Owner: C.O.A.L.A. URL:http://www.coala72.blogspot.com Join Date: Fri, 21 Sep 2007 11:18:58 -0500 Rating:0 Site Description: Media, government, injustice, even humor; none are spared here! Fearless, biting, passionate and opinionated. Cub Scout to rabble-rouser, it's all here. 'Cause opinions are like ...come over and find out and get involved!
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Apathy is a Disease 2007-09-20 06:58:00 There is a cancer eating away at the heart of this nation. It it is silent, it is persistent, it is ubiquitous and it is fatal. It is easy to diagnose in others, but difficult to see in ourselves. It is apathy.The 11th Edition of the Concise O.E.D. defines apathy thusly: "Lack of interest or enthusiasm" The term comes to our language - via French and Latin- from the Greek apathes,which meant; "without feeling". This really hit home for me a few days ago. I was reading on another blog some of the justified outrage at the latest antics of the Bush dis-administration;the usual imperial designs. There was a voice in my head though that said something shocking; "So what else is new?" And boom, there it was. I had become as apathetic as those I would like to stand aside and judge. It hit me like a ton of bricks, but it was an unavoidable conclusion. I had become so deadened to the news of what these greedy, out of control bastards were up to, that I had retreated into that warm place wher Read more:Apathy
Truth-Tellers:an Endangered Species 2007-09-19 07:52:00 Where have all the truth tellers gone?This incident at UF the other day was the perfect opportunity for John Kerry to stand up to abuse, to put a stop to a wrong situation, in short, to be a leader. Instead, by all accounts I've read, he droned on in monotone and seemed to not notice the screaming man being ganged up on by five or six police officers.Kerry's office issued a press statement, eschewing yet another chance to do the right thing, to speak-or at least squeak- truth to power, instead, he said this:"In 37 years of public appearances, through wars, protests and highly emotional events, I have never had a dialogue end this way. I believe I could have handled the situation without interruption, but again I do not know what warnings or other exchanges transpired between the young man and the police prior to his barging to the front of the line andtheir intervention. I asked the police to allow me to answer the question and was in the process of answering him when he was taken in Read more:Truth
, Endangered Species
This was at a Kerry speech? 2007-09-18 11:57:00 What the hell are they on down there in Florida? A man gets excited while asking some very serious questions and he's tasered, tackled and charged with disturbing the peace? Meyer attempted to ask Kerry
, a Democrat from Massachusetts, about his involvement in Skull and Bones, a secret society at Yale University, at the end of the speech's question-and-answer session.But when his microphone was cut off, Meyer began to scream in protest. Members of Accent, Student Government's speakers bureau, cut off the microphone because Meyer used profanity, said Steven Blank, Accent chairman. Accent sponsored the forum, which was held at the University Auditorium.Several officers attempted to remove Meyer from the microphone when he began "acting in a violent manner" and "pushing the officers," according to the report.Police said Meyer was told to comply with the officers, but he continued to resist."Don't Tase me, bro!" Meyer screamed as officers attempted to drag him outside the University Aud
Pandora and the Music Genome Project 2007-09-16 22:41:00 Okay, I freely admit it, I am not cool. I am on the dullest of dull edges. I say this because I just found out about this great site. I am currently listening to a radio station based around the band Rush. So far I have heard songs by Zeppelin, Faith No More and The Scorpions? Very interesting mix. This is really not worth writing about, but hell no one else is going to read this anyway, right? At any rate, I hope that, now that I've discovered Pandora
, it stays up. Read more:Music
, Project
, Genome
Thoughts on Britney 2007-09-16 06:18:00 I've seen the Chris Crocker video on Myspace.I've read that Sarah Ferguson, former Duchess of York had rushed to her defense.But I have a question; what does this tempest in a teapot really say about us?It is certainly true that, based on the footage I've seen, this was not Britney
at her finest. I would suspect that she was highly medicated for the performance, but this is strictly conjecture on my part. I found nothing objectionable about her appearance save for the lamentable fact that she decided to wear a bra and panties on the show. But then, I am not one of these that reads the signs of her doom in the fact that she does not look anorexic anymore.So the story was that this former icon, a very real woman who, in all likelihood had no idea what she was in for by becoming a celebrity, fell on her face in front of a large audience. In that moment, many of us were returned to adolescence; to that one precious moment when we saw our bullies brought low by circumstance. There could
