This is all well and good as a critque of the media. After it's all said and done though, it's still just another review of the media by the media.

The American media is the only industry in the world that exists in a constant state of self-examination. It's also the only industry in the world that sees so little change as the result of its self criticism.

How the Iowa-caucus media blew it - MarketWatch

... I have no idea how any of the candidates would resolve the situation in Iraq and the corresponding crisis-to-be in Iran, preserve the environment, provide health care to needy Americans, solve the Social Security debacle, fix the economy or boost the stock market.

Heck, I don't even know which candidate is tightest with Bono!

Senator John McCain finished fourth in the recent Iowa caucuses, behind even actor Fred Thompson. Eighty-seven percent of Republican caucus voters rejected Sen. McCain.

So how does a horse that doesn't win, place or show warrant so much happy-crappy from the media?

Gee, you don't think their corporate bosses made them talk up the Senator from Aridzona, do you?

Think Progress » Media Talking Heads Gush Over McCain Loss In Iowa: ‘Big Hero,’ Maverick,’ ‘Babe Ruth’

MSNBC’s Mike Barnicle: “McCain’s stance on the war. They view it because of who he is and the eye contact during these town meetings. He’s the Babe Ruth of town meetings.”

Guess what, Mike? The Babe struck out.

Fox News’ Greta van Susteren: “I can’t think of anyone happier tonight than Sen. John McCain.”

Greta, Mike Huckabee's hamster was happier Thursday night than was John McCain.

Politico’s Mike Allen: “Tonight is a fantastic night for John McCain. … He’s one of the biggest winners of the night.”

Someone should tell Mikey that when 90% of a focus group chooses the other brand, it's not a "win".

Newsweek’s Jon Meacham: “To me, the great story about Sen. McCain is, when in doubt, give principle a try.”

This is almost a refusal to bark on cue by Meacham. Almost. Even though the back of his hand will heal, it'll still garner him a Scooby Snack form the boardroom.

Fox News’ Carl Cameron: “Inside Washington, he’s been a real maverick outsider.”

Newflash @ Carl: McCain isn't an "outsider", he's a dropped off the mapper".

But that's what the media does, folks. They report, we decry.

A very long, not very neutral look at aspects of the American Way as manifested in the Korean War and the other ensuing dirty rotten messes we've gotten ourselves into.

Velvel on National Affairs: Re: Halberstam And History

As one reads American history, there often is recognition, starting at least with the Civil War, that there is a difference between physical courage and moral courage. Physical courage -- the ability and willingness to face physical danger -- is pretty common, it seems. Moral courage -- the willingness and ability to question the questionable and to do the right thing -- is far, far less so. The numerical discrepancy sometimes seems so pervasive that one is tempted to say the human race is a collection of physically brave sheep.

...The constant, sometimes even continuous, failure of moral courage is a hallmark -- I use the word very deliberately -- is a hallmark of American life, especially American public life....

...Does anyone think that Americans in civilian life today have “an exceptional internal code of honor”? Does anyone think our politicians have it? Our politicians who will say and do anything to get money, get votes and win elections? Does anyone think our high level military men have it, men who, to protect and advance their careers, will say what Bush wants them to say? Does anyone think our big businessmen have it, big businessmen who care only about making scores of millions for themselves by shoddy financial and other products and by moral fraud? Does anyone think it exists at the highest level of our university systems, where presidents defend their right to million dollar plus salaries while professors make a small fraction of that and students cannot afford education? No, internal codes of honor are widely lacking in American life.

What did they do? They picked up the men folk.

One of the choppers has a "Mom's Taxi" bumper sticker on the back.

Washington women fly historic all-female mission in Iraq

Female Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 147th Aviation Regiment spent their Christmas Day executing a 100 percent female-run flight mission. From the intelligence briefings in the morning, to the two four-woman flight crews, all the way to the fuel teams, the mission consisted of only women.

George Bush: Sword Of Allah

So let's see now...

