Blogressive January 13, 2005
"I've got friends with low wages..."
If you still haven't seen this Wal-Mart video, do it now.
Blogettes Fragments from headlines and blogs you may have missed
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Judging Alito
"The object nowadays is to get confirmed. People will say pretty much -- or avoid saying pretty much in order to get confirmed."
Robert Bork on Supreme Court nominee.
Who needs Gene Shalit?
We have reviews right here at progressive.org.
Brokeback Mountain: "There are no explosions, mysterious murders or typical Hollywood drama. Just two men, alone in the world, searching for companionship and camaraderie."
Sean Kosofsky from a Progressive Media Project Op-Ed
Munich: "The idea that a democracy loses its soul when it breaks law during wartime has a special unmistakable resonance for us today... There's lots to chew on besides popcorn."
Matt Rothschild says, Go to Munich
Joe Pa: Putting the pig in pigskin. "Joanne Tosti-Vasey is the president of the National Organization for Women in the state. She says Paterno's remarks represent an institutional insensitivity that endangers women. Paterno was asked last week about Florida State linebacker A-J Nicholson who was sent home prior to the Orange Bowl game with Penn State after being accused of sexual assault. The coach responded by talking about past suspensions of Penn State players. He added, 'A cute girl knocks on your door, what do you do? Thank God they don't knock on my door, because I'd refer them to another room.' Tosti-Vasey claims the remarks made light of sexual assault." Joe Pa: Putting the pig in pigskin. "Joanne Tosti-Vasey is the president of the National Organization for Women in the state. She says Paterno's remarks represent an institutional insensitivity that endangers women. Paterno was asked last week about Florida State linebacker A-J Nicholson who was sent home prior to the Orange Bowl game with Penn State after being accused of sexual assault. The coach responded by talking about past suspensions of Penn State players. He added, 'A cute girl knocks on your door, what do you do? Thank God they don't knock on my door, because I'd refer them to another room.' Tosti-Vasey claims the remarks made light of sexual assault." Source: ap.com
Free music on the internet. Free music on the internet. Legal free music on the internet, that is. "Remember when Courtney Love boasted in a righteous, record-contract-hating rage that she would bring down the music business with relentless, deep-pocketed litigation? Well, singer-songwriter Kristin Hersh has no money for lawyers, but she does have an approach that, while still a longshot, is more likely to work: give her music away. 'It's kind of an unpopular argument, that musicians shouldn't make money,' says the Altadena resident, laughing. 'But really, they shouldn't.' So, the former leader of pioneering college-rock band Throwing Muses is offering the latest EP by her trio, 50 Foot Wave — pointedly titled 'Free Music'— as a free, high-quality audio download on her websites." Source: latimes.com
By the way, for a free song by folksinger Eliza Gilkyson check out her Progressive Radio interview. It's a great song. (Learn more about her music at elizagilkyson.com.)
No Thanks. I'll wait for the pardon. Was Rover offered a deal to roll over? "Sources knowledgeable about the case against Rove say that he was offered a plea deal in December and that [Rove's attorney Robert] Luskin had twice met with Fitzgerald during that time to discuss Rove's legal status. Rove turned down the plea deal, which would likely have required him to provide Fitzgerald with information against other officials who were involved in Plame's outing as well as testifying against those people, the sources said." Source: truthout.org
Fetuses don't count as passengers. "Fetuses do not count as passengers when it comes to determining who may drive in the carpool lane, a judge has ruled. Candace Dickinson was fined $367 for improper use of a carpool lane. But Dickinson, pregnant when she received the ticket, contended her unborn child qualified to use the lane.” Fetuses don't count as passengers. "Fetuses do not count as passengers when it comes to determining who may drive in the carpool lane, a judge has ruled. Candace Dickinson was fined $367 for improper use of a carpool lane. But Dickinson, pregnant when she received the ticket, contended her unborn child qualified to use the lane.” Source: cnn.com
And 7-year-olds don't count as drivers. "Eager to get his driver's license, a 7-year-old boy put on his seat belt and remembered to use his turn signal as he took his parents' pickup truck out for a spin, leading police on a slow pursuit around town.Officers initially thought they were chasing a drunken driver Monday night. 'He was weaving and all over the road. He couldn't stay in his lane,' Officer Josh Laverette said.Instead, when the truck finally stopped in front of a home after the seven-mile escapade, they found a second-grader, barely four-feet-tall, behind the wheel. The house belonged to his parents." And 7-year-olds don't count as drivers. "Eager to get his driver's license, a 7-year-old boy put on his seat belt and remembered to use his turn signal as he took his parents' pickup truck out for a spin, leading police on a slow pursuit around town.Officers initially thought they were chasing a drunken driver Monday night. 'He was weaving and all over the road. He couldn't stay in his lane,' Officer Josh Laverette said.Instead, when the truck finally stopped in front of a home after the seven-mile escapade, they found a second-grader, barely four-feet-tall, behind the wheel. The house belonged to his parents." Source: ap.com
