Blogressive January 4, 2005
Good Type, and Bad Factchecking
In an article in the New York Times' first edition of the year, "Good Film, Shame About the Helvetica", Peter Edidin nitpicks the film "Good Night, and Good Luck" for using an anachronistic typeface.
"It appears that the CBS News sign, prominently displayed in the film's carefully reconstructed New York newsroom, uses the typeface Helvetica. But Helvetica was not designed until 1957, the year McCarthy died. The movie takes place in the early 1950's."
A simple phone call to someone who actually worked on the film might have been nice. One of the designers quoted in the article was contacted by the film's art director after it was printed:
"I was very happy to be included in a short article in today’s New York Times (Good Film, Shame About the Helvetica) about designers who notice anachronistic font choices in films, but I was a bit taken aback when I received an email first thing this morning from the art director of Good Night, And Good Luck. She pointed out that Helvetica was not used in the film, contrary to what was claimed in the article. She said, rather, that the sign shown in the example frame was set in Akzidenz Grotesk, a face which predated (and in fact was the basis for) Helvetica, and that this choice was based on extensive research of CBS’s graphic design during the period depicted in the film."
The New York Times' new years resolution to tell the truth lasted as long as the Blogressive's resolution to be less snarky and self-referential.
The many faces of King George
Here's the President's latest scratch from some heavy brush clearing at the do-nothing ranch:
The blogger digby said it best: "I will say it again. It is not normal for a healthy 59-year-old-man to injure his face as often as this guy does. It just isn't."
You can read more about the President's medical history here.
Let's hear it for selling out the Constitution Let's hear it for selling out the Constitution
On the heels of The Wall Street Journal's editorial "Thanks for Wiretapping," The Weekly Standard predictably joined the chorus of right-wing bobble-heads. Their latest cover, "Let's Hear It for Wiretapping", is the purest indicator yet of a willingness to set aside the principles in favor of short-term political aims.
There is some hope. In a recent editorial, even the reliable Bush-supporting pro-business publication Barron's took a principled stand:
"Putting the president above the Congress is an invitation to tyranny. The president has no powers except those specified in the Constitution and those enacted by law. President Bush is stretching the power of commander-in-chief of the Army and Navy by indicating that he can order the military and its agencies, such as the National Security Agency, to do whatever furthers the defense of the country from terrorists, regardless of whether actual force is involved."
Source: Barron's via rawstory.com
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Iragi Elections
But as we get news on the results of the recent parliamentary elections in Iraq, we note that there is one word that accurately captures the U.S. backed factions: Dukakis. Our man in Baghdad, Ayad Allawi and his Iraq National List party, is going to find himself out on the governmental fringes with a paltry 25 seats or so...
Quotable
"Two painful questions remain for all of us. Are the lives of Americans being killed in Iraq wasted? Are they dying in vain? President Bush says those who criticize staying the course are not honoring the dead. That is twisted logic: honor the fallen by killing another 2,000 troops in a broken policy?"
Paul E. Schroeder, managing director of a trade development firm in Cleveland, OH. His son, Lance Cpl. Edward "Augie" Schroeder II, was killed in Iraq on Aug. 3, 2005. Read Mr. Schroeder's Washington Post op-ed here.
The Donald of the United States. "Trump, who considered an independent run for president in 2000, pointedly noted that his decision not to run for governor this year "doesn't preclude me from doing something [political] in the future. "He then repeatedly ducked questions on whether he would consider running for the White House, repeating that he's too busy for electoral politics. But a political figure close to Trump told The Post, "Donald is definitely interested in running for president in 2008, possibly as an independent candidate." The Donald of the United States. "Trump, who considered an independent run for president in 2000, pointedly noted that his decision not to run for governor this year "doesn't preclude me from doing something [political] in the future. "He then repeatedly ducked questions on whether he would consider running for the White House, repeating that he's too busy for electoral politics. But a political figure close to Trump told The Post, "Donald is definitely interested in running for president in 2008, possibly as an independent candidate."
Source: newyorkpost.com
Action figures for grown-ups include Jesus, Johnny, and Jenna. "And the figures cut a wide swath through popular figures, from Jesus to Jenna to Johnny. Jesus comes with poseable arms and 'gliding action.' The Johnny Cash figure pays homage to the late, great American recording artist. Jenna, an 8-inch-tall action figure tribute to Jenna Jameson, who has built a small empire as a porn star, has other attributes. 'Johnny Cash is our biggest seller right now, and it's a new one on the market,' says K.T. Gelwick, director of trend buying for the Newbury Comics chain." Action figures for grown-ups include Jesus, Johnny, and Jenna. "And the figures cut a wide swath through popular figures, from Jesus to Jenna to Johnny. Jesus comes with poseable arms and 'gliding action.' The Johnny Cash figure pays homage to the late, great American recording artist. Jenna, an 8-inch-tall action figure tribute to Jenna Jameson, who has built a small empire as a porn star, has other attributes. 'Johnny Cash is our biggest seller right now, and it's a new one on the market,' says K.T. Gelwick, director of trend buying for the Newbury Comics chain."
