There were murders in New Orleans by Blackwater.

Thers!

Shazbot!

Jane, how do you stop this crazy thing!

g’evning thers… mighty fine grade a crap you are serving up

We want you to do your fucking jobs. They want you to blow them and ask for seconds.

hell yes. Do your fucking job, reporters.

Yeah I think Scarce pulled that clip for me from blogwars where Charles Johnson talks about his expertise in kerning. It’s like that old SNL skit of Steve Martin as the hick farmer who says he had sex with Margaret Trudeau and snorted coke with Hamilton Jordan. Except slightly less convincing.

I hope I didn’t use too many bad words.

*waving to jane*

yowza! Thers, you’re blunt and accurate. “We want you to do your fucking jobs. They want you to blow them and ask for seconds.”

G’evening pups! The guard dog at the door seems happy with my credentials tonight *g*

no more problem logging in ndfg?

Y’know, if I could find that SNL clip I’d actually put it up and just say “Charles Johnson talks about his expertise in kerning.”

That’s a post.

Off topic (but it wouldn’t be necessary to mention if the media would do their jobs):

Harry Reid is controlled by the telecom corporations.

The Democrats in the U.S. Senate need to elect a Democrat to serve as majority leader.

How much campaign money has Harry Reid accepted from telecoms?

From the rightwingnut movie hall of fame:

“Thank you sir — may I have another?”

Y’know, if I could find that SNL clip I’d actually put it up and just say “Charles Johnson talks about his expertise in kerning.”

sounds like something the late nite pups can find for you, Jane.

I hope I didn’t use too many bad words.

You mean like “Malkin”? Go wash off your fingers with soap, young man.

Seems to me that this journalism professor should spend just a bit more time questioning why the so-callled professionals have completely dropped the ball, and a bit less time wringing his hands over the fact that citizen journalists are kicking traditional media’s ass. Especially when it comes to questioning the talking points instead of taking them down word for word and calling it reporting.

That would explain the rumor that he’s bringing the intel cmte version of the FISA bill with immunity to the floor instead of the judiciary version without it.

I hope I didn’t use too many bad words.

You mean like “Malkin”?

No, like “fact.”

Thers, primo crap as always, Thanks.

Suz, can’t believe you recalled the beige ceiling – must be c. 1975:-)

I don’t think it’s a rumor. I’ll see if I can find you a link.

If the reporters will not do it, we will.

Seems to me that this journalism professor should spend just a bit more time questioning why the so-callled professionals have completely dropped the ball, and a bit less time wringing his hands over the fact that citizen journalists are kicking traditional media’s ass.

But that’s the point — “Citizen Journalism” has become just another category of propaganda.

suzanne @ 9, so far so good with logging in, or rather, my computer remembering my login at this site. Not sure if it was something buggy in the first week or so after the change, but FDL was the only site that my computer wouldn’t/couldn’t remember. Whatever, the Lake water feels great, & i hate to miss Ther’s Saturday nite Special Load O Crap.

Phil Ochs’s write-in triumph will be announced in Late, Late Night ?

And I will thank the fucking New York Times Opinionator dude not to conflate the left and right critiques of the “MSM.” We want you to do your fucking jobs. They want you to blow them and ask for seconds.

Spotlight, anyone?

Seriously, the NYT and other media outlets need to recognize that there is just the teeniest bit of difference between folks like LGF and and FDL.

And beyond content, there’s fashion.

Some may blog in their pjs, but those who really understand things know that “You really haven’t blogged until you’ve written a post while wearing a tiara and a feather boa. It’s ‘extreme blogging,’ and don’t let anyone tell you differently.”

I’ve given up all of the dead wood until my Newsweek subscription runs out, which is very soon. It’s so cool to read what I already know, but with so much less factual info. It’s unbelievable what goes unreported, underreported, or is just plain wrong.

Interesting, because my dad is a good ‘ol democrat who keeps up on things the best he can through the LATimes, and Newsweek, but he is blown away by what I tell him.

Perhaps the esteemed professor should also notice that that the press now behaves like abused puppies with regard to right-wing issues. If they report anything off-message (Dan Rather for example), they’re treated to an extended bout of public screaming (and presumably exclusion from the best cocktail parties).

nice to have ya back – sounds like there may have been a problem with the computer accepting the cookie that lets your computer remember.

votes still be tabulated bfl

Here’s a wonderful takedown of Haznizzle’s shizzizzle:

http://driftglass.blogspot.com…..paine.html

Here you go, SteveinNC

Seriously, the NYT and other media outlets need to recognize that there is just the teeniest bit of difference between folks like LGF and FDL.

There is a difference…? ;-)

And may I point out that I nominated that song before the contest officially began (in protest of the contest’s postponement)?

Thanks.

