Too many times in our culture people state that a public figure is not afraid to take on certain issues, yet they really only timidly put their toe in the water and point to a soaked digit proudly. Chris Rock is pure power comedy. He is more than happy to jump into the most toxic of issues, and does not do it to shock either. His takes on politics is better than his racial takes, but not what I think most know him for.
Biggus: Okay, you can test your theory on Rupert Murdock controlling Fox News' content. He wants to put more global warming shit on his networks, so if the news channel starts doing hysterical global warming stories there's your proof.
me: I don't think Rupert "controls" fox news. I think he gave Roger Ailes (Fox News Chief and former Reagan aide) his marching orders and he figures it out
Sent at 4:31 PM on Wednesday
Biggus: Isn't that "controlling"?
5:59 PM me: I think Murdoch has set instructions to what the general editorial tone is, and probably has the right to call down to the newsroom like a baseball owner would call the dugout, but I don't view him as some micromanaging puppet master
6:00 PM I have no problem with Fox News being conservative, and he was a consumate business man in knowing that there was an untapped market that he exploited. I have a problem with them declaring that they are some kind of middle of the road organization.
6:01 PM Biggus: And yet you refuse to see the rather obvious bias of other networks.
me: to say both FNC and CNN are both biased, is like saying both Trevor and Andy Dick are gay
6:02 PM it's a matter of how much
Biggus: So wait, you admit there is a bias? I guess that's a start.
6:03 PM me: there is as much bias at CNN as the average person has. Fox News is a virulently partisan outfit.
6:04 PM To say that a company that employs Glen Beck is Liberal is laughable
and Nancy Grace
Biggus: Riiight. Editorial shows are exactly like news.
6:05 PM Can I use Olberman as proof of everyday bias for MSNBC then?
me: On Fox news Sunday, Brit Hume who is an anchor, is on the opinion panel. There is no such example of Wolf Blitzer, or Paula Zahn being part of a panel giving their personal opinions
6:06 PM Biggus: Hmm. I would wager there is an anchor, somewhere, on a panel show.
6:07 PM And even if there isn't, are we unclear on the political leaning of pretty much every major anchor?
6:08 PM me: Brian Williams doing a few too many remotes from NOLA is about as close as I can come to knowing. Couric is a face, and I don't watch ABC
Biggus: Of course, anchors don't really write anything, so it's really a non-issue in their cases beyond general story ideas.
6:09 PM me: I will say MSNBC's use of Olberman to anchor the debate coverage was inappropriate
6:10 PM Biggus: I don't really give a shit. I just want mainstream news people (which Olberman is most definitely not, just so you don't call me out) to stop pretending there is no bias. And the fair and balanced Fox tag is dumb too. Which I've told you many, many times.
6:11 PM me: I don't really know how we fell into that argument, but it was probably my fault
6:12 PM Biggus: Technically I spurred it by pointing out that there was a very obvious test for your Murdock Influence Theory.
6:13 PM Fox is the only network that doesn't indulge in histrionics about global warming. If that changes, there's unassailable proof that Murdock essentially dictates coverage.
me: I've never thought I made Murdoch out to be a boogie man. He was my favorite member of the A-Team
Biggus: Is it spelled with an 'H'?
6:14 PM me: not the same guy?
"There is a theory which states that if ever anybody discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable.
There is another theory which states that this has already happened."
Douglas Adams
This is total bullshit.
Seriously she's got a great voice and all her parts are still real.
I would love to be able to come to you and report that the revolution against the tyranny of the exclamation point was growing in numbers every day, but I cannot. I can however report that I have seen less and less of the absurdity that I had observed at the beginning of the year. Maybe I have to think of myself as the A-Team of of the fight against the exclamation point. In the shadows, but ready when needed.
Patton Oswalt is like a slap in the face, and he reminds me of what my old roommate at The University of Florida would have to look like now. He is also the only comedian that I have heard make a joke about the novel 1984. Not just a joke using catch phrases like newspeak and orwelian, but about strangling a prole after too much victory gin. High minded gutter humor if you will. This video is bad but this bit is classic.
We here at The Sunshine Empire enjoy media commentary a great deal, and also love to see bias in action. When news came that conservatives where building a new site to counter YouTube due to perceived liberal bias, we decided to investigate. Our site depends heavily on YouTube and feel it is a fantastic addition to the web as a whole. In no other time in our culture have we been able to sit around and talk about that series of commercials about those two English chaps falling in love over cheap coffee circa 1987, and be able to view it withing a matter of moments. But this is serious business and we set to find out.
The search for bias in YouTube started with a search for clips from Fox TV's Family Guy. Who hasn't checked out a clip from Peter, Stewie, and the gang and had a good laugh. But lurking under the surface is a hideous liberal conspiracy that could have our children eating hummus and reading the communist manifesto in no time. Many might have seen the episode where Peter decides that he is going to be a redneck, because redneck culture is supposed to be in since we tolerate NASCAR and Larry the Cable Guy. But tucked into the episode is a 5 minute long segment where Lois argues for socialized medicine, and gay marriage. Not the kind of San Fransisco values I expected from Quahog.
