01/23/04 12:46 - ID#35419
No Superbowl MoveOn Ad
"During this year's Super Bowl, you'll see ads sponsored by beer companies, tobacco companies, and the Bush White House.1 But you won't see the winning ad in MoveOn.org Voter Fund's Bush in 30 Seconds ad contest. CBS refuses to air it.2
Meanwhile, the White House is on the verge of signing into law a deal which Senator John McCain (R-AZ) says is custom-tailored for CBS and Fox,3 allowing the two networks to grow much bigger. CBS lobbied hard for this rule change; MoveOn.org members across the country lobbied against it; and now our ad has been rejected while the White House ad will be played. It looks an awful lot like CBS is playing politics with the right to free speech.
Of course, this is bigger than just the MoveOn.org Voter Fund. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) submitted an ad that was also rejected.4 But this isn't even a progressive-vs.-conservative issue. The airwaves are publicly owned, so we have a fundamental right to hear viewpoints from across the ideological spectrum. That's why we need to let CBS know that this practice of arbitrarily turning down ads that may be "controversial" -- especially if they're controversial simply because they take on the President -- just isn't right.
To sign our petition to CBS, go to:
We'll deliver the petition by email directly to CBS headquarters."
Permalink: No_Superbowl_MoveOn_Ad.html
Words: 275
Location: Buffalo, NY
01/21/04 04:03 - ID#35418
I am a crochety old man now
That's right, I've finally taken up my long-awaited dream of crocheting. You may ask yourself why any 24 year old male would choose such a granny-like craft. Well, mostly I am a very bored 24 year old who's almost perpetually laid off, this would be the number one predicating factor. Another big reason is that both my grandmas crocheted and would always give me quilts and such for special occassions. I learned a little bit how to do it when I was a kid, but never enough to actually make anything. It's not really all that complicated, I started this scarf the day after I learned the stitches. It is very time consuming, however; so far the scarf is about a foot long and has absorbed about 4-5 hours of my life. I think there should be some kind of machinery involved, though that might make it less of a craft. I will trudge on till it is finished and then I will make smaller things, like mittens, booties, hats, penis cozies, and tortoise sweaters.
- I will now mention that Sara (iriesara) really helped me get down the basics that enabled me to come so far since then in the crocheting art. Thanks Sara!!**
Permalink: I_am_a_crochety_old_man_now.html
Words: 204
Location: Buffalo, NY
01/20/04 12:34 - ID#35417
Back to work
US on it's knees before the recently declared "irrelavant" UN . How the mighty fall. Maybe the UN will help little-old US before things get really out of hand. If not we can just start bombing more people into peace. Maybe we can bomb selected targets directly into office, now that's democracy.
Permalink: Back_to_work.html
Words: 123
Location: Buffalo, NY
01/19/04 10:03 - ID#35416
James Earl Jonesed
Can't you just picture me in this baby! I'd be riding high and dry above the rest of the world. I'd be sporting utilities left and right. I'd have a cell phone, and 7 car phones (one for every seat), and would have the three seat-back monitors hooked constantly to the internet via Verizon's satellites. I'd tear through telephone bills faster than through foreign oil reserves. Sweet hippity-hog!
Thank you James Earl Jones!! Where are you nowadays, it's been ages since you tore my heart open on the screen. That voice, my god, how do you dit it?!? Totally like verklemps me into a knot of sweet love pudding. But, most importantly thank you, no really, thank you Verizon!!!
Permalink: James_Earl_Jonesed.html
Words: 151
Location: Buffalo, NY
01/19/04 01:52 - ID#35415
Israeli strangeness
There's an art exhibit which features a suicide bomber in Stockholm, Sweden. Israel's envoy to Sweden goes to the exhibit, sees the installation, and attempts to take it down (though he manages to only unplug a spotlight and throw it in impotent rage). He defended his actions, claiming that diplomacy only goes so far. As a matter of course, top Israeli cabinet members of the Sharon government voiced their approval of the act.
Freedom of expression should be an unquestioned right. The art piece didn't hurt anyone, maybe it makes you look at a perspective that is offensive to you, but that doesn't mean it should be censored. I really think this all goes too far. You can only cry anti-semite so much before nobody cares anymore. Especially when at the same time you are building a wall around the lesser people you don't want near your towns and making premeditated sweeps through their homes, indiscriminately terrorizing them with tanks, bulldozers, and machine guns. Does anyone claim that Israel is even threatened anymore? They have a gigantic army, the largest as a percentage of population, and advanced military technology, supplied by their number one friend and ally, the US. Their constant cries of anti-semitism fly in the face of their own aggression and bullying. They say that a child who is abused at an early age has a greater chance of becoming an abuser later in life. I think Israel needs to learn that lesson and start acting like an adult country.
