Let it roll ...

Watch out for the glare

2008-08-12T18:33:00.003-05:00

I don't know if I'm cool enough or retro enough to be able to pull this off. But it looks pretty damn cool. Not to mention out of my price range. It's here if you're so inclined.

Let's try this again

2008-08-12T18:15:00.002-05:00

So obviously I fail at the challenge of updating a blog on a regular basis. I keep saying I want to but somehow it slides to the wayside. But here goes another attempt. I've moved to the other side of the country and it seems like as good of a time as any to try to form a new habit.

So here goes ....

A "Miss"communication

2007-09-06T19:47:00.000-05:00

I know, this is old news but still ... it makes you wonder.

I am proud to say I got 60,000 hits on this story alone in 2 weeks. Pretty cool. Let's see if we can make it higher?

Vanishing into Nevada air

2007-09-06T19:18:00.000-05:00

I'm experimenting with the embedding process with Reuters. So far so good! So here's a piece on the missing US adventurer Steve Fossett.

Sad story really.

I'm here .. really ...

2007-09-06T16:17:00.000-05:00

I knew I was bad about posting but - 9 months ... that's just sad. I haven't been that busy but sometimes it feels that way.

So ... in an attempt at recovery prepare for a flurry of new posts. I'm thinking I will start featuring my hard work for Reuters. Maybe I'll get more hits that way.

stay tuned...

Not My Fault

2007-01-24T13:05:00.000-05:00

There seems to be a growing trend of passing the buck when it comes to politics. Well, maybe it's not growing, just more blatantly obvious.

What prompted this was former Rep. Bob Ney's sentencing. He just got 2 1/2 years in prison with a fine. And the latest excuse? I'm sorry I did this but my alcoholism is to blame.
Okay ....
I mean no disrespect to those suffering with alcoholism, that's not a joke. But, come on. I was involved in a lobbying scandal because I drank too much?

Kind of reminds me of Rep. Foley and when he admitted to the email and IM converstations and then said he was checking himself into rehab.

This is not a good trend to be starting ...

Dirty Jobs

2007-01-21T16:51:00.000-05:00

my new favorite show and something that makes me appreciate my job

Dirty Jobs

oh and the host is hilarious - watch it!

Snow!

2007-01-21T15:53:00.000-05:00

We finally have winter here in DC - not that I really want cold weather but at least if it's going to be this cold there's snow to go with it. Yay!

Plus it helps not having to leave the apartment or attempt to drive.

The view from my apartment a few hours ago

MLS rising from the dust?

2007-01-14T13:12:00.000-05:00

So Beckham is cool - I'm not going to lie

And I'm gonna try to get tickets to LA Galaxy/ DC United games

but is it really going to help our attempt at soccer in the US?

I remember talking to someone a while ago and really there are some pro football players who used to be all star soccer players ... and why did they quit? because the money is in football so if the Galaxy can spend $250 million on one player (which is more than the rest of the team combined, i think) maybe, just maybe money can lure some of our best athletes into soccer

then the embarrassment that was the 2006 World Cup might not have to happen again

later

2007-01-14T13:02:00.000-05:00

ha i love it - so American's are procrastinators - really no way?

and go figure:

"After 10 years of research on a project that was only supposed to take five years, a Canadian industrial psychologist found in a giant study that not only is procrastination on the rise, it makes people poorer, fatter and unhappier." - Study is a put off

maybe i'll think about it later

oops

2007-01-14T12:58:00.000-05:00

so, umm, it's been a while

maybe i'll try to change that, more inane commentary maybe?

we'll see - oh and maybe pictures

and for sure plugs of videos I've done at work :) enjoy!

Hitting A Little Closer to Home

2006-09-29T10:50:00.000-05:00

Normally you hear stories about trucks parked outside buildings in Iraq which subsequently blow up and injure many. But that's not in the US, right?

I rarely think about the risks of living in DC and I think a lot of the "threats" are a little overblown. But I was at work til 11:30 last night and at about 8:30 one of my coworkers noticed a FedEx truck parked in the middle of H St. And it was still there at 11:30.

Weird huh. By the time I left there were police cars blocking the road too. Just brings things a little closer to home. Plus, who parks a fedex truck in the middle lane and leaves it?

Organized Drinking

2006-09-14T11:32:00.000-05:00

Those of you who thought beer pong (or Beirut if you're a CMCer like myself) was sadly a college game and you couldn't respectably play it after you graduate have something to look forward to.

But there's hope - the American Beerpong Association of America

now our tournaments might actually get you national rankings!

sweet!

