“The View From the Phlipside” is a media commentary program airing on WRFA-LP, Jamestown NY. It can be heard Monday through Friday around 7:30 AM. The following are scripts which may not exactly match the aired version of the program. Mostly because the host may suddenly choose to add or subtract words at a moment’s notice. WRFA-LP is not responsible for any such silliness or the opinions expressed. You can listen to a live stream of WRFA or find a podcast of this program at wrfalp.com. Copyright 2013-17 by Jay Phillippi. All Rights Reserved. You like what you see and hear? Drop me a line and we can talk.
Programs from week of December 10, 2017
This Week’s Podcast
My name is Jay Phillippi and I’ve spent my life in and around the media. TV, radio, the movies and more. I love them, and I hate them and I always have an opinion. Call this the View from the Phlipside.
What Is Bitcoin?
The
news has been filled with stories about something called a “bitcoin”.
The insane amount of money that is apparently involved, and the
investors who are spending that money. The reality is that most of
us don’t know much about Bitcoin. I thought I’d take a stab at
Bitcoin
101.
news has been filled with stories about something called a “bitcoin”.
The insane amount of money that is apparently involved, and the
investors who are spending that money. The reality is that most of
us don’t know much about Bitcoin. I thought I’d take a stab at
Bitcoin
101.
First
of all, Bitcoin is a cryptocurrency. That means it’s intended
is to be
used
to
buy goods and services. Don’t think of it as competition for
Paypal and Apple Pay, this is more like an alternate dollar or euro.
This is a medium of exchange that uses cryptography, a secret code,
to secure the transactions. The nuts and bolts of that is way too
complex for a show this short. If you want to know more, search for
the mysterious genius behind the system that Bitcoin
is based on, Satoshi Nakamoto. We have no idea who that person is,
but the system works. The individual unit of that currency is called
a bitcoin. That comes from the digital information unit called a
“bit” and “coin”. It’s a digital currency.
of all, Bitcoin is a cryptocurrency. That means it’s intended
is to be
used
to
buy goods and services. Don’t think of it as competition for
Paypal and Apple Pay, this is more like an alternate dollar or euro.
This is a medium of exchange that uses cryptography, a secret code,
to secure the transactions. The nuts and bolts of that is way too
complex for a show this short. If you want to know more, search for
the mysterious genius behind the system that Bitcoin
is based on, Satoshi Nakamoto. We have no idea who that person is,
but the system works. The individual unit of that currency is called
a bitcoin. That comes from the digital information unit called a
“bit” and “coin”. It’s a digital currency.
That
system is a peer to peer network. Think of the way music used to be
shared on Napster back in the day, or even Skype. Both peer to peer
networks.
system is a peer to peer network. Think of the way music used to be
shared on Napster back in the day, or even Skype. Both peer to peer
networks.
So
can you actually buy stuff with it? The answer is yes. As of 2016,
there were over one hundred thousand merchants worldwide where you
can use the cryptocurrency. You can buy everything from gold coins
to food to cars to guns at various places on the planet.
can you actually buy stuff with it? The answer is yes. As of 2016,
there were over one hundred thousand merchants worldwide where you
can use the cryptocurrency. You can buy everything from gold coins
to food to cars to guns at various places on the planet.
So
what’s all the hoo-haw? Currency is something you can invest in,
the way you invest in stocks. And right now the investors are
betting that bitcoins are going to be a winning investment. Bitcoin
values were right around one thousand dollars at the beginning of the
year. At the moment I write this, the value is running just a hair
under fifteen thousand dollars. It is a bit of a frenzy right now
among people with lots of money to burn.
what’s all the hoo-haw? Currency is something you can invest in,
the way you invest in stocks. And right now the investors are
betting that bitcoins are going to be a winning investment. Bitcoin
values were right around one thousand dollars at the beginning of the
year. At the moment I write this, the value is running just a hair
under fifteen thousand dollars. It is a bit of a frenzy right now
among people with lots of money to burn.
The
question remains whether this is real. What
is the real value of the cryptocurrency? A lot of big time
investors, including Warren Buffett, Carl Icahn and Mark Cuban to
name just a few, have serious reservations about the whole thing.
question remains whether this is real. What
is the real value of the cryptocurrency? A lot of big time
investors, including Warren Buffett, Carl Icahn and Mark Cuban to
name just a few, have serious reservations about the whole thing.
