PBS Broadcasts Feature Showing Persons With Disabilties as Human Beings

This couple appears in the film to be healthy, handsome and normal. 

After a few years of pestering, with retaliatory threats because of my repeated questions, why persons with disabilities were never portrayed on taxpayer funded PBS stations in Boston, the stations actually (will wonders never cease?) broadcast a few full length features by independent videographers. The one being broadcast in January 2016 on WGBH-TV Boston and other PBS stations shows five people diagnosed with autism and their thoughts on love. They appear to be no different than thoughts expressed by poets and philosophers through the ages, and ordinary people alive today. The definitions expressed are pretty good. Two of the persons shown do not appear to have any serious illness. Nonetheless it is curious that the producer focused on love. Human services industry professionals assist people they declare disabled. Do they ever encourage them to enjoy love and romantic relationships as other people do?


Then there are three (of six) cable access television stations, CCTV, in Cambridge, MA (which receives about $1 million each year from the City). The executive director with a straight face explained to me that they could not find any features showing persons with disabilities to broadcast, as the reason why persons with disabilities seldom appeared on that station. That is Cambridge, MA the host city of Harvard University, MIT and Lesley University. The morally superior city which has a misguided self image as holier than thou.


Permanent host of PBS Greater Boston James Braude, former Cambridge, MA City Councilor omits persons with disabilities from appearing as guests on his show. He continues the tradition of Emily Rooney his predecessor.

Banning persons with disabilities is bad enough. The same show invites black people, women, homosexuals and Muslims to speak about how they experience discrimination. In Braude's mind everybody loves people with disabilities. Not so. They just don't think about them. For Braude every time there is a mass shooting he expresses a bigoted view, stereotyping people with disabilities as dangerous, violent and likely to take up arms and shoot up a theater or school. Braude objects vigorously to stereotyping black people, women, homosexuals and Muslims. But not so much for persons with disabilities, who he continues to insult on his taxpayer funded television show.

The same with CBS News' prestigous commentator, Andy Rooney's daughter, Emily Rooney. She was news director at WCVB-TV, Boston before she moved to public television. She now hosts a weekly show called Beat The Press, where her guests attack and ridicule conservative media errors, but ignore liberal bias. It is humorous to watch them make fools of themselves. Rooney refused to invite persons with disabilities on Greater Boston when she was the host. On Beat The Press she has a regular black lesbian, who hosts the Basic Black show, a few homosexuals, other black Harvard University elitists, but never, never anyone with a disability. For Rooney people with disabilities have no ability to repeat the liberal mantra and are unable to criticize, to listen to, or to read what is written, broadcast, published and posted online.

Taxpayer funded WGBH-TV, Boston's PBS station has a weekly show called Basic Black. Only upper class professional black people, e.g., professors, celebrities, journalists, are permitted on the show, which focuses on how black people can get more power and more money. They discuss how racist white people are, and how they enjoy privileges, which black people do not. People with disabilities are never seen on Basic Black or on WGBH, except as noted herein in recent days on independent shows. Not even black people with disabilities. That too is remarkable.

Harvard University when confronted with its bias against disability, marches out the few black disabled students they allow to matriculate. Never are white people with disabilities recognized at Harvard University. That is a fact. Over the past 20 years I am a tenant at a building owned and operated by the President and Fellows of Harvard College. Harvard University campus police employees and building superintendents conducted and conduct a brutal criminal harassment campaign every day and every night. They disturb my sleep every one or two hours. They provoke, insult, ridicule, and humiliate me saying "He's crazy." But when I seek assistance from state and local taxpayer funded human services agencies they tell me, "There's nothing wrong with you." Their students tamper with my home computer, accessing it remotely to sabotage my use. For the elite at Harvard University and on public TV, disabled people are preferred targets for criminal abuse and bullying. No one listens to them and no one gives them a platform to petition for equal treatment by the four major approved victim groups.

http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/films/autism-in-love/

link to full video until April 10, 2016 9 [one hour, 13 minutes
http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/videos/autism-in-love/

Autism in Love
Independent Lens Production
Broadcast on WGBH-TV
Monday January 11, 2016

More broadcasts in  January 2016 see web page link above

* * *


Filmmaker Sophie and her son Ben

Sophie and Ben
Short about disabled child, raised by alternative family.