I was pretty sure I’d read that. I wrote angry (but polite) emails to Senators yesterday for all the good that’ll do.

you’re probably right about the cookie. I’ve been lurking, i liked your late late contest! You’re still the greatest mod in the known universe imho (with the rest of the backstage crew in pretty close contention, but you rule *g* )

I wonder if his University signed off approving that piece that says journalists should be schooled, licensed and regulated by the government. kinda wipes out one of those constitutional amendments, but hey, its not like we are really using it nowadays yanno.

The MSM is a mess, but you’d have to be a total shithead to think, say, Glenn Reynolds provides any sort of satisfactory corrective.

Heh.

*blushing* thanks ndfg but it really is a team back here – i’m just the one who is out as a mod.

OK. Just Lemme know. So I can demand a recount in a timely fashion. (I do live in Flori-DUH now, ya know.)

Seriously, the NYT and other media outlets need to recognize that there is just the teeniest bit of difference between folks like LGF and and FDL.

Until it is inconvenient for them to grasp this, they won’t.

Might be too late, then.

iirc, not only do you live in florida – you were a (gasp) suit (ducking)

Thers, I don’t think they like it now – and that is why the pushback. We threaten their jobs with our pushback of telling ‘em to do their fucking jobs the correct way, not the easy way. I think we scare them.

iirc, not only do you live in florida – you were a (gasp) suit (ducking)

Hopefully not a Brooks Suit… ;-)

“The Gay General”? Funny how the Right wingnutrias failed to discover that many of the YouTube selections were members of the Republican Party State Central Committees, and then there is that remarkable chance selection out of 15000 submissions of GROVER. Yeah, sure he likely submitted 14,000 of those YouTube videos himself, but still…one would have thought the right-wing bloggers would have pointed out the odds of their hero being “randomly selected” was about equal to that of some Bible guy shouting at the candidates “Do YOU BELIEF IN THIS!” was merely a random Republican.

Oh right! Maybe he was.

And this proves another rule. While the rightwing “exposures” by “Citizen Journalists” often demonstrate almost nothing of real substance that falsifies the essential facts of a story (the Beirut smoke, “phony soldiers)” the “citizen journalists” of the other side focusses primarily on real issues.

I wonder if his University signed off approving that piece that says journalists should be schooled, licensed and regulated by the government. kinda wipes out one of those constitutional amendments, but hey, its not like we are really using it nowadays yanno.

I agree, he’s elitist. And he hurts his case with it.

But he’s not totally wrong. It really is dangerous, the Michelle Malkin Skool of Journalism/Stalking.

What to do, is the question.

To tired to read, much less type. Goodnight all!

Definitely right. The response of most of them? Do their jobs right? No, ridicule the bloggers-at least the leftie ones. I mean, shit, you ever been to malkin’s place? She has a quote from NYT calling her a “firecracker” on her masthead. That is one shitty blog-Malkin’s. Sucks real bad.

Aloha, MM!

All journamalizts should be licensed, regulated, and monitored for adherence to State Doctrine. If they are, it’ll be easier to round them up when the time comes.

Bloggers, not so much.

And the next Sunday on one of its gabfests with Howie Putz, they lead with the story of whether CNN was wrong to use those clips. I forget the guest and his attitude was “Fuck you. I don’t give a shit. It was a good question.” But the loonies drove that story – such as it was. Because their candidtaes got a little uncomfortable.

All J school does is teach journamalists the prevailing corporate mindset. IMHO, the golden age of journamalism was before J schools became the new ITT Techs.

What to do, is the question.

yeap. how do we protect free speech and have a free press as the unofficial fourth branch. the main stream media have turned news into infotainment with their corporate marketing strategy of appealing to the lowest common denominator.

Evening all. I see the hound Cerberus is otherwise engaged and does see the need to continuously eat my login info.

Great post Thers and an important distinction. Have to say I sent an email to the estimable professor asking him to get a clue. Just an academic courtesy you know.

Is it possible to have some kind of a fact check button to push on reputable sites? Like if the site chooses not to use it they are discredited? It would be delayed, after the facts are proven one way or the other, but I’m thinking some kind of truth in reporting kinda gizmo. Facts proven/disproven…

All J school does is teach journamalists the prevailing corporate mindset. IMHO, the golden age of journamalism was before J schools became the new ITT Techs.

Where are William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer when you need them?

Of course, if they were around today, I have a feeling they’d be blogging.

I don’t know if the MSM has gone too far to be redeemed. Their funeral, though.

I continuously tell my students that the internet provides unprecedented access to information. Unfortunately not all of that information is accurate and you need to learn to distinguish that which is before you use it uncritically. Having said that, there is an awful lot of pure bullcrap in the MSM as well (Faux News or the Wall Street Journal editorial page anyone?). One must confront all information with a degree of healthy skepticism.

Peterr, wasn’t Hearst one of yellow journalisms’ worst offenders?

Whoa, the Boston Globe endorses Obama and McCain.

Whoa, the Boston Globe endorses Obama and McCain.

yeap, we have that up one the news ticker.

