well you can thank the internet  sites like BP  late night television evangilist RE guru's webinars podcasts etc etc.. facebook.. linkdin  etc etc. and the burning desire from many to get rich as absolutely quick as possible and some irrational idea that real estate is the way.. take the bar to entry is non existent and you have a lot of beginners.the reason you have all this wholesaler activity is because the market has strengthened and they can't buy a home like they could pre 08 only way to jump in with no money is try to pimp deals.

I ate oatmeal 2-3 times a day and did not own a television set.  

The ability to steam content from smartphones and tablets directly to devices (Televisions, Audio Receivers, Whole House Audio Systems and (in conference/board rooms) Projectors is in like manner becoming more and more commonplace and expected by end-users.

I want to know if I should attend some of the real estate investment courses that are advertised on television or should I just purchase some of the best books on the market to educate myself?

Television and a provided Netflix account.

If you don't get the show on television you can go to HGTV's website and look for it there.

I can't imagine a TV or Radio spot.The contract between 2 parties cannot override regulations.Yes I agree, running a television commercial or radio ad for 1 wholesale property you have under contract wouldn't be the smartest idea...marketing something you don't own can definitely get you in trouble. 

Newspapers, forums, television, podcasts, others? 

People tend to believe what they see on the television whether it is true or not and most people just want to be lazy and tends to do investments late and how it is reported on TV which tends to be believed too much.   

I have watched a ton of house flipping shows on television, thought to myself of what it would be like to become successful at it then become financially independent.