Monday, July 27, 2009
Forensics
So, forensics can be, and often is, unreliable. If something as reliable as forensics can be so unreliable, why are so many judicial officials so willing to place their faith in admittedly unreliable eye-witness accounts....
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Cheney...Still....
Cheney told the CIA to withhold information from Congress. Not that I'm surprised. But now it's on the record. But Obama and Feinstein have both said they won't go after punishing anyone from the last administration for anything. God bless America.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Friday, June 26, 2009
Colbert on Obama on Gay Rights
| The Colbert Report | Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c | |||
| The Word - Stonewalling | ||||
| ||||
It's always a good time to check in on x-3mta3's magical find- The Obamameter to see which promises are being kept.
Letter to the Editor of Metro Spirit
Austin Rhodes writes online in the Spirit, "In close to 20 years of writing for this newspaper, I don’t think I have ever been as wrong as I was Wednesday." He's referring to his enthusiasm for Governor Mark Sanford in his column this week, "Sanford for President!"
I disagree. In expressing his enthusiasm for and admiration of Sanford, Rhodes didn't actually mislead anyone; maybe it's more embarrassment than remorse driving his crow-eating correction. He may not realize or remember, but two weeks ago his remarks did actually warrant correction and apology and the concern of the Metro Spirit.
In his recent column, "Third-world leadership," Rhodes continues the smear (which originated on his radio show) against Betty Beard as a "slumlord" over the fact that her childhood home is in poor condition. Rob Sherman of Licensing and Inspections has stated that the unkempt yard and utilities are the responsibility of the tenants, but still Rhodes and company insist there is a scandal.
How far should the paper allow him to reach? Here in the South, there's an all-access pass to make outrageous accusations or insults as long as they're followed with a show of concern (e.g. he doesn't do a lick of research, bless his heart). Rhodes uses this technique and crosses a line when he leaves the facts (or never addresses them) and opines that "the dear woman has lost her ever-loving mind" and asserts "she is obviously unfit to serve."
Beyond that, and at least as troubling, Rhodes is again churning out racist remarks. Rhodes obliviously thinks he's absolving himself of racial bias when he assures us that "each and every informant" is "a good bit darker than white. In other words," he writes, "her own people gave her up."
I disagree. In expressing his enthusiasm for and admiration of Sanford, Rhodes didn't actually mislead anyone; maybe it's more embarrassment than remorse driving his crow-eating correction. He may not realize or remember, but two weeks ago his remarks did actually warrant correction and apology and the concern of the Metro Spirit.
In his recent column, "Third-world leadership," Rhodes continues the smear (which originated on his radio show) against Betty Beard as a "slumlord" over the fact that her childhood home is in poor condition. Rob Sherman of Licensing and Inspections has stated that the unkempt yard and utilities are the responsibility of the tenants, but still Rhodes and company insist there is a scandal.
How far should the paper allow him to reach? Here in the South, there's an all-access pass to make outrageous accusations or insults as long as they're followed with a show of concern (e.g. he doesn't do a lick of research, bless his heart). Rhodes uses this technique and crosses a line when he leaves the facts (or never addresses them) and opines that "the dear woman has lost her ever-loving mind" and asserts "she is obviously unfit to serve."
Beyond that, and at least as troubling, Rhodes is again churning out racist remarks. Rhodes obliviously thinks he's absolving himself of racial bias when he assures us that "each and every informant" is "a good bit darker than white. In other words," he writes, "her own people gave her up."
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Sanford
South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford revealed today that he was in Argentina after being missing in action for a week. Why? Extramarital affair. As such, he has resigned as head of the Republican Governors Association. But not from his South Carolina governorship. GOP: The party of values.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
US Courts Are Always so Full of Good News
DNA testing to prove innocence is apparently not a right...
