More on the media's failure to adequately question the president during the propoganda blitz to approve the war in Iraq.
Katie Couric and a former MSNBC reporter both report pressure from within their network's corporations to match the country's then-fervor of patriotism following 9/11.
The Huffington Post (David Fiderer) is reporting that NBC and MSNBC News anchors Tom Brokaw and Brian Williams failed to report in their news shows about the March 7, 2003 findings by Muhamed ElBaradei and the International Atomic Energy Agency that there was no evidence to support the administration's claim that Iraq had even tried to create atomic weapons. This was eleven days before the invasion. The administration's own team later validated the ElBaradei findings.
To this day, NBC and MSNBC have failed to report on the story accurately, according to Fiderer. David Williams and David Gregory, of NBC, both state that their news channel had insufficient access to the inspectors or that the right questions were asked or that their job is not to debate the president, just to ask questions. Fiderer feels that NBC and its anchor and reporter are dissembling, since they knew and know that the weapons of mass destruction argument had serious flaws after the ElBaradei report to the UN (Andrea Mitchell, of NBC News was there as the report was given to the UN by ElBaradei on March 7, 2003).
Likewise, Dan Bartlett, formerly part of the Bush Administration, has said that the administration relied on faulty intelligence. But Fiderer believes that the media and the administration are "liars or or manipulators or propagandists" to use Bartlett's words. Fiderer calls Bartlett an out-and-out liar since the administration knew its WMD claim was bogus after the ElBaradei report.
I guess that I have to cross NBC news off my list as an accurate news source now, along with ABC. That leaves CBS, whose beleaguered anchor, Katie Couric, remains alone in her condemnation of media coverage, including her own.
I'd rather have someone be honest about their past failings than suffer the indignity of someone who tries to obfuscate their own complicity in the administration's unfettered propoganda campaign.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
She Says Tomato, He Says, "What?"
What do you know? There are biological reasons why men act the way they do and why women do the things they do. It's kind of God's little joke on all of the straight people out there.
CNN has an interesting article on research about the biological actions behind what each sex does that drives the opposite sex crazy.
It's interesting, but I think they need to study same-sex couples and see how their theories play out.
For example, if testosterone cancels out the oxytocin that is released during sex that makes women want to cuddle, why do many gay men like to cuddle after sex? Our testosterone levels are the same as straight men. Granted, most like to cuddle as they fall asleep after sex, but cuddling is there, all the same.
My theory has more to do with body temperature. Personally, spooning is fun, but it is too hot to have someone that close to you for very long. I begin to feel like I"m burning up with all the body heat being reflected back.
I've also known a few lesbians who like action flicks more than romantic films, too. There is something more afoot than this article explains.
Now if they can explain male pattern blindness (not seeing the ketchup right in front of them in the refrigerator), then they may have something.
CNN has an interesting article on research about the biological actions behind what each sex does that drives the opposite sex crazy.
It's interesting, but I think they need to study same-sex couples and see how their theories play out.
For example, if testosterone cancels out the oxytocin that is released during sex that makes women want to cuddle, why do many gay men like to cuddle after sex? Our testosterone levels are the same as straight men. Granted, most like to cuddle as they fall asleep after sex, but cuddling is there, all the same.
My theory has more to do with body temperature. Personally, spooning is fun, but it is too hot to have someone that close to you for very long. I begin to feel like I"m burning up with all the body heat being reflected back.
I've also known a few lesbians who like action flicks more than romantic films, too. There is something more afoot than this article explains.
Now if they can explain male pattern blindness (not seeing the ketchup right in front of them in the refrigerator), then they may have something.
Vex, Lies and Videotape
President Bush and his administration played loose with the truth, according to Scott McClellan, in his new book. This comes as no surprise to most of us, but I know people who still have willingly blinded themselves to the truth.
McClellan goes on to say that he uniknowingly passed on lies about the Valerie Plame scandel. He didn't discover that they were lies until two years later when the press dug up the truth.
On the Today Show this morning, there was a discussion from the three anchors of the three major networks about whether McClellan's assertion that the press failed to ask the tough questions was true. Katie Couric acknowledged that there was a lot of pressure put on the press by McClellan and the administration to report things their way. She said that the Today Show didn't give in, but speculated that the pressure had to have affected coverage.
Brian Williams agreed that coverage could have been better. Charlie Gibson was alone in thinking that the right questions were asked and he wouldn't change anything (which immediately made me check off ABC as an unreliable news source).
Interestingly, I watch NBC and CBS, but never watch ABC. I still respect Dan Rather for trying to stand up to the administration's propaganda machine, albeit with the wrong information. At least he tried, while ABC politely shirked its duty and still fails to acknowledge its failure.
Sadly, none of this will convince those who willingly blind themselves to the truth. I have relatives in Texas who will die supporting Bush, against all the evidence that will continue to come out after he leaves office.
I am happy that McClellan has a conscious and came clean, though. Perhaps the evil empire isn't all evil after all.
