The Trouble With Corporate Radio: The Day the Protest Music Died

"After the National Guard killed four antiwar demonstrators at Kent State University in Ohio in the spring of 1970, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young recorded a song, simply titled "Ohio," about the horror of the event, criticizing President Richard Nixon by name. The song was rushed onto the air while sentiment was still high, and became both an antiwar anthem and a huge moneymaker.

A comparable song about George W. Bush's rush to war in Iraq would have no chance at all today...."

Where is Joe Strummer when we need him?

The New Republic Online: State of Peace

It's a caucus article and hey, I got quotated!

"All this, of course, is a nightmare for the most unapologetically pro-war Democrat in the race, Joe Lieberman. 'I don't expect to win here,' he explains to reporters at the state Capitol after a meeting with Governor Tom Vilsack on his first day in Iowa since officially declaring his run for president. He's not alone in this assessment: Nobody expects him to win here--in large part because nobody here plans to vote for him. At the Capitol, almost every question for Lieberman is about Iraq, and they're virtually all hostile. 'I haven't found one person in Iowa who supports the man,' says Larew, an Edwards backer. John Deeth, a caucusgoer in Iowa City, expresses a common sentiment among state Democrats, especially antiwar voters, 'Anybody but Lieberman.'"

'Got Beer?' Wisconsin Urged To Adopt Official Drink

Milk vs. Beer. Now in Wisconsin, that's a tough one. This one is PETA's idea...

Yepsen Watch

The latest gratuitous slam on Johnson County and espresso-based beverages in today's Des Moines Register by the over-rated David Yepsen:

Traditionally, the Dubuque poobahs host a "Dubuque Night" during each legislative session, an excuse for a beer and brats bash. Well, this year, to the dismay of many, they upscaled it. Yepsen ends his item with: "If people want lattes and bean sprouts, let them find an 'Iowa City Night' somewhere.

Note to any national media types who may have stumbled onto this: The only time Yepsen scoops anyone is when he's spoon fed. If you want the real story, talk to Mike Glover of the AP.

For the record, I really do like lattes but I'm not much on bean sprouts.

Cat Lovers March in Rome for Feline Pride

"One of the march organizers, Silvia Viviani, argued that "cat ladies" should be paid by the government for looking after strays. 'We want the authorities to recognize our work and efforts by giving it the status of a professional job,' Viviani said."

For Liberals, It's Morning in America - Shock jocks are the progressive answer to Rush Limbaugh

Now HERE's an interesting premise from Marc Fisher of Slate: going after the Jesse Ventura vote. The meat of the article:

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"Shock jocks rant for hours on end on behalf of civil liberties, sexual freedom, the rights of the little guy against the nation's big corporations and institutions (and—sorry, Dems—against affirmative action). They may not share Limbaugh's fascination with electoral politics, but on the issues that divide this country into red and blue, they are as popular and powerful as the supposedly unchallenged conservatives. FM talk scores with young guys who like their radio on the risqué side, with a bulging menu of sex jokes and a powerful message that this is America and you can do whatever you want.

Hint to Democrats: You may not like to admit this, but these are your voters. Most people listen to radio alone in their cars, where no one needs to be PC, and no one has to fear being slapped with a harassment charge. And it's OK to chuckle at that coarse humor and still vote Democratic. The PC brigades may find this hard to believe...

Shock jocks talk about what people are talking about, which, if you listen carefully, usually are exactly the same issues that determine how people vote: personal freedom, mores, economic well-being, family, what it's like to be a guy or a woman or an American right now. And they do it almost unfailingly from a left-libertarian perspective—they are classic social liberals."

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I always thought the smartest thing the Libertarians ever did was nominate Howard Stern for Governor of New York in 1994. [He bailed on the race when he realized he's have to disclose his finances and give up his show.]

ABCNEWS.com : Ex-Mobster Gravano Faces Murder Charges

"Former mob hitman Salvatore "Sammy the Bull" Gravano will face murder charges for allegedly arranging the 1980 shooting death of a New York City police officer, a prosecutor said Monday..."

Sad Day For Rockers

This is a local story on the Rhode Island fire. People shouldn't die horrible deaths just going to see a band.

Evil Bills in Iowa Legislature

The religious extremists are pushing their morality again this session...

"House File 64, sponsored by Republican state Representative Dan Boddicker, would have judges take custody of a child from one parent and give it to the other if the custodial parent shacked up with someone else..."