Interestingly enough, the Dean of our J-School is kind of on our side of the issue. She thinks that citizen journalism is the wave of the future. Full disclosure: she is the wife of a colleague and a friend.

Hearst loved wars…sold newspapers. can’t remember the exact quote.

Looks like Letterman is cutting a deal with WGA to return his show and Craig Ferguson to live. Letterman a 30-year WGA member. His actions would seem to be a plus for WGA, a way to force the big boys/networks to the table, too?

DesMoines Register endorses Hillary and McCain.

I don’t see Newsticker, Suz??? Help.

Worthy of note – On this date in 1791, the Bill of Rights was ratified.

h/t FFRF.org

News ticker only appears on the home page, Loo Hoo.

LooHoo, news ticker is always under the front post on the front page and before the previous posts.

So why do editorial boards like McCain when rethug voters don’t?

Definitely.

But Hearst would have been appalled at the corporate mindset prevalent in the MSM today. Unless, of course, it was his corporation. *g*

He had a combination of “go out, get the story, and beat the competition” and “how can we spin this to make some bucks?” Sadly, most of today’s media seems to be focused only on the second half of that equation. The “get the story” part is severely lacking.

Having said that, there is an awful lot of pure bullcrap in the MSM as well (Faux News or the Wall Street Journal editorial page anyone?). One must confront all information with a degree of healthy skepticism.

Fair enough, but well… it’s not just that. The wingnut version of “citizen journalism” is “a license to kill.” That’s messed up.

MSM is about risk management. Hearst was about yellow journalism. There’s a difference, I think, but unfortunately not one that helps us, or the country.

I think it’s kinda like the Bush would be a great guy to have a beer with meme that the campaign press pushed. When these guys go before the editorial boards, they have a chance to charisma them (bet you didn’t know that was a verb) He’s a hale fellow well met kinda guy, fun like Bush was.

Fair enough, but well… it’s not just that. The wingnut version of “citizen journalism” is “a license to kill.” That’s messed up.

Excellent.

Of course, your average wingnut is just about the lowest denominator imaginable.

“The wingnut version of ‘citizen journalism’ is ‘a license to kill.’”

True. There are a minimal set of limits on the MSM that do not apply to the wrong blogosphere and they go way beyond the pale. Rush Limbaugh, Faux News, Bill O’Reilly, Michael Savage and other rightwing mouthpieces routinely push the envelope. The whole Shiavo affair is a classic example where the came close to pulling a full Malkin.

Nightcap for a long, frazzly day [and hugs for FDL & the team–the steam valve for my pressure cooker life ;-) ] — here’s a little tidbit: Newsweek’s cover story is The Sleeper.

Yeah, my candidate of choice, he demands better, too: Edwards

Hearst had a mixed record. In San Francisco, for instance, his SF Examiner exposed more than a little official corruption. Perfect, though? Not by a long shot. No argument there.

Okay, so how would I know the news is up if I’m reading comments?

Maybe because the only semi-sane candidate? Who else could an educated group endorse out of that mob?

Hazinski seems to neglect the MAJOR reason that people have begun to rely on “Citizen Journalism” as their trusted source of information. It’s because the Main Stream Media have utterly failed to provide truthful and trustworthy information over the last several generations. It utterly failed to disclose widely the greatest example of governmental manipulation in the history of the country…the bogus Iraqi WMD evidernce.In fact, the major edia PROMULGATED that information without checking it up. Then there was the Valerie Plame embarassment….where they not only exposed a CIA CounterProliferations Officer…but constantly opened their pages to those who LIED repeatedly about the facts of the case. They propogated the idea that the Bush Administration was unaware of the threats by Al Qaida in the months prior to 9/11 when the reality was vastly different.

At the same time, the MSM have shifted to an “entertainment” model…have had innumerable cases like Jayson Blair, Judy Miller, etc. Their major purveyors of analysis are not actually journalists, but are former spin-meisters for politicians. Utterly pathetic.

And having a journalism degree is no panacaea to providing accurate information if the journalist is incapable of understanding the relative value and reliability of that material. To a journalist the idea is that there are TWO views on an issue…and that is all that is necessary to allow the public to adjudge validity. That’s simply rubbish, in some cases there are multiple modalities and the selection of two as representative (and the selection of spokespersons) is biased itself. It allows the journalist or the publisher to frame questions so that the reader is led to the results they want. Rather than inform, it distorts. In other cases the requirement that there are two views to be given suggests that the views are equivalent in value. This is precisely why the public believes that “ntelligent Design” (and before that “Creationism”) has some sort of Scientific Merit. The number of Biologists that hold that the physical evidence establishes the veracity of Evolution outnumbers Creationists by about 10,000 to 1. And that 1 is usually not doing any research and is a poorly credentialed do-nothing fundamentalist getting paid elite-level wages from some Creationist “Think” Tank. They’d be washing glassware if they were out in the real job market. Ditto those that were “HIV Skeptics”, or “Global Warming Skeptics”.