dems and repubs: two sides of the same coin 2007-09-15 14:40:00 I am greeted by headlines every time I turn on my browser that affirm that the Idiot-in-Chief is just as detached from reality as he has been since he stole the election in 2000. I also read the occasional blurb that glowingly indicates that the Democratic party has finally found the courage that it lost. My problem with the latter? It's a load of crap.There is no courage in that hole that we call our nation's capital, at least not that we'd hear about on the news. You see, these same Dems, including most of the ones running for office right now, are the very ones that gave Bush the passes that he needed to ram his agenda up our collective unmentionables.There have been at least one hundred chances for these sniveling, self-interested cowards to throw it all on the line and take a stand - on the record - in pointing out that the emperor has no clothes. Here a but a few examples:The election debacle of 2000- as popularized by Michael Moore's documentary, Fahrenheit 9/11, there
Focus 2007-09-15 09:55:00 What is this, this weblog thing here?Is it an ego stroke?Money-making scheme?Attention cry?Time killer?Guide to the world as seen by one small man?I would say that it was my small, dark corner of the virtual town square, but that, the analogy is flawed. You see, in the genuine town square of the physical world, somebody at least, would hear the nut over in the corner if he but yelled loudly enough. But here in the vastness of the internet, it is possible for entire legions of men and women to scream their heads off and be rewarded by nothing more than their own echoes.But that is no shame, for, in this age of increasing isolation, even the act of speaking out in a public space - no matter how vast - can become a liberating experience. So there it is; this is my declaration to the world - that of the spirit and xml code - that I am here, that I have a voice and that I am not afraid to use it. Read more:Focus
New Developments 2007-09-14 13:48:00 This town is exactly like yours.That is, as long as you live in the United States of Incorporated America, if not then the above statement is not true.The sad fact of the matter is that, to drive down most of this nation's main thoroughfares these days is to live in a perpetual state of deja vu. Whether one is in Pittsburgh, Cleveland, or Bozeman, one can find the same sequence of buildings repeated over and over again.This is real life by rote.I'll offer no free publicity here, but you all know the names of the places that can be found along these strips of car-powered paradise. Here is the huge discount store, flanked by a couple of homey generic eatery/sports-bar type places. Across the road there - don't dare attempt to walk over - is the multiplex and the huge book store. Also there are some of those drive-thru restaurants if you don't have time to stop for some tater-skins and beer.You know the type of place; if you're not jazzed up enough already, you can stop at that c
2007-09-13 21:32:00 While we're on the subject of cell phones and those who don't always use them properly, here's another thought for your mind to munch upon: Step away from the crowd when taking that call from your b.f.f. It's not that we're not all fascinated by what so-and-so wore to the party the other night, or how much of a punk her boyfriend is; it's more that we don't really give a damn at all! I know that this is horribly presumptuous of me, and that I will likely be accused of "making that shit up," but consider for a moment the origin of telephones in public. Here of course I am not referring to cellular phones at all, but the - now defunct - phone booth. This nifty little blast from the past, aside from being a great place for Superman to change and a versatile port-a-can for the homeless on the go, was actually designed to keep everyone else from having to listen to the private conversations of others. Perhaps I'm looking at this from the wrong perspective; maybe the next time
People texting while driving... wtf? 2007-09-13 13:30:00 What the hell is wrong with people these days? Not much more enjoyable than to be driving down the interstate, minding your own beeswax, when suddenly another vehicle tries to occupy the same space as yours. Just kind of makes you feel alive, you know? What's better though, is when -same situation- you see that the driver of the offending vehicle is frantically thumbing away on their cell phone! This is a matter of some import folks, so let me make it abundantly clear: That is a several thousand pound rocket you are in control of there idiot, pay some attention to it! Don't get me started on those stupid assholes with dvd monitors in the front seat, much less the geniuses with the two seaters who mount monitors on the back of their seats. Don't be idiots folks, repeat after me," I will try not to be an idiot today, because Red-Beard said so."Good.
