#Bradford Betz

[mediaindiscussion]

Algorithm and Polarization of Internet

The term “algorithm” is nowadays widely recognized, thanks to its powerful function to map the posts on the internet and to decide which content should be given more importance or how to show your posts in news feeds. However, not as widely discussed is the way in which algorithms, together with media, might have deep consequences for our lives.

News channels report various updates every day on different ongoing events around the world, which is seen to be helpful as the media keeps the public updated. However, these channels do not usually report neutrally, and that leads to various views concerning the very same event.

Let us use the conflict between Palestine and Israel as an example. While Fox News—which leans to the right—shows the headline “Israeli airstrike on Rafah kills 2 top Hamas commanders, dozens of civilians,” CNN—a left-sided station—said, “Israeli strike that killed 45 at camp for displaced Palestinians in Rafah a ‘tragic error,’ Netanyahu says.” It shows one story coming out with two different messages; not necessarily because of lies, but the words used and different sides of the story that are highlighted. In this case, this happens by CNN mentioning the dozen of civilians killed, in a way to create a negative impression of Israeli’s action. While Fox News focused only in the death of two Hamas commanders, which presents a positive narrative of the event.

The risk in this practice is polarization and echo chambers that this creates. If someone has some point of view, his news feed will most likely impose that view on him. For example, a person whose point of view is right will get news from the right in a lot more views. Hence, we will be stuck inside our bubbles of the internet, in which we can see only what we ourselves believe, and consequently cannot understand or listen to the other people’s version, which is very detrimental to polarization.

We must therefore understand both sides of any issue by reading different sources and listening to different opinions. So that, when we face people with different beliefs, we may not be polarized and insulated from their ideas.

Works Cited

Betz, Bradford, et al. “Israeli Airstrike on Rafah Kills 2 Top Hamas Commanders, Dozens of Civilians.” Fox News, FOX News Network, 26 May 2024, www.foxnews.com/world/israeli-airstrike-rafah-kills-2-top-hamas-commanders-dozens-civilians.

Ebrahim, Nadeen. “Israeli Strike That Killed 45 at Camp for Displaced Palestinians in Rafah a ‘tragic Error,’ Netanyahu Says.” CNN, Cable News Network, 28 May 2024, edition.cnn.com/2024/05/27/middleeast/gaza-rafah-displaced-people-camp-israel-strike-mime-intl/index.html.

[blogcowboyron]

Pro-Palestinian protesters accost AOC outside movie theater, demand she call Israel-Hamas war a ‘genocide’

ISRAEL Pro-Palestinian protesters accost AOC outside movie theater, demand she call Israel-Hamas war a ‘genocide’ The Democratic congresswoman said the protesters were going to take her words out of context  By Bradford Betz Fox News Published March 4, 2024 8:38pm…

[stuartbramhall]

Mayor of Muslim-majority Michigan city endorses Trump: ‘Right choice for this critical time’

Hamtramck Mayor Amer Ghalib, 43, in his City Hall office in Michigan. (Salwan Georges/The Washington Post via Getty Images) By Bradford Betz The mayor of a Muslim-majority city in Michigan says he is endorsing Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election, calling the former commander-in-chief, “the right choice for this critical time.” Amer Ghalib, mayor of the Detroit-area suburb Hamtramck,…

[sa7abnews]

Iran's new president asserts right to retaliation in rare phone call with major US ally

New Post has been published on https://sa7ab.info/2024/08/16/irans-new-president-asserts-right-to-retaliation-in-rare-phone-call-with-major-us-ally/

Iran's new president asserts right to retaliation in rare phone call with major US ally

