IA Action: Saving Access and Local Media Control [UPDATED]
Tue Apr 17, 2007 at 02:07:06 PM PDT
UPDATE - 8:01PM CST.
Passed - 77-19. I would like to make sure that people know that this was Rep. Wise's baby and when the problems arise from this bill, we know who was the biggest pusher of this corporate handout.
If you haven't been following, there is a bill about to come to the floor in the Iowa House [ Senate File 554 ] that grants state franchises to 'Video Service Providers', a fancy term for an entity that delivers wireline television service, previously known as 'cable'. This bill is horrid on many, many levels, but for reasons mostly relating to consumer and constituent inaction, it has a inordinate amount of support in the Iowa legislature.
Please read the following article below the fold, originally posted on Blog for Iowa for an overview on this unnecessary, and possibly speech-stifling, bill:
Tasking the Media - An Editorial From the Heartland
Wed Oct 05, 2005 at 01:15:52 PM PDT
My college newspaper is usually a so-so read, especially the opinions section. In the past it has, as many college papers I suspect, been highly partisan [both ways], sometimes silly, and many times flat out dull. But I was struck today by a wonderful editorial which would do well to be passed around and followed through upon.
[Note - I reprint the whole thing only due to a pesky email signup, otherwise I would tell you to go to the site. You can anyway...would be the proper thing I suppose.]
Disaster prevention needs attention
Our media may seem to be bursting at the seams with hot topics and controversial stories, but truly important stories are missing. The news is so full of sensational accounts of the latest disaster that we may miss our chance to prevent another.
...
More below...
O'Reilly vs Blogs - Right Now!
Tue Oct 04, 2005 at 02:17:01 PM PDT
Update [2005-10-4 20:56:7 by Clever]: Quick rundown of the show below the fold.
Via Crooks and Liars and Think Progress, we learn O'Reilly is taking on the blogosphere:
FalafelFrom O'Reilly Factor Homepage
Evil, evil blogs out to DESTROY!
Credibility waning much O'Reilly? Got to nip those pesky blogs in the bud?
It would be funnier if it wasn't so sad.
Should there be a reaction, other than the gleeful chortles of knowing that we're under O'Reilly's skin?
[more below]
Planting the Flag
Mon Jun 13, 2005 at 11:06:04 PM PDT
It's late, so I can get away with it. [The image is not mine, but felt it necessary to share.]
The title of the piece is Sentiments Exactly. It pretty much sums up the current situation.
The hosting site is Boners.com, a division of the folks at Rotten.[Easily offended? Don't click the link.]
What is art? This:
I leave you with my new sig. I find it to be a wonderful rallying cry:
Fairy Godfathers
Tue Jun 07, 2005 at 10:27:49 PM PDT
Influence and bailouts a business tradition in Bush family
[via
Daily Rotten]
Originally published Oct 29, 2000.
Once upon a time, a rich and powerful father gathered his four young sons and urged them to become rich and powerful, too. Take risks. Push yourselves. Influence others, he ordered in a bold voice.
Then he whispered, "And if you muck things up, a fairy godfather will always appear to make things better."
Read Article
I love that its in the Business section.
Dynasty. Power. Money. Greed. War. A kingdom, like in the Grimm's Tales.
But there are no fairy godfathers now. He and his administration have 'mucked up', and we and the future have to make it better.
Just a reminder to keep up the fight.
DKos Plagiarism
Fri May 06, 2005 at 11:10:35 AM PDT
One of the diaries [that was] on the recommended list [was/is] a plagiarism.
Why Liberals often lose the debate on Gay Marriage
The author CUT AND PASTED [poorly, I might add] a diary from the Frameshop series by Jeffrey Feldman.
Here is the original work: Frameshop: Gay Marriage, posted December 3rd, 2004. The plagiarism begins after the "open" sign.
Please adjust your recommends accordingly. Do not allow any credit to be mistakenly given to this plagiarist. Jeffrey Feldman worked HARD on the Frameshop series, and I think we owe it to his work to let credit be given where credit is due.
allentownboy, you are a MAJOR ASSHAT. You violated the trust of "bringing your own to the table." Good luck ever achieving it here in the future.
