Author Topic: Computer School of the Boat - spotting Spin in the news  (Read 5475 times)

Offline JTheotonio

  • Chief Petty Officer
  • *
  • Posts: 762
  • Total BZs: 8
    • View Profile
    • USS Picuda SS-382
Computer School of the Boat - spotting Spin in the news
« on: September 10, 2008, 06:29:24 AM »
http://spinspotter.com/home

This is a pretty cool little add on for Firefox.  This is only available for Firefox right now but they say they will be coming out with an IE version later this month.

Spinspotter culls through news articles and spots "spin" that is phrases that are repeated over and over as if going some singular message or spin to a particular news story.  Really handy during our current election cycle.  Ever think that you heard that line before, but don't know.  Well this application will spot it and highlight the spinned phrase in bright read.  See below - it does work!  :police:

All the news that's fit to de-spin.
Spin doesn't belong in the news. It's like putting motor oil in the mojito. We have tremendous respect for journalists, but who would argue that the media circus isn't out of control? A full 66% of Americans think the press is one-sided. Now there's a website and software tool that exposes news spin and bias, misuse of sources, and suspect factual support. At SpinSpotter, you'll experience the news in a profound new way. Yes, the truth is back in town.
-----
From the Forward Torpedo Room

John

Offline Lance Dean

  • USS Drum Fan
  • Forum Administrator
  • Chief Petty Officer
  • *
  • Posts: 1522
  • Total BZs: 10
  • John calls me "Gunner"
    • View Profile
    • My website
Re: Computer School of the Boat - spotting Spin in the news
« Reply #1 on: September 10, 2008, 08:23:39 AM »
Thanks John that's pretty nifty.

I have one to add.  This little add-on is a dream for me!

http://flagfox.servehttp.com/

Flagfox (an add-on for Firefox only) will show the country's flag of wherever the server is located for the website you are viewing.  Move your mouse over the flag and it will give you the IP address of the webserver.  Click on the flag and it will give you a detailed map of where the server is located.  And even better, middle-click (that's click with the scroll wheel if you have one) and it will do a WHOIS lookup on the domain name for you!  It's one of the most useful Firefox addons I have.

Of course, I used Gmail Notifier, AdBlock Plus, and CookieCuller more often in Firefox, but Flagfox is the coolest.

Offline JTheotonio

  • Chief Petty Officer
  • *
  • Posts: 762
  • Total BZs: 8
    • View Profile
    • USS Picuda SS-382
Re: Computer School of the Boat - spotting Spin in the news
« Reply #2 on: September 10, 2008, 09:14:39 AM »
Cool one - something I've always needed.
-----
From the Forward Torpedo Room

John