Permalink: Israeli_strangeness.html
Words: 266
Location: Buffalo, NY
01/18/04 01:20 - ID#35414
Evacuation!
They are gone, evacuated. The process has terminated, but for a malingering malaise perfuming our halls. Has malfeasance been quelled, for now at least? Of the future we can only hope, clinging to faded memories, both experienced and inate. Remember! Nightmares fade, but dreams, they linger on.
Permalink: Evacuation_.html
Words: 86
Location: Buffalo, NY
01/17/04 03:18 - ID#35413
Surprises everywhere!
Permalink: Surprises_everywhere_.html
Words: 13
Location: Buffalo, NY
01/17/04 01:53 - ID#35412
Just one more reason to hate him
We've (didn't you know, you're a part too) decided that our next ambition regarding space should be to set foot once again, this time permanently, on the moon, and for the first time on Mars. How exciting. Being a science buff or whatever this excites me slightly, though not significantly becasue I can't imagine many surprises await us there. Funny thing was yesterday I listened to the radio on my way somewhere, as the NPR staff and guests debated the pros and cons of Bush's new mission. They discussed the motives for the announcement (namely reelection), the actual scientific ramifications (is there life on mars?), and the real reasons (military, duh, wtf?). This of course is scary, the very real militarization of space. Frightening. I am not so frightened because I have read many very bright people talk about how far we are from this becoming a reality, rather it will just absorb money without results for the foreseeable future. Whatev. The thing I wanted to mention was that on the NPR they discussed where the money would come from; Bush hasn't allocated any extra money for this shift in paradigms, meaning NASA must fund it from currently allocated resources. They talked about what would be cut and what not. Hubble was brought up. In case you aren't aware, the Hubble telescope is responsible for verifying many of the newest and most encompassing of astrophysic experiments. In CNN's words, "The bus-size telescope...has been sending home spectacular images of the universe for over a decade and [has] forced the rewriting of astronomy textbooks..." Impressive, huh? Well on NPR they decided that defunding of Hubble just wasn't an option. Apparently they didn't consult the source very carefully. Today we have . Yes, Hubble is to be decommisioned. Oh well, who needs reality to be deciphered anyway, let's just go to mars! Whoopie! <Asshole>
Permalink: Just_one_more_reason_to_hate_him.html
Words: 322
Location: Buffalo, NY
01/17/04 12:14 - ID#35411
Closer to the decision
I am ready to leave. To start anew, in place, ideas, and livelihood. I choose to live my life outside of the mainstream. Both taking and giving as little as possible. I don't want to be dependent on it, while I want to keep apart from its foulness. Together with those who share my ideas. I am tired of feeling depressed, anxious, and nihilistic. I want to feel like I am making a difference in the lives of those I care about instead of feeling like I am perpetuationg endless violence against those against whom I have no grudge. To be free of the system and rigamorole, able to create something new, making things, actual things with my hand and mind. So I go, taking those who wish to travel aboard the ark to nowhere special, only removed. If only we could commandeer a shuttle to take us far away, I would be first in line, me and my animals. We will, however, take the chance on earth to make of ourselves something better than what exeists. I can't do it any longer if I have to care about every false move my government makes in my name. Shall I let them rob me of my happiness. Pure anarchy is as far from altruism as from possession. If my society doesn't give me what I need than I have no duty to give what it needs from me. I will secede to my own private ranch, paying property tax and no more. Me and the goats. With their handlers of course. To live a dream other than the American. To me it's become a nightmare. I just want to sleep in peace.
Permalink: Closer_to_the_decision.html
Words: 390
Location: Buffalo, NY
01/15/04 03:22 - ID#35410
Whitening the Debate
Carole Mosley-Braun will be missed. She would have brought change. She is endorsing Dean now, maybe he will bring change. Not as much though. I wish she had endorsed Kucinich, who I believe, shared more of her ideals. I'm sure though that she realizes, as do I, that he stands about zero chance of gaining the nomination. Isn't democracy grand?
Permalink: Whitening_the_Debate.html
Words: 98
Location: Buffalo, NY
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