tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2284226773135748602024-03-07T20:46:09.678-08:00Trend VigilUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-228422677313574860.post-3108676506895122782008-06-10T20:12:00.000-07:002008-06-10T20:43:53.128-07:00Hip Hop Headines - Fear of a (relevant) Black PlanetUnderground hip hop doesn't lack people who want to MC, and despite its lack of widespread commercial appeal it has a strong base in young people.<br />But underground hip hop doesn't have enough new things to talk about.<br />We've all heard it before, and before that, and before that.<br />The stereotypical underground hip hop song is a lot like the stereotypical blog post: Both require a literary touch, a healthy ego, and both tend to be autobiographical, which means they can both end up sounding like a narcissistic person blathering about what they did yesterday.<br /><br />What if hip hop MCs decided to rap about the news?<br />This has already worked out well for Akrobatic, who does a sports wrap up on the Boston radio station Jam'n 94.5. <a href="http://my945.jamn945.com/akrobatik/blog/2007/10/24/">Listen</a> to one of his more famous and (at the time) timely raps, and decide if the hip hop medium wouldn't work to distribute other forms of information.<br /><a href="http://tv38.com/?articleID=61597">Here's</a> Akro on the current Celtic's team, now in the NBA Finals.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-228422677313574860.post-1173678588608743002008-06-02T18:31:00.000-07:002008-06-02T19:13:57.012-07:00Empty threatOccasionally on my way home from work I tune into WRKO's Michelle McPhee, partly because I like her outrage on behalf of perceived wrongdoing and partly to learn how the moderate right wing is thinking. McPhee's rhetoric is far from the hate mongers (Jay Severin and Michael Savage for instance) who share time slots on the channel, so she is usually bearable to listen to. But other times, she can be willfully blind to all the evidence against her point, and clearly just trying to press her agenda for making John McCain the next president. Sometimes it seems she shills as hard for McCain as other radio hosts shill for a show's sponsored vinyl-siding vendor or window replacement company.<br /><br />Tonight she dredged up the ghost of Jeremiah Wright, yet again. McPhee's attempt to keep the ex-pastor in Obama's ex-church relevant felt as fresh and newsworthy as last week's potato salad. But I suppose he makes good radio with his years-old over-the-top sermons. And I expect her and other McCain supporters to bring him up again and again as the November election nears. He's a perfect villain for voters who treat any criticism of this country as blasphemy or treason. (And also those who choose their candidate based on a lapel pin.) But what's Wright got to do with Obama now?<br /><br />Obama left the church. It's over. And by November that Jeremiah Wright potato salad is going to be well past its expiration date. The more the Republicans try to bring back the ghost of Rev. Wright, the more accountable they will have to be for the skeletons in McCain's closet.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-228422677313574860.post-26428512172163250352008-05-28T21:23:00.000-07:002008-05-28T22:06:30.670-07:00Have we met?After countless hours spent browsing news Web sites, it's become clear that among all the other things the Web does for writers, it allows them to put multiple headlines on the same story. This is great.<br />I appreciate a good headline, the way I appreciate a good <a href="http://www.comicspage.com/shoe/index.html">Shoe</a> comic. Good heads are fun, succinct, but leave you wondering where the rest of the story might go. They should be accessible to anyone. For years, I valued the tabloid headlines at the Boston Herald above all others. What the paper lost in the vitriol some of its columnists it made up for in the wittiness of its head lines. I can't recall any now, because like the paper and ink they were forged in, my memories of good headlines have faded and been reduced to pulp.<br />The same is true for the engaging headlines over at <a href="www.slate.com">Slate</a>, but I think that news site is on to something bigger in the way it presents its stories. Browse Slate for too long and you will inevitably end up clicking on the same story twice. Why? Because the Web site uses different headlines to link to the same story. While paper editions are forced to choose one headline and run with it, Slate can come up with three or four and appeal to a wider range of readers to click on the story and maybe read through it.<br />It's a great idea, and other news Web sites should steal it. If I could put multiple heads on this story, they would include "What's in a name?" "A rose by any other name..." "The beast of a thousand heads" or "AKA" - which would probably look great splashed across the front of a tabloid. (I decided to go for the lamest and last example I could think of, "Have we met?")<br />These multiple entry points will only draw more readers. The head line is the introduction, the come-on to the story. And first impressions count for everything when you're dealing with readers who can turn just about anywhere else for another story.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-228422677313574860.post-73984765195151425422008-04-16T00:26:00.000-07:002008-04-16T00:32:50.225-07:00What to do!Well, for the past four months I've been checking the presidential primary polls regularly, looking to see who the nominee will be. But you know what? I think I'll just let that sit for a while. It's like waiting for a cake to bake. Check it too many times and all the heat will have whooshed out of the oven. And we don't want that.<br /><br />So what to do while the primaries wrap up... I think maybe I'll bake a cake. Of course, first I'll have to do the dishes, and I should do those anyway.<br /><br />Next, I think I'll do a bit of laundry and then get a haircut.<br /><br />Presidential politics can be exciting, but it can turn into a bore. I think I'll check back after Pennsylvania votes.<br /><br />ciao.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-228422677313574860.post-36505669283473762392008-04-13T22:57:00.001-07:002008-04-14T05:49:07.464-07:00Bitter your tongueSlate blogger Melinda Henneberger <a href="http://www.slate.com/blogs/blogs/xxfactor/">sums up my thoughts</a> on the controversy Barack Obama caused in his remarks during a San Francisco fundraiser.<br /><br />It smacks of blame the little guy.<br /><br />To be sure, he cushioned <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mayhill-fowler/obama-no-surprise-that-ha_b_96188.html">his statements</a> with "it's not surprising" that people are bitter and looking for somewhere to turn after losing their jobs in an economy that overlooked them.<br /><br />But his comments rip the carpet out from under the lives these small town people have built, and the ideas and philosophies that have sustained them.