May 20Approval Ratings from May 17th
Meant to post this a few days ago. Can you guess why I found it interesting?
May 20th, 2008 | 
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News, politics
Archive for the 'politics' Category
Jul 26Indulge Me
I try to steer clear of rants on here anymore, but there have been a couple things that have been bothering me. So if you could indulge me for this one post, that’d be great. If not, I’ll be back to my regularly scheduled blogging tomorrow.
- Pop Tarts- This is a term borrowed from Fox News, but I like it. Yesterday at the gym, on both CNN and Fox, for the better part of their news programs (and my 45 min cardio work out), the coverage was Lindsay Lohan and how she got arrested, again. And when they weren’t cover Lindsay they were covering Britney Spears….because she’s on the verge of another breakdown. Now I wouldn’t care if this was E! or VH1 or Mtv. Lord knows nothing important comes from Mtv. But these are two presumably legitimate news stations giving full coverage of this crap. For ratings. People people care about Britney and Lindsay. Is it the Fox or CNN’s fault that’s what people want? Maybe not. But it is their fault for pushing it, at least as long as they do.
- “Loose Change” in Theaters- I read about this in this article and am in an utter state of disbelief. The movie stating claims that the Bush Administration is behind the 9/11 attacks is being released in theaters in Britain. I thought it was bad enough that Moore’s movies were being shown on the big screen, but this was a viral video that 3 kids from SUNY Oneonta made on a hunch. The claims they make aren’t true and have been debunked. I’ve seen those kids in debates and the look like idiots, grunting and moaning and getting all worked up when they are proved wrong. It’s insane that anyone would watch this crap, let alone on the big screen.
- The YouTube Debates- Finally, The YouTube Debates. Kudos to YouTube and CNN for putting this together. All of the answers are online and this is great. However, I wish the candidates would have actually answered the questions. John Edwards barely answered anything. Lots of rhetoric and heart-warming stories though. But one question in particular bothered me; the one about reparations. First of all, it’s not a “question in the back of everyone’s head.” Sure isn’t in the back of mine. Second, “is African Americans ever gonna get reparations?” What? If I were addressing presidential candidates, I’d probably bone up on my grammar. However, My focus again is on the rhetoric. Edwards glossed over his “no” onto “how we can give reparations” and attacked corporations (PS- he was a malpractice lawyer who sued every doctor he could see. I wonder why our health care system sucks…). Obama did the same thing. “I think the reparations we need….is investment in our schools.” Now boys, you know that wasn’t the question. They just didn’t want to look bad by saying “No, reparations is a ridiculous idea.”
Well, I’m glad I got that off my chest.
July 26th, 2007 | No Comments » | Manifesto, politics, thoughts
May 16News Filters
A few weeks ago I talked about how design effects users, comparing CNN.com and Foxnews.com. I was just checking both sites in a small break from studying for finals, and noticed two very contradicting reports on gas prices.
According to CNN.com, gas prices hit record highs and are on the way up. The story goes on to say that the Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) cheif Guy Caruso says that, ” that not all of the recent rise in wholesale gas costs has been reflected in what consumers are now paying at the pump…” The summary of the story includes the line “…more price rises seen.”
Quite conversely,Foxnews.com reports that Gas prices may cool down. This report then goes on to say that EIA chief Guy Caruso (the same guy from the CNN report) states, “With refinery production expected to improve during the rest of May and import volumes increasing over the last few weeks, gasoline markets may ease somewhat, causing gasoline prices to recede from their current high levels.”
To be fair, the CNN report mentions a similar quote later in the story, and the Foxnews report mentions gas prices may remain tight this summer. I just find it interesting the stories from different news sources focus on such extreme differences in the same exact story. I think it is also important to mention that the Foxnews story is a Reuters story, giving it (in my eyes) a little more credibility.
May 16th, 2007 | No Comments » | News, Websites, politics, thoughts
Apr 11The Imus ‘Saga’
Don Imus
Everyone invariably knows about the ‘controversy’ surrounding Don Imus. He made a comment about The Lady Rutgers basketball team (on a side note, one most of the media shuns him for saying, but repeats it every chance they get). Now he’s been on Al Sharpton’s show and has been suspended for two weeks. Many are calling for him to be fired. And why? Because it was offensive? It was wrong? Maybe. Because they are too sensitive? More likely. In a politically correct world, everything is offensive to someone.
I’m not saying what he said wasn’t wrong. Sure, it was kind of racist and a little sexist. Should he be fired? NO. People make comments like that all the time. Sure he said it on the radio. But it’s nothing people haven’t heard before. And it’s his job to do the whole ’shock jock’ thing. Imus getting fired would say a whole hell of a lot about our freedom of speech.