Cops

2006-08-22T13:12:00.000-05:00

There's something about security guys that is just so attractive.

Maybe it's the fact that they're armed. Or that they can't talk about their work. But whatever it is, it's a good thing.

The bizarre schedules don't help but man it's quite entertaining to be out at a bar with your girlfriends and have some random guy hit on you and in the process say he's a convicted felon - and responde with, well my boyfriend's a cop.

Ha - what fun :)

Is it worth it?

2006-08-22T11:45:00.000-05:00

Some days I begin to wonder if a graduate degree was worth it. I mean, sure, I've learned a whole lot and made tons of contacts but sometimes I don't know.
The broadcast business likes to make you work for your job. So if you don't know someone you're definitely going to have to start at the bottom. But if you do know someone, they may get you in contact with the right people but you still gotta start at the bottom.

Out of all the producers-types, 3 out of 4 of us have gotten some kind of job and we're all freelancing. One would think we could do better than that. Maybe we're all trying for the big leagues. In either case, it's frustrating.

I may change my mind in a few months, but for now I just want a job that pays and gives me benefits ... is that too much to ask?

No Wonder People Can't Count

2006-07-27T08:24:00.000-05:00

I'm sure many of you have copmlained that the average person can't count exact change. The wonders of technology, right?

Well here's one more reason that kids won't learn to count.

Monopoly has teamed with Visa and made fake debit cards to tally up money.

Now how are you supposed to sneak hundreds when no one is looking? Let alone free parking ... come on!

Identity Crisis

2006-07-19T12:27:00.001-05:00

So I don't know how my profession/activities fit into the latest survey results. Supposedly about 34% of bloggers see their work as a form of journalism

What am I again?

Identity Crisis

2006-07-19T12:27:00.000-05:00

So I don't know how my profession/activities fit into the latest survey results. Supposedly about 34% of bloggers see their work as a form of journalism

What am I again?

Busted

2006-07-19T11:12:00.000-05:00

As a public service announcement I'd like to promote a little project- The Big Green Bus

A school bus converted to run on used vegetable oil that will travel around the country fostering awareness about current global energy issues and creating dialogue about tangible solutions to those problems.

And the best part, my friend Andy will be on board.

Let's just hope he doesn't start smelling permanently of french fries!

Language Barrier

2006-07-19T10:14:00.000-05:00

Despite my laziness when it comes to blogging I have been watching national politicals prove once again how incompetant we are.

But I have a semi-argument to make in favor of Bush. Only semi though. In regards to his off the cuff remark about hoping "Hezbollah would stop doing this shit." I have to say - which of us, if we were faced with a simlar international crisis wouldn't be cursing. I mean are we to think politicians have wiped all "foul" language out of their vocabulary.

That being said, Bush is the Presdient and really, if you're sitting near microphones, you should assume they're live.

Same with reporting - don't curse when you've got a mic in your hand - you never know if someone is watching.

Iowa!

2006-06-28T14:22:00.000-05:00

Oh yeah ... I'm also working for WHO-AM radio in Des Moines, Iowa. Once again, story ideas appreciated. Especially if it has to do with corn.

Montana!

2006-06-08T13:09:00.000-05:00

So, starting in 2 weeks I will be a Capitol Hill reporter for...

the whole state of Montana.

I have been assgined to KTVQ which translates to every CBS station in the state.

Let me give an example of the kinds of headlines I could be reporting:

Jon Tester’s victory in the Democratic U.S. Senate primary Tuesday night was like a prairie fire sweeping across Montana.

Oh, I can't wait.

UK partying

2006-06-01T18:44:00.000-05:00

The British may leave the pubs at 11 but that sure doesn't stop the drinking. A new study shows two quite entertaining things:

1. British adults are binge drinking once every 13 days (I don't think my body could handle that!)
2. Apparently, one in every four people in Britain enjoy drinking with one single aim - to get completely drunk. (You mean that's not just Medill students?)

Now I'm remember why I liked living in London!

oops ...

2006-06-01T18:39:00.000-05:00

So i've beena delinquent. I keep wanting to post, and it's been long enough. I just don't have enough energy when I get home to think about it. That's assuming I make it home that night ;)

But here's something funny.

Think of all those stupid arguments you get into (whether sober or not) and someone has to prove the other wrong. Oh the beauty of Wikipedia. So you serach, realize you're wrong and then quiety add your own comment so you can save face with a "So there!"

I say this AP article about Wikipedia and how politicians are now using the site to trash their opponents.