Different Perspectives on World Events 2007-09-28 10:19:00 I don't know about you folks, but I have grown so tired of hearing this expert and that shill for the dis-administration talk about Iraq; that I forgot that the Iraqi people can still speak for themselves. If only we would listen. Here's a taste, follow the links for more. A statement by the National Front Dialogue(sic), Iraqi educators and Iraq oil worker unions in Basra, Baghdad and other Iraqi governorates(sic), says that the nation must rise up and confront the "greatest conspiracy of our times" being perpetrated by the American occupation in collusion with the so-called government of Nouri Al-Maliki, to steal Iraq's oil wealth with a bill that has been ratified by the government of the Green Zone and deposited with the so-called Parliament.The oil bill is to be voted upon in accordance with the plans of the White House, and would complete the task which has long been sought by Bush: The theft and outright looting of Iraq's central source of wealth (oil). This is the task that Read more:World
Liberal Media? Only if you’re a Fascist 2007-09-26 21:56:00 The chances are very good that few of you will be surprised by what you are about to read, but I have to warn you anyway, because I care. The media does not have a liberal bias. That's right; here are some other things that you might think are true but have no appreciable proof to support and are therefore false: 1. There really is no Santa Claus 2. The Earth is not flat. 3. The first three Star Wars movies were much, much better than the most recent ones. 4. George W. Bush was not elected in 2000.Should I continue, or am I beating the proverbial dead horse? That folks still believe this old lie is a testament to the powerful poison that the conservative propaganda machines, such as the fox noise channel, have been spewing out for the past several years. Truly though, even the O’Reillys and the Limbaughs – as well as the wing-nuts here in the blogosphere know in their little pink hearts that this is a lie. They perpetuate the lie however, because it gives them an “other” aga Read more:Liberal
, Liberal Media
Have you ever wondered what became of the “customer”? 2007-09-25 14:02:00 This might date me a bit, but, when I was younger, both advertisers and the media used to refer to the critters that bought stuff as, can you guess? Customers. Imagine that. Somewhere along the way, however, the parlance changed – some might say, eaten up – by a disturbing little slap in the face to every thinking man and woman; the consumer. As I said, I don’t know when it happened, but there it was. All of the sudden we went from being customers to a hoard of grubby little eaters, drinkers and users of whatever crap is on sale that day. Customer and consumer: a comparison.Customer – n. 1. A person who buys goods or services from a shop or business.Now, isn’t that nice? Customers go into stores, or shops, or what have you, and buy things or services. Now let us get beyond the literal definition and into the realm of the real world (you know, the physical, temporal and spatial one in which we ‘consume’ stuff).This term brings to mind what we would like to happen when Read more:ever wondered
The Real News 2007-09-23 08:45:00 Anyone interested in actual news; you know the kind that's more interested in the truth than ratings or advertiser relationships (or profits), should check this out: The Real News. The Real News
A Radical Notion 2007-09-22 08:00:00 Here's my radical idea for the day: Pull all of our troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan and let private armies like Blackwater do all the fighting and dying. Sound crazy? Not as much as you might think. You see, we are talking about an organization that has some 20,000 employees worldwide, has a small fleet of aircraft -including helicopter gunships- lots of armored hum-vees, and more. The company says that it only has 1000 contractors (guards, soldiers, pick your term), in Iraq at the moment. However if we factor in the personnel from the other private security firms, that operate in-country, that figure rises to approximately 100,000; just forty thousand or so less than the number of troops there currently. Sure, that would still be a loss in the war for oil taking place over there, but we could always encourage Haliburton (one of the contractors building military bases in Iraq and also responsible for much of the logistical support that used to be handled by our military), to branc Read more:Radical