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Here's something to consider when looking at the Troy Davis case. This is why he should be given a new trial. In cases where the death penalty would be applied, we cannot allow our government to ignore even a shred of evidence if it casts doubt on the guilt of the accused. There is no undoing the death penalty when you find out years later you got the wrong guy.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Friday, June 12, 2009
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Augusta Media is Gross
Gross. Here's a tv news clip called "Commissioner Betty Beard responds to slumlord allegations."
Here's a regular person telling the same story.
Here's the interview that they, uh, edited.
And when I called Channel 12's Chris Thomas to ask who tipped them off to the story, he declined to tell me. So, who made these slumlord allegations? If it were the renters that wouldn't be a secret, would it? Makes me wonder a little.
Oh, and there's this going on at the same time. Commissioner Beard sure is in the news all of a sudden. Coincidences are thought provoking.
Here's a regular person telling the same story.
Here's the interview that they, uh, edited.
And when I called Channel 12's Chris Thomas to ask who tipped them off to the story, he declined to tell me. So, who made these slumlord allegations? If it were the renters that wouldn't be a secret, would it? Makes me wonder a little.
Oh, and there's this going on at the same time. Commissioner Beard sure is in the news all of a sudden. Coincidences are thought provoking.
Morris Museum of Art
I have a couple of rants about the Morris Museum of Art that I need to voice. There are so many things that one can say about the museum, but here's what I have today:
1) They decided not to include any of my work in their current folk art exhibit. While this isn't terribly disappointing (I don't exactly expect to ever have my paintings hanging in such an institution), I am disappointed in the fact that the Morris' apparent definition of 'southern folk art' is anything including poor drawing/painting skills, lots of words written on the painting, and lots of Jesus. But to each their own. Who am I to judge? My painting abilities are far from great. But I know that and I have no delusions about it.
2) While in the museum I got chided about having my cell phone on. I wasn't chatting loudly on it, or trying to take pictures; I was merely trying to send out a quick text, when I got scolded by the museum security guard. Why did I get chided? Was I disturbing other museum guests? No. I was scolded because apparently cell phone usage of any kind 'interferes' with the security guards' radios. Which are absolutely necessary to protect the museum from....
1) They decided not to include any of my work in their current folk art exhibit. While this isn't terribly disappointing (I don't exactly expect to ever have my paintings hanging in such an institution), I am disappointed in the fact that the Morris' apparent definition of 'southern folk art' is anything including poor drawing/painting skills, lots of words written on the painting, and lots of Jesus. But to each their own. Who am I to judge? My painting abilities are far from great. But I know that and I have no delusions about it.
2) While in the museum I got chided about having my cell phone on. I wasn't chatting loudly on it, or trying to take pictures; I was merely trying to send out a quick text, when I got scolded by the museum security guard. Why did I get chided? Was I disturbing other museum guests? No. I was scolded because apparently cell phone usage of any kind 'interferes' with the security guards' radios. Which are absolutely necessary to protect the museum from....
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Sometimes I Just Like to Post Legislation and Video of Nurses Getting Arrested
HR 676 (CONYERS) - Healthcare For All Americans
The United States National Health Insurance Act establishes an American a single payer health care system. The bill would create a publically financed, privately delivered health care program that uses the already existing Medicare program by expanding and improving it to all U.S. residents, and all residents living in U.S. territories. The goal of the legislation is to ensure that all Americans, guaranteed by law, will have access to the highest quality and cost effective health care services regardless of one’s employment, income, or health care status.
The United States National Health Insurance Act establishes an American a single payer health care system. The bill would create a publically financed, privately delivered health care program that uses the already existing Medicare program by expanding and improving it to all U.S. residents, and all residents living in U.S. territories. The goal of the legislation is to ensure that all Americans, guaranteed by law, will have access to the highest quality and cost effective health care services regardless of one’s employment, income, or health care status.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
More on Troy Davis for Metro Spirit
According to the editor, ninety percent of Spirit readers have attended college. That sounds high, but maybe the things I say sound high too.
