Friday, July 13, 2007
More reasons to hate Republicans
Oh yeah, like I really need another. Actually, it's just another facet of the same ol' bullshit where the rich get richer. It's the shameless way that political appointees have caved into pressure from the NAB and allowed the Copyright Royalty Board to assist Sony, Columbia, EMI, and ilk to suppress competition to it's corporate-controlled outlets like ClearChannel, Bonneville, RadioOne, et. al. from Internet Radio streamcasts. While done in the name of protecting the rights of the performers, I can assuredly state as a member of AFM that the only thing being protected here is the fat heap of money that big business reaps at the hands of the lowly musician.
Speaking of corporate-run America, how 'bout that auction of "public" airwave spectrum that has the FCC has been shepherding? Now that a portion of the juicy TV wavelengths are available, a corporate feeding frenzy has been taking place. Funny that although the nation's first responders have been clamoring for allocation of part of that spectrum for a unified communications system, it seems that DHS is standing silently by on the sidelines while big players and smaller parasites scoop up the goodies. Odd, too, that the winning bids are remarkably low for what represents multi-billion dollar property. Hell, I could have afforded a slice o' the pie, and I'm broke and bankrupt.
By the way, The Washington Post is becoming a terrible newspaper, falling victim to the the WTOP editorial style. Here's an example of shallow journalism with as little fact-finding as possible as it relates to the Internet Radio Mess. I'd sure like to know which Judge dismissed this case. Guess I'll have to go to the WSJ for relevant information, if I can get there before ol' Rupert does. Another BS article from said DC Post about the fire sale at the FCC leaves out the most interesting part, to me, about the whole story. Where is the money going to go?
Alas, we know goddam well where it's going to go.
Speaking of corporate-run America, how 'bout that auction of "public" airwave spectrum that has the FCC has been shepherding? Now that a portion of the juicy TV wavelengths are available, a corporate feeding frenzy has been taking place. Funny that although the nation's first responders have been clamoring for allocation of part of that spectrum for a unified communications system, it seems that DHS is standing silently by on the sidelines while big players and smaller parasites scoop up the goodies. Odd, too, that the winning bids are remarkably low for what represents multi-billion dollar property. Hell, I could have afforded a slice o' the pie, and I'm broke and bankrupt.
By the way, The Washington Post is becoming a terrible newspaper, falling victim to the the WTOP editorial style. Here's an example of shallow journalism with as little fact-finding as possible as it relates to the Internet Radio Mess. I'd sure like to know which Judge dismissed this case. Guess I'll have to go to the WSJ for relevant information, if I can get there before ol' Rupert does. Another BS article from said DC Post about the fire sale at the FCC leaves out the most interesting part, to me, about the whole story. Where is the money going to go?
Alas, we know goddam well where it's going to go.
Labels: FCC, Internet Radio, Library of Congress, NAB, Republicans
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
A Welcome Funeral
Normally, funerals are not occasions of joy. This stirring article by Annette John-Hall of the PhilInq sheds a spotlight on a joyous interment and a glimmer of hope on a murky horizon. Rest In Peace.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Why I REALLY HATE This Administration
I've often ranted about the way that farmers and farms have been treated since the coups in 1980. For some reason, Corporate America seems to think that food comes from supermarkets, and that people like eating plants that have been genetically mutated to allow them to be grown in Jablip, harvested early, ripened by chemicals, shipped at leisure, and sold at a huge profit. Don't worry that they taste like cardboard, contain dubious nutritional value, and perhaps will have horrible evolutionary consequences down the line. Dollars now, we always say.
Anyway, this excellent article by Gilbert M. Gaul and Dan Morgan in WaPo sheds light onto the problem at the Federal level. The problem is, this is supposed to shock us. The fact that it doesn't even raise an eyebrow anymore is severely depressing.
Anyway, this excellent article by Gilbert M. Gaul and Dan Morgan in WaPo sheds light onto the problem at the Federal level. The problem is, this is supposed to shock us. The fact that it doesn't even raise an eyebrow anymore is severely depressing.
Monday, June 18, 2007
A gift that keeps on giving...
Just thought you'd like to travel back to a simpler time... 35 years ago, today, right here inside the Beltway, this story in the Washington Post newspaper...
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Just when you thought a new wind was a-blowin'
President Rudy. The only question is, "What's his price?". This BBC News article is perhaps a hint.
Friday, June 08, 2007
I might as well do it now...
The prediction. Before I do, remember that people scoffed, scoffed, mind you, at me when I predicted the Bush presidency, and the Bush re-nonelection. So laugh at me now, my fellow liberal-tarians, as I predict that our January 20, 2009 celebrations will be tempered by the swearing in of President Rudy Guiliani, and Vice President Gee, Fredd, why do you have 2 "d's" in your name Thompson. I'm a lot more sure of this than my prediction that Phil flips Pauly to get to Tony, then leaves him to swing in the wind with the Feds.
Have a really nice day.
Have a really nice day.
Monday, June 04, 2007
Oh, them...
Excuse me, but remember the cold war? That's right, there was this other "super-power" know as the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, or some-such. Yeah, them. Reagan took care of all that, remember?
And now that the United Snakes practices Corporate Board Diplomacy exclusively, it seems that ignoring other countries is working out as well now as it did for Louis and Marie in 1789. Mikhail Gorbachev summed it up nicely on a recent Radio Four interview, the gist of which can be seen in this BBC News article. How can it be that an entire administration simply ignores Vladimir Putin's KGB roots, and continues to operate in a vacuum of politically savvy leadership. Why is it that the cavalier attitude that there is no judgement after the Rapture is allowed to foster a policy of widespread corporate theft and plunder of all wealth on the planet? Hey, how's that extradition treaty with Dubai working out?
The unfortunate outcome of all this arrogant cowboy diplomacy is that it will fulfill the accusatory rhetoric of the unscrupulous world "leaders" who will co-opt genuine anger at the good ol' USA for their own despotic purposes. We'll be left behind a technological eight-ball, with an undereducated underclass military, a precarious economy that is largely paper, and a population that is unwilling and unable to defend a way of life that, while deliciously valid, may become irrelevant in yet another new world order.
And now that the United Snakes practices Corporate Board Diplomacy exclusively, it seems that ignoring other countries is working out as well now as it did for Louis and Marie in 1789. Mikhail Gorbachev summed it up nicely on a recent Radio Four interview, the gist of which can be seen in this BBC News article. How can it be that an entire administration simply ignores Vladimir Putin's KGB roots, and continues to operate in a vacuum of politically savvy leadership. Why is it that the cavalier attitude that there is no judgement after the Rapture is allowed to foster a policy of widespread corporate theft and plunder of all wealth on the planet? Hey, how's that extradition treaty with Dubai working out?
The unfortunate outcome of all this arrogant cowboy diplomacy is that it will fulfill the accusatory rhetoric of the unscrupulous world "leaders" who will co-opt genuine anger at the good ol' USA for their own despotic purposes. We'll be left behind a technological eight-ball, with an undereducated underclass military, a precarious economy that is largely paper, and a population that is unwilling and unable to defend a way of life that, while deliciously valid, may become irrelevant in yet another new world order.