Newly elected Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stressed his country’s right to retaliation against Israel in a rare phone call with the United Kingdom. British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer made clear to Pezeshkian during the 30-minute call that “war is not in anyone’s interest” and urged Tehran to “refrain from attacking Israel.” The call followed a joint statement from the heads of the United States, the United Kingdom and three other European countries. The Iranian president, however, insisted that a strong response to an attack “is a right of nations and a solution for stopping crimes and aggression,” Sky News reported. “The support of some Western countries for the Zionist regime is irresponsible and contrary to international standards since it endangers regional security by encouraging the Zionist regime to continue its crimes,” Pezeshkian reportedly told Starmer.BLINKEN POSTPONES MIDDLE EAST VISIT OVER SECURITY CONCERNS, ANTICIPATED IRANIAN RETALIATIONTensions remain high after Israel’s alleged assassination of Hamas commander Ismail Haniyeh, who was in Tehran at the time of his death. Iran denounced Haniyeh’s murder and blamed Israel, even though Haniyeh died in what was later deemed a localized explosion that killed no Iranian citizens.International pressure from European and Arab nations alike did not seem to dent Iran’s desire to avenge the commander of one of its most prominent proxy groups. Regional sources this week told Fox News foreign correspondent Trey Yingst on Monday that they are concerned Iran and its proxies could attack Israel within the next 24 hours in retaliation for the killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran late last month. No attack materialized in that time, but it did not dampen concerns.BIDEN FOCUSED ON ‘LEGACY’ IN FINAL MONTHS, BUT SKELETON SCHEDULE ‘SIGNALS’ AN EMPTY HOUSE TO RIVALS: EXPERTHamas representatives on Sunday declared they would not participate in new negotiations for a cease-fire in Gaza unless mediators presented a plan based on previous talks. The representatives insisted that the group had shown “flexibility” throughout the negotiation process but that Israel – through actions such as the alleged assassination of Haniyeh – indicated it was not serious about a cease-fire agreement.Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ordered his forces to “harshly punish” Israel for the killing of Haniyeh, and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps deputy commander Ali Fadavi told Iranian media last week that the orders would be “implemented in the best possible way,” according to Al Jazeera. Israel this week conveyed to the United States and several European allies that any attack from Iran – even if it does not kill any Israelis – will lead to another retaliatory strike on Iranian territory, the Times of Israel reported.JORDAN REMAINS ‘LAST HOLDOUT’ AS IRAN LOOKS TO CREATE NEW ‘TERROR FRONT’ ON ISRAELI BORDERThe statement aimed to preempt another round of international pressure that would try to stop Israel from responding forcefully.Tensions continue to slowly ratchet up across the week, with Iranian banks on Wednesday suffering a major cyberattack that all but crippled the institutions, according to Israeli outlet i24 News. Hackers stole information belonging to account holders and hit several other banks.Iran has not yet blamed Israel, and no other nation or party has claimed credit, but Iran blamed the U.S. and Israel for the last major cyberattack to hit the country.Fox News Digital’s Greg Norman and Bradford Betz and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

[christinamac1]

US bases in Europe on high alert for possible terrorist attack: DOD

Bradford Betz , Lucas Y. Tomlinson, Fox News, Sun, 30 Jun 2024  https://www.sott.net/article/492907-US-bases-in-Europe-on-high-alert-for-possible-terrorist-attack-DOD U.S. military bases throughout Europe have been put on heightened alert status due to a potential terrorist attack, Fox News Digital has confirmed. FILE – Sign in front of Ramstein Air Base, Germany.“There is credible intel…

[my-weird-news]