This blog, "Land of the Blind" is meant to be about politics and media, and today I'd like to sound off a little on local media.
The reason I got involved with Metro Spirit is not because I love to party downtown, it's because I think the news in Augusta is pretty bad and the Spirit could do better as the "alternative" news source to cover things that the Chronicle, the local TV stations, and the local radio shows either don't touch or slant the way we all know they do. (After all, we're all educated here, right?) Not to say I'm not grateful for the opportunity to write here- I absolutely am.
But the story that motivated me to actually start writing is one that we don't seem to hear about. It's a story about Georgia that doesn't get told in Georgia.
Months ago when I read about the impending execution of a man with a strong case of innocence who couldn't get a trial to consider his innocence, I searched to find local coverage of it. I didn't see any and got the idea to encourage some. I called TV stations, radio stations, and newspapers. Most told me to get lost. When I called the Spirit, I was relieved to talk to a decent human being who nevertheless told me that it would need a local angle. Looking back I realize I should have just created a local angle somehow. (I regret not setting up a dunk tank downtown- are those expensive? Would Austin sit in it?) I've missed a lot of opportunities on this, but with your help it's not too late for a big push from the state's second biggest city. It's easy. Just read about it (it's interesting reading- I've had my nose in this one since October) and sign a petition.
Don't listen to me. Read what a big shot has to say about this shocking thirty car pile-up of craziness in our very own state justice system. If you don't like bleeding heart liberal Jimmy Carter, I bet you like Libertarian and death penalty supporter Bob Barr. Don't trust Desmond Tutu? How about former FBI director (and another pro-death penalty guy) William Sessions? Noam Chomsky, Howard Zinn (come on, I thought you guys went to college), the Pope? The Indigo Girls? No, the Indigo Girls don't help at all, do they? Unless of course you're in college right now and trying out some new stuff. How about let's go back to the very beginning- what about hearing from the guy whose cries for help brought the hero cop to his doom?
Please take a minute, see what's up, and sign a petition saying you don't want this execution to go through without a fair trial first. (Not to point fingers, but Chatham County is known to screw up with death sentences.) You don't have to know he's innocent to sign. In fact, you can't know. I don't care how close you came to graduating college, you're not Matlock! Signing only means that we mean to be a civilized country that values truth and justice. Love America while you sign. And if you're a professor please sign this special smartypants petition to make an extra impression.
This blog, "Land of the Blind" is meant to be about politics and media, and today I'd like to sound off a little on local media.
The reason I got involved with Metro Spirit is not because I love to party downtown, it's because I think the news in Augusta is pretty bad and the Spirit could do better as the "alternative" news source to cover things that the Chronicle, the local TV stations, and the local radio shows either don't touch or slant the way we all know they do. (After all, we're all educated here, right?) Not to say I'm not grateful for the opportunity to write here- I absolutely am.
But the story that motivated me to actually start writing is one that we don't seem to hear about. It's a story about Georgia that doesn't get told in Georgia.
Months ago when I read about the impending execution of a man with a strong case of innocence who couldn't get a trial to consider his innocence, I searched to find local coverage of it. I didn't see any and got the idea to encourage some. I called TV stations, radio stations, and newspapers. Most told me to get lost. When I called the Spirit, I was relieved to talk to a decent human being who nevertheless told me that it would need a local angle. Looking back I realize I should have just created a local angle somehow. (I regret not setting up a dunk tank downtown- are those expensive? Would Austin sit in it?) I've missed a lot of opportunities on this, but with your help it's not too late for a big push from the state's second biggest city. It's easy. Just read about it (it's interesting reading- I've had my nose in this one since October) and sign a petition.
