So, fox has finally admited its bias, thankfully. However, it's done in such a way that it makes it appear that if you are not a biased journalist, you are a traitor. Nice work, Neil Cavuto.

I've been getting all of these articles and such about Clear Channel (purported to be the worst thing that has happened to communications since AOL/Time Warner) orchestrating pro-war demonstrations cross-country. Here are the highlights from the NYTimes article I recieved:
"The [Dixie Chicks] CD-smashing rally was organized by KRMD, part of Cumulus Media, a radio chain that has banned the Dixie Chicks from its playlists. Most of the pro-war demonstrations around the United States have, however, been organized by stations owned by Clear Channel Communications, a behemoth based in Texas that controls more than 1,200 stations and increasingly dominates the airwaves."
Okay, so that's kind of bad, but nothing shocking. People who are offended often resort to symbolic destructions of free speech using their own free speech -- who cares if it's a radio station, right? The point is that a lot of people got a offended and a radio station organized. Pacifica does that -- so it's not out of bounds, necessarily.
"The company says the demonstrations, which go under the name Rally for America, reflect the initiative of individual stations. But this is unlikely" ... "Until now, complaints about Clear Channel have focused on its business practices. Critics say it uses its power to squeeze recording companies and artists and contributes to the growing blandness of broadcast music" ... "Why would a media company insert itself into politics this way?" ... "there are also good reasons for Clear Channel - which became a giant only in the last few years, after the Telecommunications Act of 1996 removed many restrictions on media ownership - to curry favor with the governing party." ... "It is being sued over allegations that it threatens to curtail the airplay of artists who don't tour with its concert division, and there are even some politicians who want to roll back the deregulation that made the company's growth possible. On the other side, the Federal Communications Commission is considering further deregulation that would allow Clear Channel to expand even further, particularly into television."
see the full article here
So wait, now . . . this is definitely not okay. It was one thing when they were exercising their free speech in a fashion that was, well, perhaps more inflamatory than influential -- but this is simply perverse; who in their fucking right mind organises a war protest to increase shareholder value? What kind of fucking nonsense is that? A major COMMUNICATIONS corporation worried about shareholder value should probably not be allowed to organize anything other than a shareholder meeting or a contest.
Whatever the case may be, this may have very little to do with what is right for America, and very much what is right for Clear Channel. The have an business interest in supporting any somewhat contentious government policy, so long as it molifies the opposition to their needs -- tit for tat, in other words.

There is a very interesting article in the New Yorker about Noam Chomsky. It is interesting, however it also does a job to discredit him by accusing him of being a liar, having no solutions to the problems he rails against, and basically a patently negative person.

I don't think that it's completely fair as a criticism [after all, would you be very positive and hopeful if you had spent your life observing the unseemly goings-on of government?], but nevertheless, it's good to see attention being paid to someone who has devoted his life to something more meaningful than the O'Reilly Factor.
I really shouldn't even have brought that up, because unfortunately I visited the website and I have to say it makes me sick. These assholes are such cheerleaders for the status-quo it makes me sick. These are the same people who would have gladly participate in book-burnings. Ugh. It just make me sick.

Good news for Blogs. Bad news for Blogger.

Good article on the Christian Science monitor about patriotism and protest. Turns out, that it isn't wrong . . . despite what Fox News might tell us:
- notice no mention of protest that has occured worldwide
- notice no mention of the detention of Iraqi refugees.
- notice no mention of the fact that the top anti-terror official, Rand Beers, resigned yesterday, on the eve of the war with Iraq -- noting that with a war on Iraq, his job would be become infinitely more difficult.
- The conflict of interest with Karen Hugh's job as RNC consutant and a direct advisor to Bush (working for him in a non-political capacity).
Considering that Fox is the most watched news network . . . I guess I think it's freaky that they don't report anything that is critical of the government. Well, of course, unless it's a democrat. I think it's really odd that public television is more critical of the government than Fox News, which ostensibly should be less affiliated with the government . . . Guess I'll keep watching.

He's DJ qbert and he's a DJ. DJs can be cool. but sometimes, they simply suck. Like Pop House DJs. They suck. But Qbert . . . well, Qbert is famous and still good. hmmm . . . must be possible.

I like pdfs . . . Especially ones that use the word prick.

I like plastic.com.

It's a great place to get good debate from people who are actually educated to the issues that they speak of. Also, since it works on the slash-dot model (group moderated), morons tend to be scarce. That doesn't mean, however, that valid viewpoints that people don't like are removed, more that viewpoints that are ad-hominem or aren't based in documented fact generally get savaged out of the discussion.

here's a good link: Tearing Up The Rules: The Illegality of Invading Iraq

My flatmate worked on this report. He's a very nice guy and also puts his money where is mouth is. I have a lot of respect for that. I flatter myself in thinking that I'm ecumenical, and thus it makes it difficult to take sides. Ultimately, though, I can't help but thinking what is going on now is just plain wrong. And for that reason, I've started this site.

So, that's pretty much the sentiment of the moment. I feel like things are pretty hypocritical in this country and not very forward looking. I hope when the next election comes I can contribute to a little bit of positive change on that.

"And when the last law was cut down and the devil turned around on you, where would you hide, Roper, the laws all being flat? This country is planted thick with laws, from coast to coast - man’s laws, not God’s - and if you cut them down, and you’re just the man to do it, do you really think that you could stand upright in the winds that would blow then?" -Robert Bolt "A Man For All Seasons"