Category Archives: Media

An Interesting Contrast

Something has been bugging me a lot lately, but it’s been tough to put my fingers to it. I have been a faithful subscriber to Foreign Affairs for many years; since college I have deeply appreciated the insight and perspective … Continue reading

Posted in Foreign affairs, Media | 7 Comments

The Silly Season: A Continuing Saga

“Why are the letters ‘NIG’ on the child’s pajamas?” Asks a commenter — “Tom” — on my post about the new Hillary Clinton commercial, the one that shows several children sleeping and then Clinton taking a national security phone call … Continue reading

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Helping The NYT Find Media Bias

Story here [via: Instapundit] After reading the story, you will probably need a new one of these:

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Perverse Consequences

Does it strike anyone else as tragically ironic that, if indeed John McCain were declared not to be a “natural-born citizen” due to the locus of his birth, then an “anchor baby” could be elected President but the child of … Continue reading

Posted in Domestic Politics, Election 2008, Law, Media, MichaelW's Page | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Fair and Balanced

Many of my liberal friends believe that the line “Fox News; Fair and Balanced” is a joke. I happen to think it’s pretty accurate, but – who knows? Perhaps it is indeed my bias that lends me to that opinion. … Continue reading

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Citizen McCain

THE LATEST non-issue hyped by (who else?) the New York Times is that “some” people are questioning whether or not John McCain is eligible to be a sitting President: The question has nagged at the parents of Americans born outside … Continue reading

Posted in Domestic Politics, Election 2008, Law, Media, MichaelW's Page | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Pushing Collectivism

Two shows on Nickelodeon are teaching Chinese values to the kids. The first, Ni Hao, Kai-lan is meant to teach pre-schoolers Mandarin Chinese and Chinese values. It sounds innocent enough (and certainly a welcome change to the insipid Dora the … Continue reading

Posted in Culture, Media | 6 Comments

Take It Away, Shay

Two funerals in a week. Work commitments. Continuing education. Coverage of a junior bridge tournament. Who has time to blog? Fortunately, my (younger) friend Shay is like the U.S. Postal Service: come rain or shine, she does it! Millions of … Continue reading

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Smearing McCain

I am not a fan of John McCain, but the rumor-based smear leveled at him by the New York Times is more than a little unfair. Early in Senator John McCain’s first run for the White House eight years ago, … Continue reading

Posted in Domestic Politics, Election 2008, Media, MichaelW's Page | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The New Media Zombie Apocalypse

image: Dead Central (see alternate posters at ZNN) George Romero is evidently taking on the dynamics of social networking and new media culture, in his latest apocalyptic zombie film Diary of the Dead. George, in an interview for the AP: … Continue reading

Posted in Blogs, Culture, Lee's Page, Media | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Muhammad-pedia Controversy

After their success getting the Muhammad cartoons banned, some Muslims have now set their sights on wikipedia. Recently a large group of Muslims have started an email campaign asking wikipedia to remove their images of their holy prophet Muhammad, even … Continue reading

Posted in Chris' Page, Media, Religion and theology, Society, Technology | Tagged , , , , , , | 31 Comments

Bill Clinton on Global Warming

Bill got a lot of heat over a video released by ABC News and an accompanying news story: Former President Bill Clinton was in Denver, Colorado, stumping for his wife yesterday. In a long, and interesting speech, he characterized what … Continue reading

Posted in Domestic Politics, Election 2008, Environment, Foreign affairs, Lance's Page, Media | 3 Comments

His Own Petard?

(Cross Posted at Whatif?) When John McCain and George W. Bush were vying for their party’s nomination, I was a McCain fan. How could a person not be impressed by the man who refused to leave Vietnam’s prison camp to … Continue reading

Posted in Domestic Politics, Election 2008, Libertarianism, Media, Peg's Page, regulation | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

The Air Surge

Bob Owens tackles the lazy reductionist thinking behind claims that the recent use of air strikes in Iraq shows a worsening situation, or is at odds with the counterinsurgency strategy we should be pursuing. I especially like this quote from … Continue reading

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Krugman analyzed

Paul Krugman roasted in study: Left Out: A Critique of Paul Krugman Based on a Comprehensive Account of His New York Times Columns, 1997 through 2006 Daniel B. Klein with Harika Anna Barlett I have only glanced atProgrammed into the … Continue reading

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Silk Purses and Sow’s Ears

(Cross Posted at What if?) We all know that you cannot make a silk purse from a sow’s ear. Similarly, an anti-racism conference that features Libya as its chair, with Cuba as its vice-chair, has virtually no chance of achieving … Continue reading

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Global warming or not, Antarctic ice and snow is not shrinking

Some highlights: We have covered Antarctica many times in past essays, and despite literally thousands of websites claiming that some calamity is occurring in Antarctica related to global warming, we side with the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change … Continue reading

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Might the NY Times get swallowed by “The Google?”