Kilt-wearing high schooler gets an apology. "A Missouri high school student who was barred from a school dance because he was wearing a Scottish kilt has received an apology from school officials after the action sparked outrage among Scottish heritage supporters... News of the event sparked an Internet petition, which was ultimately signed by more than 10,000 supporters and championed by the Clan Gunn Society of North America, which promotes Scottish heritage and traditions." Kilt-wearing high schooler gets an apology. "A Missouri high school student who was barred from a school dance because he was wearing a Scottish kilt has received an apology from school officials after the action sparked outrage among Scottish heritage supporters... News of the event sparked an Internet petition, which was ultimately signed by more than 10,000 supporters and championed by the Clan Gunn Society of North America, which promotes Scottish heritage and traditions." Source: reuters.com
First female crash test dummy in development. "The first uniquely female dummy for use in car safety tests is being developed in Sweden, researchers said on Wednesday. All current crash test dummies are based on how men's bodies react in collisions and other accidents...'For neck injuries from rear-end collisions, whiplash, the risk for women is twice as high as for men,' the road institute said in a statement. First female crash test dummy in development. "The first uniquely female dummy for use in car safety tests is being developed in Sweden, researchers said on Wednesday. All current crash test dummies are based on how men's bodies react in collisions and other accidents...'For neck injuries from rear-end collisions, whiplash, the risk for women is twice as high as for men,' the road institute said in a statement. Source: reuters.com
The Earth, My Butt and Other Big Round Things returns to school library. "Carroll County school Superintendent Charles Ecker has partially reversed his earlier decision to ban a book from school libraries. He said the book, called The Earth, My Butt and Other Big Round Things, will be returned to libraries in high schools, but not middle schools. Ecker says high school students are mature enough to handle the sexual references and profanity in the book. He says his decision came after weighing letters pro and con, and the publisher's recommendation of the book for students 14 and older...The book is about an overweight 15-year-old girl having trouble fitting in at school and with her family." Source: wgal.com
Qantas Airlines Chair, Margaret Jackson, was suspected of being a terrorist and frisked during a visit to the US last year. "The airport security guard who checked her was reluctant to believe that a woman could be the head of an airline. Mrs Jackson said yesterday her briefcase was searched after she went through a security check at Los Angeles airport. Among her documents were detailed plans of new aircraft, including cross-section diagrams showing seat layouts." Qantas Airlines Chair, Margaret Jackson, was suspected of being a terrorist and frisked during a visit to the US last year. "The airport security guard who checked her was reluctant to believe that a woman could be the head of an airline. Mrs Jackson said yesterday her briefcase was searched after she went through a security check at Los Angeles airport. Among her documents were detailed plans of new aircraft, including cross-section diagrams showing seat layouts." Source: news.com.au
The Senate from a dog's perspective. "Ted Kennedy is writing a children's book that will explain the workings of government from the point of view of his dog Splash. Publisher Scholastic said The Senate from a dog's perspective. "Ted Kennedy is writing a children's book that will explain the workings of government from the point of view of his dog Splash. Publisher Scholastic said My Senator and Me: A Dog's-Eye View of Washington, D.C. was a 56-page picture book about a day in the life of a senator and his dog, explaining how laws are made. It will be published in May. 'Splash is always at Senator Kennedy's side -- in his office, at press conferences, in meetings at the Capitol and even right outside the Senate chamber,' the statement said. Kennedy is not the first public figure to write a book about his dog -- in 1990 then first lady Barbara Bush wrote 'Millie's Book' a dog's-eye view of the White House, and last year Latin pop singer Gloria Estefan wrote a book about her bulldog Noelle." Source: reuters.com
Using tasers on kids still legal in Florida. "A pair of bills that would prohibit police and others from using stun guns on children 16 or younger are in trouble after their sponsor failed to appear before a legislative committee Tuesday. The Senate Education Committee postponed the bills and chairwoman Rep. Evelyn Lynn, said she was unsure whether they would be brought up again. The bills were filed after police officers drew criticism for using stun guns against children, including an elementary school pupil." Using tasers on kids still legal in Florida. "A pair of bills that would prohibit police and others from using stun guns on children 16 or younger are in trouble after their sponsor failed to appear before a legislative committee Tuesday. The Senate Education Committee postponed the bills and chairwoman Rep. Evelyn Lynn, said she was unsure whether they would be brought up again. The bills were filed after police officers drew criticism for using stun guns against children, including an elementary school pupil." Source: local6.com