But they are given the imprimatur of credibility at the same level as the bulk of the Scientific community (and those doing authentic research using the Scientific method). Journalists need to be trained in Science if they are going to report on Science (or WMD’s). They need a deep background in Regional International Politics, History and Anthropology if they are going to report on politics or culture of a potential war zone. Most of these reporters on the great push to Baghdad couldn’t tell their Shi’ites from Sunninola. Instead they were as about as adept as Geraldo.

So of course people are going to begin to trust alternative sources more when these folks are given “equal time” with real Scientists. The MSM has been remiss on its role in truly offering credible information itself.

The US Media has converged on the Soviet Union in becoming a spokesman for the Administration…and it has tainted, perhaps irrevocably, its role as the critic of that Government. Getting merit badges in the same old, same old…isn’t going to help. In fact. marketing has become far more critical than courses in ethics and law in many journalism programs. The spend more time learning about advertising and “image” (makeup) than preparing for an interview by research.

Wouldn’t bet on McCain’s sanity myself, but I do not really see much difference between him and Romney in most areas. Except maybe that McCain is an even bigger panderer and flip-flopper.

[waving to Suzanne]

Whoa, the Boston Globe endorses Obama and McCain.

I’ll throw this out there since I’m interested in people’s thoughts on this and it’s Late Night…

Ya know, I haven’t really understood the blogosphere’s lukewarm reception to Obama since he first announced. We rail on and on about the “ways of WARshington” and the serial panderers that populate DeeCee, yet when we have alternatives, there’s a pretty loud chorus singing the nebulous “experience” and “electability” tunes when talking about any outsider candidates. What’s up with that? I wonder if the Conglomerate Media themes that have dominated public discourse over the last 30 years are responsible for this. So if we’re so disgusted with how our government has operated in recent history, why in the world would people support the most entrenched DeeCee insiders there are, who have hung around the cocktail weenie circuit for decades, as the people who are gonna clean things up?!? Not gunna happen…

Look, here’s a guy that came from nothing in terms of connections and money, has a brownish pigmentation, and while still in his 40s, is the leading candidate to be the next Prez of the U.S., if the latest polls are to be believed. Given the societal and personal hurdles Obama has had to clear to get this point, I’d say there are few people more “experienced” and savvy to know how to get things accomplished, in any context.

Maybe many of us are so wanting some Liberal knight, that is so Liberal he or she would make Howie Klein think, “Man, this person might be too radical for me…” to ride in and save the kingdom. That’s never going to happen. Each of us here will find things wrong with anyone that we ever support. Obama’s voting record is quite good throughout his governmental career. I think some of the recent no show votes are a result of playing within current media frames and probably just some campaigning conflicts.

Given his life experience and what he has chosen to do with life as an adult, I think once in office, he’ll be one of the most Liberal Presidents in recent memory. As of the last year or two, I feel like he’s doing what he thinks he needs to do to win over a lot of skeptical voters across the country, and with a hostile media repackaging his message at every stop.

Of course, this could be an incredibly naive opinion, and he’ll be a DLCer, but there’s really no evidence to suggest that, in fact quite the opposite. There is a certainty – with another Clinton, we know exactly what we’re going to get, and that is most definitely not the kind of “experience” and “leadership” I trust to restore the Constitution.

Good evening dear friends. Hello Thers.

Hi Jane. Hello Suzanne.

Hazinski seems to neglect the MAJOR reason that people have begun to rely on “Citizen Journalism” as their trusted source of information. It’s because the Main Stream Media have utterly failed to provide truthful and trustworthy information over the last several generations. It utterly failed to disclose widely the greatest example of governmental manipulation in the history of the country…the bogus Iraqi WMD evidernce

I don’t disagree, but that’s not my point. The MSM has failed, but that does NOT mean that we should even for a minute show any sympathy for the wingnut “solution.” The “citizen journalist” stuff is a trap.

cause i tell ya – and you can bookmark the news page and check or check the front page. The 4 newest headlines show on the front page and the news page shows you the headline and a clip – and yes there is a new item

hey tex, feeling better tonight?

bonkers, my objection to Obama is that he came up in the Chicago Machine. We don’t need more patronage and cronyism.

Doing pretty well Suzanne. All the kids are gone and my house is clean. New bed arrives tomorrow.

And yourself?

I do not think that Obama would make a bad president nor would Hillary. Both are infinitely preferable to any of the Republicans. Neither, however, is particularly progressive. They are both moderates and leaning a bit to the right at that. It is a measure of how extreme the modern Republican party is that they are even considered liberal at all. Obama also has a fair bit of bagage from his association with the Chicago Democratic machine. It is not Daddy Daly’s machine, but it is a classic political machine and he is part of it. Along with that he is a staunch corporatist and his policies reflect that (look at his health care proposal for instance).