I quote:

Political operatives are covertly rewriting or editing candidates' biographical entries to make their bosses look good or opponents look ridiculous.

oh the beauty of the internet

Super Cool

2006-05-07T13:15:00.000-05:00

This is a really cool/clever site.

www.buzztracker.org

I am only starting to explore it.

Take a look.

WiFi or Not to WiFi?

2006-05-07T12:58:00.000-05:00

So I'm working on a story about free WiFi networks in major cities. Chicago is working on putting one together. I am just putting the idea out there for a response.

Is that a good idea?
Would you use it?
Or is it a waste of money?

Nothing formal - gut reactions.

So fire away!

Smart, Real Smart

2006-05-07T12:54:00.000-05:00

This is funny.

So the Pentagon has a new press secretary and with all the national concern about secrecy,etc you would think the selection process would be pretty intense.

Don't get me wrong I want to give this guy the benefit of the doubt - but somehow, I just can't.

The guy is Eric Ruff. In 2004, Ruff accidentally left handwritten talking points for Secretary Rumsfeld and a map to RumsfeldÂs house at a Starbucks in Washington, DC.

Oops.

Sore Losers

2006-05-07T12:46:00.000-05:00

I apologize for being lazy on the posting. Like has gotten a little overwheling and since you're all watching me on TV I'm sure you've been fine.

But what I was really posting about:

Being a sore loser. Sure wee all get annoyed when we don't win, especially if it's something HUGE like a Pulitzer Prize. But I think this is a little over the top.

A number of prominent commentators called for jailing three of the prize winners...

The targets of their outrage are three journalists who rendered extraordinary public service this year. New York Times reporters James Risen and Eric Lichtblau won a share of the national reporting prize for exposing President Bush’s approval of warrantless domestic wiretaps by the National Security Agency. Dana Priest of the Washington Post was awarded the prize in beat reporting for stories documenting the CIA’s operation of clandestine foreign prisons where terrorists — and those suspected of terrorism — are tortured.
... That may be why former Republican Cabinet secretary William J. Bennett, now a television and radio commentator, used his talk show Tuesday to argue that Priest, Risen and Lichtblau were only “worthy of jail.”

- Free Press

Umm .. okay. The point of reporting is to get to the truth right? So the point of a free press is to jail those who may have published information leaked to them to uncover illegal activities. I feel a Plame scandal coming around again.

The Beauty of Headlines

2006-04-26T15:12:00.000-05:00

So I was perusing CNN.com and saw a headline that just made me crack up.
But then I realized I read it wrong - but it was still so true it was funny.

The headline I thought I saw: Fox becomes voice of the White House
- my reaction of course being, "gald someone finally admitted it!"

What it really said: Fox man becomes voice of the White House
- less funny - but still about time someone admitted it

A Second Try Won't Help

2006-04-26T13:44:00.000-05:00

I mean really. We remember when FEMA head Michael Brown made a mess of an already overwhelming disaster. I think the general populace decided that maybe he wasn't so great at managing crisis situations.

So now he's trying again. First there were rumors that he was going to consult with St. Bernard's Parish near New Orleans. So he screws them once and they invite him back .... Interesting.

But now, he has a consulting firm AND he's got a list of clients. The price must be right otherwise, the logic escapes me. Oh, and he'll be making more than FEMA paid him.

Amazing.

Supreme Obsession

2006-04-20T12:32:00.000-05:00

I'm such a nerd. So last quarter I was a legal reporter. And part of our work was to cover Supreme Court cases that were coming up before the court. I got to talk to a lot of lawyers and it was pretty cool.

Here's what I wrote. And this.

And I have to say, I was pretty close to what actually happened yesterday in oral arguments. Go me!

More To Thesis Than Champagne

2006-04-17T22:43:00.000-05:00

Although I was CMC bashing in my last post and well, you're supposed to dislike things about your college I realized something today.

I'm waaay more prepared at academic stuff than I ever thought I was. Sure you might say, well of course, you've been in school 90% of you life. Okay yes but not my argument.

I'm in a master's level public policy seminar on terrorism. Fun class. The big assignment is a 10-15 page research paper on some sort of policy issue relating to terrorism. (Go figure).

Well maybe it's because many colleges don't require senior theses to get your bachelor's degree, or they just expected a lot from us. But I think I know how to write a research paper that is not a book report but instead a new idea or novel synthesis of old information.

Oh and for all you CMCers we get to write in what style? You guessed it, Turabian.

But back to my realization. There are students in my class many of whom have almost if not more than a decade on me in years, are "uncomfortable" writing a research paper. They willingly admit that they don't know how to write original papers.

