Ramblings

Starved for entertainment I attended a 'Television Preview' event that showcases potential pilots for the broadcast networks along with some commercials. One of the last questions we were asked concerned normal everyday topics. And one asked are politics much "meaner" (their word not mine) than they have ever been. The collective groan of the audience assembled told me that most people think that they are. And heck, California isn't even in a battleground state. Having just been on a sojourn in two battleground states (Nevada and Arizona) I can attest that a level of hostility does exist that seems too have been stepped up in recent years. But I also offer the idea that politics has always been this mean and that now with the saturation of the media in our lives we are just a little more aware of just how mean it is. I attended an institution of higher learning that in some way can take claim for the current "politics of war" credo. When Nixon was ...

What would Alexander Pope say? Or Janis Joplin or even Martin Luther? I think quite honestly they would be flabbergasted at the lack of interest in what could be the most important election of our lifetime. The fact that a lot of Americans are undecided in this years presidential election is point of fact one that people just aren't paying attention. For years I have let political pundits and my neighbors alike say that they can't choose because the candidates are just so similar. Bush is a near fundamental Christian who shoots from the hip even if the gun is pointed at himself. Kerry is a think about the situation kind of guy who evaluates each situation independently of any prior decision he may have made. And what do the polls tell us? The race is neck and neck! That somehow people in about 6 states are going to decide our fate for the next four years. And the people in those select states; well let's just say they are waiting for the debates to make a final decisi...

The one thing you will note once you have watched Michael Moore's brave film Farenheit 9/11 , is that you will have the incredible need to have your say. Indeed that is what Moore's film is about in the first place: letting him have his say! Thus this blog is also for that reason: for me to have my say! The film employs some of Moore's trademark humorous juxtaposition of words and images. At the heart of the film is this underlying idea that Moore's opinion is true because of the sheer amount of evidence and documents he has to support his claim. As a side, Moore noted in an interview with David Letterman, that he has employed a team of researchers to combat any accusations that he lied by right-wing groups. In an apparent slight no such accusations have emerged, perhaps they feel that by ignoring the film altogether is the biggest slap they can muster. Rather than incite hate mail, I would rather profess my admiration for Moore in being brave enough to voice ...

For those of you that know me you are quite aware of my interest in the media. Heck, I majored in one of the most berated forms: broadcast journalism. In light of recent events surrounding media coverage I felt it was time for me to add my two cents. When I refer to media I am refering to those entities held accountable by the Federal Communications Commission. Leave it to a Jackson to spark off one of the most reactive policing of the media since the Reagan administration. Boobgate did more than titillate families across America it ignited a crackdown by the FCC on events it had previously let occur without batting an eye. Now Colin's son, Michael Powell, is positioning himself to reach Bible belt voters by going after the Howard Stern's and ... ur, Howard Stern's of the world. For those of you still skeptical this is all political, observe that before halftime commercials touting beer and pills that assist erectal disfunction took up most of the airwaves. Let's ...

Memorial Day dates back to the Civil War when Senator John A. Logan presented a resolution to Congress: "The 30th day of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet church-yard in the land. In this observance no form of ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit." With this declaration in 1868 Congress established a date in which we pay tribute to those men and woman brave enough to give their lives for our country. This year is especially poignant as it marks the 60th Anniversary of D-day; when our country joined forces to battle against Hitler's 3rd Reich. With this anniversary has come the inevitable wave of war movies broadcast on everything from ABC to AM...

Just when it seemed all was lost for the democratic party! A new man has come to the forefront, one who began the presidential process back in 2001, but who has come out of the primordial ooze to become the frontrunner for being the democratic nominee for president. I must admit I had given up on the upcoming presidential election; sadaam was caught, the economy was picking up and we were still supporting our leader while our troops risked their lives half way aroiund the globe. And on top of all that the media was touting Howard Dean as the candidate to beat; but one who could not possibly have beaten the current incumbent. About 10 primaries later: Dean is out and Kerry is in! I must admit I first heard about John Kerry back when he was clearing the skeletons out of his closet! Remember the shameful admission of impropriety while in Vietnam? I do? And I can honestly say whoever is running that campaign is pretty savvy to have begun it way back when no one was paying attention. ...