deonandan and Katzourakis said.

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by Lake-Effect

To momentarily veer back on topic:

People say they want COVID-19 to become 'endemic.' But what does that really mean?

"Here's what [endemic] doesn't mean: It doesn't mean where we're at right now," said Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious diseases specialist with Toronto General Hospital.

"We're seeing health-care systems stretched and society significantly impacted by the virus. That's not endemic. That's still pandemic."

...

"Politically, the word [endemic] seems to be being conflated with: 'We're done with this and let's move on,'" Deonandan said.

That's clearly not the level we're at with COVID-19 right now, which is unsustainable for health-care systems, both Deonandan and Katzourakis said.

Right! Nor does being endemic mean anything about the ongoing level of impact the virus will continue to have.

We could certainly end up with an endemic SARS-coV-2 virus, which is still quite dangerous and still capable of overwhelming our healthcare systems. Endemic just means it's a permanent part of our viral ecosystem. Doesn't say anything about how dangerous it might remain.

Accepting that SARS-coV-2 is likely becoming an endemic virus is not a positive development. And it very likely doesn't mean we can go back to the way things were before the pandemic. But it may be our new reality.

[Chayal]

Sink all mandates!

Go convoy! 🇨🇦

We will forever be the true North strong and free.

[letsgetsailing3]

Originally Posted by Lake-Effect

To momentarily veer back on topic:

People say they want COVID-19 to become 'endemic.' But what does that really mean?

"Here's what [endemic] doesn't mean: It doesn't mean where we're at right now," said Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious diseases specialist with Toronto General Hospital.

"We're seeing health-care systems stretched and society significantly impacted by the virus. That's not endemic. That's still pandemic."

...

"Politically, the word [endemic] seems to be being conflated with: 'We're done with this and let's move on,'" Deonandan said.

That's clearly not the level we're at with COVID-19 right now, which is unsustainable for health-care systems, both Deonandan and Katzourakis said.

What's hilarious is that a couple of days ago when I said Covid was endemic, some folks interpreted that with being done.

Endemic just means it's here to stay, it doesn't mean we're "done". The point is that we're NEVER going to be done. We'll just have better means to cope with it.

[letsgetsailing3]

Originally Posted by Lake-Effect

Anybody remember The McLaughlin Group? Back when I was more of a news junkie, that was part of my weekly intake.

The link gives a great description of the format. In a nutshell, it was the host (John McLaughlin) and a panel of four US "pundits" of national prominence, from across the US political spectrum. The host would hit them with 4 topics, one at a time, ("Issue One!...") and a short backgrounder, then the pundits would weigh in. They all got pretty much equal time, there was lots of back and forth, it sometimes became loud and a bit raucous, WITHOUT needing to attack the integrity of someone the speaker disagreed with. So... a show that was basically nothing but opinion. Even the host would often close a segment with his own opinion or prediction. The great thing about that show was that the viewer got pretty much a full survey of the viewpoints on the covered issues, and got to hear the various viewpoints challenged. There was no consensus arrived at, no agenda pushed, and the viewer is left to think about what they've heard. THAT'S how to do opinion, IMO.

WRONG!

Just kidding. That was a great show.

Some great participants: John McLaughlin, Eleanor Clift, Pat Buchanon, Lawrence O'Donnell, Larry Kudlow, many others.

I'd watch the show and then discuss with co-workers on Mondays... What a bunch of nerds.

[Lake-Effect]

Originally Posted by letsgetsailing3

WRONG!

Just kidding. That was a great show.

Ok, you made me do it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOLF_D7JVZM

[Lake-Effect]

Originally Posted by letsgetsailing3

What's hilarious is that a couple of days ago when I said Covid was endemic, some folks interpreted that with being done.

Endemic just means it's here to stay, it doesn't mean we're "done". The point is that we're NEVER going to be done. We'll just have better means to cope with it.

COVID is not yet endemic. That's the point, and the ball we need to keep our eye on.

[N Coast Murray]

Originally Posted by letsgetsailing3

Endemic just means it's here to stay, it doesn't mean we're "done". The point is that we're NEVER going to be done. We'll just have better means to cope with it.

Egad lad...

Is none of the spaghetti we are chucking at your walls sticking? Is it all sliding to the floor before comprehension can be attained?

Please search this...."endemic disease" definition...and you'll find we are still in a pandemic.

To make it even easier, click this:

https://www.dictionary.com/e/epidemic-vs-pandemic/

[Sailorman97]

Originally Posted by Chayal

Sink all mandates!

Go convoy! ����

We will forever be the true North strong and free.

You know that these truckers are being used by QAnon devoties and other right wing nuts right? Listen to The Current from today. The last 25 minutes.

These truckers are wasting time and money and I would be very surprised if they get enough gas money to get home. Same thing happened to the yellow vest protest. All the money disappeared. Same organizers