Ingmar Bergman, a giant of 20th century cinema, died yesterday. He was 89. That’s the news. But that’s not what we should be talking about today as we enter the “re-evaluation” phase of the Swedish film maker’s distinguished career. I think we must ask a difficult question about Bergman’s films: In a world that allows […]
Archive | July, 2007
FCC wireless auction: Google wins, AT&T wins, Americans lose
By Martin Bosworth Today the FCC set its guidelines for how the newly available wireless spectrum frequencies are to be auctioned. In a nutshell, the FCC agreed that networks built on the new spectrum should enable any device to connect to services built on those networks–which is a win for anyone tired of paying hundreds […]
Truth, lies and Alberto R. Gonzales
I’m a big fan of Al’s . . . I think Al has done a good job under difficult circumstances. The debate between he and the Senate is something they’re going to have to resolve. But I think he has testified truthfully. — Vice President Dick Cheney during a July 30 interview with CBS Radio. […]
Reframing the Republican lie about wealth in America
In America, the Republicans are seen as the party of money and wealth. This perception is certainly accurate in one sense – the GOP is the favored party of the wealthy elite. Unfortunately, the party is also supported in large numbers by those who have no wealth, and thanks to the policies of the Republican […]
The House energy bill – two steps forward, two steps backward
I’m trying to determine whether the state of the House energy bill means that Speaker Pelosi won some hard compromises, or whether she was handed her head, politically speaking. It may be some of both, although I’m presently leaning toward the latter.
Lowes: Bill O’Reilly is nuts and we can’t support him; Home Depot: complaining about Bill O’Reilly harms the environment
A tale of two home improvement giants…. Daily Kos reports that Lowes, the giant home improvement retailer based in North Wilkesboro, NC, has pulled its advertising for The O’Reilly Factor, Bill O’Reilly’s Faux News program that among its rhetorical flourishes liberally uses name calling and that, politically supports a theocracy based on racism and sexism. […]
Scroguely Works: American Gods
American Gods by Neil Gaiman, first published 2002, 624 pages, ISBN 978-0380789030 America inspires both awe and loathing. The scale of the place; its open spaces, wealth, ambition and ability to turn ideas into global phenomena. The Iranian youths rioting against “The Great Satan” are wearing blue jeans and iPods. The stone-throwing anti-globalisation protestors listen […]
The Saudi arms sale + campaign cash = profit?
Controversy continues to emerge about the United States’ intent to develop a proposed $20 billion, 10-year arms sales package for Saudi Arabia. Brighter minds than this one can dissect Israel’s concern about point-point, laser-guided weapons parked next door, whether the driving idea behind the proposal is meant “to act as a bulwark against Iran’s growing […]
Toyota’s new plug-in Prius
Hybrid vehicles are a big deal, reducing oil consumption and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. But plug-in hybrids are even better, especially since electricity is cheaper and the CO2 is localized to a power plant where, theoretically, it could be captured and sequestered. Plug-in hybrid vehicles are like your standard hybrid, but you can plug your […]
Everything’s coming up “progressive!”
By Martin Bosworth Chris Bowers at OpenLeft (via commenter AdyBarkan) posts the news that Americans are self-identifying as progressive more now than any time in the recent past. This is great to hear, but as Bowers notes, the word “progressive” can mean whatever the speaker wants it to mean:
Texas ranked No. 1 in teen birth rate
by Amaury Nora The United States has the highest teen pregnancy rate of any country in the industrialized world; Texas has the highest teen pregnancy rate (63 births per 1,000 females ages 15-19) of any state in the nation, according to a newly released study of children’s health, KIDS COUNT Data Book, issued by the […]
The Bush Quartet
The war maestro’s magnum opus requires two more wars. As a country founded on the principle of majority rule, most of us have yet to accept that a small cabal of extremists infiltrated and wrested control of our government. Despite Bush & Co.’s violations of our trust, we remain incapable of believing they’d commit an […]
Skip Prosser, RIP
Wake Forest University’s head basketball coach, Skip Prosser, died the other day of an apparent heart attack. He was only 56. Tributes are pouring in. The university community obviously grieves the tragic loss. The coaching fraternity is heartbroken. Dick Vitale, whose entire life seems to be college hoops, was stunned. And so on. As those […]
Saturday video roundup: the good, the baaaad and the fugly….
It’s been a great week for videos. By all means, keep those links coming. First up, you may have seen this week’s report about drunk astronauts. Well, before you can be a drunk astronaut you have to be a drunk pilot. (Thanks to Steve Reynolds.)
Protecting our nation’s secrets – why have deadlines passed with no apparent consequences?
Today is July 27, 2007. A little over a month ago, Congressman Henry Waxman (D-CA), Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (aka Oversight Committee), demanded that the White House and the Oversight Committee make some progress on scheduling interviews with White House officials about improper oversight of our national secrets. A […]
S&R Honors
Click here to learn more about past honorees...- IRS/Tea Party controversy: progressive groups “targeted,” too, and corporate media once again refuses to tell Americans the whole truth
- “Useful Enemies”: U.S. admitted not just Nazis after WWII, but their sadistic collaborators
- The time a source has to respond to request for comment? Virtually none.
- Profiling the Tea Party: In defense of the IRS. Sorta. Or not.
- Saturday Video Roundup: “Imagine the Band,” by John Lennon and Wings
- Mystery Unraveled: How a white, moderate, married, churchgoing, middle-class, middle-aged woman could vote for Obama
- An open letter to Burt Rutan, regarding his WSJ commentary on human-caused climate disruption
- Meet the men of Match.com: Really, guys, are you serious?
- Climate scientists still besieged
- Pelosi on Bush: “He’s not worth impeaching”
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Otherwise: interesting and yet another example of faux news m…
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Autumn: You said several organizations have purposed alter…
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Samuel Smith: It's not JUST three groups. These are the three th…
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Bret Higgins: Slightly confused - You say one third of the 471 g…
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SeattleAuthor: Actually, I had heard that reported on about Day T…