<br /><br />I would have had no qualms with anyone hypothetically saying, "It's no wonder people in America are uninformed and forget about the war and the catastrophic debt and the plight of low-income and no-income people - Most people get their news from Rupert Murdoch's News Corp."<br /><br />But Obama sounds patronizing to the people who obviously weren't there at a fundraiser in San Francisco.<br /><br />I don't think the Jeremiah Wright flap should have been a big deal. I like the idea of a politician listening to sermons he might not agree with. I didn't think the "typical white woman" thing was anything more than poorly chosen wording. Hell, <a href="http://www.answers.com/topic/typical">the thesaurus</a> says the word normal is a synonym of typical. And who hasn't wanted used the word normal to describe someone?<br /><br />No one should claim to understand the forces that effect peoples thinking unless they're damn sure of it. That may sound hypocritical coming from a journalist (and blogger) who does that sort of thing for a living, but it's true.<br /><br />The thing that really gets me is he didn't have to say that. A lot of people already believe those stereotypes.<br /><br />And lastly, unfortunately I don't have the time to go into the problems I have with Bill Clinton's error-ridden defense of Hillary's wacko Bosnia sniper-fire story. However I would like to see a YouTube mash-up of the 3 a.m. phone call commercial and the (paraphrasing) "It was late at night, she was exhausted, she misspoke" defense.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-228422677313574860.post-25366408493246980662008-03-30T23:39:00.000-07:002008-03-30T23:40:31.725-07:00Happy (early) April Fool's<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/knjZFCHKRdw&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/knjZFCHKRdw&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-228422677313574860.post-22100821062653818012008-03-29T10:46:00.000-07:002008-03-29T11:23:08.554-07:00Quid pro quo... or tit for tatSlate's John Dickerson <a href="http://www.slate.com/id/2187560/">brings up an interesting question</a>: How did Barack Obama win the support of former candidate Bill Richardson?<br /><br />Dickerson suggests the two pols might have worked out a deal, where Obama gets the endorsement, while Richardson gets picked as the vice presidential nominee or wins a cabinet role if Obama is elected.<br /><br />It's not hard to imagine Richardson as Obama's running mate.<br /><br />The current governor of New Mexico's long resume would add experience to the Democratic ticket, and his Mexican heritage would help bring the Latino vote into the fold.<br /><br />But, I think there may be other factors at play.<br /><br />Maybe the governor felt miffed by Hillary Clinton's <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/03/05/wuspols1105.xml">suggestion that Obama would make a fine vice presidential candidate</a>, on her ticket.<br /><br />After all, this winter, Clinton was <a href="http://2008central.net/2007/12/04/hillary-clinton-hints-at-possible-bill-richardson-vp/">making similar (and maybe more realistic back then) invitations</a> to Richardson.<br /><br />Of course, most people saw Clinton's suggestion that Obama take the VP slot as a ploy, rather than a genuine invitation.<br /><br />But maybe Richardson felt passed over by the former front-runner, and wanted to let her know she can't have it both ways.<br /><br />Or maybe after Clinton used the hypothetical VP pick to undermine Obama, the New Mexico governor looked back at her hints this December with a new set of glasses.<br /><br />When compliments become condescending, the formerly flattered might feel miffed.<br /><br />And <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/22/us/politics/22richardson.html?_r=2&ref=politics&oref=slogin&oref=slogin">this wonderfully written piece in the New York Times</a> shows just how pissed the Clintons were about the endorsement - and that Richardson knew perfectly well how the former first lady would see it.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-228422677313574860.post-76429386786185125532008-03-12T03:31:00.000-07:002008-03-12T04:19:46.063-07:00Ferraro flapWhether by chance or design, Barack Obama and his supporters have been lured into attacking former vice presidential candidate Geraldine Ferraro.<br /><br />That is a mistake, because on the face of it, there is not a real argument you can pick with Ferraro's original comment.<br /><br /><span id="Article">"If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position. And if he was a woman (of any color), he would not be in this position. He happens to be very lucky to be who he is. And the country is caught up in the concept." - Ferraro as quoted in the Daily Breeze</span><br /><br />It is a ridiculous argument to make, either for or against it.<br /><br />Obama is neither of the two, and nothing Ferraro says is ever going to change that.<br /><br />Obama could have turned ignored it or spun it around into something positive, <a href="http://www.dailybreeze.com/ci_8533832">but he, and more importantly his supporters, took the bait, and Ferraro started reeling in.</a><br /><br />Because of the back and forth between the two campaigns, it Ferraro's comments may have sounded like another over-the-top insult, like "monster" or Kenneth Starr.<br /><br />But they weren't.<br /><br />And by responding to it as though it were an overt attack, the Obama camp starts to sound paranoid about his ethnicity.<br /><br />Sure, Ferraro's comments are dismissive of Obama's candidacy, but they are rooted in a Bizarro world, so they are meaningless and without substance, a glimmer of nothing.<br /><br />Responding to the comments just gives them more validity, and - worse for Obama - more play in the news.<br /><br />Plus, now Ferraro has gone out on a limb claiming any criticism of Obama's campaign is considered racist, which is bound to be supported by the public's response to this skirmish.<br /><br />Ferraro knew what she was doing: Make a seemingly harmless comment about Obama's race in the middle of a food fight between the two campaigns.<br /><br />The only way for Obama to avoid race baiting is to not bite the worm.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-228422677313574860.post-62415581954843066262008-03-07T21:17:00.000-08:002008-03-07T21:20:03.258-08:00TrendVigil, we hardly knew theeThis is my first post in a long time. I have been very busy doing other things. I'm cooking something up in my head that I will put down on paper later this weekend.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-228422677313574860.post-13168065440525947482008-01-29T22:31:00.000-08:002008-01-29T23:05:35.364-08:00The Herald is dead. Long live the HeraldKudos to Joe Keohane for keeping the light on Boston's other daily newspaper, the Boston Herald,<a href="http://www.bostonmagazine.com/articles/headlines_of_the_damned/page1"> in a Boston Magazine article</a>.<br /><br />Sure the Herald voice sounds shrill at times, but it still covers the fire and crime beat better than the Boston Globe.