There are much more progressive candidates available and at least one who is still viable. If he is nominated, I will vote for Obama and only wince a little. I will not vote for him in the primary however. I want the best, most progressive candidate that I can get. The way to do that is to force everyone as far to the left as possible by support the most progressive candidates with our money, time, and votes.

seem to have knocked off that bug that had me in its grips mid-week so i’m doing pretty darn good, tex :)

Interesting..Edwards on three Sunday shows.

Putting my foot down on charisma as a verb.
Sternly.
*g*

Hearst was actually a populist in his early years…and viciously attacked the Tammany Hall and other corporate-politician linkages in cities across the US. In fact, many argue that he was the primary reason for the rise of Progressive politicians like Teddy Roosevelt, Wilson, Taft, LaFollette, William Jennings Bryan and even Eugene Debs.

The Cuban-American war which he helped foment was largely built up by his proximity to Cuban independence advocates and the justifiable (although exagerated in Hearst papers) cases of human rights abuse by the Spanish Regime. Hearst later exposed cases of the abusive conditions of the Concentration Camps where Spanish soldiers were held after the war.

The famous quote allegedly made to the famous photographer Remington was denied by Hearst and Remington and others who might have known its veracity never indicated it was true.

“Please remain. You furnish the pictures and I’ll furnish the war.”

The way to do that is to force everyone as far to the left as possible by support the most progressive candidates with our money, time, and votes.

I’m with you all the way there. Edwards seem to be the only one who points out the fact the average citizen is always left sucking hind teat.

OT —

any other mac users finding firefox very slow when the lake is up?

I don’t like the way Obama grabs the nearest talking point to bash other Democrats, even if they’re Republic talking points.

On the other hand, when I hear Bill Clinton compare Obama to a “talented talk show host”, it makes me want to support Obama just to spite Clinton.

PhilK there are other choices!

any other mac users finding firefox very slow when the lake is up?

Hi Betsy! Pretty quick now, but slugs down on occasion.
Add-ons are the culprits mostly.

Bonkers, your points are all extremely well taken about Obama.

My objections to his candidacy are three-fold:
1. He chose Joe Lieberman as his mentor upon being sworn in to the US Senate in 2005.
2. He missed votes on choice in the Illinois lege.
3. He challenged Clinton’s Kyl-Lieberman vote without having voted himself.

Of course, should he become the nominee, I will work to elect him.

jumping back in here, firefox works better on pcs for me (at my daughter’s or on my roomie’s pc). At home on my mac i stick to safari. Seems to work better for me.

newtonusr should i uninstall adblockplus as well?

ndfg the problem with safari is that it’s impossible to paste with formatting when i do blog stuff, so i tend to use firefox.

newtonusr should i uninstall adblockplus as well?

Yep.

PhilK there are other choices!

Right now, I don’t care who. I prefer Edwards, but I will vote for whoever gets the nomination. Even if it’s the wife the greatest pisser-away of good luck and hard work in the history of the Democratic Party.

ndfg the problem with safari is that it’s impossible to paste with formatting when i do blog stuff, so i tend to use firefox.

I’m not recommending this – just sayin’…
But the Safari in Leopard is outstanding. I hate the operating system, but I love that browser.

Speaking of the relationship between blogs and the MSM, I thought you might be interested in this.

Oh right, ndfg, she says that, but I’m looking and (scan left, scan right) I don’t see anyone else but her modding;).

Newton you’re brilliant. I also disabled my browser sync but may re-install it when I start working at home again.

you’ve got to go with what works best for your situation … sorry i don’t have any useful tips for your excellent work. I appreciate the news gathering you do.

margot, they are hidden behind the curtain. scanning don’t pick them up :)

Beware the Lurking Mod.

Thanks ndfg.

well, thelurkingmod and RBG have been known to jump in occasionally … also top notch, natch!

Oh right, ndfg, she says that, but I’m looking and (scan left, scan right) I don’t see anyone else but her modding;)

*disembodied voice of TLM*
Hello, Margot…

Scanning right won’t help

Newton you’re brilliant. I also disabled my browser sync but may re-install it when I start working at home again.

Nothing brilliant about it, Betsy. When it’s all you do, you get practice!

Here is the dean of the J-school. I don’t think she would agree with Prof. Hazinski. She has initiated a project to establish local citizen journalists to report on-line from the multitude of small towns in Montana with no local news service. The J-school has caught some heat from some of the newpapers in the state for this, but she just points out that they don’t have any reporters there and really do not cover the news in those communities.

Damn. Forgot the link in my last post.