I think I stopped writing book reports in high school. It's the strangest feeling.

So moral of the story - CMC wasn't so bad after all. Hell I don't think Northwestern lets their masters' students drink champagne in fountains when they turn in their thesis. See what they missed out on?

CMC is conservative?

2006-04-16T15:34:00.000-05:00

I think I was naive to think that CMC was a liberal college. Liberal arts, maybe. But politically liberal? Um no.

That was just reinforced when I read an entry on Power Line (yes, I read what conservatives are saying) and they were referring to the Claremont Review of Books.

Which happens to be published on the campus of my alma mater. Not that I have a problem with the publication.

But I think the campus bubble was good at blocking out the conservative tendencies of my campus.

Then again, I should have noticed when my junior year was the first time students published a liberal political journal - The Claremont Port Side.

Hindsight is 20/20, right?

Sad But Not Surprising

2006-04-16T14:56:00.000-05:00

From Talking Points:

The Department of Homeland Security hasn't sent out any security "bulletins" on white supremacist organizations, whack-job militias, or violent anti-abortion groups. But they have prepared a new brand new security bulletin on how to protect yourself against animal rights groups and 'eco-terrorists'.

One form of eco-terror attack, according to the bulletin has eco-terrorists "sending continuous faxes in order to drain the ink supply from company fax machines."

"Flyer distribution" is another form of attack to be vigilant about.

Um, doesn't DHS have more important things to worry about?

I Knew It!

2006-04-16T14:49:00.000-05:00

For all of you who fail to understand why I would voluntarily give up a juicy T-bone stake (or fill in favorite meat dish) I have found a scientific reason I actually agree with.

According to a new study:

If people were to eat more vegetable proteins instead of animal proteins, this would result in multiple - and much-needed - benefits. Such a "protein transition" would positively affect sustainable energy production, sustainable water use, biodiversity, human health and animal welfare. Collective vegetarianism is not required, but good-tasting, high-quality meat substitutes ought to be used more often in place of meat.

In other words, meat processing is extremely expensive and costly to both the economy and environment. Therefore, save money and a cow or two in the process.

Dumbing It Down

2006-04-12T09:35:00.000-05:00

So, as a journalist, you try to put things in the best perspective. To have the average citizen understand a topic.

In other words, the economy is not a very good topic.

But what if you could get a visual representation? Or a picture that says it all without really addressing all of the relevant factors?

Try this: use a clock. Kinda like this one. Only prettier.

Supposedly there's a "national debt clock" that is forever increasing stating the estimated national debt.

Clever.

But does every reporter who is trying to write have to use the clock? I mean really. Oh the beatuy of the need for video.

Clever Words

2006-04-12T09:31:00.000-05:00

Not extremely relevant but just plain clever.

My videotape diagnosis tells me that Frist's presidential campaign is brain dead and should have its feeding tube removed.

Courtesy of Atrios

Too Little, Too Late

2006-04-11T10:28:00.000-05:00

I think I have to vent without saying anything concrete. This is when my writing skills come in handy.

I just want to emphasize that there is such a thing as too little, too late.

If you want something, show that you want something. Be proactive!

Here's the kicker, you can't go back easily. If you miss your chance, you miss your chance. Finally following through on promises after the fact, still doesn't work.

It's too late.

So don't be shy, don't hedge your bets. And don't try to fix it once it's over.

Score One for Bloggers

2006-03-31T11:37:00.000-05:00

The Federal Election Commission yesterday, by a 6-0 vote, effectively granted media exemptions to bloggers that allow them to praise and criticize politicians in the same manner as newspapers can without fear of federal interference.

FEC Chairman said the regulation 'protects Internet activities by individuals in all forms, including e-mailing, linking, blogging, or hosting a Web site."

We'll see what actually comes of this

Political Censoring?

2006-03-31T11:21:00.000-05:00

NASA now has new new rules governing the release of agency information.

NASA's public affairs office allegedly tried to suppress the release of scientific information not consistent with the views of the Bush administration.

I guess I wish science would trump politics.

The Ultimate Authority

2006-03-31T11:02:00.000-05:00

So, the Supreme Court has always had the last word over media coverage in the court.

Maybe not anymore, the Senate judiciary committee is considering a bill that would direct the Supreme Court to permit television coverage of its public sessions. The bill also seeks to dictate what the Court would have to do to keep the cameras out case by case. It raises interesting separation-of-powers questions.

I wonder if the Court would find that bill unconstitutional.

Mixed Message?

2006-03-31T10:53:00.000-05:00

John McCain once called Jerry Falwell an "agent of intolerance."