<br /><br />And, as Keohane said, the Herald is a scrappier paper, more fervent to knock the big shots off their posts than the Globe.<br /><br />About a year ago, the Herald lost a libel lawsuit to a judge, and then one of the paper's reporter's followed that judge to a racetrack in New York. (Sorry, this is way out of context and I don't have the links to support it yet)<br /><br />Also, during a journalism conference, I heard from the Herald's lawyers that reporter had thrown out his notes, which would have been a crucial bit of evidence during the libel trial.<br /><br />Anywho, here's a transcript of the judge's lawyer talking to Keith Olberman of MSNBC:<br /><br />OLBERMANN: Tell her to get over it. Six words about a 14 year old rape victim attributed to a superior court judge by a Boston newspaper, then broadcast nationwide with righteous anger and calls of termination by Bill O‘Reilly. The outcry cost the judge his health and his career and put his life in danger, even though he never actually said anything of the sort. Our third story on the COUNTDOWN, the paper has been held responsible for libel. <p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>So why isn‘t Bill-O likewise liable? Superior Court Judge Earnest Murphy (ph) won a two million dollar libel suit upheld now by the Massachusetts Supreme Court against the “Boston Herald,” and its reporter Dave Wedge, who not only falsely quoted the judge, but then served as stooge for Bill-O‘s on-air crusade.</p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>In the words of the court ruling, quote, “the press is not free to publish false information about anyone, intending that it will cause a public furor, while knowingly, or in reckless disregard of, its falsity.” </p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>A law was not only ignored by Mr. Wedge, but was also ignored and continues to be ignored by Bill O‘Reilly. Hence the reason why Mr. Wedge‘s appearance on The Factor in March 2002 actually became evidence at the trial. </p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)</p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>BILL O‘REILLY, FOX NEWS ANCHOR: Are you absolutely sure that Judge Murphy said that the rape victim should get over it? </p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>DAVE WEDGE, “BOSTON HERALD”: Yes. He said—he made this comment to three lawyers. He knows he said it. Everybody else that knows this judge knows that he said it. </p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>(END VIDEO CLIP)</p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>OLBERMANN: Such an exchange prompting the Supreme Court to write that, quote, Wedge‘s comments on the O‘Reilly Factor were made with actual malice. </p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>Joining me now, judge Murphy‘s trial counsel, Howard Cooper. Mr. </p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>Cooper, thanks for your time. </p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>HOWARD COOPER, TRIAL COUNSEL FOR JUDGE MURPHY: Good evening. </p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>OLBERMANN: How important was Mr. Wedge‘s appearance on O‘Reilly‘s show to the success of your libel case? </p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>COOPER: I actually think it was critically important and critically important to the jury. The story which was originally published in mid February of 2002 really was a local or at most a regional story about a judge‘s alleged intemperate and indeed, as portrayed, outrageous comments. When Mr. O‘Reilly go ahold of it, about two weeks after the initial publication, it really created not just a national furor, but really an international furor. </p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>The judge received hate mail from overseas, from California. Mr. </p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>O‘Reilly really picked up the ball and ran with it quite a bit. </p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>OLBERMANN: Does Mr. O‘Reilly bear at least as much responsibility as Mr. Wedge, at least for those death threats? And to the degree that he‘s responsible for anything that happened to the judge, why was there no action pursued against him? </p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>COOPER: Well, the original publication was by the “Boston Herald” and David Wedge, and as I‘m sure you‘re aware, the standard for bringing a public figure defamation claim is quite high. I think it‘s fair to say that the jury found Mr. O‘Reilly was responsible for republishing the statement and creating a situation which caused enormous damage to Judge Murphy. But again, that was attributable to the original publication by the “Boston Herald” and David Wedge. </p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>When asked why wasn‘t he named as a party in the lawsuit, a decision really was made on a practical basis. You have someone who we thought would have welcomed the opportunity to continue to use his regular appearances before a national television audience to excoriate the judge and we didn‘t want to give him that opportunity. Yet, his television shows were a major presence in the courtroom. </p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>OLBERMANN: A couple of quick factual questions, did O‘Reilly ever apologize to the judge? </p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>COOPER: He has never apologized. He has never taken his reporting back. There is a very prominent lawyer up here in Boston by the name of Ed Ryan, who runs a committee for the Mass BAR Association designed to help judges protect themselves, because, after all, judges really can‘t respond publicly about pending cases. After the jury came back, Mr. Ryan made a personal demand on the O‘Reilly Factor that they correct the reporting and that he allowed to go on and assist in that effort.</p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>He never heard from them. More recently, in May of this year, when the Supreme judicial court unanimously affirmed the jury verdict, which by that time was about 3.4 million dollars, with interest, Mr. Ryan again reached out to the “O‘Reilly Facto,” in writing, through email, and said I really want you to correct the story and I‘m prepared to go on and help you do that. </p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>I spoke with Mr. Ryan this afternoon. He confirms that he still is waiting to hear from the “O‘Reilly Factor.” And it‘s a shame, because an apology is in order here. </p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>OLBERMANN: With the increasing threats of violence against judges in general, is there not—maybe it‘s not a legal case, maybe it‘s not a private suite, but the crusade against a judge for saying something controversial that he never said, doesn‘t that rise to a more deplorable crime than just libel? Doesn‘t it border on reckless endangerment? </p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>COOPER: Well, let me say this: these stories, these campaigns have real consequences for real people. Judge Murphy experienced having death threats slipped under the door of his judicial chambers, where he was by himself, without protection. Somebody took the front page of the “Boston Herald,” drew a target on his forehead in red ink, and said get over it, you bastard, you‘re dead. And someone really needs to think through the accuracy of their reporting before launching one of these campaigns.