UPDATES IN EXTENDED
Fox News Trying to Marginalize Joe Biden
Thu Apr 21, 2005 at 10:18:03 PM PDT
Special Report with Brit Hume aired a segment tonight, for no real apparent reason, on Senator Joseph Biden. It appears as if while in Afganistan, Senator Biden was photographed naked carrying a bucket of water to the camp's only shower [not
exactly sure of this, as the segment went by very quickly. Hopefully
Crooks and Liars will get the video.] by a soldier. Brit Hume happily reported that, when contacted, Senator Biden's only comment was that he was "just glad they didn't put it on the internet."
All I can say is WTF?!
more below
Roger Ailes [CEO Fox News] on CSPAN
Thu Apr 07, 2005 at 06:17:20 PM PDT
Roger Ailes was on CSPAN doing Q&A and said some interesting things:
- Chavez [Venezuela] is taking away the freedom of the press and buying Kalishnikov rifles
- Covering his ass for not having Fox News look at is coverage on the leadup to war
- American people can tell between Fox News "opinion" and Fox News "News"
Takes some passing shots at CNN as well. Might be worth watching when it comes out in the CSPAN online archives. I only caught the end...anyone else see this?
BTW, anybody know what he's talking about with the Venezuelan press and arms thing? I was somewhat taken back as it was a very deliberate talking point...probably something to be on top of.
Hagel Shows His Hand
Sun Mar 06, 2005 at 11:58:47 PM PDT
From
Senator to Propose Raising Retirement Age
A leading Republican senator is proposing to raise the Social Security retirement age from 67 to 68, while Democrats maintain their opposition to the president's plan to overhaul the retirement program with private investment accounts.
[snip]
Hagel's plan, which he said is the first Social Security reform bill being introduced in the Senate this year, would allow workers 45 and younger to keep their guaranteed Social Security account, but set up a voluntary program of personal accounts that could supplement their retirement income.
"The president has not laid down a specific plan as to how he's going to get us to solvency," Hagel said. "I do that. It doesn't mean mine's best, but I do it."
That's good. Wouldn't want to insinuate that you know more than Your Man From Connecticut. Might shake him right off his pedestal.
More below.
Optimus Prime Dies of Prostate Cancer
Mon Feb 28, 2005 at 09:41:37 PM PDT
For those of you that watch Adult Swim, you'll understand. For those of you that don't, Adult Swim is a nightly occurrance on
Cartoon Network, with such amusing fare as Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Venture Brothers, Family Guy, and the impetus for this diary and the newest of the family, Robot Chicken. [Toys and other doll types done in claymation type style with hilarious writing.
But Enough about that, on to the show...
Gonzales Hearings pt 4 [Discussion]
Tue Feb 01, 2005 at 03:02:34 PM PDT
Bush's Laundry [w/poll]
Thu Jan 27, 2005 at 10:13:33 PM PDT
Tonight, like a lot of people I assume, I was doing my laundry [as well as a bit of my girlfriend's] and I had a thought. People in goverment don't do their own laundry. Man, that would be nice, I thought to myself. Then the second thought came: Why don't they do their own laundry?
A silly question you say? No. Really. Think about it...
The reason people in elected government get their laundry done by someone else at taxpayer expense [our tax dollars pay their salary, as well as fund all their pet programs for all their campaign contributors, right?] is that we as a nation don't want them to...they really should be thinking about other things, like, say - avoiding wars, for one. No, we have their laundry done for them so that we, those who actually do laundry, know they have more time to do what we voted them into office to do. Makes perfect sense.
There, question answered. But then, as my mind often does when I do laundry, I had another thought...did Bush ever have to do his own laundry? Is that a silly question?
You bet your ass.
