Friday, October 14, 2005

PRIME MINISTER, AHHHH, AHHH, UHHHH

Talk about a name recognition problem. The Prime Minister of Belgium has been the same for sixe years. A recent poll, however, showed 60% of those polled did not know his name. Some 7% thought his predecessor was in charge and one even suggested Gerhard Shroeder was at the helm. The poll was taken in Belgium.

Tuesday, October 11, 2005

Pierce who????

Pierce Bosnan, the Clueless:
"I was looking forward to making (Bond) edgier and grittier -- and for all of that to go down in one phone call was highly disappointing," Brosnan said, adding that he had been invited to make a fifth Bond film but that negotiations suddenly collapsed without explanation.

"To this day Im not sure why," he said, dismissing media reports that his demands of an exorbitant salary of 30 to 40 million dollars had scuppered the talks.
He must have a faulty memory.
"This man called President Bush has a lot to answer for," the former James Bond actor told reporters Saturday. "I don't know if this man is really taking care of America. This government has been shameful."
In a faltering movie industry shunned by most Americans why the hell would they hire him?

FRENCH BASHING is so easy

FRANCE
The Eurotunnel, that symbol of European physical unity, is in worse shape than ever. AFP reports that the company could face bankruptcy in 2007 unless it manages to reduce its debt load of nine billion euros.

Marks and Spencer, the British retailer, learned the hard way not to do business in France. They was fined by a French court for breaching labor laws for not convening the store's works committee before deciding to close the store in 2001. Not only can't you close a store in France without consulting labor union thugs, you can't very well open one either. Marks and Spencer stock rose on new earning.

Ludicrous poll of the day

Ludicrous poll of the day. Do you believe Roman Catholic priests should be allowed to marry?

From? The notoriously anti-religious Globe and Mail and the secular nincompoop Canadians who also decided that the Canadian Supreme Court could arbitrarily decide on gay marriage despite 70% of Canadians who are polled against it. Call em passive. It's the kindest thing you can say.

For 12597
Against 1429

Oh wait.. there's competition from a previous poll that asked, "Is it okay with you if convicted criminal Martha Stewart comes to Canada to row a giant pumpkin?"

For 13378
Against 5654

Saturday, October 08, 2005

Newsday continues to slide

The latest Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) audit of Newsday shows circulation decline of 8.8% to 439,708.

This is the kicker, though.
If Newsday had made the March 2005 FAS-FAX it would be the country's 12th largest paper in terms of daily circ falling below the Arizona Republic in Phoenix (daily circ, 452,016) and above The Boston Globe (daily circ 434,330).
Just imagine how many papers would sell in Boston if they had something other than another New York Times clone.

Friday, October 07, 2005

Just Wanna know

If Justice Souter was believed to have been so liberal before his nomination, why did 9 of the most liberal Democrats vote against him?

Including Kennedy, John Kerry, Cranston, Lautenberg, Miluski and Bradley.

Senate vote on his confirmation

Sunday, October 02, 2005

BORDER CRIMES

Vicente Fox is visiting Canada to commiserate with them on their disputes with the U.S. Maybe he should pay more attention to border town violence.

NUEVO LAREDO is across the border from Laredo, Texas. It is noted for being a drug smuggling corridor to the U.S. with appalling violence.
More than 135 people have been killed by violence in this city across from Laredo, Texas, since January. Quimbar was the 14th police officer slain.
If you want to follow the violence and corruption indemic to Mexico, The San Diego Union-Tribune's section on Tijuana/Border is a must read.

Saturday, October 01, 2005

SOBBING JOURNALISTS AND HURRICANES

The leftwing Independent can be counted on for a good laugh on any day. They outdo themselves today and I agree with them. Taking U.S. t.v. reporters to task for their emotionalism, singling out Shepard Smith at FOX who was, in my view, an absolute idiot. The Independent thought he was emotional during Katrina. But Rita was something else.
Last week, though, when Hurricane Rita provided the anticlimactic follow-up to the devastations of Katrina, those same reporters found themselves standing alone in the driving wind and rain, struggling not only to maintain their dignity on camera, but also to come up with a valid reason why they were doing this at all.

Fox News's Mr Smith, now in Beaumont, Texas, was blown several feet and knocked to the ground during a live two-way. Anchor Greta Van Susteren, dry and comfortable in the studio, didn't even stop talking as Smith struggled to get up and find something solid to cling to.
No doubt, she was humiliated by his performance. If Roger Ailes had not been otherwise engaged doing something else, I expect he would have cut off the sorry spectacle. And don't even mention Geraldo Rivera to me. I half jokingly tell friends that I am buying a gun so in case of an earthquate, if that Adam Henry comes anywhere close, I am plugging him. He's not posing in my front yard.

But in case you think the Independent actually had a clue. They go on to chide Russert for challenging Aaron Broussard. They thought it "a heartless piece of gotcha journalism." Shows how closely they follow anything.

DECENCY

David Warren is a journalist, or what a journalist used to be. Or maybe there never was a time when journalism was ever as lofty as those who practice it claim it was, and is.. But when you do find a journalist of extraordinary talent and attitude, it gives you hope again. Even if they get discouraged, there is something worth savoring:
It is not necessary to be pro-Bush, pro-Republican, or even pro-American to tell the truth, as completely as one can. Nor is it necessary to be neutral. What is instead required is a mind that wants to know the truth, and will report what it discovers candidly. It is not even necessary to like people, to treat them fairly: only necessary to realize that hatred makes one blind.
Mr. Warren is such an individual. But he is guided by a quality that isn't even considered important in a newsroom: decency.

HAVING IT BOTH WAYS

Arianna Huffington isn't buying the Judith Miller-New York Times story of her victimhood.
How deep is the Times' contempt for its readers that it really thinks they'll buy the 'Oh, Judy finally has the right waiver' line?"
Time will tell what the real story is, but strong bets say it won't be the current New York Times version.

Every time a Leftie like Arianna writes on Miller, they refer to Miller's WMD articles written before the war. In this context, they cite her lack of credibility and not their gullibility. I suspect that Miller wrote the articles in the first place to drum up emotional overload of the Left to inspire their opposition the invasion. Now the Left disavows the claims of WMD, but it was damned convenient when they wanted to warn of the dangers of invading Iraq. Apparently, the Left wants it both ways.

BIRD FLU-MONGERING

This is exactly why the CDC is not developing a vaccine against bird flu.