Think We've Got it Bad Here? Try Pakistan 2007-10-01 11:38:00 Like many folks born and raised here in the good old U.S.of A. in the last thirty years, I tend to have something of a love/hate relationship with my home (this should not come as a shock to those of you who have been here before).I decry the unfairness of the faulty election laws here; I lament the dearth of any genuine discourse between the two, tumor-laden hemispheres of the political brain. I mourn for the damage done to the bedrock of the nation by the actions of the current administration. But through it all I am reminded again today that; damn it's good to be in America! Case in point (follow the link for more). More than 10,000 riot police and plainclothes officers were stationed around the court and the nearby Electoral Commission offices, where the nomination papers for 43 presidential hopefuls, including Musharraf, were being scrutinized for eligibility. Some 1,000 lawyers and political workers brandishing banners and shouting "Go, Musharraf go!" were forcibly prevented fro Read more:Pakistan
Link Issues 2007-10-13 14:43:00 It has been brought to my attention that the enclosure links on several previous posts did not point to the sources that they were intended to. Sorry for the inconvenience. I will fix those as soon as I can. Read more:Issues
New Media Vs. Old Media? Part 2 2007-10-11 19:18:00 Adherence to the Status Quo: This is another filter used by the old media that hinders the education of the public.When was the last time that you heard,saw, or read a news report in which a "regular" person was asked to weigh in on the issues of the day? Probably been awhile huh? Recall the old-fashioned "man on the street" interview? Why don't we hear from these people who are, after all, just like us? Do not regular people have something to say? Or is it perhaps that some regular folks might say something that the O.M. doesn't want anyone to hear. This is not a question of paranoia or conspiracy; it is a matter of fact. The very day after 9/11, the Bushists had the gall to tell the American people to go shopping, to go to work, to go right on living life as if nothing terrible had just happened the day before. What did the O.M. do? They carried the message just as though this was the best advice ever.Oh certainly the editorial pages were full of hand-wringing over "why they hate u Read more:New Media
New Media Vs. Old Media? Part 1 2007-10-11 12:18:00 It has been a couple of years since the old media was forced to look at the impact that the new media was having on the former's bread and butter. Despite my hopes, there are still those who believe that the papers and the t.v. stations have the market cornered for reliability. This is thanks in part to the way that the old media framed the issue; as a debate pitting old on one side, and new on the other.This either-or mentality is a perfect fit for an industry that is experiencing serious competition for the first time. Naturally, it also makes for a bold headline, but is it true? Of course not! The biggest difference between new media and old is the system of filters used to bring the news to us.To clarify for those of you who are not familiar with the process (thanks Journalism 101!); most major networks and newspapers are not primary news sources. They often have deep resources by way of reporters and editors - though many have made significant cut-backs lately - but it is rel Read more:New Media
Who is the "Public" in NPR? 2007-10-10 14:13:00 This is so hot that it's burning my fingertips -and other things besides. I just caught a few moments of Talk of the Nation a little while ago. This is a program that I have had issues with since Ray Suarez left the hosting gig.The topic of "discussion" was the weak dollar and how it is affecting "your" business interests. There was an (I'm assuming) economist there to explain away any and all concerns that any of the listeners might have had about this issue. A couple of the callers expressed views that were both positive and negative, and the show's current host, Neal Conan, responded as empathetically or exuberantly as necessary. But one caller in particular (disclaimer: the man's voice reminded me of my late Grandfather), struck close to home. The man expressed dismay at the fact that, as far as he could tell, Conan and guest seemed to be saying that the weak dollar was good for business and bad for consumers (you know I hate that word, but that is how he put it).First of all, Read more:Public