Just wanted to add that the concept of “populism” runs also to the dark side. Hearst was very much a “nativist” and virulently attacked Mexicans, and even native-born Mexican Americans. He likely helped foment the US intervention into Mexico by Pershing…also filmed by Frederick Remington and made into newsreels. Some argue that he did this because Pancho Villa nationalized Hearst’s vast estates in Central Mexico. Although he was regarded as a “progressive” (even a “radical Democrat”) as a Congressman in New York he would not be viewed as such today. While he was a promoter of Free Milk in public schools and his wife Phobe was a major supporter of the arts, sciences and public universities, he opposed US intervention in WWI and even flirted with Naziism. He attended the Nuremberg Rallies in 1934 and supported Franco in the Spanish Civil War. He appeared to be fascinated by “nationalists” rising to power with popular support, but others say that he simply was an Anglophobe.

Hearst was a protege of Pulitzer, BTW. Both were “muckrakers” but were labeled “yellow journalists” because they were willing to use scandal, crime, and articles on “supernatural” occurances to drive up circulation. But many newspapers in that day were firmly in the hands of political parties and unwilling to challenge their patrons. This gave both Hearst and Pulitzer the aura of independence.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0372558/bio

Newton is who i start looking for whenever anyone has a mac question. He really is an expert from what i hear.

I helped organize the group of bloggers that tracked the pet food recall.
They helped dig up a number of facts. I set up our first conference call and we then split up the tasks to keep the story moving forward.

When the journalists were working on the story I saw our group as the counter to the all PR people at the pet food companies and agribusiness.

I worked with Dick Durbin’s office to help put the pressure on the Pet Food Industry execs with pointed questions. Other bloggers worked with the recalled lists, still others worked with the retailers.

When the story was winding down USA Today and one other paper did a story on the Pet Food Bloggers and they clearly saw how helpful we all were. They left me out of the story because I wouldn’t tell them who I was in real life. I didn’t really mind that much but I was glad that the other bloggers got credit and the journalists didn’t see them as competition, but as resources that would help.

The one thing that I was frustrated at was how the FDA wouldn’t let anyone but “credentialed press” in the press conferences. The bloggers knew more about what was happening in this story than most of the media and we could have busted the FDA at several stages, but we weren’t allowed in.

I also spotted several times that the FDA or the USDA used tricks to block information to the media. I wrote to all the journalists and pointed them out. I don’t know if they appreciated it or not, but my goal was to help them do their job better.

Mr. Journalism professor didn’t notice that example now did he? Of course not, because we didn’t act like the jerk rightwing bloggers who brag about how they attack journalists instead of helping them do their job.
And the journalist we worked with got the point that we wanted to help them get to the truth. I explained to the bloggers what the journalists could use from us. And since we were organized we didn’t duplicate efforts.

DrDick, did she recently relocate there after spending some time in the Midwest?

Oh, yes. Your link answered my question.

She was at the University of Kansas before she came here and in Spokane, WA, actually running a newspaper before that.

Basra set for security handover
from AL JAZEERA
Iraqi forces prepare to take control of the province’s security from British forces.

FF seems to better behaved running on Leopard than tiger..at least with quad-core.

FF seems to better behaved running on Leopard than tiger..at least with quad-core.

Damn! Nice machine!

I am still in Tiger Steve. Don’t think they’re upgrading me anytime soon.

The Cold War is back on!

Another Bush failure

-G

links to Al jazeera

Interesting altered photo of Beirut. I couldn’t believe they published it, because it is so blatantly altered (using the Clone Tool in PS, my guess)anyone minimally expert in Photoshop would spot it as fake. OTOH, it’s so bad maybe Reuters figured no one would believe it.

(and re the link @119) Dr.D, that is exciting. I hope this type of program catches on.

margot, RGB is off doing kobe’s nails tonight – it is saturday night yanno

Basra Militias Killing “Un-Islamic” Women
from The Huffington Post News Editors

IT WAS just after 11pm and the shopkeeper was closing up for the night when a van screeched to a halt outside. The back doors flew open. “Someone inside threw a woman onto the street,” he said. “She was lying on the road but she was still alive. A man lent out and shot a machine-gun into her body.”

As the van raced away, the shopkeeper ran over to her. She was aged 25 to 30 with long dark hair and was lying face up. “There was so much blood,” he said. “The police just took a photograph and put her in the back of a van.”

Thanks for the responses.

I started out as, and am holding on (barely) as an Edwards voter, but I’ve recently seen some summaries of his Senate voting record. I hate to say it, but it’s not very good. Perhaps LieberMEesque.

The moment of truth for us as voters is coming soon, so I’m trying to feel deep-down good about one as time runs out.

And speaking of truth, I didn’t notice a clear definition of what Journalism actually is in that dude’s op-ed. He did the whole “report both sides of every story” nonsense. That shit burns me up since there are MANY sides of every story. Can’t journalism be defined as the quest for truth?

If so, regurgitating GOP talking points on most issues, regardless of whether they represent some mythical “other side of the story,” is not journalism since they quickly prove false with the slightest bit of scrutiny. A journalist should report the most plausible angles they can find and fit into their alotted space.

Whether it’s a Conglomerate paid journalist or a “Citizen Journalist,” the cream will rise to the top.