Aunt Dona and Grandmother Mimi

Film maker Sophie recognized she was unable to be so unselfish to take care of her aunt as her grandmother took care of her aunt.

Her son Ben, was diagnosed as having autism, as she had a history of autism. Aunt Dona asked to leave public schools in second grade. Ben entered school in second grade.

Ben: "Differences are what makes us human. I mean, imagine if we were all the exact same person. The world would be a boring place! And now since, and since we have differences that makes the, that makes the world an entertaining, that makes the world unique. And I feel like autism and Asperger's Syndrome are just a difference, where your brain is built a different way, and it's completely fine to be different because it's what makes us human."

Cable TV Nazi: No Broadcast For You

Marjorie Decker, Cambridge City Councilor, State Representative

Marjorie Decker revealed the hypocrisy and shamelessness of politicians, saying, "as part of the council’s policy, roundtables are not televised — and changing that would prevent a “frank and open” conversation." ("Roundtable should have been televised," Editorial, Cambridge Chronicle, Apr 01, 2013) It's not her first admission that she says one thing when the TV cameras are rolling, and another when they are not. 

It's a timeless problem with politicians. They are captured on video saying one thing and doing another, while exhibiting no shame for their dissembling speech. It takes a special kind of person to be a politician. Judges do not allow parties to speak freely during trial proceedings. Lawyers must speak for them. Lawyers are permitted to say things that ordinary people would consider lies. But in the courts it is called "puffing." Elected officials call it being frank or not being able to be. 

The editors' arguments fall on deaf ears. The Council and the City Manager act without concern for public opinion. The Manager needs and had support for 31 years, of five Councilors to maintain his position and his freedom to act without interference.  

Two cable TV providers ago there was a requirement to make city buildings cable TV ready so meetings could be broadcast live. The City always had the ability to record the meetings for later broadcast, but seldom does. The Senior Center and the new City Hall Annex with all of its LEED certifications are still not cable TV ready. The Manager did not enforce the agreement because he opposed public scrutiny. Politicians lament having to answer to anyone when they want to do a favor for a contributor or a relative. The Councilors (5 or more) support the Manager. That is why this meeting and many others, e.g., Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals are not televised. How many non Cambridge hours of TV are on the city cable TV station? Much of it is tapes from elsewhere also broadcast on CCTV.  

Cambridge has six cable TV stations (most cities have one). One more example of waste of taxpayer funds with the acquiescence of the City Council.  Noam Chomsky calls the process, "Keeping the herd bewildered." 

http://www.wickedlocal.com/cambridge/news/x1433805668/EDITORIAL-Roundtable-should-have-been-televised#axzz2PGHvrG5s

EDITORIAL: Roundtable should have been televised
By Staff reports
Cambridge Chronicle
Posted Apr 01, 2013 @ 04:35 PM

Fair Use Abuse

Aufderheide's essay on Fair Use does not mention the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998. (Patricia Aufderheide, "Copywrong," CJR, July/August 2012, Page 36) DMCA summary here
http://www.copyright.gov/legislation/dmca.pdf

The Berkman Center has an extensive discussion
http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/events/luncheon/2007/04/seltzer

of how it works, and why it is flawed. There were no users at the conferences when the law was written, somewhat like Obamacare. It has a three-pronged test. But it is easy for providers to abuse it's intent. YouTube e.g., only requires a complaint of a violation by "the copyright holder." They do not verify that the complaint is actually from him or her. One Boston cop filed numerous complaints about my legal postings, pretending to be the "copyright holder," and caused me a lot of trouble until he was arrested. The automatic takedown can be undone by filing a defense claim i.e., that Fair Use or other notion permits use. The alleged copyright holder has ten days to file a lawsuit. If not the item goes back up automatically.

