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In the U.S. what changed the news industry began with Congress’s approval of the 1996 Telecommunications Act which resulted in broadcasting company mergers and acquisitions to the point where local TV and radio station programming and messaging would became controlled by media conglomerates.

According to Wikipedia, in 1984, fifty independent media companies owned the majority of media interests within the United States. By 2011, 90% of the United States's media was controlled by six media conglomerates: GE/Comcast (NBC, Universal), News Corp (Fox News, Wall Street Journal, New York Post), Disney (ABC, ESPN, Pixar), Viacom (MTV, BET, Paramount Pictures), Time Warner (CNN, HBO, Warner Bros.), and CBS (Showtime, NFL.com).

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We feel safe in Canada too. The rise of violence and mistrust is palpable however. I have not been to Portugal but look forward to that day! I have been to New Zealand and found it to be much like you describe Portugal. There really are beautiful

Places and beautiful people throughout the world! Stay well!!!

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There are no perfect solutions in life, but as far as living conditions are concerned, With all the bureaucracy and poverty and all the negative aspects you can think of, Portugal is definitely the best place to live...the Portuguese people are by nature welcoming and friendly. They are not aggressive. Of course there are crazy people everywhere...

It is not too hot or too cold but the blue sky is amazing and the shining sun, even in cold days brightens up your spirit.

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Yes, I miss Walter, and Alex Trebek!

Visited Scotland in 2019 and found the Scots to be very friendly, accommodating and helpful

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We spent May 2019 in Scotland. What a beautiful country and amazing people. It is impossible to walk into a pub and not come out having made a friend.

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I remember going to a shoe store as a child. It was a trek that my brothers and I made each fall before the new school year. It was full of rituals. Each of us had a sales person who measured our feet, and then they brought out the boxes of shoes. They squeezed our toes, making sure we had room to move and grow. After our mom paid we were each given a plastic rooster. I can't remember what was in it, but I always wanted it. Saddle shoes and PF Flyers - shoes of my dreams. I can't wait to experience this thing called personal customer service again.

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What a wonderful memory!

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There is no fiction that could conceive the reality we are living and seeing declining before us on a daily basis. While no one is immune from seeing it, there are often firm, diametrically different perceptions about many of the various aspects - reasonable people on both sides of the equation see an obvious reality and cannot fathom the seemingly infinite chasm between two otherwise like minded, loving souls. This tends to lead me to believe these things may be all part of the overall final harbinger. Spend an hour looking into it on YouTube as a researcher with an open mind. Cohn is the author I believe. May God have mercy on us all.

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Walter Cronkite and Dan Rather

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I am glad you are finding peace. As for "made up" news, the Soviets and China have had it for eons. In America, we know where to find the truth - you just have to tune into the truth-telling media. We still have icons of factual news - NPR, PBS, The New York Times, Washington Post, etc. Alas, often the truth gives you ulcers.

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I love the fact that I can still listen to NPR on the internet. "Alexis, play NPR"

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We were in Scotland in May also. Wonder why we didn’t bump into you at a pub 😀

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