McClellan goes on to say that he uniknowingly passed on lies about the Valerie Plame scandel. He didn't discover that they were lies until two years later when the press dug up the truth.
On the Today Show this morning, there was a discussion from the three anchors of the three major networks about whether McClellan's assertion that the press failed to ask the tough questions was true. Katie Couric acknowledged that there was a lot of pressure put on the press by McClellan and the administration to report things their way. She said that the Today Show didn't give in, but speculated that the pressure had to have affected coverage.
Brian Williams agreed that coverage could have been better. Charlie Gibson was alone in thinking that the right questions were asked and he wouldn't change anything (which immediately made me check off ABC as an unreliable news source).
Interestingly, I watch NBC and CBS, but never watch ABC. I still respect Dan Rather for trying to stand up to the administration's propaganda machine, albeit with the wrong information. At least he tried, while ABC politely shirked its duty and still fails to acknowledge its failure.
Sadly, none of this will convince those who willingly blind themselves to the truth. I have relatives in Texas who will die supporting Bush, against all the evidence that will continue to come out after he leaves office.
I am happy that McClellan has a conscious and came clean, though. Perhaps the evil empire isn't all evil after all.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Sharon's Stone
Sharon Stone is making news in Asia over her reported comment that the earthquake in China was karma coming home to roost for the Chinese who were mistreating the Tibetans. At first I feared that she had crossed over to the Pat Robertson School of Mystical Retribution.
Actually, she said something slightly different. She said that she's upset with China's treatment of Tibetans. She wondered what to do about the Olympics and the way the Chinese treat the Dalai Lama. Then the earthquake occurred and she thought to herself, "Is that karma [for the way they treat the Tibetans]?"
But she went on to say that a Tibetan organization contacted her to help with publicity to help them go to China to help with relief efforts. That humbled her and she realized that she was wrong. She said she needed to be more like them to be able to be a servant to those who do you wrong.
Her comment was about her personal moral lesson, not about her original comment about karma and earthquakes.
But as usual, that was not as interesting to the reporters as her internal question about whether the earthquake was karma or not and what she had learned from her uncharitable thought.
Here is the piece. I found the Asian portion very uninformative with the Chinese subtitles and presumably Japanese language, but the reporter goes on to speak English with other reporters from other parts of the world.
Actually, she said something slightly different. She said that she's upset with China's treatment of Tibetans. She wondered what to do about the Olympics and the way the Chinese treat the Dalai Lama. Then the earthquake occurred and she thought to herself, "Is that karma [for the way they treat the Tibetans]?"
But she went on to say that a Tibetan organization contacted her to help with publicity to help them go to China to help with relief efforts. That humbled her and she realized that she was wrong. She said she needed to be more like them to be able to be a servant to those who do you wrong.
Her comment was about her personal moral lesson, not about her original comment about karma and earthquakes.
But as usual, that was not as interesting to the reporters as her internal question about whether the earthquake was karma or not and what she had learned from her uncharitable thought.
Here is the piece. I found the Asian portion very uninformative with the Chinese subtitles and presumably Japanese language, but the reporter goes on to speak English with other reporters from other parts of the world.
Cupcake Camp
I'm intrigued. Wired Magazine's website has a note about a cupcake camp in San Francisco. Anyone who knows me knows of my tragic weakness; baked goods are to me as crack cocaine is to a crack ho. It is an addiction that I only barely keep under control.
Cupcake camp is based on the barcamp paradigm, which is a deceiving name. The name is derived from foobar, not from the dispensaries of alcoholic beverages. Foobar is a placeholder name or variable used in software coding. Barcamps are basically open source software coding meetings that are set up via the internet.
It turns out that in this case, the cupcake camp is legit. People are getting together to eat cupcakes, organized entirely on the internet, thus combining two of my addictions in one neatly frosted package.
The meeting is held on Sunday June 1 in San Francisco. Detes are here.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Leap of Faith
A photographer risked it all to get a picture of the perfect Grand Canyon sunset. He leaped eight feet across the chasm to get to a rocky pinnacle to take the picture and then leaped back, resulting in a heart stopping moment when he only had one hand gripping on the rockface.Story and pics here.
Larry Craig Bobblefeet
The St. Paul Saints, a Twin Cities minor baseball league team, is offering a Minneapolis Airport Bathroom Stall Bobblefeet figure for fundraising.No word from Senator Larry Craig on if the figure's feet accurately reflect a wide enough stance or not.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
MUNI Nazi
I tell my friends and family visiting the city to never ask a bus driver or other MUNI operator for directions, help or any assistance. They are downright grouchy, grumpy and rude.
Instead, I tell them, ask anyone else from San Francisco. Unlike any other city where I've traveled, San Franciscans transit riders are polite to a fault. They will give you directions, help you find the right bus and even give restaurant suggestions.
But we all know that the MUNI Nazis are downright mean. Now we have proof.
It took Channel 7 (ABC) two years and a lawsuit to get MUNI to release its complaint records. We now know the name of the grouchiest, rudest, and PMSiest operator of all.