Now he's going to be the graduation speaker at Falwell's Liberty University.

okay ...

Energy (or lack there of)

2006-03-31T10:38:00.000-05:00

According to a new poll, people aren't so happy with the the current energy policy.

85% of respondents said the government could do something about energy dependence if it tried.

Also, those who worried foreign conflicts will drive up oil prices or cut off supplies rose to 55 percent from 42 percent in the August poll.

And we don't have an energy problem?

Oh, and Bush has said “First of all, the globe is warming. The fundamental debate — is it manmade or natural?”

What?!?!

Put On Your Tinfoil Hats

2006-03-25T20:49:00.000-05:00

For all of you who took a propaganda class, ever heard of the black helicopter conspiracy? I know I wrote a paper on the absurdity and bizarreness of the whole situation.

Well suppposedly, Hillary Clinton uses these black helicopters to spy on her Republican opponents, I think that's rather clever.

A Reagan-era Pentagon official Kathleen "KT" McFarland told another GOP party member that

Hillary Clinton is really worried about me, and is so worried, in fact, that she had helicopters flying over my house in Southampton today taking pictures. - New York Post

ummm ... Right

At least now I know my college elective classes have actually helped me understand real-world political issues.

The O'Reilly Defense

2006-03-23T20:44:00.000-05:00

Fox News' Bill O'Reilly is offensive again, wait... I mean ... on the offensive again.

He has now claimed that an Ohio newspaper is "the most friendly to child rapists" (How, I'm not quite sure)

But even better - the paper's response is as follows:

As readers of the Dayton Daily News know, this newspaper is not soft on child molesters. Just the opposite. ... O'Reilly is upset with the newspaper because in an editorial we referred to his own recent legal history in which he was accused of sexual harassment. His producer threatened that unless we published an apology they would resort to their 'bully pulpit.' - Dayton Daily News Editor Jeff Bruce

In Honor of April 15th

2006-03-23T20:37:00.000-05:00

So we all worry about identity theft and giving out our Social Security Numbers but when you're acutally upposed to say who you are and how much money you make, the IRS is supposed to protect that, right?

Or not.

A new IRS regulation proposed in December allows tax preparers –- from your local accountant to giants such as H&R Block -- to:

get your signature and then give or sell the full tax return to data brokers, to your boss, to anyone. And there are absolutely no restrictions about what recipients do with the returns. The rule lets recipients post the full return to the Internet if they want.

ummm ... does anyone else think this is BAD?

I Knew School Was Killer

2006-03-21T16:55:00.000-05:00

So according to Pat Robertson academics are now dangerous. I feel a quote is in order:

They [professors] gamed it, these guys are out and out communists, they are radicals, you know some of them killers, and they are propagandists of the first order and they don't want anybody else except them.

Cover Letters

2006-03-21T16:13:00.000-05:00

Oh, how I hate them.

The challenge to be clever, yet professional, and still show your personality. Not to mention fitting it all into 4 paragraphs that bascially say "Hey! Yeah You! Read my resume!"

I swear these things have to become outdated sooner than later, I won't hold my breath though.

I even read somewhere that employers read the letter after the resume so who knows anymore what the purpose of those things is.

One more law against us

2006-03-21T16:07:00.000-05:00

Don't know if anyone saw this but there's a bill in the works from Sen. Mike DeWine (R-OH). It's actually quite clever, in fact, it makes reporters even less likely to challenge the government. Those reporters who dare to write about the NSA surveillance program could face criminal penalties.

What happened to the whole freedom of the press idea? oh right, the patriot act. *sigh*

Coal!

2006-03-21T16:01:00.000-05:00

This is really for Peter but still worth noting ...

It looks like coal is the hot energy topic:

1. An appellate court struck down a Bush administration rule last Friday that would have made it easier for coal-burning power plants to make equipment changes without installing controls to fight the pollution that would result

2. China plans to boost coal output by up to 18 percent before 2010 to meet soaring energy needs despite environmental concerns

You win one, you lose one I guess.

Iraq War year 3

2006-03-19T15:41:00.000-05:00

Let's break this down into simple facts:
-It's been 3 years since we started a war in Iraq
-We're still fighting something over there
-Allawi has stated that Iraq is now in the midst of a civil war
-More than 120,000 Iraqis have died since the start of the war
-Bush's approval rating is down to 37%

I think I'm missing the positives that outweight all of this

Trader Joe's

2006-03-19T15:37:00.000-05:00

Besides my obsession with this grocery store, for good reason of course. It's good to know that they've worked their way into NYC. Pretty soon TJs will take over the world!! YAY!