Mind-Blowing: 86-Year-Old Mastermind Lives as Dead Brother for 50+ Years! 😱

The Incredible Identity Odyssey of Napoleon Gonzalez: A Tale of Brotherly Borrowing Once Upon a Time in Maine 🌲: A Man, a Brother, and a Dash of Identity Crisis So, picture this: an 86-year-old Mainer named Napoleon Gonzalez, living life to the fullest at the ripe old age of 86. But hold on, because Napo had a secret - a secret that would put any spy novel to shame. 🕵️‍♂️🔍 The Case of the Phantom Brother 🕵️‍♂️ Back in the days of bell-bottoms and lava lamps, way back in the swinging 60s, Napo thought he could one-up James Bond himself. He decided to channel his inner secret agent and, get this, assume his dead brother's identity. I mean, why not, right? 💁‍♂️💼 Problem was, his brother Guillermo had kicked the bucket as a baby in 1939 - yeah, before Elvis even started shaking those hips. But Napo was like, "No worries, dead bro. I got this!" And so began the saga of Napo's double life. 🕺💃 The Social Security Shuffle 💃 Napo wasn't just content with rocking his brother's birth certificate like a backstage pass. Oh no, he had bigger plans. He wrangled Social Security benefits like a boss - under BOTH identities. You've got to hand it to him, that's some A+ multitasking. 💰💰 And let's not forget the multiple passports and state IDs he collected along the way. I mean, who needs one identity when you can have a buffet, right? 🍔🍟 Enter: Facial Recognition Frenzy 📸 Fast forward to 2020, and technology caught up with our man of mystery. Facial recognition software decided to join the party, pointing out that Napo's face was grinning from two state ID cards. The Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles was like, "Hold up, buddy, you can't just twin yourself!" 👯‍♂️🚗 The Grand Unveiling 🎭 As the curtain fell on this epic saga, it turned out that Napo's whole "secret agent" excuse was just as thin as his thinning hair. The Air Force's Office of Special Investigations was probably busy investigating actual special stuff, not Napo's capers. 🛩️🔎 The Verdict: Comedy of Errors? 🤣 After a trial that was probably more entertaining than a circus, Napo got the not-so-great news: guilty on all counts! Identity theft, passport shenanigans, Social Security trickery - the works! And the cherry on top? Mail fraud! Because, you know, a story like this deserves a grand finale. 💌🍒 The Big Appeal (and a Dash of Drama) 🏛️ Napo's lawyer, Harris Mattson, was like, "Hold my briefcase!" and declared that an appeal was in order. He had some concerns about Napo's impending prison stint at the ripe age of 86. I mean, is it just me, or does orange jumpsuit fashion not suit the elderly? 🚓👴 The Epilogue: One Man, Two Lives 🎭 As the curtain closes on this wild ride, Napo remains a free man, awaiting his sentencing date like a retiree waiting for the early bird special. He might get a cozy 20 years in the slammer, but hey, at 86, that's just a drop in the bucket, right? ⏳🍳 So there you have it, folks! The tale of Napoleon Gonzalez, the man who turned identity crisis into an art form. As for Bradford Betz, he's probably working on his next crime caper story, hoping it's half as entertaining as this real-life sitcom. 📰🎬# The Incredible Identity Odyssey of Napoleon Gonzalez: A Tale of Brotherly Borrowing Once Upon a Time in Maine 🌲: A Man, a Brother, and a Dash of Identity Crisis So, picture this: an 86-year-old Mainer named Napoleon Gonzalez, living life to the fullest at the ripe old age of 86. But hold on, because Napo had a secret - a secret that would put any spy novel to shame. 🕵️‍♂️🔍 The Case of the Phantom Brother 🕵️‍♂️ Back in the days of bell-bottoms and lava lamps, way back in the swinging 60s, Napo thought he could one-up James Bond himself. He decided to channel his inner secret agent and, get this, assume his dead brother's identity. I mean, why not, right? 💁‍♂️💼 Problem was, his brother Guillermo had kicked the bucket as a baby in 1939 - yeah, before Elvis even started shaking those hips. But Napo was like, "No worries, dead bro. I got this!" And so began the saga of Napo's double life. 🕺💃 The Social Security Shuffle 💃 Napo wasn't just content with rocking his brother's birth certificate like a backstage pass. Oh no, he had bigger plans. He wrangled Social Security benefits like a boss - under BOTH identities. You've got to hand it to him, that's some A+ multitasking. 💰💰 And let's not forget the multiple passports and state IDs he collected along the way. I mean, who needs one identity when you can have a buffet, right? 🍔🍟 Enter: Facial Recognition Frenzy 📸 Fast forward to 2020, and technology caught up with our man of mystery. Facial recognition software decided to join the party, pointing out that Napo's face was grinning from two state ID cards. The Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles was like, "Hold up, buddy, you can't just twin yourself!" 👯‍♂️🚗 The Grand Unveiling 🎭 As the curtain fell on this epic saga, it turned out that Napo's whole "secret agent" excuse was just as thin as his thinning hair. The Air Force's Office of Special Investigations was probably busy investigating actual special stuff, not Napo's capers. 🛩️🔎 The Verdict: Comedy of Errors? 🤣 After a trial that was probably more entertaining than a circus, Napo got the not-so-great news: guilty on all counts! Identity theft, passport shenanigans, Social Security trickery - the works! And the cherry on top? Mail fraud! Because, you know, a story like this deserves a grand finale. 💌🍒 The Big Appeal (and a Dash of Drama) 🏛️ Napo's lawyer, Harris Mattson, was like, "Hold my briefcase!" and declared that an appeal was in order. He had some concerns about Napo's impending prison stint at the ripe age of 86. I mean, is it just me, or does orange jumpsuit fashion not suit the elderly? 🚓👴 The Epilogue: One Man, Two Lives 🎭 As the curtain closes on this wild ride, Napo remains a free man, awaiting his sentencing date like a retiree waiting for the early bird special. He might get a cozy 20 years in the slammer, but hey, at 86, that's just a drop in the bucket, right? ⏳🍳 So there you have it, folks! The tale of Napoleon Gonzalez, the man who turned identity crisis into an art form. As for Bradford Betz, he's probably working on his next crime caper story, hoping it's half as entertaining as this real-life sitcom. 📰🎬 Read the full article

[andronetalks]

Indiana fire at recycling plant prompts evacuation of more than 2,000 residents

FOX News By Bradford Betz April 11, 2023 More than 2,000 residents were told to evacuate Tuesday afternoon after a large fire broke out at a recycling plant in Indiana, sending plumes of black smoke into the sky. The fire broke out in the City of Richmond, which is about 70 miles east of Indianapolis and near Ohio’s western border. Read more…