Cynthia Thompson has had 139 complaints in three years. That doesn't count the ones that MUNI didn't think deserved any action. She has more complaints against her than any other operator.
Some Quotes:
May 18, 2004: “The operator was on her cell phone from the time she boarded … until she got off.”
January 26, 2005: “She reminds me of the ‘Soup Nazi’ on Seinfeld.”
September 13, 2004: “Extremely rude and unnecessarily rude toward passengers.”
January 2, 2006: “Operator was clipping her nails while driving the bus.”
March 23, 2005: “Close doors on patron’s wrist. Patron had to pull his wrist out to avoid being dragged by the bus.”
October 3, 2005: “The rudest, most disrespectful operator this patron has ever seen.”
Channel 7 had to go ride her bus to get to talk to her. Within minutes, she trapped a little girl's foot in the door. (Click link to see undercover video.)
Soon afterward she committed the unpardonable sin in San Francisco - she used her horn on a car parked in the bus lane. A passenger objected to her use of the horn and she cusses him out and calls the transit police on him. (Click link to see undercover video.)
Both of these were on the same bus ride on the same day! Unfortunately, she is not alone.
I've had my ability to read called into question by train operators. It was my first ride on the train outside the subway. The doors don't open automatically in the Avenues like they do in the subway, even if you step down like you do on buses. The signs telling you to push the almost indistinguishable bar are helpfully placed at shin height.
My 70 year-old mother was treated rudely for asking if she was going the right direction when traveling home by bus while I was in the hospital. But the riders gallantly came to her rescue and verified that she was going the right direction and made sure she knew where to get off the bus.
But for every rude driver, there seems to be one or two that really shine. My nephew and I were on a bus earlier this month. The driver was one of the most friendly and helpful drivers I've ever encountered anywhere.
I wish I'd gotten his name or number so I could have written and praised him to his supervisors. If Ms. Thompson is the MUNI Nazi, he is surely the MUNI Saint.
Instead, I tell them, ask anyone else from San Francisco. Unlike any other city where I've traveled, San Franciscans transit riders are polite to a fault. They will give you directions, help you find the right bus and even give restaurant suggestions.
But we all know that the MUNI Nazis are downright mean. Now we have proof.
It took Channel 7 (ABC) two years and a lawsuit to get MUNI to release its complaint records. We now know the name of the grouchiest, rudest, and PMSiest operator of all.
Cynthia Thompson has had 139 complaints in three years. That doesn't count the ones that MUNI didn't think deserved any action. She has more complaints against her than any other operator.
Some Quotes:
May 18, 2004: “The operator was on her cell phone from the time she boarded … until she got off.”
January 26, 2005: “She reminds me of the ‘Soup Nazi’ on Seinfeld.”
September 13, 2004: “Extremely rude and unnecessarily rude toward passengers.”
January 2, 2006: “Operator was clipping her nails while driving the bus.”
March 23, 2005: “Close doors on patron’s wrist. Patron had to pull his wrist out to avoid being dragged by the bus.”
October 3, 2005: “The rudest, most disrespectful operator this patron has ever seen.”
Channel 7 had to go ride her bus to get to talk to her. Within minutes, she trapped a little girl's foot in the door. (Click link to see undercover video.)
Soon afterward she committed the unpardonable sin in San Francisco - she used her horn on a car parked in the bus lane. A passenger objected to her use of the horn and she cusses him out and calls the transit police on him. (Click link to see undercover video.)
Both of these were on the same bus ride on the same day! Unfortunately, she is not alone.
I've had my ability to read called into question by train operators. It was my first ride on the train outside the subway. The doors don't open automatically in the Avenues like they do in the subway, even if you step down like you do on buses. The signs telling you to push the almost indistinguishable bar are helpfully placed at shin height.
My 70 year-old mother was treated rudely for asking if she was going the right direction when traveling home by bus while I was in the hospital. But the riders gallantly came to her rescue and verified that she was going the right direction and made sure she knew where to get off the bus.
But for every rude driver, there seems to be one or two that really shine. My nephew and I were on a bus earlier this month. The driver was one of the most friendly and helpful drivers I've ever encountered anywhere.
I wish I'd gotten his name or number so I could have written and praised him to his supervisors. If Ms. Thompson is the MUNI Nazi, he is surely the MUNI Saint.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Sunset (Pennsylvania) Avenue
This is pretty funny if you are straight, but if you are a gay man with knowledge of classic films, this is hysterical. Sunset Boulevard is one of my favorite films.
First: The final scene from the original Sunset Boulevard. Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson) descends into madness after murdering her lover.
Second: The remake for Hillary Clinton. Anderson Cooper is her Cecil B. DeMille.
First: The final scene from the original Sunset Boulevard. Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson) descends into madness after murdering her lover.
Second: The remake for Hillary Clinton. Anderson Cooper is her Cecil B. DeMille.
30 Day Gay Wedding Planner
23/6, a satirical news site has provided it's 30 Day Gay Wedding Planner to assist all those rushing to the alter on June 14 in California.
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