John Ellis thinks it might: The company that has the most to gain from buying the New York Times is Google. If it proffered a Murdoch-like, no-auction bid of $4 billion, wouldn’t the Sulzberger family have to accept it? Every … Continue reading

Posted in Lance's Page, Media | 1 Comment

Sam Zell on what is important

I don’t know if the eccentric Sam Zell can turn around Tribune, but he is always entertaining: From: Talk to Sam Sent: Tuesday, January 22, 2008 11:03 AM Subject: Censorship, the First Amendment and the Fourth Estate Everyone, I learned … Continue reading

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Take Two

Earlier in the day, you might have been wondering how much of your assets might melt away, as markets around the world gyrated with perceived increasingly negative news. Later, on political blogs everywhere, reports that Fred Thompson was ending a … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2008, Health Care, Media, Society | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Bloody Inflation!

Alex Tabarrok compiles the data: Number of people killed per minute in the Rambo series. Rambo: First Blood (1982): 0.01 Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985): 0.72 Rambo III (1988): 1.30 Rambo IV (2008): 2.59 His source, Peter Gordon, observes: … Continue reading

Posted in Culture, Lance's Page, Media | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Politics and the “Hero-Victim”

Remarking on how the media narrative tends to frame stories, I once wrote: An interesting side effect of this framework is the emergence of the hero-victim — e.g. a martyr for her cause, or the modern equivalent of a noble … Continue reading

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Beachamp revealed

By all accounts Scott Beauchamp has tried to redeem himself in the eyes of his unit. However, when this story came to a head and the military investigated him, he seems to have been held in rather low regard. Bob … Continue reading

Posted in Lance's Page, Media, Military Matters, Notes on the war | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Parade of Fools

Behold the band of idiots. JENA, La. (Jan. 21) – The residents of this central Louisiana town, who watched their community turn into a battleground over the “Jena Six,” will watch out-of-towners doing most of the marching on the birthday … Continue reading

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Jindal sworn in as Louisiana’s governor

(cross posted at Risk and Return) The most prominent Indian American politician in American history has now been sworn in as governor: Bobby Jindal took the oath of office as Louisiana’s 55th governor at noon today, becoming the state’s first … Continue reading

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The Constant Viewer has resurfaced

One of my favorite bloggers has resurfaced, and I am hurt, hurt, hurt that D. A. Ridgely didn’t let his fans (okay, me) know to where he had disappeared. He is now blogging at Positive Liberty, and the blogosphere has … Continue reading

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Apple Reshapes Another Industry

A fascinating look at the development of the iPhone and its impact upon the structure of the telecom industry. More than being a snazzy and popular device, the iPhone has changed how the relationship between players in the telecom industry … Continue reading

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Fred Thompson Picks Up Another Endorsement

Freddy-come-lately is gaining some steam in Iowa, picking up an endorsement from the Ottumwa Courier this week: Thompson is unapologetic on his views and is a straight-shooter. “These are clearly challenging times. I don’t think we’ve fully come to terms … Continue reading

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Grinchwald’s Stocking Stuffer

It shouldn’t surprise me the lengths that Greenwald will go to distort what people say in order to lambaste his enemies, but his Christmas offering really takes the figgy pudding. Mike Huckabee’s Christmas ad — like everything Huckabee does — … Continue reading

Posted in Domestic Politics, Election 2008, Glenn Greenwald's Carnival of Fisking, Media, MichaelW's Page, Religion and theology | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Fred’s Interview With The Waverly Democrat

Although the Silly Hat story seems to have died on the vine (thanks to bloggers jumping on it quickly, I might add), the reporting of Roger Simon (sans-L) is still under scrutiny. Bob Owens examined some of the discrepancies between … Continue reading

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The Trouble With Being Roger Simon

In all the kerfuffle yesterday over just what transpired in Silly-Hat-Gate, I somehow neglected to mention that the author of the Politico post, Roger Simon, is not the same as the PJM Editor, Roger L. Simon, who has this to … Continue reading

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We’re All Teen Girls Now

“Teen pregnancy can happen to everybody.” Bill Albert, Deputy Director of the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, commenting on the recent revelation that 16 y.o. Jamie Lynn Spears is pregnant. I’m guessing that I don’t need to … Continue reading

Posted in Media, MichaelW's Page, Society | 3 Comments

Media Arrogance On Display

In case you haven’t already seen it, go ahead and read this journalism professor’s condescending look at blogging. Prepare to wretch. Supporters of “citizen journalism” argue it provides independent, accurate, reliable information that the traditional media don’t provide. While it … Continue reading