With
that in mind, here’s
another topic to look up – the Dutch tulip mania of the 17th
century. For the moment the question remains – is Bitcoin the next
big thing, or the next big financial bubble, waiting to burst?
that in mind, here’s
another topic to look up – the Dutch tulip mania of the 17th
century. For the moment the question remains – is Bitcoin the next
big thing, or the next big financial bubble, waiting to burst?
We
will have to wait and see.
will have to wait and see.
Cyberbullying
The
story of Keaton Jones, a middle school student in Tennessee has
dominated the Internet over the last week. The sixth grader had milk
poured on him and food stuffed down his shirt by five bullies at his
school. After being threatened with further abuse later that day,
Keaton called his mom to take him home. At that point he asked to
make a video about what was going on. Since that video was posted it
has been viewed around twenty million times.
story of Keaton Jones, a middle school student in Tennessee has
dominated the Internet over the last week. The sixth grader had milk
poured on him and food stuffed down his shirt by five bullies at his
school. After being threatened with further abuse later that day,
Keaton called his mom to take him home. At that point he asked to
make a video about what was going on. Since that video was posted it
has been viewed around twenty million times.
There’s
been a lot of coverage of what happened next. Rather than rehash all
of it let me make several points. First, there are a lot of stories
based on fake news about the Jones family. Please be very careful
about what you may choose to share on social media. Second, and far
more importantly, Keaton Jones was, in fact, bullied. His school has
acknowledged the incident and that it was followed up on in a timely
fashion. Whatever may be true about his family, this young man was
the victim of bullying. And that is the most important facet of the
story.
been a lot of coverage of what happened next. Rather than rehash all
of it let me make several points. First, there are a lot of stories
based on fake news about the Jones family. Please be very careful
about what you may choose to share on social media. Second, and far
more importantly, Keaton Jones was, in fact, bullied. His school has
acknowledged the incident and that it was followed up on in a timely
fashion. Whatever may be true about his family, this young man was
the victim of bullying. And that is the most important facet of the
story.
When
bullying happens online, it’s called cyber-bullying. It is every
bit as dangerous to the health and lives of our children as physical
bullying. Any form of bullying has both immediate and long term
impacts on the lives of those involved. It can lower school
performance and increase thoughts of suicide. A percentage of
children will follow through on that thought.
bullying happens online, it’s called cyber-bullying. It is every
bit as dangerous to the health and lives of our children as physical
bullying. Any form of bullying has both immediate and long term
impacts on the lives of those involved. It can lower school
performance and increase thoughts of suicide. A percentage of
children will follow through on that thought.
Cyber-bullying
crosses age lines, socioeconomic and racial lines.
crosses age lines, socioeconomic and racial lines.
So
what can be done?
what can be done?
Teach
your children to ignore or block people who are being mean to them.
Have them print out what is bothering them and show it to you. Teach
them to not send messages when they’re angry, because that’s when
we all tend to be mean. Make sure they know they can help stop
cyber-bullying by refusing to join in picking on someone else, and
showing what’s being said to an adult.
your children to ignore or block people who are being mean to them.
Have them print out what is bothering them and show it to you. Teach
them to not send messages when they’re angry, because that’s when
we all tend to be mean. Make sure they know they can help stop
cyber-bullying by refusing to join in picking on someone else, and
showing what’s being said to an adult.
As
a parent, especially of an elementary or middle school student,
insist that you have all the information for every account your child
uses. User name and password. Be an active overseer of your child’s
life online. High school students will want to have more privacy,
but they are just as vulnerable. You need to talk with them as well,
and make sure that you can work to protect them and back them up in
their online world as well.
a parent, especially of an elementary or middle school student,
insist that you have all the information for every account your child
uses. User name and password. Be an active overseer of your child’s
life online. High school students will want to have more privacy,
but they are just as vulnerable. You need to talk with them as well,
and make sure that you can work to protect them and back them up in
their online world as well.
In
the end, bullies work in the shadows. So it’s up to all of us to
keep shining the light.
the end, bullies work in the shadows. So it’s up to all of us to
keep shining the light.