</p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>OLBERMANN: Well, you‘re not obviously going to get that from Bill O‘Reilly. So, on behalf of the television industry, you can please send the judge my apologies. I think that‘s not going to do him much good, but it‘s the best we can do under the circumstances? </p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>COOPER: It‘s a good start. </p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>OLBERMANN: Howard Cooper, the trial counsel for Judge Earnest Murphy, thanks for joining us tonight. </p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>COOPER: Thank you. </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-228422677313574860.post-20313167380489307442008-01-26T15:32:00.000-08:002008-01-26T16:31:48.100-08:00The ugly worm of race-baitingThis week, Barack Obama<a href="http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/01/23/obama-battles-muslim-rumor-head-on/"> responded to anonymous rumors</a> that could only be described as libelous because they appeal to an anti-Muslim bias, that has run rampant in this country.<br /><br />I don't know which is sadder, that false allegations about a candidate's religion could turn voters away from him, or that <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/susie-hoeller/the-madrassa-slur-against_b_74904.html">a national newspaper would give validity to those rumors</a> in a front-page story.<br /><br />These rumors have <a href="http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1007/6314.html">reportedly circulated by e-mail</a> since at least October.<br /><br />Because these false allegations rely on religious bias in order to have a negative effect on the Illinois senator, they reflect badly on the country as a whole.<br /><br />In somewhat related news, the MSNBC panel said they were taken aback by the way race was injected into the South Carolina race by former President Bill Clinton.<br /><br />MSNBC played a clip where Clinton took a question about his questionable tactics and turned it around to talk about how another black presidential candidate had won South Carolina more than 20 years ago.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-228422677313574860.post-33833067445107379572008-01-24T20:58:00.000-08:002008-01-26T09:35:56.173-08:00Do the RomneyI showed up a couple days late to this Internet sensation, and it wasn't quite as hilarious and awkward as I pictured it, when I first heard about it.<br /><br />This video was billed as: Mitt Romney sings "Who Let the Dogs Out" to an all black audience on Martin Luther King Junior day.<br /><br />And that does happen, depending on your definition of singing.<br /><br />"Who Let the Dogs Out" was a pop rap song recorded a few years ago by The Baha Men.<br /><br />But the actual footage turned out to be less damning than what I had imagined.<br /><br />Still, it shows Romney, in his element, as the ever-changing, always-faking, smiling no-matter-what candidate.<br /><br />Through the course of the MLK jr. Day video Romney goes from strangely reciting Baha Men lyrics while posing for a photo, to telling people in jackets they are going to catch cold - while he wears a light shirt- to Romney admiring the "bling" on a baby.<br /><br />Almost everyone in the video is black.<br /><br />And then there is Romney latching onto outdated stereotypes, more in tune with a cruise-ship DJ than black Southern voters' concerns.<br /><br />But I don't think Romney treated the South Carolina parade crowd any differently than he has treated crowds across the country.<br /><br />Romney tried to relate to the black crowd by adopting an almost-10-year-old rap song and a word made popular by rap artists years ago.<br /><br />That sounds familiar.<br /><br />During his short tenure in government, Romney has repeatedly stereotyped his constituents.<br /><br />Romney stereotyped Massachusetts as a state that believes in equal rights and the right to choose before he ran for governor there.<br /><br />Then he stereotyped the Republican party as a gay-bashing, immigrant-hating, male-centrist party, when he ran for its nomination.<br /><br />Republicans across the country have done the same, but Romney has bought full into it, sort of like the late-comer to a music scene, who fakes it by buying all the albums, and putting posters up on his walls.<br /><br />Now here are your videos, Romney on the national holiday for Reverend King, and The Baja Men, with their hit song - back to back.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0H8Nq7BglIg&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0H8Nq7BglIg&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/He82NBjJqf8&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/He82NBjJqf8&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-228422677313574860.post-37287499803715569632008-01-20T21:00:00.000-08:002008-01-20T21:36:44.650-08:00Smoky back rooms on the horizon?If <a href="http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0108/7979.html">The Politico's Ben Smith is right</a>, the Democratic primary could end with some back room negotiations at the DNC in Denver, Colo.<br /><br />Though Hillary Clinton won the popular vote in every contest except Iowa, Barack Obama has kept pace and now has (1) more delegates than her going into South Carolina.<br /><br />And John Edwards has 18 delegates, just behind Clinton's 24 and Obama's 25.<br /><br />After Obama won Iowa, I thought it would come down to Super Tuesday, Feb. 5, when the majority of states vote for their nominee.<br /><br />But now, I'm not so sure.<br /><br />Now it seems as though the contest will run past Super Tuesday, possibly up to the convention, when the delegates will get to decide who the nominee will be.<br /><br />According to Smith, that might give Edwards the power to sway his delegates toward a particular candidate, if he can get 15 percent of them into his camp.<br /><br />The Republican race seems just as uncertain.<br /><br />While John McCain and Mike Huckabee in Iowa have won the major races in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, Mitt Romney has swept up the leftovers, in Michigan, Wyoming and Nevada.<br /><br />Romney leads the field with 24 delegates; Huckabee follows with 18 and McCain comes in third with 10.<br /><br />Of course, without strong showings in Super Tuesday, none of the candidates will have a chance, but now it looks like those campaigns might stretch beyond that day.