Posted in Libertarianism, Media, MichaelW's Page | Leave a comment

I have located myself

I was going to post some the last few days, but then I saw this: Happy Thanksgiving Now get of off the computer and spend some time with your family, will you? I always follow Bob Owens instructions. Of course … Continue reading

Posted in Lance's Page, Media, Notes on the war | 2 Comments

CBS News Writers To Go On Strike

I’m guessing this is a sympathy strike in support of the one going on in Hollywood: CBS News writers, producers and editors voted to authorize their labor union to call a strike after working without a contract for two years. … Continue reading

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Looking at the other side II

Fox News has a report on Ameriya and Abu Abed, that shows a somewhat different view than the Guardian once again. One suspicious aspect of Ghaith Abdul-Ahad’s Nov. 10, Gaurdian piece “Meet Abu Abed: the US’s new ally against al-Qaida“is … Continue reading

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The Higazy Conundrum

For anyone who has been following the Higazy case and the puzzling circumstances under which a Second Circuit opinion was issued, withdrawn, and then reissued in redacted form, here is some information that seems to have been missed in the … Continue reading

Posted in Law, Media, MichaelW's Page, Notes on the war | 12 Comments

MSM on Iraq

More and more coverage in Iraq is beginning to reflect the positive changes that have occurred over the last few months. The New York Times and The Washington Post report sharp declines in attacks today (though the Post relegated it … Continue reading

Posted in Foreign affairs, Lance's Page, Media, Military Matters, Notes on the war | 5 Comments

Looking at the other side

Joshua recently linked to this story. Via Confederate Yankee we get another persons view of the situation in Ameriyah:

Posted in Foreign affairs, Lance's Page, Media, Military Matters, Notes on the war | 2 Comments

Was The Democratic Debate A Canned Event?

(Via Gateway Pundit) It sure looks that way: Maria Luisa, the UNLV student who asked Hillary Clinton whether she preferred “diamonds or pearls” at last night’s debate wrote on her MySpace page this morning that CNN forced her to ask … Continue reading

Posted in Domestic Politics, Election 2008, Media, MichaelW's Page | 1 Comment

The Media as Funhouse Mirror

Dale Franks looks at CNN manipulation through the editing process. While of less importance than the Al Dura trial, it does show why we should worry about its pervasiveness. It is one amongst many reasons why I am so reluctant … Continue reading

Posted in Lance's Page, Media | 1 Comment

Veterans as victims

They have to be, so CBS tries to do the numbers. Like most of us however, when numbers fit you take them at face value: But a five-month CBS News investigation discovered data that shows a startling rate of suicide, … Continue reading

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Bob Herbert and Rolling Eyes

Brad Delong should head this up: [T]he most popular measure of inflation, the Consumer Price Index, does not include the cost of energy or food, “the two most significant aspects of the increased cost of living for the American people.” … Continue reading

Posted in Domestic Politics, Economics, Lance's Page, Media | Leave a comment

Powerful Imagery

Michael Yon captures a moment on film that in a world with a meritocratic media would surely garner a Pulitzer: A Muslim man had invited the American soldiers from “Chosen” Company 2-12 Infantry to the church, where I videotaped as … Continue reading

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Weiss on Obama

Actually it is Weiss on Andrew Sullivan’s frankly ridiculous peon to the man: I don’t doubt that Obama is the freshest national politician the U.S. has seen in a quite a while. I admire him a lot and — glib … Continue reading

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The Washington Post Notices Fred Thompson

And gives him front page attention! But only to advance opposition research: Thompson Adviser Has Criminal Past By Matthew Mosk Washington Post Staff Writer Sunday, November 4, 2007; Page A01 Republican presidential candidate Fred D. Thompson has been crisscrossing the … Continue reading

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CNN says the change is undeniable

They discuss this change with Michael Yon: [youtube fCPLNWC7cNM&eurl=http://instapundit.com/] He was also on CBN, but I can’t get the video to work for me. Maybe you can.

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Rapping for those who only have the Mountains

We have often written here of the Kurds of Iraq. In fact, I had a post titled “No Friends But The Mountains” back when I was most concerned that Iraq was spinning out of control: There is a great deal … Continue reading

Posted in Foreign affairs, Lance's Page, Media | 1 Comment

John Edwards, Idiot Savant

Somewhere you can find something to agree with anyone about. Sometimes it is just brilliantly done. Ad of the year? From Stop Her Now: [youtube qggO5yY7RAo&eurl=http://shnblog.com/?p=582]

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News Brief, Offline P.K. Edition

Cross-posted at The Conjecturer. Defense & The War Yet another former interrogator and counterterrorism expert comes out against waterboarding. Meanwhile, Jacob Sullum notes that the Congressional debate over this is obfuscating a larger question of why the President should be … Continue reading

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