New digs - working on a full site

In the process of moving the blog over to http://blog.thrufire.com/

Have more work to do there, but so far I like WordPress a lot more than Blogger.

ThruFire Network - media distribution base

Every "message" organization desiring to reach a broad audience has to use a medium - some technology. Usually the more sophisticated the technology, the larger the audience reached at a greater distance - ie. a satellite cable network reaches much further and faster than a published pamphlet.

Yet any message organization leveraging off an existing network is subject to editing and skewing of their message by the existing network. The guest is at the mercy of the host.

For instance, with Live Action Film's Lila Rose appearance on Fox's O'Reilly Factor, it appears Bill O'Reilly isn't so interested in conveying the message, as much as he finds the event an audience attention grabber, another "feather in his cap" so to speak. I could be wrong, but that's the way it comes across - a newsman riding the wave of the latest controversy.

So the benefit of borrowing/using existing networks is very low cost distribution to a pre-existing audience at the risk of message alteration or dilution.

In the absence of genuinely neutral news networks, there is a great need for a comprehensive pro-life network that will not compromise the message of life.

There are two major key factors that need serious consideration:

Editorial control - clarity of message
Audience feedback - determination of audience impact.

The only reason O'Reilly delivers what he does, the way he does, is because someone is gauging audience reaction via commercial sponsorship and continued viewing of the show.

Both Martha Stewart and Oprah Winfrey manage these key factors to devastating effect.

With the internet we have the capability to both deliver an edited message that can be rich and deep, over long distances at almost no cost. We can with the use of certain tools determine audience not only viewing but also participation. All of this can be done at a fraction of the cost of other systems, and mostly with off-the-shelf tools that are properly utilized.

What matters then is tactics, training, and technology.

I'll try to give some specific examples next, using very specific tools.

What would a pro-life media network look like?

One of the biggest complaints of the pro-life cause is inadequate coverage by the mainstream media. Remember:

The 1st step of a revolution is to grab the communications facilities!

Consequently - since 1916 we've been dealing with media that's been increasingly infiltrated, and recently we've seen how effective they have altered and diminished the pro-life message.

The tools for media coverage are more accessible than ever, but the pro-life cause is not fully leveraging them.

We need to.

I'm envisioning a three layer pro-life media network with one layer (message) made up of independent journalists/bloggers, existing media organizations, (EWTN, TBN etc) and distributed editorial assistance, supported by a technologically adept layer of artists, audio & video editors, programmers, on-line trainers (medium) and media strategists

The journalist/storyteller layer's objective is to deliver highly relevant content related to realizing the sanctity of life worldwide.
The technical layer's objective is to make the journalists as efficient & effective as possible while expanding the scope of the media distribution.

The key to effectively delivering an integrated message is to rapidly & dynamically cluster event related content materials for the widest possible audience. Coverage can be both broad and deep, connecting multiple point of interest/entry points into the story with existing organizations and efforts.

Ideally, passive event viewers could trace from an initial point of interest through a stream of educationally expanding content towards active participation for the cause. This can be achieved with mostly off-the-shelf tools used in new ways. (New, as in how the tools are applied and used by multiple people, but not in novelty of concept).

Perhaps an illustration would help.

The March for Life event is coming up in January. Prior events had poor MSM coverage - it's not in their political interest to promote the pro-life cause. However, suppose this event is covered by a multitude of independents, who are working in conjunction with on-line teams. Live blogging reports could be enhanced by links and other articles that may be happening at another location, but be completely relevant. The independent blogger wouldn't be able to provide event coverage, while simultaneously doing on-line research but multiple assistants could do the research, make connections and provide solid links, as they happen.

For instance, the Downs Kids rally might trigger some members of Silent No More or Operation Outcry to indicate that was the reason they chose abortion. A great personal story emerges that really captures the essence of the effort. Both the Downs KIDS site and the Abortion Witness sites should have complementary links that feed from that news story to their respective educational materials.

A woman spotting any reference to the Downs kids rally could be moved from that article to the Operation Outcry to solid information about the scope of this, and begin to quickly and easily connect to others, perhaps even in blog forums about this issue. In the meantime the journalist is tracking down another aspect of that story to build it up and round it out.

Okay - here's the geeky part:

Any "event" is not really a single event, but a network of inter-related events and people within a certain timespan. The real-time function of the internet invites external event participants, but participation doesn't need to be passive or confined to simple blog commentary.