Don't listen to me. Read what a big shot has to say about this shocking thirty car pile-up of craziness in our very own state justice system. If you don't like bleeding heart liberal Jimmy Carter, I bet you like Libertarian and death penalty supporter Bob Barr. Don't trust Desmond Tutu? How about former FBI director (and another pro-death penalty guy) William Sessions? Noam Chomsky, Howard Zinn (come on, I thought you guys went to college), the Pope? The Indigo Girls? No, the Indigo Girls don't help at all, do they? Unless of course you're in college right now and trying out some new stuff. How about let's go back to the very beginning- what about hearing from the guy whose cries for help brought the hero cop to his doom?
Please take a minute, see what's up, and sign a petition saying you don't want this execution to go through without a fair trial first. (Not to point fingers, but Chatham County is known to screw up with death sentences.) You don't have to know he's innocent to sign. In fact, you can't know. I don't care how close you came to graduating college, you're not Matlock! Signing only means that we mean to be a civilized country that values truth and justice. Love America while you sign. And if you're a professor please sign this special smartypants petition to make an extra impression.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Hal Holbrook as Mark Twain
Hal Holbrook has been doing his one-man Mark Twain Tonight! for thirty years. He came to Augusta a week or two or three ago with his improvised recitation of assorted writings by Mr. Twain. For the show here, he got the crowd loud and rowdy before intermission with a lot of jokes about the worthlessness of congress, the trashiness of the media, and even snuck in a little dissing of the church. I heard the guy in front of me at the break say to his wife, "it's amazing how much things haven't changed in a hundred years."
After the break, Mr. Holbrook whipped the audience up again with a little shouting match between Democrats and Republicans which led right into a rant on group think. Nice. He followed up and pretty much closed out with a long and vigorous acting out of portions of Huck Finn. A lot of n-wording on the stage and more coughing in the auditorium then I have ever heard in my life. While Huck expressed his guilt over not being a good boy and turning in his slave friend Jim, the audience choked its head off. Then gave him the standard Garden City standing ovation.
Austin Rhodes says he saw Mr. Holbrook out at dinner and sat down with him. I wonder if running into our baby Rush Limbaugh influenced Holbrook's selections at all.
After the break, Mr. Holbrook whipped the audience up again with a little shouting match between Democrats and Republicans which led right into a rant on group think. Nice. He followed up and pretty much closed out with a long and vigorous acting out of portions of Huck Finn. A lot of n-wording on the stage and more coughing in the auditorium then I have ever heard in my life. While Huck expressed his guilt over not being a good boy and turning in his slave friend Jim, the audience choked its head off. Then gave him the standard Garden City standing ovation.
Austin Rhodes says he saw Mr. Holbrook out at dinner and sat down with him. I wonder if running into our baby Rush Limbaugh influenced Holbrook's selections at all.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Friday, May 1, 2009
Darfur Protest Leads to Arrest of U.S. Representatives
Way to go, Congressfolk. Georgia's own civil rights hero turned U.S. Representative John Lewis along with Reps. Jim McGovern, Donna Edwards, Keith Ellison, and Lynn Woolsey, were arrested this week for protesting outside the U.S. Embassy for Sudan. Sudan is the home of Darfur, where genocide has been ongoing for years. On March 4, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir expelled humanitarian groups from Darfur after the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for his arrest on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
John Lewis isn't the only Georgia public servant on the love train; Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue signed into law Wednesday a measure discouraging trade with Sudan while the genocide continues.
According to the bill's sponsor, state Senator David Adelman, “Companies are going to have a choice. You can either do business with the war criminals who are perpetrating the genocide in Darfur, or you can do business with Georgia. This bill ensures no Georgia taxpayer money will in any way support a regime that is supporting the genocide in Darfur.”
Thank John Lewis, thank David Adelman, and thank Governor Perdue. While you're praising, remind them that justice matters for Georgia death row inmate Troy Davis who was denied a new trial to consider mountains of evidence that he may be innocent and whose execution may come very soon.
The Inner Party Can Turn Them Off
It's kind of funny that there was a show named "Friends." And how popular it was.
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