Furious Awakening 2007-10-09 20:43:00 I've been thinking quite a bit about my attitude with world events lately. Oftentimes I feel that I'm too harsh and critical about what's going on, but for the last few days, it has occurred to me that perhaps it is good to be angry sometimes. If you are curious as to why that is, click the link above; if not, don't let the door hit you on your way out. Looking at the state of the nation and, by extension, the world, it has been all too easy for me to find fault in the actions - or inactions - of others. Let me tell you what you are doing wrong... But in pointing a finger at you, I leave three more pointed at myself. I have written about apathy before, but does that imply that I am free from it? I wish. If anything, I see now that its talons were deeper in the flesh of my soul than I had believed previously.fury-n. 1.extreme anger. 2.extreme strength or violence in an action or a natural phenomenon. 3. (Greek Mythology) a spirit of punishment, often represented as one of thr
One More Band Aid on a Gunshot Wound 2007-10-04 21:34:00 So the House of Representatives has voted to bind all security contractors operating in Iraq and Afghanistan to the U.S. criminal code. Yay, they've gotten something accomplished, right? According to Peter Singer of the Brookings Institution, as many as twenty crimes involving PSCs have already been reported to the Department of Justice. The new legislation would ensure that "They just disappear into the black hole of the DOJ. Adding that, " The bill does its best to sort of force the hand of the executive branch to do something about contractors, but at the end of the day, the ball will be in the executive branch's hands to act or not."I feel that, for clarity's sake, I must point out something here. Forgive me if this is already common knowledge to you.The Federal Bureau of Investigation falls under the purview of the Department of Justice, which, in turn, is a part of the executive branch, get it? Congress just gave this issue to the president to deal with! Not only that, but t
Beating the Drum (softly) 2007-10-03 20:33:00 So here we are again. It almost feels like 2002 again. We've already had a highly decorated military official spin yarns for us about the increased role in the Iraq theater that Iran has played(oh Petraeus, where was your vial of white powder?).One of the few differences in the media treatment of this dangerous game, is its general timid response to the hawks cries for war. Of course the usual suspects - primarily networks named after animals - are bleating holy hell that the apocalypse is upon us; perhaps Achmedinejad's name means 666 in numerology? - but everyone else seems content to play it a tad more subtly this time around.Make no mistake however; they are playing it. A recent report compiled by the Project for Excellence in Journalism(link above), found that, for the "week of Sept.23-28 the subject of Iran(dominated by Ahmadinejad's trip) accounted for 13% of all news coverage.The report went on to point out that, out of the forty-eight sources representing five different
Love Those Gutsy Dems and Repugs! 2007-10-19 16:01:00 This is one that you guys have got to check out; D.C. comics at its worst.Many of you are probably aware that, according to testimony delivered by the former head of Qwest Communications, our good friends at the N.S.A. were requesting phone records from them before 9/11.This is crazy and evil enough - not exactly high comedy, eh? But those wacky congressional guys and gals get 'aholt' of it and, look out below!House leaders were ready to vote on a measure that would have limited the ability of the spooks to engage in such shenanigans (at least without some judicial review), again. The Senate has been looking closely at this issue as well.According to the NYT, "The Democratic measure would have sought to restore some of the restrictions on the security agency's wiretapping powers that had been loosened under a temporary measure approved by Congress just before their August recess.The republicans, however, in an effort to inject a bit of sad comedy into my life, had other plans. The r
Seriously Deep Doo-Doo 2007-10-18 23:01:00 Well, we knew that it had to catch up to us sometime or another; seven years of not playing well with others, on top of several decades of clandestine meddling in the affairs of the rest of the world. The universe is a big place, justice tends to take its time.What's that you say?"But I thought that everything was just peachy; sure, we might have hit a rough patch over in Iraq, but everyone else just thinks we're the bees-knees, right?""Right?"Well there silly American, let me point out a few things to you. Firstly, as you so astutely indicated, the Iraqis didn't greet us quite as warmly as we had hoped they would.But that, as they say, is was just the tip of the old iceberg. Here's a little number that you might remember, call it, "Now we're semi-democratic and we don't need your approval anymore", sung (badly). to the tune of I Can't Fight This Feeling Anymore.Who's singing this little dittie? Good old Vladmir "George is my soul buddy" Putin.Putin Tells U.S. not to strike Ira Read more:Seriously