[lokodomains]

San Diego boat capsizes killing at least two, nearly two dozen hospitalized in suspected smuggling operation

San Diego boat capsizes killing at least two, nearly two dozen hospitalized in suspected smuggling operation

A boat off the coast of San Diego overturned Sunday morning, killing two people and hospitalizing 23 others on board in what authorities suspect was a smuggling operation. The incident happened around 10:15 a.m. off Point Loma near Cabrillo National Monument, which said the tidepools were temporarily closed. The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department said 23 people were injured; at least two people…

[kzk101ntwrk]

Indiana to pay convicted killer $425G after putting him in solitary confinement for 4 years, attorneys say Indiana has agreed to pay a convicted killer $100,000 for each of the four years he spent in solitary confinement, according to a Sunday report.

[politiciandirect]

Tlaib hits back at Bill Maher for comments on BDS, compares Israel to apartheid South Africa

Tlaib hits back at Bill Maher for comments on BDS, compares Israel to apartheid South Africa

Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., suggested Saturday that viewers boycott comedian Bill Maher’s HBO talk show after he devoted a segment of Friday’s program to bashing the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement, calling it a “bulls— purity test.”

“Maybe folks should boycott his show,” said Tlaib, who went on to compare criticism of the BDS movement to the controversy surrounding…

[thebuckheadalliance-blog]

Saints fans call for rematch after controversial game sends Rams to Super Bowl New Orleans Saints fans are calling for a redo of Sunday’s NFC championship game after a non-pass of interference enabled the Rams to steal the game with a 26-23 victory and advance to the Super Bowl.

[blogcowboyron]

Georgia parliament descends into chaos as lawmakers throw punches over Putin-style ‘foreign agent’ bill

Opponents have argued that the bill would obstruct Georgia’s aim of joining the European Union  By Bradford Betz Fox News Published April 15, 2024 3:29pm…

[atomicnumber76]

Arizona state lawmaker proposes taxing porn to fund US-Mexico border wall An Arizona state lawmaker has proposed an unorthodox way to fund President Donald Trump’s wall along the U.S.-Mexico border: tax porn.

[beauti4soul]

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Reposted from @king_dnaknowledge (@get_regrann) - #Repost @kishlb ・・・ #Texaschurchshooting: Gunman kills 2, 'heroic' parishioners take down shooter  By Travis Fedschun, Bradford Betz | Fox News Guns in the church 🤔 A gunman opened fire in a #Texas church on Sunday, killing two people and injuring others before two "heroic" parishioners shot and killed him at the scene, police said. The shooting unfolded around 10 a.m. at the #WestFreewayChurchofChrist, in the city of White Settlement, just outside #FortWorth, police said. "It's all very tragic," Fort Worth Fire Department spokesman Mike Drivdahl told reporters. An FBI agent standing outside West Freeway Church of Christ after the shootin Sunday in White Settlement, Texas. (AP Photo/David Kent) #WhiteSettlement Police Chief J.P. Bevering told reporters Sunday afternoon that the gunman entered the church and sat down with the #parishioners. He then got up, pulled out a shotgun, and shot two parishioners who died at a nearby hospital. Two armed parishioners who were volunteer security guards returned fire and killed the gunman. "The suspect was stopped thanks to the quick and heroic actions of those safety members inside the church," Bevering said. Separately, two people who suffered minor injuries were treated and released at the scene. During a news conference later Sunday, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick lauded the quick reactions of the church’s "well-trained" security team, calling their heroism "unparalleled." He said, "This team responded quickly and within six seconds, the shooting was over." He noted that the security team's quick response saved an "untold number of lives." A large emergency response after a reported shooting at a church in White Settlement, Texas. (KTVT via NNS) The victims ranged in age from 30 to 60 years old, according to MedStar, the ambulance service provider to Fort Worth and other cities in #NorthTexas. A witness to the shooting told KTVT the gunman walked up to a server with a shotgun during communion and opened fire #IAm_MsJohnson 💞 - #regrann https://www.instagram.com/p/B6szEG1BuNV/?igshid=1n66exdxyv2tx

[dontsleepontheeast-blog]

Man arrested for allegedly defacing Trump’s Hollywood star with swastikas A man was arrested in Hollywood Sunday for allegedly defacing President Donald Trump’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame with swastikas, police said.

[maanpacktech-blog]

Throat slashings leave 2 Chicago women dead in separate attacks: police Two women died in separate throat slashings at opposite ends of the city Wednesday, Chicago police said.