<br /><br />All of my delegate numbers came from Slate.com's <a href="http://www.slate.com/id/2175496/">excellent poll and results coverage</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-228422677313574860.post-89329848207652120662008-01-17T14:26:00.000-08:002008-01-18T07:07:12.243-08:00Mitt catches hardball question, spins, throws it back<object height="355" width="425">Watch this testy exchange between a reporter and Mitt Romney. It looks like everyone is a little tired of the trail, except for Romney, who looks freshly starched. Romney of course has a history of changing his position and <a href="http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/12/21/romney_never_saw_father_on_king_march/">making things up</a>. Wait for the end of the clip, when a Romney adviser and an old lady gave the AP reporter some unwanted advice.<br /><br /><br /><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/15hVj29hH2k&rel=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/15hVj29hH2k&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-228422677313574860.post-83899811059257957512008-01-17T13:46:00.000-08:002008-01-17T13:55:11.707-08:00Space Invaders?Could there be a link between <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18146244">this story</a>, about UFO sightings in Stephenville, Texas and <a href="http://www.scsun-news.com/news/ci_7938886">this story</a> about a milky white, alkaline rain that fell on the Silver City, N.M. Monday night?<br /><br />Just in case, I'm going to keep my photon ray-gun handy.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-228422677313574860.post-48525872663262778622008-01-12T13:48:00.000-08:002008-01-12T14:37:06.083-08:00Two soft spots for Obama campaignSecond choice votes were key to Barack Obama's victory in the Iowa primary, as the <a href="http://www.suntimes.com/news/hunter/725746,hunter010407.article">Chicago Sun Times noted</a>, so Hillary Clinton's win over him in New Hampshire should not have been surprising. While the Iowa results showed that Obama has a smart and organized group of people working for him, it was not the conclusive win it was made out to be.<br /><br />Now that Bill Richardson and Chris Dodd have dropped out of the race, Obama has a chance to once again claim those candidates' second-choice votes. But while rumors circulated (<a href="http://www.wcfcourier.com/articles/2008/01/03/news/politics/doc477d44501cd52696092720.txt">denied here</a>) about Richardson sending second-choice votes to Obama, it remains an open question who Richardson or Dodd supporters will now move toward.<br /><br />I think the Richardson folks will probably go to Clinton's camp, because both those candidates touted their experience in government.<br /><br />Now, if John Edwards drops out, his supporters would probably split between Obama and Dennis Kucinich. Edwards has given Clinton such a hard time during the debates that it seems unlikely many of them could continue to hold a candle for Clinton.<br /><br />But it seems even less conceivable that Edwards would drop out before Super Tuesday on Feb. 5, when a more conclusive victor will probably emerge.<br /><br />After the Democratic party does choose I winner, I think Richardson has the best chance at being picked as a running mate, but more on that later.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-228422677313574860.post-60514118818254182412008-01-04T16:38:00.000-08:002008-01-04T16:44:07.392-08:00It isn't easy being DeanWatching some live C-Span coverage just now, I heard Howard Dean, chairman of the Democratic Party, do a riff on something Barack Obama said last night after winning in Iowa.<br /><br />I'm not sure if Dean intentionally mimicked Obama, but the result was pretty funny.<br /><br />My approximation of what Obama said in his victory speech:<br /><br />"There are no red states and there are no blue states, these are the United States."<br /><br />And here's what I heard Dean just say:<br /><br />"There are no red states, there are no blue states, there is America; purple states."Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-228422677313574860.post-16154156244502402982008-01-03T19:52:00.000-08:002008-01-03T20:45:09.401-08:00ReversiI wouldn't call it a mistaken identity, but while reporting a story about a robbery, a store owner (actually the husband of the owner of a salon) asked to see some credentials to make sure I wasn't the thief.<br /><br />I was at the wrong place, the robbery happened down the road, but the man said he had heard about it and the police had passed out fliers about it, so I asked for a copy of the flier.<br /><br />That's when he asked to see my ID.<br /><br />Company policy at my newspaper disallows me from writing a blog associated with it, and I'd rather not mention the town name, but it's an outer-suburb of Boston, with very few people my age (mid 20s) living there.<br /><br />Anyway, it seems a guy basically fitting my description for height, age and race has been sticking up local businesses over the month or two.<br /><br />As a white man (about 5' 10", 5' 11"), the idea of being a mistaken suspect has always been an abstract concept to me.<br /><br />Overwhelmingly across the US, it is black men or Asian men, or Latino men, who are picked when police are looking for someone else.<br /><br />In this case, the man in the salon, was only being careful - there have been three robberies in the area in under 30 days - but it was still disconcerting.<br /><br />I can still only imagine how it must feel to be hauled off, put to trial and then thrown in prison despite never having committed the crime.<br /><br />For the record, I didn't do it, and based on what the last robbery victim told me, the alleged robber is capable of far more cruelty than I could over commit.<br /><br />But you won't read about any of that on this blog.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-228422677313574860.post-90881932382859732982008-01-03T05:54:00.000-08:002008-01-03T06:11:02.591-08:00Down the tubes<span style="display: block;" id="formatbar_Buttons"><span class="on down" style="display: block;" id="formatbar_CreateLink" title="Link" onmouseover="ButtonHoverOn(this);" onmouseout="ButtonHoverOff(this);" onmouseup="" onmousedown="CheckFormatting(event);FormatbarButton('richeditorframe', this, 10);ButtonMouseDown(this);"></span></span>For a look at how bad things can become in a newsroom, before and after a big corporate takeover, read <a href="http://www.technologyreview.com/printer_friendly_article.aspx?id=19845">John Hockenberry's piece</a> in Technology Review.<br /><br />He left NBC and Dateline after parent company GE decided he wasn't best for shareholder value.<br /><br />Hockenberry compared the GE corporate mantras to Maoism and decided NBC could not keep up with changing technology long before he left the network.<br /><br />It's a long article, but worth it.<br /><br />Hockenberry works for the MIT <a href="http://www.media.mit.edu/">Media Lab</a> now.