Purely Hypothetical

2006-03-15T15:26:00.000-05:00

When discussing what I should post, I was given the idea to address the ever-so-popular topic of boys being stupid.

In said dicusssion, my friend offered this topic:

friend: oh, a good one is that a guy hooks up with girl A, but says he doesn't really have time for a relationship, but continues to hook up with A. then he tells A, in front of some other friends, that he likes girl B and asked her out by bringing her a rose. then he wants to hook up with girl A again
friend: then girl A says "fuck no!" and doesn't hook up with him any more
friend: totally hypothetical of course
me: that's your story
me: not mine
friend: lol
friend: so, it's an example!

Umm ... problem?

2006-03-13T13:52:00.000-05:00

Okay so does anyone else see a problem with this?

The third annual review of the state of American journalism found that while there were more media outlets this year than ever, they were covering less news.

See the NYT article

A Bad Day for Journalism

2006-03-10T17:27:00.000-05:00

It's not a good sign when politics overrides journalism. Usually it's at least stealthy but not in Uganda -

A Political Google

2006-03-10T16:17:00.000-05:00

As if FOX News wasn't enough.

We now have Kosmix.com - which searches things and sorts them based on political bias

At first I thought it was a terrible idea - but actually maybe quite clever - the only question is what the criteria is for each category

Protesting

2006-03-10T16:14:00.000-05:00

One reason I like being in the heart of downtown Chicago

This is outside my window

Friendly Debate

2006-03-10T15:09:00.000-05:00

When a friend sends you a George Will column and then comments:

Enjoy ripping him apart for his ridiculous assumptions :) (Maybe 'conservatives' are happy cause all they care about is themselves, while 'liberals' are the ones thinking about all the awful things happening to the less fortunate and are trying to right them? Naw, it's just cause they're always right and liberals get off on being angry!)

Distorting Reality

2006-03-09T12:31:00.000-05:00

This is just too cool for words

A Hard Day at Work

2006-03-08T13:11:00.000-05:00

And we wonder where our taxes go:

"On many a workday lunchtime, the nominal boss of U.S. intelligence, John D. Negroponte, can be found at a private club in downtown Washington, getting a massage, taking a swim, and having lunch, followed by a good cigar and a perusal of the daily papers in the club’s library. 'He spends three hours there [every] Monday through Friday,' gripes a senior counterterrorism official."- Think Progress

It's Called Hedging Your Words

2006-03-08T12:27:00.000-05:00

Attorney General Gonzales has master the Bush Administrations art of changing one phrase at a time in hopes that no one will notice.

From Think Progress:

Alberto Gonzales, 12/8/05:

[W]ith respect to torture, the question is easy: We do not torture. The U.S. policy — not only is it policy, it is the law. We have a domestic law, domestic legal prohibition. We have an international prohibition against torture. … For this president, his position has been consistent all the way through with respect to torture. United States policy and our legal obligations are no torture.

Gonzales, today:

We do not render individuals where we believe it’s more likely than not that they will be tortured.

Trouble in Florida

2006-03-06T18:24:00.000-05:00

We all remember Katherine Harris from the 2000 election. Well some of you may know that she's now a House Representative for the GOP in Southwest Florida.

I proudly voted against her in '04, not that it mattered.

She's back on the campaign trail but it looks as if she's getting scared about her alleged involvement with a crooked contractor (I almost think that's a GOP right of passage sometimes). So she's cancelled five campaign stops. There goes that Senate seat she was planning for down the road.

And Abramoff is up to be sentenced in Florida in 3 weeks too.

AND ... Gov. Jeb Bush's office is refusing to release documents or answer questions about a $400,000 tax credit awarded to MZM Inc., whose former chief executive pleaded guilty last week to bribery and illegal campaign contributions. (Tampa Tribune)

There's got to be something in the water.

For Once Something Not Set in Stone

2006-03-06T17:57:00.000-05:00

Maybe, just maybe ....

from ABC News:

Tuesday will be a day of reckoning for the politics of domestic spying.

The Senate Intelligence Committee is slated to vote, in a closed session, on whether it will investigate the president's NSA warrantless domestic wiretapping program. At this point, it could go either way.

With eight Republicans and seven Democrats on the committee, it'll take the defection of one Republican to make an investigation happen. Three Republicans on the committee have expressed doubts about the program -- Ohio's Mike DeWine, Nebraska's Chuck Hagel, and Olympia Snowe of Maine.

Mixed Priorities

2006-03-06T10:37:00.000-05:00

There is a serious mismatch between health and war. Or at least in the funding.