This is also what separates the most Liberal blogs from most wingnut blogs, since I have yet to see someone

Yeah. I was really happy to see Peggy get the job. She is really progressive (politically and professionally) and thinking ahead to the future. She actually thinks dead tree journalism is going extinct in the near future.

Dang…it’s RBG

Starting with nail file all over again.

Excellent point. That Huckabee is a proto-populist in the “King Fish” style scares the big money thugs shitless. People on the left who think we need “populism” better think twice. When the economy goes “south”, the reaction will be Populism which will be the current thug party minus the influence of the big money.

Spocko, a big thank you! Can’t remember what i looked at (CRS syndrome) but thanks to lists posted by pet food bloggers, i was fairly sure that my cats were eating ok stuff.

oh crap! i screwed up your name (head hanging in shame)

sorry rbg

Easy to mix up :~)

red green blue
red blue green

Suzanne – RBG’s here. And we have to sit up straight and stuff…

You are welcome. I was really pleased when Dick Durbin waved one of the lists made by us and said, “Why can’t the FDA create a list that is as good as this blogger?”

I wouldn’t bother..there are problems with other programs and leopard. The money would be better spent elsewhere.

Populism is definitely a two edged sword and not to be confused with progressivism. I do think the progressive populism is a good thing. Unfortunately, here in the US we have a stronger tradition of nativist and reactionary populism than of progressive populism. Be nice to revive the agrarian socialism that was so strong in many parts of the country in the early 20th century.

Huckabubba is causing the GOP’s gears to grind and whirr…..The business wing is getting ready to roll out the Peter Pan bus fleet and give to Huckster what the powers that be gave to Howard Dean…a political snuffing.

That’ll leave the quandry of who will fill Huckstables’ shoes and also how pissed off the fundagelicals become.

Ttroubles all around.

-G

Steve-AR, the machine is not mine. If my district changes operating systems, they will re-image us, or update, or something.

Great comment. I remember talking to someone who was a teacher, who I respected, and then she said, “But news should be balanced.”
I said, “What?”
“The news should be balanced.”
This is when I first got that horrible feeling in my stomach. People (I’m talking about Bush voters I know) could kind of see the difference between how things actually were, and how they were TOLD they were.
They didn’t say, Hey, they’re lying to us.
They had to do something to make the dissonance stop.
Aha! Balance the facts! Some facts back up what you think, some what I think, hey everyone’s happy.
Not.

Oh, you don’t scare me one bit.
(Anymore!)
I can draw you in a box, you know.

And I know what kind of chocolate candy you like…

Horrible thought! That means that Huck is gonna become RNC chair.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not to their own facts. There really is only one set of facts, though those are subject to multiple interpretations. Of those interpretations, some account for more facts and do so better than others. This is the closest we can get to the “Truth”.

I don’t disagree, but that’s not my point. The MSM has failed, but that does NOT mean that we should even for a minute show any sympathy for the wingnut “solution.” The “citizen journalist” stuff is a trap.

Maybe detail what is this “wingnut solution” and why it’s a “trap”. I think that there are simple tools that all observers of “citizen journalism” should be careful to abide.

1) Is it really relevant. Is the “expose” really as debilitating to the story as the provider claims it is. Sometimes it’s obvious it’s a “smokescreen” as transparent as the Beirut “photoshopped smoke” story. In fact, the fact that the “provider was looking” and even presented the information as “significant ” shows bias.

2)Does the source have a political or social agenda. Both of the public information, but also the ORIGINAL information. While this doesn’t NECESSARILY impact the veracity of the information…it should mean that one should get multiple OPEN sources backing it up before accepting it.

3) Is the source using OPEN available and testable lines of information? Or is the source anonymous or concealed by some “a White House source” covering phrase. Unidentified authorities are highly questionable since they are likely providing spin or outright false information. They should be considered reliable only if they have a real reason for hiding their identity…such as revealing illegal acts by their OWN Department of Supervisors. That act takes courage…not cowardice (as hiding one’s identity does).

4) If the material appears to be relevant, and from a credible source…has it been checked out by internal or independent investigation. Is the document itself reliable and not forged, photoshopped, or manipulated in some way (e.g. the Niger yellowcake documents). Or can non-public or other facts in the documents /material actually be checked out by visiting, additional interviews, or scientific research.

5) Are there are multiple explanations for the data? Do some have innocuous explanations? Do some have more probable explanations that the “hypotheses” proposed by the source?

Oh, you don’t scare me one bit.
(Anymore!)
I can draw you in a box, you know.

And I know what kind of chocolate candy you like…

Suzanne, would you bring those cuffs over here, please?

“Suzanne, would you bring those cuffs over here, please?”

Shhhh. Don’t let CT hear you.