This guy represents part of MY COUNTY and people don't realize who they're dealing with...

Cologne Causes Bioterrorism Alert At Philly Airport

One more sign that things have gone TOO FAR...

Yahoo! News - Florida Author Chosen to Pen 'Godfather' Sequel

"Random House has made author Mark Winegardner an offer he can't refuse. The publisher said on Friday it picked the Florida-based writer to pen the sequel to "The Godfather," Mario Puzo's 1969 tale of Mafia ties and betrayal that sold 20 million copies and inspired a trilogy of films about the Corleone family...."

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! No! No! No! No! NOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Mario Puzo is DEAD. Let the Corelones rest with him.

The article does note that Winegardner is German-Irish, which Tom Hagen fans should appreciate.

Another Trent Lott a-Brewin'?

"Rep. Howard Coble (R-NC) said during a radio show on Feb 4 that Japanese-Americans were interned during WWII for their own safety, but disagreed with a caller who said Arab-Americans should be confined..."

And why are we only hearing about this now?

Kucinich candidacy hailed in Iowa

Saw the guy twice yesterday. The living room speech was better than the auditorium speech - he is definitely completely and absolutely anti-war. The man must, however, do something about the hair. I mean, it's not Jim Traficant-bad, but it's not good.

At the very least he outshone Carol Mosely-Braun who had ONE PERSON show up in Des Moines.

Not all of these folks are going to make it to January 19, 2004. For myself I'm still in the Uncommitteed Except No Lieberman camp.

What a real empire is like

This is really really scary:

"Imagine not one, but several successive World Trade Center attacks, over a period of years, and with nuclear weapons. Now imagine that repeated instances of inaction, infighting or incompetence on the part of civil authorities being proven to have contributed to those attacks. Then imagine a military figure -- charismatic, ambitious, competent -- coming to public attention by dealing successfully with a public crisis..."

A Foxworthy-worthy You Might Be A Redneck If...

Man pleads guilty after trying to eat pet goat

The Gazette
Saturday, February 15, 2003, 10:37:23 AM

CEDAR RAPIDS -- A man accused of trying to kill a pet goat for his supper admitted his guilt Friday.
Timothy Ferguson, 19, of Ely, pleaded guilty to livestock abuse and possession of a controlled substance. He will be sentenced April 4.
Ferguson was arrested Oct. 30, 2002, after neighbors of Naomi Foshe, 2200 33rd Ave. SW, saw her pet goat tied to a tree and called police. When police arrived, they discovered the goat's throat had been cut.
Ferguson said he intended to eat the goat.
Foshe could not be reached for comment

Lutefisk tickets are going fast

"Only 120 tickets remain for the Saturday, March 1, lutefisk supper at the Northwood United Methodist Church.."

I thought only us Loo-trans ate lutefisk.

Ever see Fargo? I have relatives in northern Wisconsin who talk exactly like that. Uff Da! (that's Norvegian for oy vey)

Orphaned cats entail seven workers' help

Did Gore Block Bradley (With Cars) In New Hampshire?

"Knowing that Bradley’s strength came from tony tech havens such as Bedford, the Gore team organized a caravan to clog highway I-93 with traffic so as to discourage potential Bradley voters from getting to the polls."

One of the real heroes

Czech president Vaclav Havel is term-limited out of office this week. Probably the coolest world leader of my lifetime and a man who took real risks back in the wild days of `89.

CNN.com - McConnell undergoes heart surgery

How did they find it?

Fear and Loathing in Baghdad

Gonzo Journalist Dr. Hunter S. Thompson and former Colorado Gov. Dick Lamm helped hundreds express their fear and loathing over a potential war against Iraq....

Producer Phil Spector Arrested in Killing

Apparantly EXTREMELY upset about the upcoming stripped-down version of Let It Be...

This South Carolina Thing Is Tricky

"The NAACP has declared a tourist boycott of the state, so how do you campaign in the state, honor the boycott and not offend voters -- some of whom support the boycott, and some who don't?"

This conundrum could reduce the impact of SC's approximately third or fourth nominating contest. Which could make Iowa and New Hampshire all the more important!

Embrace file-sharing, or die

A record executive and his son make a formal case for freely downloading music. The gist: 50 million Americans can't be wrong.

Space Shuttle Lost

I can't think of anything to say except thoughts and prayers to the astronauts and their families.