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-228422677313574860.post-36370003943330948552007-12-31T14:08:00.000-08:002008-01-01T09:15:41.846-08:00New Year's Predic -- Holy Shit!I had started writing some New Year's predictions when I saw the latest <a href="http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080101/NEWS09/301010015">Des Moines Register poll</a>, putting Barack Obama ahead of Hillary Clinton by 7 percentage points, 32 to 25. John Edwards has caught up to the New York senator too.<br /><br />So I had to throw out my prediction that Clinton wins the nomination and chooses Bill Richardson as running mate. Now it's all up in the air.<br /><br />If Obama wins it, he will have pulled off something akin to the Red Sox come from behind victory over the Yankees in the 2004 ALCS.<br /><br />The Sox went on to sweep the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series that year.<br /><br />Watch, if Obama starts winning in Iowa and New Hampshire, he will build up a lot of momentum.<br /><br />The poll also showed Mike Huckabee in the lead with 32 percent of the vote. Huckabee will probably win the Iowa caucuses, but who knows what might happen in New Hampshire, where John McCain and Mitt Romney are more viable candidates.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-228422677313574860.post-87258143946547528992007-12-31T13:40:00.000-08:002007-12-31T14:02:55.103-08:00Worst job<h2>More browsing on craigslist, led me here, to one of the countless people on this site who believe writers should be paid with handshakes and smiles. More criticism under the post.<br /></h2><h2><br /></h2><h2 style="color: rgb(102, 51, 255);">Writing/Journalism Intern who loves dogs</h2> <hr style="color: rgb(102, 51, 255);"><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 255);"> Reply to: </span><a style="color: rgb(102, 51, 255);" href="mailto:email@MetroWestDog.com?subject=Writing/Journalism%20Intern%20who%20loves%20dogs">email@MetroWestDog.com</a><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 255);"> Date: 2007-12-18, 5:15PM EST</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 255);"> Fun dog-related articles for local online resource </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 255);"> MetroWestDog.com is an online pet directory, resource, and recent start-up. </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 255);"> I am looking for a Writing/Journalism Intern (or other) to write articles on dog-related subjects. Refine and use your research and interview skills to write articles to be posted on MetroWestDog.com. Write about the local dog scene in MetroWest, lifestyle, health and wellness articles, legal issues, pet fashion and more. Assist small business owners by ghost writing articles about their field. You will get a byline on some articles. </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 255);"> Also need to write press releases, brochure, direct mail and email newsletter/advertising. Can you blog, too? </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 255);"> I have plenty of ideas for subjects so all you have to do is write!! This can be great for your portfolio! </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 255);"> Dog lover preferred (obviously). </span><br /><a style="color: rgb(102, 51, 255);" href="http://www.metrowestdog.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.MetroWestDog.com</a><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 255);"> </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 255);"> email@MetroWestDog.com<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">So let me get this straight: You won't get paid. You will ghost write articles, so you won't get credited. And you get to write about pet fashion... Where do I sign up? Maybe the person who runs this Web site will allow me to do the laundry and clean out the inside of his or her car, so I can gain valuable knowledge on those subjects.<br /></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-228422677313574860.post-8644032112738552212007-12-30T22:07:00.000-08:002007-12-31T13:32:09.021-08:00Lost and found<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">With Christmas and then the weekend, most of the Web sites I check regularly (</span><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="http://www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=45">Poynter</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">, </span><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="http://slate.com/">Slate</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">, </span><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="http://www.fark.com/">Fark</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">) have been pretty sparse. So I've spent a little bit of time trolling through the </span><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="http://boston.craigslist.org/mis/">missed connections</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> section of </span><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="http://money.cnn.com/2004/12/28/technology/craigslist/">Craigslist</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">While it seems like a bad place to find a roommate or a girlfriend, the personal section can be an entertaining read. The anonymous postings are similar to poetry on bathroom walls, though on Craigslist, the humor seems less intentional.</span><br /><h2 style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: lucida grande;"><span style="font-size:180%;">Here are some of the entertaining posts I found today.</span></h2><h2 style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: lucida grande;"><br /></h2><h2 style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: lucida grande;"><span style="font-size:180%;">Some are overeager to show off their writing abilities:</span></h2> <h2 style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">trident bookstore - raven hair - m4w - 27</h2> <hr style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" > Reply to: </span><a style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="mailto:pers-524000709@craigslist.org?subject=trident%20bookstore%20-%20raven%20hair%20-%20m4w%20-%2027">pers-524000709@craigslist.org</a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >Date: 2007-12-31, 12:33AM EST</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >Though, really, it was your easy charm that made me interested.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >I wish I met you someplace where you weren't working... I don't like to "hit" on waitresses because it seems offensive to bear you in your working den.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >Still - my God, I wish you came outside and had a cigarette with me and we had walked and talked endlessly...</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >I hope I see your eyes dance during conversation again...