Driving on the Media's Mobius Strip: Imus, McGuirk: (Pete and Repeat Went Out in A Boat: Pete Fell Out, Who Was Left?) I PUT THE CULTURE ON THE COUCH If there's highbrow writing and there's lowbrow writing, then many of the big news media outlets in the USA must favor “unibrow writing...â€? no differentiation, no arches, no framing of the story, no lines leading from … [Read more...] about Coverage of MSNBC Imus Firing: Driving on the Media’s Mobius Strip (UPDATED)
The Cheshire McCain
Mike Lane, Cagle Cartoons … [Read more...] about The Cheshire McCain
India’s Major ‘War’: Saving Kids from HIV, AIDS
Children born to parents infected with HIV/AIDS virus place impressions of their palm as part of observing Candle Day at Freedom Foundation, a community care centre, at Kolathur. — Photo: S. Thanthoni (courtesyThe Hindu) With its attention riveted to "War-on-Terror", the world is yet to wake up to the HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) crisis that threatens to cripple a … [Read more...] about India’s Major ‘War’: Saving Kids from HIV, AIDS
Terrorists Bomb Iraqi Parliament
UPDATE - MSNBC Breaking News: U.S. spokesman says eight people killed in Iraq parliament attack This is well inside Baghdad's heavily-fortified and supposedly highly-secure Green Zone. BBC: Explosion at Iraq parliament cafe A blast hits a cafeteria in the Iraqi parliament, killing at least two MPs and injuring at least 15 other people. Pajamas Media asks if Sunnis … [Read more...] about Terrorists Bomb Iraqi Parliament
God Bless You, Mr. Vonnegut
The pang of sadness that I felt when I read this morning that Kurt Vonnegut had left this mortal coil was a bit deeper than the mere fact that like a lot of folks of my generation I went head over heels over everything this counterculture idol wrote. As it is, I work in a rare book and manuscript library that includes the papers of Seymour Lawrence, Vonnegut's longtime … [Read more...] about God Bless You, Mr. Vonnegut
A New U.S. Motto: Crap and Corruption
Michael’s recent musings on how the United Kingdom has lost its mojo and whether it can get it back has set me to thinking about the United States and how abjectly corrupt it has become. There is barely a nook or cranny in the Land of the Free that hasn’t been tainted by inappropriate if not downright illegal conduct, be it influence peddling, graft, siphoning off monies … [Read more...] about A New U.S. Motto: Crap and Corruption
American vs. European Liberalism
A couple of days ago, an American commenter asked me why I kept on referring to "liberals" as "progressives". I explained that what is called "liberalism" in America these days is, in many ways, the opposite of what is called "liberalism" in Europe. In short, the term "liberalism" kept its meaning here, while it changed in America. Because I am a proud European liberal, I do … [Read more...] about American vs. European Liberalism
Tony Blair Blames Murders On Black Culture
Uh, oh. Is Great Britain's Tony Blair heading into Imus territory?:Tony Blair yesterday claimed the spate of knife and gun murders in London was not being caused by poverty, but a distinctive black culture. His remarks angered community leaders, who accused him of ignorance and failing to provide support for black-led efforts to tackle the problem. One accused him of … [Read more...] about Tony Blair Blames Murders On Black Culture
Take A Peek…..
...at Post An Apology. Here's a website with the finger on the pulse of 21st Century American culture. Its masthead describes the site perfectly: EVERYONE WANTS TO APOLOGIZE. The whole world is looking to apologize for something. Some do it well, and some need to get a grip. Post An Apology looks at our politics and culture to see who really IS sorry, who SHOULD BE … [Read more...] about Take A Peek…..
Shrunken Imus
RJ Matson, The New York Observer … [Read more...] about Shrunken Imus
Passed Over
The Texas legislature recently held a hearing on adding Bible classes to its public schools--an issue obviously important to Jews. Unfortunately, they scheduled it during Passover, so Jews couldn't attend. Was the act malicious or even intentional? I seriously doubt it. But it still matters from a religious liberty perspective, and here's why. UPDATE: Zora in the comments … [Read more...] about Passed Over
MSNBC TV says it will no longer simulcast ‘Imus in the Morning’
I'm really kind of sick of hearing about this jerk. MSNBC drops simulcast of Don Imus show Network apologizes to Rutgers women's basketball team for racial remarks … [Read more...] about MSNBC TV says it will no longer simulcast ‘Imus in the Morning’
The Boys Who Cried Voter Fraud
The New York Times reports that the Bush Administration modified a report on the 2006 elections, in which experts agreed that there was little evidence of voter fraud. The "edited" version now said there was "debate" on the subject. This is hardly surprising--it's been a GOP tactic for years to drum up allegations of voter fraud to depress turnout and deter legitimate voters … [Read more...] about The Boys Who Cried Voter Fraud
Novak: There Will Be A White House-Democrat Deal On Troop Funding
In his latest edition of his Evans-Novak Political Report, columnist Robert Novak says there will be a deal on troop funding, the "surge" is not working and that the U.S. is destined to start removing troops no matter what:# A bipartisan deal on the supplemental appropriations bill to finance the Iraq war appears to be in the books, with less talk now of a presidential veto … [Read more...] about Novak: There Will Be A White House-Democrat Deal On Troop Funding
High School Prepares for Jobs
A-hole Radio
And the Imus racist-sexist insult story goes on and on and on, the media turning it into something far more significant than it really is -- for example, the headline on Anderson Cooper last night: IMUS OUTRAGE. Honestly, big deal. I don't care for Don Imus -- I never have -- and what he said about the Rutgers women's basketball team was quite clearly racist and sexist. … [Read more...] about A-hole Radio
Think There’s Any Connection?
From Andrew Sullivan: The Bush administration doesn't quite realize it yet, but the president and vice-president will, in the future, become moral pariahs to a lot of people. Not pariah in the sense of Clinton, whose sexual addiction evokes both pity and anger that he kept lying about it. And not pariah in the sense of Nixon, who committed a crime against his opponents, his … [Read more...] about Think There’s Any Connection?
Captive Sailor Arthur Batchelor Apologizes for Selling HonorStory
This is London reports that "captive sailor Arthur Batchelor, who was dubbed Mr Bean by the Iranians, has apologised for selling his hostage ordeal story and 'letting the Navy down'."
More:
Seaman Batchelor's claim that he cried himself to sleep after his Iranian captors likened him to the comedy character Mr Bean made him a laughing stock.
One serving soldier posted: … [Read more...] about Captive Sailor Arthur Batchelor Apologizes for Selling HonorStory
Center of Attention
Read this post at the Daily Dish by Andrew Sullivan: Atheism and Mystery. A, in my opinion, very interesting post by Tarek Heggy at Winds of Change called "Two Historic Choices." The situation just after the second World War, U.S., Soviet Union, South Korea and North Korea. Jim writes (at The Impolitic) that U.S. president George W. Bush "is trying to find himself a man … [Read more...] about Center of Attention
Fred Thompson Has Lymphoma
Yet another new twist in the non-ending Presidential campaign comes from CNN:Potential GOP presidential candidate Fred Thompson has disclosed he has a treatable form of lymphoma, a source familiar to the "Law and Order" star's deliberations tells CNN's Candy Crowley. Lymphoma is a type of cancer that originates in the lymphatic glands -- part of the body's immune system. … [Read more...] about Fred Thompson Has Lymphoma