Rice Senate Debate Live Thread, Day 2 [OVER. TALLY: 85-13]
Wed Jan 26, 2005 at 07:41:05 AM PDT
Rice Senate Debate Live Thread, Pt 2 - ARCHIVED
Tue Jan 25, 2005 at 09:19:44 AM PDT
Continued from here:
Rice confirmation hearing on C-SPAN
The Senate's debate on the nomination of Condi Rice is going on today. This diary is a live discussion of the events going on.
Where to watch: C-SPAN Online [Note - there is also a link to CSPAN radio, for those of you at work]
Choose the CSPAN-2 link on the right hand side [available in RealMedia and WindowsMedia]
Sign Boxer's Petition on condi here or grannyhelen will spank you: http://ga4.org/campaign/ricehearings
So far, the Dems have been showing backbone. Here are the NOs [from speeches]
- Ted Kennedy (D-MA)
- Mark Dayton (D-MN)
- Carl Levin (D-MI)
- Evan Bayh (D- IN)
Here are the Dem YESs:
- Joe Liebermann (D-CT)
- Ken Salazar (D-CO)
War over Rice [To Go] & Live Thread Setup
Mon Jan 24, 2005 at 02:39:38 PM PDT
You know it's a go when the MSM says so...
AP, via Yahoo! News:
WASHINGTON - Condoleezza Rice (news - web sites) is no longer on a fast track to Senate confirmation as secretary of state, but the slowdown appears to be temporary as Democratic foes of the war in Iraq (news - web sites) line up to have their say.
Nine hours have been set aside Tuesday for debate, divided equally between Democrats and Republicans. On Wednesday, a brief series of statements is expected -- and then the vote to put her in charge of U.S. diplomacy.
Emphasis Mine
Of course, we all know what the Right has to say:
[flip]
Bush 'Monitors' Asian Crisis [Bring Snark]
Mon Dec 27, 2004 at 11:34:03 PM PDT
Wow. Yahoo! really outdid themselves here:
Bush Monitors Earthquake Damage From Texas
A snippet:
CRAWFORD, Texas - President Bush (news - web sites) spent part of Monday at his Texas ranch monitoring devastation from a deadly earthquake in Southeast Asia -- a replay of his post-Christmas vacation last year when he was monitoring damage from an earthquake in Iran.
I laugh because it is all I have left.
"He's been monitoring it very closely," White House spokesman Trent Duffy told reporters at a briefing here. "He's seen some of the images on television."
Veeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrry closely...he puts his nose right up to the screen.
But ma said not to do that too long. How does he spend the rest of his day? Calling people, making sure we're doing what we can to build bridges to that part of the world?
find out below
A "Liberal" Ships Out
Sun Dec 26, 2004 at 04:30:23 PM PDT
Two days before Christmas, I was surprised to hear from a friend of mine in the National Guard...suprised because this was the first any of my group of friends had heard from him, as we were not sure if they would be allowed leave over Christmas. Thankfully, he was. He leaves on the 27th for Iraq, so I dropped what I was doing and met him at a local establishment along with my roommate. The talk was positive while recounting past exploits and current feelings [of the "it's nice to see you guys" type], but we all knew the discussion that lay ahead.
"So what's you're opinion on this whole thing? You're the only one of us with an inside view."
The conversation that followed finally cemented my opposition to this war. Some things I had heard of before. Others made my jaw drop. I got up, asked the bartender for a pen to take notes on what my friend was saying. I asked my friend if it would be alright for me to post the things he talked about on this site. He agreed: "These are things people should probably know about."
More Below the fold
Berkeley Elec. Fraud Report "Debunked" - Spin In Wired?
Tue Dec 07, 2004 at 11:45:48 PM PDT
Did a search and couldn't find anything on these guys, so here tis. Will unpost if notified. - C
Wired's webpage published this article insinuating that the Berkley election study of FL had been debunked by this report [PDF] (or go with Google HTML).
I'm not going to jump up and say "They're Wrong!" because I opted not to go too far into advanced statistics in college. If anyone wants to read it and translate it to English, you win my adoration.
However, I thought the refutement of the Berkley report was a little weak, at least in words:
More below...
