Convoluted Media

How can we not be Dazed and Confused?  The origins of the convolution of media can be traced back to the mass conversion of television from analog to digital.  Parallel to this conversion of traditional over-the-air TV came increased internet speeds spawning streaming services and On Demand.  For a while we still adhered to cablevision with TIVO, the ability to record programs, and On Demand.  Spectrum was the most notable of these services, which originally was Time Warner Cable.  When they converted from an analog signal to digital, millions of customers had to buy new televisions.  Spectrum offered converters for older analog television, but they were not reliable and did not provide quality sound of picture.  I feel this change undermined Time Warner, hence they attempted to rebrand.  We tried the Spectrum package for a while bundled with Roadrunner broadband internet, and it became cost prohibitive.  Its programming and interface were not worth the price.  Like most services you had to customize your channel line up to get rid of the fluff.  Even with additional movie channels the programming lessened in quality like media as a whole.  When streaming services did come in it was a major blow to cable service.  Eventually the concept became, whether intentionally or not, a channel for each show.  Perhaps this is a good idea.  What we are left with is a confusing mishmash of available video all competing.  Trying to keep up with the appeal of streaming services, cable abandoned its original concept and convoluted its interface.  If anyone is old enough to remember they will conclude that the old school, even before cablevision, was sufficient.  Three major networks, PBS, and some indie channels.  This was when network television was effective, competitive, and positive.  This trinity, ABC, CBS, and NBC produced quality programming because of competition.  Few people in this generation can remember the richness of late night television when Conan O'Brien, Craig Ferguson, Craig Kilborn, and the heavies were in the same arena.  Nothing can fill the void created from the absence of David Letterman and Craig Kilborn who chose to leave at the same time.  A critique of late night is not my intention.  Instead having been subject to free over-the-air television with limited reception for a year, the foibles and weakness of over-the-air TV are apparent.  Its programming is subject to the same corruption as the rest of media.  When Congress decided to let legislation expire that required networks to report equally on both sides of an issue, Fox news was born.  It was not a good thing, and they qualified their programming entitled Fox News as entertainment.  This was the beginning of the end for honest and compassionate television.  Regulations always applied to the major networks, and they were tight.  Like much of America driven by Congresses' cavalier behavior, time has proven the private sector is not interesting in policing themselves.  Quickly and with abandon morality was tossed out the door and news was infiltrated with opinion and propaganda.  In retrospect it is clear that no one has been working for the American people.  Conversely it is apparent that some entity is trying to dismantle America from within by not supporting or attacking her people.  Over-the-air TV is a good example, because the adage emerges that whatever product is being advertised on television is terrible enough to merit its own aggressive marketing.  If it is misleading or purely fraudulent, then it is on TV.  The internet has suffered the same ills, and now AI is contributing to misinformation.  Videos are popping up with false and misleading information.  I get tired of hearing disgraced academics tell me oatmeal is bad for you.  Misinformation has tainted our entire food system, and much of what is on the shelves is fatty, addictive, sugary, heavily processed nothing.  The only way you can sort through it is to remember your roots from decades ago.  I look at photos from the 70's and 80's and kids were lean and muscular.  What were we eating then?  "The appearance of wrinkles?"  It has become much more difficult to shop effectively, because there are so many poor products on the shelves.  The most often cited food stuff that is bad for you is loaf bread.  How and why has the food industry regressed to such dire circumstances?  American meat, bread, and dairy cannot flourish, because we no longer support domestic farmers.  Like much of traditional America, they have been abandoned and deemed not important.  It's no wonder we have no economy, because average every day folk can't build spy satellites, send rockets into space, or equip the military with cutting edge weapons based upon wireless technology.  Once you could make a living from small businesses, because the cost of living was reasonable.  It is crystal clear someone is trying to take down America from within, without a bullet being fired.