Source: lowellsun.com
Meanwhile, bored teens can't resist slightly larger Jesus action figures. Four teens stole 27 baby Jesus statues from nativity scenes outside churches and homes and planned to burn them, police said. Two of the suspects, who ranged from 15 to 19 years old, said they acted out of boredom, authorities said. 'They were looking for things to do,' Detective Ken Kelly said. Meanwhile, bored teens can't resist slightly larger Jesus action figures. Four teens stole 27 baby Jesus statues from nativity scenes outside churches and homes and planned to burn them, police said. Two of the suspects, who ranged from 15 to 19 years old, said they acted out of boredom, authorities said. 'They were looking for things to do,' Detective Ken Kelly said.
Source: azcentral.com
Alice's Restaurant Revisited. "Police in Berkshire County face another trash conundrum 40 years after the infamous arrest of Arlo Guthrie, an incident that inspired the song 'Alice's Restaurant Massacree.' Police plan to charge Nicholas McCormick, 26, of West Stockbridge, with illegally dumping more than 36 cubic yards of trash, the Berkshire Eagle reported Monday. Investigators traced the garbage to McCormick through documents found among the junk. Guthrie, folk music fans may recall, suffered a similar fate. He was arrested for littering in Stockbridge on Thanksgiving Day 1965, when police found his name on an envelope at the bottom of a pile of garbage.The experience became fodder for 'Alice's Restaurant,' the 23-minute, nonsensical ballad that became an anthem for the anti-war movement and was made into a 1969 movie starring Guthrie." Alice's Restaurant Revisited. "Police in Berkshire County face another trash conundrum 40 years after the infamous arrest of Arlo Guthrie, an incident that inspired the song 'Alice's Restaurant Massacree.' Police plan to charge Nicholas McCormick, 26, of West Stockbridge, with illegally dumping more than 36 cubic yards of trash, the Berkshire Eagle reported Monday. Investigators traced the garbage to McCormick through documents found among the junk. Guthrie, folk music fans may recall, suffered a similar fate. He was arrested for littering in Stockbridge on Thanksgiving Day 1965, when police found his name on an envelope at the bottom of a pile of garbage.The experience became fodder for 'Alice's Restaurant,' the 23-minute, nonsensical ballad that became an anthem for the anti-war movement and was made into a 1969 movie starring Guthrie."
Source: boston.com
Spousal notification makes headlines in Florida. And no, it's not about abortion. "First, Renzie Davidson told his wife he wanted a divorce. He filed for one at the Seminole County Courthouse. Then he told her he had changed his mind, that he wanted her to be his wife forever. So, together they stayed. That was four years ago. Two weeks ago, Davidson's wife, Sally A. Erickson, sued him for fraud. Turns out, he secretly went back to court and got a default judgment against her, she says. The couple have been legally divorced for more than two years. She says she never knew. Court and county land records seem to bear out her claims." Spousal notification makes headlines in Florida. And no, it's not about abortion. "First, Renzie Davidson told his wife he wanted a divorce. He filed for one at the Seminole County Courthouse. Then he told her he had changed his mind, that he wanted her to be his wife forever. So, together they stayed. That was four years ago. Two weeks ago, Davidson's wife, Sally A. Erickson, sued him for fraud. Turns out, he secretly went back to court and got a default judgment against her, she says. The couple have been legally divorced for more than two years. She says she never knew. Court and county land records seem to bear out her claims."
Source: orlandosentinel.com
Yet another Pentagon gets ripped off, makes someone richer with your tax dollars story. This one involves Jeeps. "The Marines budgeted to buy more than 400 vehicles, called Growlers, under a contract that could total $296 million including ammunition, Yet another Pentagon gets ripped off, makes someone richer with your tax dollars story. This one involves Jeeps. "The Marines budgeted to buy more than 400 vehicles, called Growlers, under a contract that could total $296 million including ammunition, USA Today said, citing Pentagon records. Built by Ocala, Fla.-based American Growler, the Growler is made partly from salvaged M151 jeep parts and is available in several versions. Four years ago, the Dominican Republic paid $33,000 for a version of the Growler, the paper said citing U.S. Export-Import Bank records. A commercial version of the jeep costs just $7,500."
Source: cnn.com
10 Commandments Judge breaks first commandment of party politics, will run against incumbent in primary. "On the Republican side, ousted Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore, the Ten Commandments crusader, is challenging Gov. Bob Riley, who is trying to rally his business backers after a failed $1.2 billion tax plan his first year in office. 'It will be a classic clash between the church factor of the Republican Party and the business factor of the Republican Party,' said Jess Brown, a political scientist at Athens State University." 10 Commandments Judge breaks first commandment of party politics, will run against incumbent in primary. "On the Republican side, ousted Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore, the Ten Commandments crusader, is challenging Gov. Bob Riley, who is trying to rally his business backers after a failed $1.2 billion tax plan his first year in office. 'It will be a classic clash between the church factor of the Republican Party and the business factor of the Republican Party,' said Jess Brown, a political scientist at Athens State University."
Source: ap.com
Did you know? With 5% of the worlds population, the US accounts for 68% of the world's internet use. Meanwhile, the Middle East accounts for 1.7% of the world's internet use. Did you know? With 5% of the worlds population, the US accounts for 68% of the world's internet use. Meanwhile, the Middle East accounts for 1.7% of the world's internet use.
Source: internetworldstats.com
Unscientific and overwhelming. The currenty tally FOR Bush's impeachment in an MSNBC online poll: 86%. (OK, so someone clearly hijacked this one.) Unscientific and overwhelming. The currenty tally FOR Bush's impeachment in an MSNBC online poll: 86%. (OK, so someone clearly hijacked this one.)
Source: msnbc.com