The total proposed budget for the National Cancer Institute is $4.75 billion. Or about what the war in Iraq costs every few weeks, based on known Congressional Appropriations and DoD data.

(according to Daily Kos)

Ummm .. which of these kills more people? which of these is not an optional fight?
Hey, maybe if we cut all medical research funding we can finally win "peace" for another nation while killing our own - sounds like a plan to me!

Polls Don't Lie

2006-03-05T15:21:00.000-05:00

Okay, well maybe they're more flexible, but still..

I find this to be proof that something needs to change:

Among Americans registered to vote, 38% approve of the way Bush is handling his job as president and 56% disapprove, and 36% approve of the way Bush is handling the economy and 60% disapprove. ...
For a little perspective, recall that Richard Nixon’s approval rating in the summer of 1973 (when the Watergate scandal was in full swing) was 39%.

Audio Sparknotes

2006-03-05T12:47:00.000-05:00

Brilliant!

iTunes has outdone itself again. I feel like I'm selling Apple products but really I'm just impressed. I was doing my usual download of free tracks from iTunes (why not, might find a new artist I like) and they were offereing audio sparknotes for Heart of Darkness. How great is that.

I wish I had those in college. Too lazy to read a book, download the audio sparknotes, go to the Scripps pool and get some sun while "reading". Sounds ideal to me. Now all they need is obscure things like Kissinger's Diplomacy.

iPope

2006-03-05T12:05:00.000-05:00

Yes! We have reached the digital age - there is no turning back!
The Pope has an iPod Nano.
Maybe, just maybe, this will mean music sharing will get the blessing of the Catholic Church. Not to mention that the Vatican offers Podcasts in something like 8 different languages. I'm impressed to say the least.

Faking the News

2006-03-05T11:44:00.000-05:00

Not that I would condone this because well, it'll destroy any job chances I have, but I found the hypocrisy in this article quite amusing.

For those of you who don't want to read it- basically the UK has claimed that they are superior to the US because they have not stooped to the level of the American Government (really who wants to go that low anyway). The US has slowly been revealing that it has a network of "news" services that are conveniently fed to media outlets.

Turns out, as I'm sure you were guessing, the UK does it too. Go figure. I feel like Stalinist Russia was ahead of it's time - either that or they just weren't sneaky enough about it.

Mind Numbing Absurdity

2006-03-04T20:24:00.000-05:00

I've never been a big fan of busy work, but when you have busy work that requires you to regurgitate blatantly obvious information in complete sentences and paragraphs I'm not happy. Journal assignments irritate me to begin with - how do I feel about sitting in class today? Frankly, I'd rather be at home sleeping, it is Monday morning after all.

I just had to vent about the absolute waste of time for everyone involved that this assignment is. Of course, this is also an avoidance tactic for actually having to work on it.

GRRRR!

Anger Management

2006-03-02T11:25:00.000-05:00

I have a problem with people who take things too seriously.

Recreational soccer is just that, recreational. It's supposed to be fun, a good stress reliever and a way to meet new people.

Not on my team. For some reason, certain people feel it necessary to get angry and upset and just plain rude when they or the rest of us are not playing well.

Usually I get over it, and I really don't care if we lose every game. Here's when I get annoyed... when the ref manages to give out 2 red cards and a yellow in 5 minutes. Oh did I mention the ref also called the came early as a forfeit and KICKED US OUT OF THE LEAGUE.

I get the ref was mad, I would be too if I had to deal with some of the bullshit on our team.

Anyway - obviously the spirirt of sportsmanship and the fun of playing are irrelevant.

The New Diet Plan

2006-03-01T15:47:00.000-05:00

I feel like I'm running a news blog but really, I just find this stuff amusing

The newest diet plan: brainwashing

supposedly psychologists have discovered that you can trick people into believing they didn't like certain foods. Reminds me of this one night with Jose Cuervo, i mean ...

But anyway, kids can "create" memories that they hated certain foods like mint chocolate chip ice cream (oh, the horror).

Pretty soon we'll all be convinced that brussel sprouts and spincah are the new junk food - hell, i've been saying that for years :)

The Power of Harry

2006-03-01T15:40:00.000-05:00

We all know how addictive Harry Potter can be. But according to the oh-so-reliable Washington Times, Harry Potter adventures are the most popular books in the 800-volume library for al Qaida and Taliban suspects at Guantanamo Bay.

"We've got a few who are kinda hooked" - the detention center librarian

Now someone is going to come up with the idea that Harry Potter is responsible for the onslaught of terrorism against the U.S. It is entirely beside the point that J.K. Rowling is British.