</span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" ><br /><br /></span><h2 style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: lucida grande;"><span style="font-size:180%;">Others are difficult to decipher:</span></h2><h2 style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I have the sense - m4w</h2> <hr style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" > Reply to: </span><a style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="mailto:pers-521947782@craigslist.org?subject=I%20have%20the%20sense%20%20-%20m4w">pers-521947782@craigslist.org</a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >Date: 2007-12-28, 6:07PM EST</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >to recognize that I don't know how to let you go.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >This loser for you Elizabeth. </span><table style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" summary="craigslist hosted images"><tbody><tr><td align="center"><br /></td> <td align="center"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><h2 style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">HOT COLLEGE GUY IN GAP - w4m - 21</h2> <hr style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" > Reply to: </span><a style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="mailto:pers-521429627@craigslist.org?subject=HOT%20COLLEGE%20GUY%20IN%20GAP%20-%20w4m%20-%2021">pers-521429627@craigslist.org</a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >Date: 2007-12-28, 9:00AM EST</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >wow, you were so hot. i saw you this morning in starbucks in harvard square sipping your lactose-free beverage with such style. you looked a little like a combination between bette middler and ryan phillippe. you were dressed from head to toe in gap apparel. you were surrounded by three beautiful women, but i would gladly be your #4. come lay on a futon and tell that's what she said jokes with me?</span><h2 style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: lucida grande;"><br /></h2><h2 style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: lucida grande;"><span style="font-size:180%;">Some seasonal:</span></h2><h2 style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Merry Christmas P - w4m - 32</h2> <hr style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" > Reply to: </span><a style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="mailto:pers-518842024@craigslist.org?subject=Merry%20Christmas%20P%20-%20w4m%20-%2032">pers-518842024@craigslist.org</a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >Date: 2007-12-24, 10:35PM EST</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >I know I am the furthest thing from your mind now, and most of the time the same is true for me. But, I did think of you tonight as I drove to my cousin's and thought of how much you enjoyed coming with me last year. For the first time in months I teared up a little thinking of you. I've always been a softie about Christmas I guess. A lot has changed since we parted ways and I do believe everything happened for the best. I am happier now than I've been in a long time, but I guess it's just the littlest bit sad that we can't even wish each other a Merry Christmas. I would never contact you again so I'm putting this out here to get it out of my head. Merry Christmas to you.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >-M</span><br /><br /><br /><h2 style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: lucida grande;"><span style="font-size:180%;">There are borderline creeps:</span><br /></h2> <h2 style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Jogger at Day Blvd. - m4w - 38</h2> <hr style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" > Reply to: </span><a style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="mailto:pers-519889829@craigslist.org?subject=Jogger%20at%20Day%20Blvd.%20-%20m4w%20-%2038">pers-519889829@craigslist.org</a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >Date: 2007-12-26, 3:55PM EST</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >I saw you jogging on Day Blvd. all the way to Castle Island and up Broadway on the Sunday before Christmas about 3pm. You had pig tails, blue outfit. I was sitting in the police cruiser killing time and drove by you once or twice:)</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >I thought you where super cute. </span><table style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" summary="craigslist hosted images"> <tbody><tr><td align="center"><br /></td> <td align="center"><br /></td></tr></tbody> </table><br /><h2 style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: lucida grande;"><span style="font-size:180%;">While others have clearly crossed that line:</span></h2> <h2 style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Please Repost "Daddy's Girl looking for Man of Substance" - m4w</h2> <hr style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" > Reply to: </span><a style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="mailto:pers-521450045@craigslist.org?subject=Please%20Repost%20%22Daddy%27s%20%20Girl%20looking%20for%20Man%20of%20Substance%22%20-%20m4w">pers-521450045@craigslist.org</a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >Date: 2007-12-28, 9:35AM EST</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >The post title appeared in w4m on the 26th but had been flaged and I could not see the content. I want to know what that post said.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >I am looking to find out if something I said was taken in a way that was not intended from someone special to me that considers her self "Daddys Girl". You stoped talking to me twice and I have no intention on pestering you repeatedly but if a change of heart has occured... I would like to know so I can act on it. But I have to know this from you and you alone.</span><h2 style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: lucida grande;"><br /></h2><h2 style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: lucida grande;"><span style="font-size:180%;">Some seem lacking:</span></h2><h2 style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">regattabar server - m4w - 40</h2> <hr style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" > Reply to: </span><a style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="mailto:pers-523394598@craigslist.org?subject=regattabar%20server%20-%20m4w%20-%2040">pers-523394598@craigslist.org</a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >Date: 2007-12-30, 11:50AM EST</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >to the very cute, hardworking redhead - was that red? it's hard to see in the dark - who served me at the 1st mccoy tyner show friday. my guest paid so you didn't get an adequate tip. you may have thought you were a bother walking back and forth in front of me. you were not.</span><br /><br /><br /><h2 style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: lucida grande;"><span style="font-size:180%;">And rarely, they are kind of beautiful / probably lyrics stolen from an 80s song:</span></h2><h2 style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">won't you tell me what you're thinking of? - m4w - 20</h2> <hr style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" > Reply to: </span><a style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="mailto:pers-523112280@craigslist.org?subject=won%27t%20you%20tell%20me%20what%20you%27re%20thinking%20of%3f%20-%20m4w%20-%2020">pers-523112280@craigslist.org</a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >Date: 2007-12-29, 11:57PM EST</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >Won't you let me walk you home from school?