Everyone upstairs (ratcheting cuffs)

Interesting altered photo of Beirut. I couldn’t believe they published it, because it is so blatantly altered (using the Clone Tool in PS, my guess)anyone minimally expert in Photoshop would spot it as fake. OTOH, it’s so bad maybe Reuters figured no one would believe it.

Read the article. The general view is that it was altered to darken the smoke so that it could be visible in black and white photographs. As pointed out in that article the color photo still shows heavier smoke, though the gray-tone might have washed out with the hazy blue sky behind it. Thus someone decided to darken the smoke. The extent of smoke wasn’t even significantly altered.

The only other possible reason would be to suggest that the attack increased particulate air pollution.

IOW the whole issue was trumped up to suggest that the whole attack by Israeli aircraft was faked or exaggerated , when in fact the augmentation had nothing to do with that. In fact it was obvious from the pictures that shows both the original and the PghotoShopped version.

Excellent point. That Huckabee is a proto-populist in the “King Fish” style scares the big money thugs shitless. People on the left who think we need “populism” better think twice. When the economy goes “south”, the reaction will be Populism which will be the current thug party minus the influence of the big money.

Arkansas is just a little north of Louisiana and a tad West of Mississippi. Both have had interesting populist movements n the last century (though neither espoused fundamentalist elements, interestingly). But if the Sub-Prime crisis expands, then there very well could be a major backlash against the “moneyed elite”. I pointed out in an earlier post that the foreclosure crisis is hitting Red States and “Red” areas in Blue or Mixed States (like California) much harder. These were areas that were suckered into believing the idea that the economy was in great shape because their home values were shooting upward, their areas were experiencing growth and business development, etc. But when people started losing their homes, credit dried up, and businesses have been laying off thousands in areas like construction, real estate, and home financing (all likely very RED voting groups) then you’ve got the recipe for a major hurt and the search for a scapegoat.

I don’t think that this is one that they can shift the blame over to “immigrants” though.

I doubt the Bush Shrub would be a “good guy to have a beer with”: Dubya has a really nasty mean streak & bad temper; Saint Laura had to give her drunken hubbie an ultimatum: quit drinking or I’m gone, because he was such a putz.

“Mean drunks” or “sloppy mushy” drunks, alcoholics aren’t fun company.
I imagine Dubya was more fun when he was smokin’ the ole “herb” though.

The MSM gave Bush a total pass on investigating the story of Bush’s drinking history, his DUI’s, did no investigation whatsoever, not only because Bush was so “pro business”, but also because the MSM makes oceans of advertising $$$ off Beer ads, Vodka ads, Whiskey ads, etc. etc.

I would dearly love to see a Catscan of Bush’s Brain. Years of heavy drinking cause the kind of brain damage which might explain the way our Commander in Chief visibly has so much trouble THINKING, & why he speaks like a “special ed” 3rd grader!

Patty Hearst’s daughter was on TV being interviewed this week; weird deja vu 60’s Vietnam Patty Hearst kidnapping by SLA jarring vibe (’Symbionese Liberation Army, for all u kiddies who weren’t born when this went down).

I’m surprised that her daughter would seek publicity though; ditto for the Bush daughter, Jenna, who’s been making the rounds of TV News talk shows, shilling for a book she wrote. “Anna’s Story”, about a young woman she worked with under some Bush AIDS program, who was suffering from AIDS. I think it was a real invasion of the poor girl’s privacy & typical Bush.

Also, you’d think the Bush family would NOT want the Bush Twins drawing media attention to themselves, because they’re a “high value” target for kidnapping by Islamic terrorists. Remember the Photo of the Bush Twins that Saddam Hussein’s son had in his Palace in Iraq?

Thers,

This particular post was disappointing on a number of levels. Even if the standards for “Late Night” posts are relaxed, your profanity was gratuitous and over the top. Writing a short question with a link and a vulgarity (for example: 2. The Beirut photograph. Oh, fuck you.)doesn’t even rise to the level of snark.

It seems to me that if you’re going to criticize wingnut bloggers – and it’s a large and very juicy target – you should at least rise above their level. I have come to expect very high quality work at FDL; it’s the first stop on my daily blog tour and I return frequently. Your post was not a good way to start the day.

If the ROM (republican owned media) would do their REAL jobs, average Americans wouldn’t have to become the REAL JOURNALISTS of our time. Oh, but what does the ROM do to prove their point that these ‘citizen journalists’ are not to be trusted? They use reich wing bloggers as examples! It’s the left wing bloggers who are getting to the truth and are screaming it loudly and it’s the ROM who is burying these truths deeply to keep America stupid.

Spit.

Tired of it.

I did read the article, and I didn’t need the original to know it was altered and how it was altered.

Some years ago, National Geographic had a cover shot of the Pyramids and some camels. Apparently, the camels were not in the optimum position for a good cover shot, so they moved them…and caught hell for it.

The Beirut shot was instantly unbelievable to me, both as a photographer and a former firefighter in Chicago suburbs, as well as general overall skeptic!