"We are choosing our presidential candidates the way we choose our favorite television shows, by which one generates the most advertising revenue for the broadcaster." - http://bit.ly/wTxXeX

Back in the good old days when I was a newsman a century or so ago, newspapers and even TV used to cover candidates with some degree of depth, equality and even ( Read more... )

You know you live in a police state when...

A powerful essay by Sherwood Ross that dares speak the truth, even though nobody is listening.

http://www.smirkingchimp.com/print/41209/

In 1983 I was working at the Miami News on the sixth floor of the Miami Herald building in Miami overlooking Biscayne Bay when Christo and Jeanne-Claude produced a fascinating art project, Surrounded Islands.

I happen to think of this the other day and was chagrined to find that I had no real memory of it. I was there, know what happened, had a ( Read more... )

 I have a friend who, for reasons unfathomable to me, disdains the Occupy heroes. He recently wrote me what he called "the creed and religion of the Occupy deadbeats" -- "I have a dream, that one day ALL bums, stoners, drunks, losers and creeps will be given the handouts we demand. So, my fellow unoccupied bums, ask NOT what we can do for society, ( Read more... )

The AP style book was my Bible all my years in the newspaper business. Not that I actually paid much attention to it. Most of it was common sense, a lot of it arcane, and some of it verging on silly.

It used to say, for example, that all federal agencies or departments must be referred to by their full official titles the first time you wrote about ( Read more... )

There is a disconnect in society as high-end retailers like Saks, Tiffany, and Neiman Marcus report record sales as the 1% feel confident and flush with cash. Meanwhile, real median income is lower than it was in 2001. It seems tax cuts didn't lift all boats, just the yachts.

The average Joe pays twice as much for a gallon of gas and 50% more for ( Read more... )

"The banks and the rating agencies have become the dictators of the West," Robert Fisk says, cutting through the smoke screen put up by the politicians and the corporate media.

"Like the Mubaraks and Ben Alis, the banks believed - and still believe - they are owners of their countries. The elections which give them power have - through the ( Read more... )

I can barely remember my newspaper days when a newsman actually took pride in his job and honestly thought he/she was producing something of value.

Shocking News Cast

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9MGOckIzlU&feature=email

I got a Christmas Wish List from a friend a bit right of me that included:
Obama: Gone! Borders: Closed! Language: English! Culture: Constitution, and the Bill of Rights! Drug Free: Mandatory Drug Screening before Welfare! No Freebies to: Non-Citizens! Balanced Budget! -FLAT TAX! and TERM LIMITS FOR CONGRESS - Only 86% will send this on.

I replied ( Read more... )

( Read more... )