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Reviews (2)
Nov 29, 2017
A polemic with little bit of social science thrown in
As a political scientist with interest in mass media and politics, I have used the FOX News interview of Dr. Groseclose about this book in my classes. I am familiar with his stated methodology, but did NOT expect to see how flawed the survey questions upon which he bases his media bias claims on are. This goes to the very core of the problem with his claims. I believe he systematically biases the survey results because his questions lead the respondent in a direction of partisan bias, not systemic media bias. What he's measuring is how people feel about the Republican or Democratic brand, not their ideology. The Democratic brand has been out of favor since the end of the Fairness Doctrine and the growth of conservative niche media like Rush Limbaugh, FOX "News" and Sean Hannity. With very little evidence, all manner of claims about the Democrats has made it into the mainstream debate and colored citizens' views of liberals and progressives.
The book is a polemic written by an ideologue with a Ph.D. There's nothing wrong with that, of course; that doesn't make Dr. Groseclose a bad guy, just a flawed social scientist. And aren't we all?
I enjoy reading books and articles from honest ideologues who I disagree with. I've read Goldwater, Coulter, and others on that side of the ideological fence (I couldn't make it through Hannity; it was just too much historical revisionism a la Reagan). I will finish this one, too, but I am not confident in the validity of the social science that serves as the backdrop.
Aug 16, 2019
Excellent presentation of EPIC television series
This collector's edition BluRay version of the full Breaking Bad series is excellent. There's plenty of features to feed your Breaking Bad addiction including deleted scenes, commentary, "Inside Breaking Bad" segments, and entire separate disc with additional special features. The organization and packaging is unique; discs are located in plastic, circular containers that stay secure with magnets.
Breaking Bad is simply a great story. I can watch the series from Pilot to the end and restart it at the beginning again.