Ric Chetter - From Radioland

Episode 333: Social Media Toxicity

When one looks at all the different social media platforms out there, you would see they are all fairly different in approach to one another. Ranging from sort of useful to downright bogus, there is a little something out there for everybody. However, if you were to look at all these platforms with one particular filter, you find only one as being the single most toxic of them all. Here's the thing, it's probably not the one you are thinking of. In this episode, Ric takes a look at how one platform practically fosters the notion of being able to say anything you want by hiding behind your keyboard. Not one of these people would say what they say on the platform to anyone's face without the fear of having to endure an old fashioned Memphis ass beating. Plus, Ric's new YouTube show, Drinking With Dead People debuts at midnight.

NEXT WEEK: Just what is the role of television news these days?

 

Episode 332: It's A Big Problem

It is one thing to get into a pandemic, but it is a completely different thing to get out of one. There are so many things to consider and the prudent among us would like to think you should get back to some sort of normalcy in a practical and safe manner. Apparently, a lot of people in power didn't get that memo. In this episode, Ric takes a look at what is happening around the country as things begin to open back up. There is a big problem. It appears The United States is not ready. The numbers of infections are rising at a rapid pace as well as the numbers of deaths. At the very same time, there are those in power who say otherwise and this puts some people in a bad spot. They need the money and they need the work without getting sick. We are talking about musicians here. 

NEXT WEEK: The granddaddy of all toxic social media.

 

Episode 331: Sponsoring a World Crisis

Corporate America has a knack for being tone deaf. That is a simple fact. There are some ads out there using a protest as a backdrop. In this episode, Ric takes a look at the idiocy of this move. It is yet another point proven when corporate tries to look hip and with the times, they look ridiculous. Now is not the time for anyone to be tone deaf, but here we are. The amount of willful ignorance happening around us all is astounding. It's as if there are those out there who want to give people a reason to protest. Frankly, no one has to look terribly far. There are some pissed off people out there. Also, Ric has a problem with his ISP plus, his sinus issues are being dealt with using a torture device. 

NEXT WEEK: The bars, the bands and maybe the crowds.

Episode 330: A Change is Going to Come

Protests and pandemics are all harbingers of things to come. If you spend any amount of time looking at the history of the world, you might see as societies have dealt with very similar things in the past, one valuable lesson that is always learned is that change can be and is often quite difficult. This difficulty with change is rooted in one simple notion and that being fear. Everyone who is not accepting of the reasoning behind any type of change are afraid. They are afraid that their lives won't be the same as they were. The fact is, they won't be. In this episode, Ric takes a look at what it means to go home and to know that you can never go back. Progress is fraught with adjustment and this is a good thing. The George Floyd protests are a fine example of that. This is necessary change. As is the changes that must come in our society in dealing with an illness we still no very little about. Granted, it is a lot on everyone's plate but, the good news happens to be we will all be better having gone through all of this together. Even if we have to drag the troglodytes with us. 

NEXT WEEK: This Protest is Brought to You By... 

Episode 329: The New Normal

Change is an issue and it is never easy to cope with the inevitable. When something like a pandemic occurs or the other social issues we all face these days, coming through the other side expecting anything to be the way it was before all of these events is a pipe dream. We will never be the same after all of this is said and done. That is just a simple fact. The other simple fact, is there will be a select number of people in our society who will reject the first fact. We tried this in 2016 and the results have been nothing short of disastrous. In this episode, Ric casts a jaundiced eye at what the future holds for our society and what we as individuals could probably look forward to once the storm of a pandemic passes. Also in this episode, the aftermath of laryngitis even if it was fun sounding like Batman. Plus, a computer tip.

NEXT WEEK: You Can Always Go Home, But You Can Never Go Back

Episode 328: Connection Interrupted

Being connected seems to be bringing about all sorts of innovative tech. All of it is designed to keep you on the platform you are using it from. Be it Facebook, Twitter or Google, none of those companies want you to go anywhere else. As consumers, we certainly do have a bunch of options when it comes to this sort of thing and that can be good. Some you pay for (Zoom) and others are free (Facebook & Google). But how would you define "free". Also, as cool as it is to have this technology in your hands, is it really something we all need? Is anybody actually any good at using this stuff? Does it really matter? In theory, you could answer all those questions with a "no". Plus, Ric has been in the studio quite a bit this past week. Along with all the extra work he has picked up and the usual slate of shows, his voice is going out. It's the return of the dreaded laryngitis. But he will tell you all about the other things he has on his plate as well.

NEXT WEEK: The New Normal

 

Episode 327: Semper Pie & Meal Team Six

We are all getting weary of this pandemic, it seems. The truth is, we are weary from the coverage of the pandemic. There is a very loud minority of people out there who feel they are being put upon by having to stay at home or having to wear a mask when they go out in public. These people are going out to protest and they are doing so with assault rifles and are agitating an already nervous population. On top of this, we are getting information about the pandemic from so many different sources that it seems no one on the right page. One group says this and the other says that and both are pointing fingers at someone else. You would think all of this energy could be directed at something constructive like, trying to contain Covid-19. In this episode, Ric is exhausted and we may not even be closer to the end of this situation. It's all a matter of trying to get the madness to stop.

NEXT WEEk: Connection Interrupted

Episode 326: The Conspiracy of Reality

The longer this whole virus sticks around, the more the conspiracy theorists will have to ply their trade. Frankly, it's got rather nauseating. Some of the things being shoved down people's throats are about as ludacris as one could imagine. The latest was the video that was going around on social media purporting all sorts of wild theories. The difference was this thing was packaged around a rather benign statement and it got a LOT of traction. After it was thoroughly debunked by proper scientists (and others), thankfully it was removed. But the whole situation did point out something sort of alarming, the gullibility of people who refuse to believe or understand Occam's Razor. In this episode, Ric will explain all of that and what may give rise to the Conspiraciologist.

NEXT WEEK: Safety VS Greed

 

Episode 325: What, Too Soon?

For some sadistic reason, Memphis reversed its course with Covid-19 and decided to phase in a reopening plan. This has done nothing more than split the city right down the middle. About half the restaurants and businesses here want to go ahead and reopen. The other half, not so much. As it has been said, the more prudent of those business owners have said something along the lines of, "The safety of my staff and customers is worth more than the sale of a sandwich." In this episode, Ric takes another look at what a post-pandemic world holds for all of us. He'll also layout the trail for you to follow which seems to lead straight back to simple greed. Also in this episode, Ric elaborates on that pic he shared on his instagram page.

NEXT WEEK: Giant hornets, heavy hurricanes AND a continuing pandemic.

Episode 324: Jesus, The Economy

There is something happening out there that is bigger than all of us. Of course, we are talking about the pandemic. When these sorts of things happen, the best anyone can do is to go along with the flow and to do our best not to rock the boat too much. Especially when it comes to the idea that our actions have certain life or death consequences. This makes for an interesting observation on our society. In this episode, Ric takes a look at how certain religious aspects are being dealt with. There is a pastor who will more than likely wind up in jail for his reckless actions and yet there is another who is demanding you turn over your stimulus money to him. And to what end? Also, Kim Jong-Un, his sister with the resting bitch face and what might happen after the virus goes away.

NEXT WEEK: The rise of the video conference.