Key is dynamically organizing teams based on a media plan, then having real-time tools and feeds to convey a solid, consistent pro-life message. The focus is in finding hope in the face of adversity.

Advertising connections and sponsorship can be worked in as part of the delivery - that's where the 3rd layer comes in. Almost every organization has fundraising needs. Being able to effectively connect sponsors with the cause is incredibly advantageous - witness the ubiquitous pink ribbons that adorn multiple consumer products.

I still don't have a financial model worked out, but I am seeing multiple possibilities.

We need to begin to think as a coalesced unified body and not as isolated groups.

Seeing the other side

This morning I paid a very unlikely visit to DailyKos.

In the article I was reading the writer referred to being carted off to Guantonamo by government officials for making certain statements (huh?), and it made me reflect upon some of my own posts - in particular the last one: How long before another KristallNacht.

Without actually watching the video, one could see my post as an overreaction. But in light of that comment on DailyKos, it occurred to me that some liberals might feel persecuted too. Is such a feeling real or imagined? Is it merely a ploy or collective paranoia?

I think it's far easier to paint one as a right wingnut or a looney leftist, than to engage in actual hard and serious debate, but my experiences over the last 4 years of on-line abortion discussion indicate few are courageous enough to concede valid points to the other side. There is no penalty for people to run away from the cross-exam, so there is no reason to critically examine the other side's viewpoint.

I've been doing a lot of thinking lately about the pro-life strategy because politically, and legally conditions require seriously educate others about the impact of abortion not only in America, but around the world.

Militarily, when one is fighting an opponent, the battle is won when one force can get inside the decision cycle of the other side.

So where does abortion "rights" lead in terms of future "progress"?
What would be an objective on that path?

How long before another Kristallnacht?

A devouring fire of wrath

You deserted the Rock, who fathered you;
you forgot the God who gave you birth.

The LORD saw this and rejected them
because he was angered by his sons and daughters.

"I will hide my face from them," he said,
"and see what their end will be;
for they are a perverse generation,
children who are unfaithful.

They made me jealous by what is no god
and angered me with their worthless idols.
I will make them envious by those who are not a people;
I will make them angry by a nation that has no understanding.

For a fire has been kindled by my wrath,
one that burns to the realm of death below.
It will devour the earth and its harvests
and set afire the foundations of the mountains.

[NIV Dt 32:18-22]

Barack Obama - a dedicated flavor...

And now for something completely different:

Glenn Reynolds of Instapundit points out what others are beginning to see - there is something most bizarre with the increasing adoration of The One® (pbuh), highlighted in this blog post:

Obamania Nightmare (Sure to Be One in a Series)
Brian Doherty | November 13, 2008, 7:35pm

To sum it up - the adoration is moving beyond reason.

Really?

Coming from a Pro-Obama magazine, is that cause for concern?

Leave it to court jesters that when things get too serious, they'll be there with some levity:

CharlesWT | November 13, 2008, 9:50pm | #

"Does it make you feel any better that Obama doesn't have a Ben & Jerry's flavor? Well, not yet."

Suggestions from various sources. You decide...

Anti-Christ Crunch • Barackadamia Nut • Baraky Road • Cherries For Change • Cherries Messiah • Chocful o’ Hopee • Chocolate Chip • Chocolate Promise • ChocoNilla Swirl • Cinnamon Rocky Road • Clinton’s Revenge (rocky road redux) • Commie Crunch • Economic Crunch • Gooey Limo Surprise • Half and Half • Half Baked Hussien • Ice Cream Dream (pretty swirls, flavoring, candy bursts) • Ice Kareem • Lefty Licorice • Lenin Meringue Pice Cream • Marx Bar Crunch • Mecca Mocha • Mocha Fluff • Mocha Fluff (air,chocolate,flavorings) • Moonbat Mocha • Nagin Choco-Prezel Crunch • Neopolitician • Nihili-Vanilli • Nut ‘n Substantial • Obamaberry • Obamana Split • Obamanana Split • Oreo Cookie • Peanut Butter Barackle • Pink Lenin Ice Kareem • Soros Surprise • StrawBarry • Trotsky Ice-Picnic • Vary Barry Surprise • Yes Pecan!

So - which one's your favorite?

(Kudos to CharlesWT for the compiliation.)

Do we obey when He speaks?

You were shown these things so that you might know that the LORD is God; besides him there is no other. From heaven he made you hear his voice to discipline you. On earth he showed you his great fire, and you heard his words from out of the fire.

[NIV Dt 4: 35-36]