One problem with many providers is that they are clueless about the notion of Fair Use. One author of a video editing book supported by Apple Computers has comments barred from Apple Discussions about Fair Use, due to ignorance. He is an expert on the video program but is clueless about the law. At one Cable Access TV station (Cambridge MA) the entire management was clueless about Fair Use and warned everyone about using any part of another's audio or video. Wouldn't it be helpful if at least the management understood the laws protecting expression? Aufderheide's essay shows Fair Use law is extended beyond the legal limits in good and bad ways.

http://www.cjr.org/feature/copywrong.php

Feature — July / August 2012
Copywrong
How well do you know fair use?
Columbia Journalism Review
By Patricia Aufderheide

Cambridge Lawlessness Pervasive

Altering and destroying public records is a crime, typical in lawless Cambridge and the lawless state of Massachusetts. Records are regularly altered and destroyed by police, in the White House (see Leak by Max Holland) and at the Cambridge Cable TV office. George Bernard Shaw said, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions." Greek philosopher Cleobulous said, "The chief source of evil is excessive good." Both aphorisms apply to this action. It is more like ten years that Craig Kelley has spoken out about late orders. I used to speak at Council meetings about that too. But in Cambridge laws are optional. Keeping the herd bewildered is what Noam Chomsky calls this. This unlawful censoring of an error is what major media does with Obama's gaffes. Nothing to see here folks. Move along. Public officials in MA promise it won't happen again when caught violating the law. What a great excuse for all citizens charged with crime.

[From article]
For the rebroadcast of the meeting, the city’s cable station lopped off the end of the meeting when the gaffe happened [. . .] The edited version of the meeting was inadvertently uploaded onto the city’s website where recordings of meetings are kept as public records.
[. . .]
“I just made a quickie call, kind of out of respect for the family,” said [Office of Cable Television Calvin] Lindsay, who said he only realized the implications after receiving an email from the Cambridge Chronicle. “My motive was clearly on trying to be sensitive to the family.” Lindsay said that diverged from the city’s practice of sending out unedited meeting footage and indicated it would probably not happen again. 

http://www.wickedlocal.com/cambridge/news/x2047359990/Late-agenda-items-at-Cambridge-city-council-cause-gaffes-and-surprises#axzz1v4dQtxKQ

Late agenda items at Cambridge city council cause gaffes and surprises
By Andy Metzger ametzger (at) wickedlocal.com
Cambridge Chronicle
Posted May 18, 2012 @ 07:34 AM Last update May 18, 2012 @ 07:55 AM

Cambridge Council's Policy Order on Technology

Link to order
http://www2.cambridgema.gov/cityclerk/PolicyOrder.cfm?item_id=34138

Cambridge City Council policy order on public meetings and technology may merit reconsideration. The City Manager purchased new wireless microphones for the Planning Board Meetings at the Broadway Annex building.
The members of the Planning Board sometimes don't use them. In some cases they do not turn them on. In other cases they speak so low that even with the microphones you still cannot hear them. The PB volunteers are not trained properly in using the expensive equipment, SONY with each mic costing over $90 plus the transmitting amplifier.

Will having more expensive technology available be any different? When I used to video tape the meetings, allowed under the open meetings law, some of the PB members complained worried that what they said would be recorded. Some of the board and commission members do not want their actions available to be seen by too many people. One of them may understand what they are doing.

The Zoning Board hearings have no loud speakers even though all it takes is to ask the city electric department to set them up for the meetings. Citizens who attend them cannot hear what is said at the table. The discussion is recorded on audio tape for which it is very expensive to get a transcript.

The City has about 50 computers at the seven libraries for public use, and more at the Senior Center. None of them are Apple computers. I asked the previous chief reference librarian to get one Apple computer. He explained that maintenance of Apple computers is expensive. One other librarian explained that the PC is the city standard. There are a citizens who use Apple equipment and cannot use the public equipment to access some of their data.

When the City had an agreement with Cablevision one element was to make some of the city buildings where public meetings were held wired for broadcasting on the City cable station Channel 8. But that was never done. When the city transferred the license to Comcast that provision was ignored and maybe removed. If all city meetings were broadcast it would make the city's proceedings more accessible. But that may have to wait until there is a new more open minded city manager.