And I can see it now. People will say I don’t understand. These girls were attacked. So is everyone. I get called out for my weight all the time. I’ve even been called a ‘greasy haired Italian.’ What do you want me to do? Get all upset? Round up all the fat Italians in America and protest? Those people aren’t worth my time. I fire some comment back at them and leave. And granted, this is a different situation. Imus is in the public eye. So is, for example, every rapper and pop artist. And they say things much more offensive than ‘nappy headed ho.’ I hate to break it to you, but Kelis’s ‘Mikeshake’ is not a dessert. Fergie isn’t singing about the architectural structure. Eminem isn’t sining about kill….O wait. He really is sining about killing his wife. So why crucify Imus?
Do Sharpton and Jackson really feel victimized by Imus’s comments? Probably not. They just play the race card…A LOT. That is indisputable. Should Imus apologize to the girls? Sure. That was kind of a shitty comment. I don’t think he should have been suspended. And if he gets fired, well then that’s something to protest about.
April 11th, 2007 | No Comments » | Manifesto, News, politics
Aug 13110 People who are Screwing Up America
I finished reading the book a few days ago and I have got to say it was a great read. Goldberg talks about some of the nations biggest mouths, calling out the ignorance of people that have a strong following. The book does have more of a conservative view, which of-course I find refreshing because it is all too often that many of the people in the book get praised for their hipocracy, lies and America Bashing.
He touches on some of the big ones- Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, who claim they are fighting to end racism but are really polarizing people even more, all of the celebrities who use their soapbox to spew ignorance to their loyal followers, a lof of college administrators who use their colleges not as a place of learning but as a place to instill their views on their students instead of standing up for what’s right, feminists who claim men are the reason for their problems and a woman who chooses to stay in the home is just wrong, and then some politicians, such as John Edwards, and my favorite, Ted Kennedy.
I know some of my readers might disagree with the book, but Goldberg really makes good points and people should really hear him out. Remember- keep an open mind when reading such things and don’t just dismiss it as ‘conservative’ crap. Later!
August 13th, 2006 | No Comments » | Reviews, books, politics
Aug 05Music and Politics
Over the last 2 weeks, I went to two major music events: Ozzfest and Warped Tour. Ozzfest was great- the entire main stage rocked the house- playing music, talking to the fans, playing MORE music- I really enjoyed myself. There was minimal political commentary, and even if you disagreed with it, it was well put (mostly). Warped Tour on the other, was an 8 hour, Bush-Bashing, America-Bashing fest where bands played for 25 minutes and talked politics for 10. Well not really talked, more just yelled out ignorance over a mic. And I have one question: Why?
Both of these events were suppose to be about the music. Ozzfest was. Over the span of 6 hours of solid music (5-11), there were 2 political comments from 2 bands. One was System of a Down, and was expected, and was well said. However, Warped Tour was 8 hours of music, and most of the bands had something to say regarding Bush, government, or America. None of it was good (good as in nice). There was a ‘Take Action!’ booth that was all Anti-Bush stuff, and people walking around with ‘F**k Bush’ shirts on. Warped Tour is suppose to be about bands coming together to play music for their fans. Not brainwash them into thinking their way about politics and government. And they had nothing intelligent to say. NOFX just called Bush an idiot, among other things. Valiant Thor had no idea what they were saying, and added some troop bashing. Anti-Flag, though I only caught part of their performance, was probably the worst. They pose the question ‘What are we going to do about the USA?’ and consistently bash it. Actually, that is the whole gimmick. It’s funny how they create this persona where they bash Bush, America and what it stands for, yet use it as the outlet to get that hate-filled message across. They are getting paid to tour America, as part of Van’s Warped Tour, Vans being part of the dreaded and evil Corporate America. The spit ignorance to the crowd, saying whatever they want and know that their fans will blindly follow them. But they don’t educate. Nor does NOFX or Valiant Thor, to name a few. Thor actually said that people who read think they know everything, but don’t. I guess the people who are really in the know are those who get wasted and are given a mic.
I am not mad because I disagree with what they were saying. I am mad because they took a a musical event and made it into a political contest were your could bash America, George Bush, the Troops, and say anything you want, knowing you will get cheers from people who only know what YOU, the bands, tell them, and YOU, the bands, are OK with that. Later.
Disclaimer: I want to respond to the comment by “rick solum” here in the post. I do not lie on my site. He is asking my to check my facts when I heard what he said. The man was wasted out of his mind talking about the Sweedish Chef, the war, troops and the president. It was nonsense. And, Sure you can’t believe everything you read, but what he said will turn the crowd off from reading and that makes people ignorant. Finally, Vailent being in the army does not make him a supporter of the army. And if someone asks me to check my facts, don’t say ‘i think’ in your comment. Check your facts.
August 5th, 2006 | | show comments » | Manifesto, Music, concerts, politics