Eavesdropping

2006-02-28T15:10:00.000-05:00

I've decided that as a reporter you can do so much better if you have really good hearing. It's quite fun to overhear a reporter chatting about something coming up that's not being advertised, especially when you can get in on it too.

Not that I encourage eavesdropping through keyholes or something, but conveniently overhearing ... I'm all for it.

Men and their SUVs

2006-02-28T11:40:00.000-05:00

I am merely quoting this from The Week:

To sell a mammoth SUV to a man, a new study in Science suggests, the best technique is to question his masculinity. Researchers at Cornell University tested the effect of insecurity on men's attitudes by giving a survey on gender identity to about 50 men. The men were then told that an analysis of the survey showed that they exhibitied "weak" male characteristics -- indeed that their attitudes were effeminate. The researchers then surveyed the men's attitudes toward politics, homosexuals, and car purchases, comparing them with a group of men whose masculinity had not been questioned. The threatened men were more likely to support the war in Iraq, more likely to oppose gays marraige and denounce gays, and more likely to express a desire to buy an SUV. In fact, they were so eager to buy an SUV that they said they'd be willing to pay up to $7,000 more for the vehicle than were men in the other group. "Masculinity-threatened men also reported feeling more ashamed, guilty, upset, and hostile," says lead researcher Robb Willer. Women, the study found, did not change their attitudes when they were told their attitudes were masculine.

I don't think this needs any explanation.

Courtroom 302

2006-02-27T15:40:00.000-05:00

I now officially have no faith in the legal system - especially in Chicago
I have to admit that Courtroom 302 is a fantastic look into the manipulations of lawyers and judges - I think I'd rather be naive and pretend that justice really is blind

In either case - I highly recommend the book - i think it's even on the NYT bestseller list

Train

2006-02-26T13:51:00.000-05:00

Based on recent comments - i would like to qualify my obsession with Train

they are one of the best bands ever

end of story

no actually - for all of you wondering, i have high standards for favorite musicians

1. they must be talented muscially and vocally
2. lyrics are crucial: creativity and cleverness score big points
3. versatility: the beauty of music is that it can change, so go with it
4. live performance: if you can't perform live, I wonder how much of your talent is studio created

I welcome your input, and if you haven't fallen in love with "Get to Me" i can't help you

The Procrastinating has begun

2006-02-26T11:47:00.000-05:00

Maybe it's because I'm avoiding work, or maybe it's just I don't feel like I'm cool enough if I don't start getting this going. In either case, here goes ...

Thanks to Catherine and Peter and Biff I may just remember to keep this updated and remotely interesting.

2004-12-29T00:57:00.000-05:00

jumping slightly on the bandwagon and setting one of these things up - will i ever update it? who knows - i'll just have to wait and see how much procrastinating i wind up doing

Let it roll ...

Watch out for the glare

Let's try this again

A "Miss"communication

Vanishing into Nevada air

I'm here .. really ...

Not My Fault

Dirty Jobs

Snow!

MLS rising from the dust?

later

oops

Hitting A Little Closer to Home

Organized Drinking

Cops

Is it worth it?

No Wonder People Can't Count

Identity Crisis

Identity Crisis

*Bus*ted

Language Barrier

Iowa!

Montana!

UK partying

oops ...

Super Cool

WiFi or Not to WiFi?

Smart, Real Smart

Sore Losers

The Beauty of Headlines

A Second Try Won't Help

Supreme Obsession

More To Thesis Than Champagne

CMC is conservative?

Sad But Not Surprising

I Knew It!

Dumbing It Down

Clever Words

Too Little, Too Late

Score One for Bloggers

Political Censoring?

The Ultimate Authority

Mixed Message?

Energy (or lack there of)

Put On Your Tinfoil Hats

The O'Reilly Defense

In Honor of April 15th

I Knew School Was Killer

Cover Letters

One more law against us

Coal!

Iraq War year 3

Trader Joe's

Purely Hypothetical

Umm ... problem?

A Bad Day for Journalism

A Political Google

Protesting

Friendly Debate

Distorting Reality

A Hard Day at Work

It's Called Hedging Your Words

Trouble in Florida

For Once Something Not Set in Stone

Mixed Priorities

Polls Don't Lie

Audio Sparknotes

iPope

Faking the News

Mind Numbing Absurdity

Anger Management

The New Diet Plan

The Power of Harry

Eavesdropping

Men and their SUVs

Courtroom 302

Train

The Procrastinating has begun

Busted