Executive Branch of US Government Can Shut On Air Communications

No question why national control of radio, TV and cable media is necessary. In the name of good the worst abuses are done. This gives the executive branch of the US government the ability to shut down all on air communications. What happened to critical thinking, and skepticism of what government says and does?

http://bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1378990&srvc=news&position=4

Chill, people— this is only a test!
By Boston Herald Staff
Monday, November 7, 2011

* * *
[Notice sent by City of Cambridge MA]
[Note John Keller's editorial about right winger paranoia]

First Nationwide Test of Emergency Alert System

The United States Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) have announced the first-ever national test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) will take place on Wednesday Nov. 9 at 2 p.m. EST.

The EAS is a national alert and warning system established to enable the President of the United States to address the American public during emergencies. The National Weather Service, governors, and state and local officials also utilize parts of the system to issue more localized emergency alerts.

The purpose of the test is to determine the reliability of the system and its effectiveness in notifying the public of emergencies and potential dangers nationally and regionally. Similar to the frequently conducted statewide EAS tests, the nationwide test will involve broadcast radio and television services, cable television, satellite radio and television services and wireline video service providers across all states and the territories of Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and American Samoa.

On November 9, the public will hear a message indicating, “This is a test.” The audio message will be the same for all EAS participants, however, due to the limitations in the EAS the video test message scroll may not be the same or indicate that “This is a test.” The text at the top of the screen may indicate that an “Emergency Alert Notification has been issued.” This notification is used to disseminate a national alert and in this case, the test. In addition, the background image that appears on video screens during an alert may indicate that “This is a test,” but in some instances there might not be an image at all. The test is expected to last approximately three minutes.

FEMA and the FCC are reaching out to organizations representing people with hearing disabilities to better prepare that community for this national test. In addition, both FEMA and the FCC are working with EAS participants to explore solutions to address this limitation.

Through the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), the Commonwealth has the capability of alerting the public through the EAS system. MEMA serves as the state coordinating agency for disseminating local, regional and state initiated emergency alerts via the EAS. MEMA, in consultation with the Governor’s Office, used the EAS to provide emergency messages to the public as recently as June 1, 2011 when tornadoes hit areas of the state, and as Tropical Storm Irene impacted the state in late August.

MEMA will coordinate with our state public safety partners on November 9 to also test our redundant systems for pushing emergency messages to local and state public officials, including police, fire, emergency management and public health. MEMA coordinates a system that includes VHF, UHF and 800 MHz radio communications that link all municipalities; text, email and cellular phone alerting systems for public safety, public health and municipal officials; dedicated direct phone lines with regional fire control centers; and links to law enforcement through the Criminal Justice information System (CJIS).

This event should also serve as a reminder for all citizens to make an emergency preparedness kit for their family and business, develop a strong emergency plan and become better informed about the natural and technological threats to their community.

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is the state agency responsible for coordinating federal, state, local, voluntary and private resources during emergencies and disasters in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. MEMA provides leadership to: develop plans for effective response to all hazards, disasters or threats; train emergency personnel to protect the public; provide information to the citizenry; and assist individuals, families, businesses and communities to mitigate against, prepare for, and respond to and recover from emergencies, both natural and man made. For additional information about MEMA and Flooding Issues, go to www.mass.gov/mema. Also, follow MEMA updates on Facebook and Twitter.

Palin's Undefeated on On Demand Cable TV

[From article]
"ARC Entertainment content can be seen on most major cable and satellite companies such as DIRECTV, DISH Network, Comcast, COX, Charter, and Time Warner Cable."

http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/hollywoodland/2011/09/02/sarah-palin-documentary-the-undefeated-released-on-demand-this-weekend/

Sarah Palin Documentary ‘The Undefeated’ Released On Demand this Weekend
by Hollywoodland

Fox News Tops in Cable, Beats ABC

"The Democratic defeat was a huge setback for President Obama and the fortunes of his controversial health-care reform effort in Congress.
Interest in the [election in Massachusetts that saw Republican Scott Brown take the Senate seat held by the late Sen. Ted Kennedy] ran so high that Fox News drew nearly 7 million viewers at 9 p.m., when the polls closed."

http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/fox_news_top_in_cable_tv_Ogca48Cgy4ePuoMKlG8OOJ

Fox News top in cable TV

Mass. election bumped ratings

By MICHAEL SHAIN

New York Post

Last Updated: 9:59 AM, January 29, 2010

Posted: 2:54 AM, January 27, 2010