2007-10-18 17:02:00 Note to self; do not start multiple post article before going on vacation for five days. Will be updating shortly. Thanks and apologies to those of you who are anxiously awaiting the next golden words from my keyboard; you make it happen!!! ;)
God Bless Kansas! 2007-10-23 13:36:00 Let me just start off by disclaiming that I have never in my life set foot in the state of Kansas
, but I'm happy for good news wherever it comes from. It would seem that the Kansas Department of Health and the Environment just said no to coal. Roderick L. Bremby declined to issue a permit for the coal-fired plant on the basis that, "it would be irresponsible to ignore emerging information about the contribution of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases to climate change and the potential to harm our environment and health if we do nothing." Strong words for a state level public servant, an even stronger statement given the clout that the energy industry wields in this country. This kind of thing tends to, if given the appropriate coverage, jar the memories of us regular folks. We get so caught up in all the hoopla in D.C., or Iraq, or anywhere else but here, that we tend to forget that every state (or Commonwealth) still has the right to set its own rules in the face of corpor Read more:Bless
White Spaces Spectrum, Ahhh Yeahhh 2007-10-22 21:41:00 Here's something to (hopefully), look forward to for those of us beholden to either a, the one cable or DSL provider in the area, or b, those of us who have to access the web via dial-up; low-cost, fast, wireless broadband.There is a move afoot to open up some of the analog spectrum currently used to broadcast t.v. channels 5-51 and use it to set up wireless service in every market. The companies involved in this process are not little mom and pops either; these are the heavy hitters in the digital world. Microsoft, Google, Dell, and HP to name a few, are all working together as the White
Space Coalition. As the name implies, there are many issues that these companies do not see eye to eye on, but they are willing to set aside their differences to push this movement through. It should go without saying that they will benefit from it, but, for once, so would the rest of us.Read for Yourself Naturally there are bigger fish that would like to get in the way of this party; you wou Read more:Spectrum
Proof That Truth is Stranger Than Fiction? 2007-10-22 07:48:00 .If you are anything like me, and most people are to some extent, then you probably fall into the habit of thinking in ruts. This seems to be one of the more lamentable features of humanity. Some common examples of this phenomena would be: that cop behind you on the freeway is just looking for a reason to pull you over, all republicans are as evil as Bush and Cheney, people with southern accents are always less intelligent than others, just to name a few.Such habits lend themselves to sloth in mental processes; it is far easier for me to rely on my faulty mental map of reality than to make the effort to accept the real world. What has this got to do with anything? Let me tell you a couple of my personal thought ruts. First, wealthy people tend to be wrong based on the fact of their wealth (these are not very nuanced views for the purpose of this post, but then, neither are the sterotypes that these ruts lead to). Secondly and in close relation to the first, leftist actions tend to Read more:Proof
, Truth
, Stranger
, Fiction
Why Does the FCC Even Exist? 2007-10-21 06:46:00 By Now, you've probably heard that Kevin J. Martin, chair of the FCC, has tried to quickly eliminate rules on media-ownership. The move has brought criticism from unlikely quarters, with Sens. Byron Dorgan and Trent Lott calling on the commission to slow its roll. The particular rules in question currently (on paper at least), prohibit a newspaper from owning a t.v. station in the same market; provided that the station in question is not one of the four largest in the market in question and the moon is in the seventh house - the rules are admittedly a tad archaic. The qualification above is used to demonstrate the fact that, in spite of these, still extant, rules, the comission has granted "temporary" waivers to several media outlets over the past few years; hence the move to get rid of them entirely because the station reps have to fly to D.C. every six months to get their waviers validated (I think I made that last part up).Chomping at the bit to get rid of these - and all other -
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