June 24, 2006 at 8:03 pm
(Uncategorized)
The Natalee Holoway story has turned bizarre. While sitting in the hotel lobby this evening, some of our temporary neighbors saw that this story was on Fox Nooz and decided to turn it up. Mel and I left immediately, but caught something about a Colombian who was being interviewed. So I think the latest is that our girl Natalee was kidnapped by Latin American rebels in cohoots with Al Qaeda. Or something.
Seriously, though…I’m deeply disturbed that the “information marketplace” can bear the kind of useless information that a story like this injects. I kind of expected that Fox Nooz kept eyes on the screen by reporting on the terrorists that were in the house next to you. But I guess Holloway fits in the schema of “How Dangerous It Is To Be American In The World Today And Why We Need To Kill Everyone Else Dead.”
In reality, the stories that we see on TV news are distrators from reality. With Feds constantly knocking down doors in the US to catch conspirators and high school kids disappearing in foreign countries, broadcasters are creating the illusion that the world is dangerous (and because everyone hates those American values.) Are broadcasters creating that illusion intentionally or is it the accidental byproduct of pandering to the lowest common denominator? Well, I’m a conspiracy theorist.
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June 19, 2006 at 12:10 am
(Uncategorized)
For some reason, I’ve been thinking about the words to a Split-Lip Rayfield song:
Never will forgive you
For movin’ to Virginia
I suppose moving from Kansas to Virginia is a lot like moving from Colorado to Kentucky. Anyway. That’s exactly what I’m doing. My wife and I are pulling the stakes up and heading down the road for a new adventure. This came about for a lot of reasons. Although we’d discussed moving before (we were thinking Pacific Northwest), the biggest reason is simply that the job I accepted in October is a whole lot more valuable there than here. But the “adventure” part and the “change of scenery” thing had some influence on both of us as well.
For my part, Colorado has become sort of frustrating place to be. It’s a “red” state. I’ve always assumed the people who voted red tended to be the people in less densely populated areas who didn’t have to deal with the realities of cities that seem to make city dwellers a little more likely to vote “blue.” But the last couple of elections seem to contradict that, and that’s true in Denver as well. The suburbs voted “red” and I have to admit I simply don’t understand that point of view anymore despite the pride that I long have had in being able to see both sides. Exurban Republicanism is born of ignorance and hatred. Yes, Kentucky is a red state, too. Yes, it’s in the Bible Belt. But a big chunk of Kentucky is hard-core blue. Its token liberal mecca/college town is just a tiny bit more affordable than Colorado’s. And I can “see” the points being made by the more conservative voters in Kentucky–the religious motivation is less rabid…it is inclusive instead of exclusive. In a way, Kentucky as a whole centers further from where I stand politically than Colorado, but it’s more comfortable. I don’t like the idea of not being the last man standing so to speak–to leave (even in part) because of political ideology instead of working to help others see the other side. But frankly, the thought of staying gives me heartburn.
Nonetheless, it’s been strange to think about leaving. To be driving down I-70 for the last time as a resident. To see the ubiquitous “native” stickers and think about being a transplant, living in a different state. I left the state for college, but I came back right after, and it never seemed to have the permanence that this does. Perhaps we’ll move back. Perhaps we won’t.
Moving is weird.
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June 18, 2006 at 11:31 pm
(Political)
Ever notice that Republicans like to complain about court decisions that don’t go their way? “Arrogant” or “activist” judges are always to blame.
It’s a lot like the kids in high school or college who complained that teachers gave them poor marks on their poorly-written papers because they “disagreed with their positions”.
Oddly enough, in a lot of cases, they seem to be the same people.
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June 13, 2006 at 9:40 pm
(Civil Rights)
I’ve been wondering why my some of my neighbors seem so dead set against things like reasonable immigration limits that allow Mexicans and others a chance to earn a chance at something resembling the “American Dream” or a “domestic partner” status that would allow gays and lesbians to get benefits that straight couples do.
But I suppose I need to answer those questions myself. Why should I care?
But I do…because I don’t think its the least bit fair to punish someone based on where they were born or even (for those people who can’t be persuaded that homosexuality is hardwired) choices they make insofar as they don’t hurt anyone else negatively.
Once we begin to do that, no one is safe.
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June 8, 2006 at 10:52 pm
(Culture)
I’m begining to think that the rest of my life (and yours too) will be a continuous series of events that make me (and you) feel old. Surely I’m too young to think that?
Anyway, I stumbled across this 1995 review of Denver radio stations from Westword. Wow, that was 11 years ago. Insteresting to see what’s changed and what has stayed pretty much the same. Interesting, too, because it reminds me of listening to sound checks of Denver and Cleveland DJ’s from the 70’s and 80’s (and what has changed and what hasn’t.)
Hello (hello, hello)
Is there anybody in there?
Just nod if you can hear me.
Is there anyone at all?
2 Comments
June 8, 2006 at 6:13 pm
(International)
So. Ambassador Bolton is stirring things up. We knew he would. Of course, some of us in “Middle America” realize that he’s a jackass. Even so, I hope the rest of “us” can see through his odd interpretation of Mr. Brown’s speech. Why would Bolton see “the role of the UN is a bit of mystery in Middle America” as “those stupid Americans don’t have a clue now , do they?” When Brown’s speech is about the inconsistencies of American policy to the UN: on the one hand, supporting it financially and logistically while at the same time blasting it on “talk radio” (does anyone really think Rush Limbaugh speaks for the majority) and on so-called “news” TV (has anyone spent any time watching Fox News or CNN recently? Do people really get their news that way???)
Sadly, Mr Brown’s comments on America perhaps don’t so much indicate his lack of respect of our education as some people’s (you know, the ones who still have “W” stickers on their cars after everything this administration has bungled) inability to critically analyze the messages they hear.
Anyone who is listening to Bolton’s comments and saying “hear, hear!” should be ashamed–he’s trying to manipulate the very flaw that Brown is trying to point out to us.
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June 5, 2006 at 10:32 pm
(Colorado)
Ok, I don’t necessarily want to make a habit of promoting for-profit enterprises here but I think this is a worthy cause.
After a long drought brought on by the coming of Clear Channel Communications, Denver finally has an FM radio station that is worth tuning in to. Although Boulder and other nearby areas have good left-dial (aka non-commercial) programming, the stations that provide those programs are usually too weak to be heard without a good deal of effort. And to be sure, the non-commercial KUVO-FM at 89.3 isn’t a bad choice–it has some good programs and some good programmers. But…it’s missing something unless you’re commited to listening to jazz (albeit a health variety of jazz) most of the time.
So I was happy to hear that KCUV, which had gotten its start as an AM/Internet station, had been upgraded to an FM signal at 102.3. They have also diversified their selection from Americana and now play a good variety of new rock in their with some folk, rock and blues standards while at the same time digging deeper on some classic albums. (It’s been a long time since I’ve heard anything but the lead single off Counting Crows’ “August and Everything After” which was a very solid album; they play rare stuff from the likes of John Prine and Lucinda Williams, too.) It’s still not college radio but it’s good news that someone thinks that this model is commercially viable.
I was given another chance to cheer KCUV recently–they have hired long time KBCO host Oz Medina. I heard Oz when he did the morning show on KBCO and later when he moved to the drive time slot and it was his voice and on-air personality as much as just about anyone’s that piqued my interest in being behind the mic. And although I owe my decision to become a college “DJ” to a number of other factors as well, I’m still very happy. Not only can we finally enjoy FM radio again but that we get a great host as well.
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