Always Verify Your Sources

This is advice that you will get in any college course that requires writing.  Since any important paper will require a bibliography, the sources are readily available for the instructor to check.  I'm not being graded on this (at last check, an average of 3 people read each one of these posts), so I rarely feel inclined to include my sources.  However, I will tell you what sources I never use (except to point out why they are not reliable sources), and give a general idea of the types of sources I often use.

My first and main source is my memory.  Although it is not as reliable as it once was, I still retain most of what I see, hear and read.  In my younger days I could remember entire, drunken, group conversations, verbatim.  Such an incredible ability is rarely appreciated 3 days after the party.  Now I try to focus on just grasping the meaning, unless I feel blackmail material is needed.

Of course, my memory isn't useful unless I put something into it worth remembering.  These days most of the input comes from what I read online.  Rather than seeking out one source, I read anything that interests me, regardless of the source.  Many of the articles are either partisan (some conservative, some liberal) or regionally biased (the midwest is not overly concerned with the mating habits of lobsters).  With these I try to find the points that are hidden in the bias and take what information I can from the article.  Occasionally, I will find something that is such obvious propaganda, I can only learn the source is not reliable.

Sources I will not use are anything said on any talk radio, or television political commentary.  These sources include Rush Limbaugh, Bill O'Reilly, Bill Maher and Glenn Beck, among many others.  Sorry that I can't include more rabid liberal pundits here, but since I'm not a fan, none come to mind.  I have listened to/watched each of these personalities, but can not in good conscience recommend them to anyone.  My first exposure to this pseudo-journalism was in 1992, when a girl I was dating insisted I listen to Rush Limbaugh.  Twenty years later, I am still amazed anyone can listen to these people.  The language used is clearly manipulative and intended to be inflammatory.  The sources they use are either very weak, unreliable and unverified sources, or taken completely out of context.  They serve up garbage, and millions swallow it whole and rave about the flavor.

If you plan on voting next week, perhaps you should take some time to check your sources.  Most of the political rhetoric that has been ladled out to you, is garbage.  Any claim made by your candidate should have substance to back it up.  If an acquaintance asked to borrow your entire life savings to finance a plan to make both of you rich, wouldn't you want to know something about that plan before writing the check?  If not, I've got a deal that is worth millions.  All I need is a few thousand dollars. Trust me.