I
will have links to resources on cyber-bullying posted on The View
From The Phlipside website this week.
will have links to resources on cyber-bullying posted on The View
From The Phlipside website this week.
Messenger Kids
Earlier
this month, Facebook announced a new service aimed at a younger
audience than it has ever targeted before. Messenger Kids is a
social media application aimed at children between the ages of 4 and
twelve. There are some positives in this new app, but there are some
concerns as well.
this month, Facebook announced a new service aimed at a younger
audience than it has ever targeted before. Messenger Kids is a
social media application aimed at children between the ages of 4 and
twelve. There are some positives in this new app, but there are some
concerns as well.
Under
federal law, you have to be at least 13 to sign on to social media
like Facebook. In reality, this is a rule that is routinely ignored.
According to some reports there are more than five million Facebook
accounts that were created by kids under the age of thirteen.
Facebook does what it can to eliminate those accounts as they are
identified, but they remain an elusive part of the Facebook equation.
federal law, you have to be at least 13 to sign on to social media
like Facebook. In reality, this is a rule that is routinely ignored.
According to some reports there are more than five million Facebook
accounts that were created by kids under the age of thirteen.
Facebook does what it can to eliminate those accounts as they are
identified, but they remain an elusive part of the Facebook equation.
For
Messenger Kids, the app is set up through the parents Facebook
account. It is designed that the child can only communicate with
people the parent has approved. No messages can be hidden or deleted
from the account, meaning that Mom or Dad can review the
communications. Facebook is also making the app ad-free, and there
are no in-app purchases. The kids can then text or video chat with
any of the approved contacts.
Messenger Kids, the app is set up through the parents Facebook
account. It is designed that the child can only communicate with
people the parent has approved. No messages can be hidden or deleted
from the account, meaning that Mom or Dad can review the
communications. Facebook is also making the app ad-free, and there
are no in-app purchases. The kids can then text or video chat with
any of the approved contacts.
On
the surface this sounds like Facebook has thought this through from
the parents point of view, to create a parent approved social media
option for younger children.
the surface this sounds like Facebook has thought this through from
the parents point of view, to create a parent approved social media
option for younger children.
But
I’m not convinced.
I’m not convinced.
There
are very serious questions about the ability of young children to
truly comprehend what’s going on here. It opens up another age
group to cyber-bullying, one that has even fewer skills to deal with
the issue. Inevitably, it will create a larger push for younger
children with smartphones, because as the kids become more involved
in communicating with their friends, they will want the device more
often, which will complicate Mom and Dad’s life. And once those
devices are in their hands, the likelihood that they will branch out
into other less controlled apps increases dramatically. Then you can
begin to add in the growing concerns about the sleep pattern
disruptions that are associated with the blue light from smartphones
and similar devices.
are very serious questions about the ability of young children to
truly comprehend what’s going on here. It opens up another age
group to cyber-bullying, one that has even fewer skills to deal with
the issue. Inevitably, it will create a larger push for younger
children with smartphones, because as the kids become more involved
in communicating with their friends, they will want the device more
often, which will complicate Mom and Dad’s life. And once those
devices are in their hands, the likelihood that they will branch out
into other less controlled apps increases dramatically. Then you can
begin to add in the growing concerns about the sleep pattern
disruptions that are associated with the blue light from smartphones
and similar devices.
In
the end, this isn’t about offering some new and useful for younger
children. It’s about Facebook trying to rope in younger users.
Facebook usage by teens has been on the decline for several years.
If they can get a six year old accustomed to using their apps, there
is a better chance they will stick around when they’re older.
the end, this isn’t about offering some new and useful for younger
children. It’s about Facebook trying to rope in younger users.
Facebook usage by teens has been on the decline for several years.
If they can get a six year old accustomed to using their apps, there
is a better chance they will stick around when they’re older.
As
a parent and someone who works with young people, my recommendation
is that parents take a pass on Messenger Kids.
a parent and someone who works with young people, my recommendation
is that parents take a pass on Messenger Kids.
Call that the View From the Phlipside
Copyright Jay Phillippi, 2017
Theme music for “The View From the Phlipside” and “TVFTP – Podcast” is “Hustle”
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
Stories Are My Life 
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