</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >won't you let me meet you at the pool?</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >maybe friday i can</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >get tickets from the dance</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >and i'll take you</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >won't you tell me what you're thinking of?</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >would you be an outlaw for my love?</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >if it's so well let me know</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >if it's no well i can go</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >i won't make you</span><br /><br /><h2 style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: lucida grande;"><span style="font-size:180%;">And there are a lot like this:</span></h2><h2 style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">the most beautiful woman at ajc last nite - m4w</h2> <hr style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" > Reply to: </span><a style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="mailto:pers-522562683@craigslist.org?subject=the%20most%20beautiful%20woman%20at%20ajc%20last%20nite%20-%20m4w">pers-522562683@craigslist.org</a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >Date: 2007-12-29, 12:44PM EST</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >You know who you are!</span><table style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" summary="craigslist hosted images"> <tbody><tr><td align="center"><br /></td> <td align="center"><br /></td></tr> <tr><td align="center"><br /></td> <td align="center"><br /></td></tr> </tbody></table><br /><h2 style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Gypsy Bar Friday Night - m4w - 28</h2> <hr style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" > Reply to: </span><a style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="mailto:pers-522490007@craigslist.org?subject=Gypsy%20Bar%20Friday%20Night%20-%20m4w%20-%2028">pers-522490007@craigslist.org</a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >Date: 2007-12-29, 11:16AM EST</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >You were an amazingly attractive. You looked like you may have drank a bit too much but I can't get you out of my mind. Are you out there?</span><table style="font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" summary="craigslist hosted images"> <tbody><tr><td align="center"><br /></td> <td align="center"><br /></td></tr> <tr><td align="center"><br /></td> <td align="center"><br /></td></tr> </tbody></table>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-228422677313574860.post-17051532741828894722007-12-25T23:14:00.000-08:002007-12-26T00:06:19.357-08:00Crash courseTwice this month I have seen tow trucks haul away the cars of Brazilian nationals who were involved in accidents.<br /><br />Both times it seemed, regardless of which driver made the wrong move, the Brazilians had messed up by driving without valid licenses.<br /><br />In one case it seemed like the driver had only a passport, in the other he had an international driver's license, which isn't valid here.<br /><br />Based on these two encounters, it seems everyone would benefit from driver's licenses for all state residents regardless of whether drivers are citizens or not.<br /><br />I would feel safer knowing more people on the road had passed the driver's test.<br /><br />The state decides who gets a driver's license, not the federal government. This could be an instance where state's rights benefit civil rights by allowing undocumented immigrants to get licenses regardless.<br /><br />However, this plan was vetted, and then dropped by New York Gov. Elliot Spitzer, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/27/nyregion/27spitzer.html?em&ex=1196312400&en=96a049c0d572225e&ei=5087%0A">as the New York Times reported</a>, because many found acknowledging illegal immigrants on the roadways more troublesome than just allowing what's going on now to continue.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-228422677313574860.post-87111041998731644682007-12-10T19:51:00.000-08:002007-12-10T20:00:27.951-08:00Oprah for ObamaThe New York Times today reported O<span></span>prah Winfrey's appearance for Barack Obama, Sunday, <a href="http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/09/oprahpalooza-in-south-carolina/">drew more than 29,000 people</a>, "one of the largest (crowds) seen before even a general election."<br /><br />It was Boston Phoenix columnis Steven Stark, however, who <a href="http://thephoenix.com/ToteBoard/PermaLink,guid,f4cbf23f-55fd-4a26-af42-c4027761d941.aspx">first reported</a> - to my knowledge - Oprah's pending endorsement and the significance it might have for Obama's candidacy.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-228422677313574860.post-7719821369098061832007-12-08T17:57:00.000-08:002007-12-09T08:41:46.096-08:00Huckabee's troubling 1990s AIDS policy ideaAs he <a href="http://www.slate.com/id/2175496/fr/flyoutv">surges in Iowa</a>, the press has dredged up some skeletons in Mike Huckabee's closet.<br /><br />For instance, the former Arkansas governor supported quarantining people with AIDS back in 1992, as the AP and <a href="http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1207/7270.html">Politico reported</a>.<br /><br />During the late 1980s and early 90s the disease was seen as a largely gay man's epidemic, therefore, I have to think Huckabee was advocating for shuttling that population into quarantine camps.<br /><br />A Senate candidate at the time, Huckabee said homosexuality was "sinful," in a questionnaire to the AP, Politico reported.<br /><br />Huckabee also falsely - I think - claimed that "It is the first time in the history of civilization in which the carriers of a genuine plague have not been isolated from the general population."<br /><br />It seems, Huckabee wanted to cart people off, the way some countries have done in the past to <a href="http://www.encounter.co.za/article/65.html">leper colonies</a>,<br /><br />According to Politico, Huckabee stands by the quarantine idea, but said he would have phrased it differently.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><span>Does that mean Huckabee - even today, with better prevention, education and treatment methods - supports the idea of separating HIV positive people from the general population?<br /><br />Someone should ask him that question, because, as reported on Politico, his idea to separate positive people would amount to imprisonment.<br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1