Moonage Webdream

First we had rathergate, the forged Killian documents. Who DID write those? CBS won’t say. After being outed embarassingly, Rather STILL thinks the story is true.

Now, we have rathergate redux, the draft. There’s the cached version of the story. All we know about Ms. Cocco is she has protected kids her whole life. The altered version now on CBS changes the story a little:

Now come to find out she’s an activist against the draft. She’s not some concerned mom, she’s the one mom fighting the draft. Why did Rather and CBS feel compelled NOT to inform us of this little bit of trivia? her website is attributed to Jacob Levich, who in 2001 compared Bush to Orwellian 1984, and his Common Dreams Newsletter is decidedly anti-Bush. It seems Ms. Cocco and Mr. Levich have a bind. Could it therefore be suggested that CBS picked someone already known to be anti-Bush, and anti-draft, to do their story? Or, was it an honest coincedence?

Given Rather’s history, it’s too much to ask that it’s just a coincedence. It’s intentional. Therefore Dan Rather, who runs the news at CBS, is my butthole of the day.

And the real irony of this is Mr. Levich’s web page links an article that accuses CBS of pandering for Bush. What a hoot.

Technorati Tags: Jerk of the Day

I’ve been harsh on media, mostly for it’s editorial content, for several years. However, you can’t deny its impact, especially in the “Information Age“. Some photos actually influenced the world. Life magazine is running an issue of 100 Pictures that changed the World. Their abbreviated version features some heavy hitters, I’m not sure which had the greatest impact, but this would be one of my votes:
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Hedonistix lists his as well, I imagine it’s a lot more personal than mine. IMO, Nagasaki skewed world politics for 50 years and counting. The second a country detonates a bomb, they become a world power. Today we are dealing with Iran and North Koera’s efforts to become world powers by the sheer force of one bomb. Although Russia never quite climbed out of third world status, they were a respected and feared enemy for 50 years because of their nuclear arsenal. This picture helped sell the world on the power of the bomb.

Probably the single picture that meant the most to me I didn’t see on Life’s abbreviated list, but I’m sure it’s in their extended list:



This photo marked the end of innocence in space exploration for a lot of people. NASA had gone into a funk and shuttle missions had become so routine that people were no longer keeping up with them much. I was. I love space. The US was the best in the world. Space had become so routine. Challenger shattered all those illusions in a matter of seconds. Those watching the launch, as I was, were absolutely stunned. Space was no longer child’s play, it was serious business, and very dangerous. It wouldn’t be the last disaster in space in my life time either. But, Challenger still had the most impact on me.

And probably the picture that had the most impact was this one:



The second you saw that airplane, you knew this was not a horrible accident, it was intentional. People truly were crazy enough to intentionally kill as many innocent people as they could for no real reason. Just seeing that second plane meant diplomacy and negotiation had failed. We were at war.

And lastly, the picture that means the most to me personally isn’t on the Life list at all, but it should be. For a few months, the tragedies of 9/11 were mentally put on the side and I found peace like I had never experienced in my life. Slowly but surely world politics would return to my focus, but starting December 23, 2002, I could only thing of one thing:

Technorati Tags: Media

My friend Hedonistix talked me into doing something I knew I shouldn’t, take a test to see if my weblog owns me.

This is how I scored:

I scored higher than anyone else I know so far. Not good. However, my life situation right now keeps me pinned down pretty tight ( almsot 2 year old son ). So, this is as good a diversion as I can find. I’m not freaking out about being owned by my blog, yet.

For those bloggers out there reading this, the link to take the quiz is below my score. Be careful, it’s rigged to make you feel guilty!

Technorati Tags: Humor

This year has been brutal. The tally, final I hope, looks like this:
Charley: 36
Frances: 35
Gaston: 8 ( Tropical storm, but part of the season )
Ivan: 115
and Jeanne: 1,537

I made a little graph:

Come on, people, we need to help Haiti. The place was in bad enough shape before all this.

Technorati Tags: Current Affairs

We have been discussing the art culture on The Fool. I’m not going to push people to the Fool on this one, as it’s a haughty dialogue not usually seen during our beer discussions.

However, the discussion has turned to the art culture. So, I thought I’d chime in with my thoughts:

The biggest problem is the art culture, not the art itself. For some reason, most artists feel compelled to display themselves as the work of art as opposed to the topic they’re writng, drawing, clay scultping, or scripting about. You just don’t see artists going to work at 8 and clocking out at 5. Their deliberate attempt to isolate themselves in a world most people don’t exist in alienates those that do clock in and out at work. Sure, some artists attempt to mimic mere mortals, but only in their works. Too many prop themselves on pedestals and expect the world to adore them as they do their creations. This self adoration is what prompts mere mortals to desire to slay them moreso than worship them. Once slain, the mere mortals will still have the works of art to adore, but won’t have to tolerate the gods that created those works.

I know a few artists, none famous to any degree. Even they don’t adhere to social norms such as working steadily ( even at their art ). What is it that compels people interested in arts to refuse to be maintream? Or, is it the other way around? What is it that compels people who refuse to be mainsream so drawn to arts?

Technorati Tags: Opinions

Yesterday I had the kid pretty much all to myself during a very critical time, 1pm-7pm. Prime time for football. During that time, he learned to say foobah ( proper pronunciation in this area ), and, more importantly, learned to squeal loudly and pounce on a ball when it’s rolling on the ground.

I’m a proud papa for sure! Only 3 more years and he’ll be in a league.

Technorati Tags: Parenting

Over the last few days, Brendan has learned a new trick. No matter what room he’s in, if you hand him something and tell him to put it in the garbage, he gets this look on his face like you’ve told him to do something really, really important, takes it, runs as fast as he can, puts it in the garbage can in the kitchen, and runs back as fast as he can and claps his hands in utter happiness.

Nothing is more fascinating and rewarding than watching a child learn. Nothing.

Technorati Tags: Parenting

The Boss isn’t taking any prisoners when it comes to Bush-bashing, and some of his fans don’t like it.

Another said ticket sales are suffering on the upcoming pro-Kerry tour. “NO ONE wants to hear Bruce talk politics - it’s as simple as that,” the fan wrote.

How many entertainers have to alienate a good portion of their fan base before they realize that people don’t want them to preach at them? Just because they can sing, dance, or act, does not give them some special insight to politics. They have the right to their opinions, but their fans have the exact same right. Sut up and sing, Bruce. I want to perceive you as a special talent, not an ordinary hack who just got lucky.

Technorati Tags: Opinions

These are the countries represented by visitors here:


Pretty cool huh?

Technorati Tags: Humor, People

From the day Brendan was born, Mindy refused to cut his hair. The comment of “What a beautiful BOY!” more commonly became “What a beautiful……boy?”.

I couldn’t take it any longer. Yesterday we cut his hair. “He’s a beautiful BOY!” again.

Technorati Tags: Parenting