The investigation moved to video blogs and pulled up a series of Lonely Girl clips. This young lady became something of an underground legend according to Hector in accounting who just thinks she's the best. We've fired Hector. But we came across a clip that started out as an innocent rant about how really, really, really, really, really boring her town is. Yet like a car wreck she just hops on her bed and in a threatening manner starts to demand that condoms be passed out in elementary schools, and that stem cell research is the cure to every disease. This was all starting to become clear. We could see that they may have been right. But we wanted to be positive, so we ventured on.
On we went until we came across a video of Ted Kennedy in a sun dress watching Newhart re-runs and we were convinced. YouTube is a liberal organ of the MoveOn.org, George Soros, Media Matters, Trilateral Commission conspiracy against the good God fearing people of the real American Heartland. We should have had faith.
As great as that is it is the same premise as a great Hollow Men sketch but just substitute Marlon Brando.
It is impossible to imagine Goethe or Beethoven being good at billiards or golf.
-H. L. Mencken
US editor (1880 - 1956)
Jim performed at the Florida Theater and put on a great show. As a Catholic I love his take on Catholicism. His use of the lady voice is a great way to comment on himself. He plays the brash insensitive lazy person, and the lady voice comments on how inappropriate the bit is.
There are times that I am in a state of such relaxation I have to drastically alter the emotional state of my being. At times like these I take a look at The Drudge Report. This awful pile of tripe actually was at one time the site that I viewed the most times in a day or given week. When the fog cleared from my mind I moved elsewhere for my news. But Drudge featured an interactive poll question that looked the work of some seventh grade programmer using a Tandy. It was a flash poll of who the viewer thought won this evening's Republican Presidential debate. The majority of the respondents gave the nod to former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. Mitt Romney is the Republicans version of John Kerry. Man born into privilege, held major elected office, cartoonish hair, they both share many things. But namely the evil little word electability. Mitt Romney is about as conservative as Nathan Lane standing naked on a street corner in San Fransisco. But he ran the Olympics, moved to Massachusetts again and suddenly he was Ronald Reagan at 55 to so many people, and I have no idea why. I once considered myself a Republican, back in the limited government, fiscal responsibility days. Those days seem as elusive as taste at a Toby Keith concert. I think I understood what mainline conservatives thought and valued, but not any more. This man was very clearly pro-abortion and was on record many many times. But now he runs for President as a Republican and he's piously against it. When asked his explanation amounts to, "oops, I just changed my mind" I find it hard to believe so many seem to be moving to support him. Guliani amounts to some putrid one hit wonder band. He was really popular for a very brief moment, after having been hated before, and he's really just been working that angle ever since. The former Mayor is also very pro-gay and pro-abortion. Nobody wants to discuss the desperation of the Republican party. I don't really understand it. It's as if they see rats running of the ship so they are setting fire to the place. The only true conservative, and this is a stretch, is Newt Gingrich. Many expect him to be a candidate and that is not good to have him as the most genuinely conservative candidate in the field. But the man crush support of Romney just has me confused.
Dave Chappelle is a brilliant stand-up and a pure technician at his craft. His inflection and voice are used perfectly and his timing is pure textbook. I've never read this textbook but I'm sure it's a good class.
No matter what your feelings are on the matter of the War In Iraq, this evenings proceedings in Congress cannot leave one without the overwhelming feeling that they are all a bunch of schoolchildren. We live in one of the most advanced societies in the world. The country is the oldest of the modern democratic movement with a Constitution unchanged drastically in that time. But the pomp and circumstance that surrounded the passing of the Democrats' war spending supplemental with a withdrawal date they know will never be signed, and the President's tantrum amounting to "give me what I want or nothing else no matter the reality around me" just felt a bit ridiculous. It's like they all sit up there no matter the side and just fiddle away as Baghdad burns. I know the Democrats finally seem to have some balls when facing the President, but it still seems they keep them taped to the sides of their legs. Nothing on this issue will change until September, and by then we should either see Iraqi schoolchildren with chocolates and gumdrops, or even Barney and Laura will be arguing for reality.
This weekend marked the two day spectacle that is the National Football League draft. I watched it on and off, and listened to it in the car as the day went by. I was really only focusing on who the Jaguars would take, and although I think they should have taken Brady Quinn, I do think they got a can't miss pick in Reggie Nelson. But after the picks have been made I can come to this overall conclusion on the draft, everybody seems to have more players.
The Stone Temple Pilots perform with my hero David Letterman.
This song will be featured on the forthcoming Sunshine Empire: The Official Soundtrack. Available in stores soon.