Saturday morning I worked OT to replace a hot water dispenser in the third floor kitchenette of one of my tenants. This required me to pull the dishwasher from inside its enclosure in order to access the electrical outlet behind it. Apparently while pushing the dishwasher back into its cubbyhole, the water hose that powers the top inside spinning sprayer popped clean out of its hole. As the dishwasher is covered with insulation, i didn't see it happen.

A few hours later, the janitors came in and ran the dishwasher.

The tenant on the second floor didn't appreciate the ensuing flood.

Sunday I had help from the on-call engineer in tracking down the cause of the water leak.

Monday night we had snow. Well, Monday night most of us had slush.The snow started out as fat, wet flakes and ended as small, dry ones as it got colder. Then all of that glop froze in the places where the temperature got on down. Like on my waterfront piers.

So, Tuesday morning found me slinging ice melt over two piers in order to help the upright remain so. Yesterday, and right now, my right shoulder and arm ar sore as hell from that.

At some point I did something to my left knee again. An exterior tendon is snapping like whip with every step. That, uh, hurts.

Last night, Wednesday, I went on-call.

Today I wanna crawl back into bed and hide.

In the world of The Bush, war is peace, ignorance is smart and keeping is spending.

Bush calls for $145 billion economy plan

"Letting Americans keep more of their money should increase consumer spending," he said.

Did Oil Canals Worsen Katrina's Effects?

"The real question is, what damage did occur?" said Jim Porter, president of Louisiana's chief oil lobby, the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association. "There's no clear-cut answer on it. But there is no doubt there are many, many causes for wetlands loss and access to oil and gas operations is rather insignificant."

This is the same stupid argument that the Bushies put forth concerning global climate change: because not everyone agrees what's causing it, we shouldn't do anything.

For now, the oil companies are winning the public relations battle, in part by spending $5 million on a marketing campaign called America's Wetland. "Tell Washington to shore up America's energy coast. It fuels the nation," one TV ad implores, calling on Congress to spend the money it will take to restore the delta. Nowhere is oil's responsibility mentioned.

Unfortuantely, that party has been over for FIVE DAMN YEARS!

But it's nice of you to show up anyway...

My Way News - Study: False Statements Preceded War

A study by two nonprofit journalism organizations found that President Bush and top administration officials issued hundreds of false statements about the national security threat from Iraq in the two years following the 2001 terrorist attacks.

The study concluded that the statements "were part of an orchestrated campaign that effectively galvanized public opinion and, in the process, led the nation to war under decidedly false pretenses."

Two local kids get big surprise at their school assembly

I say "apparently" because while the computer was showing the image on the right when I looked at the screen, I can't for the life of me recall using the thing to file.

I also can't recall anything before waking in my bloody, ice-filled bathtub or where my right kidney went.

CaringBridge

Thank you for coming to Joseph's (Mr. Skillings to his students!) website. Please bookmark this site and return often to learn what happened to Joseph, how he is doing in the hospital and what you can do for him.

::::::::::::::::::

Police release sketch of suspect in beating of Seattle teacher

Steakhouse deal: How Port allegedly broke laws, hid costs from public

The work was split into two contracts, both awarded to TTI, "The Three Italians," a partnership of local construction firms Gary Merlino Construction, Scarsella Brothers and Tri-State Construction.

This is a very amusing story. The tone of innocent wonderment is what I love.

A deal was cut in a restaurant between public officials and the head of a construction company that would hide millions of dollars in a public construction project - millions that all parties knew would eventually be paid to the "Italian" construction company.

And Seattle is appalled.

Welcome to New Jersey, boys.

Kansas governor's son creates prison-themed board game 'Don't Drop the Soap'

"Fight your way through 6 different exciting locations in hopes of being granted parole," the site says. "Escape prison riots in The Yard, slip glass into a mob boss' lasagna in the Cafeteria, steal painkillers from the nurse's desk in the Infirmary."

The game includes five tokens representing a bag of cocaine, a handgun and three characters: wheelchair-using 'Wheelz," muscle-flexing "Anferny" and business suit-clad "Sal 'the Butcher."'

Why don't we just close Kansas and move everyone to Texas so that the nation's bad taste can be centrally controlled?