RIP Dan Fogelberg

It's that time of the year again

I never get tired of this xmas song by the Pouges and Kristy MacColl
Fairytale of New York

Talking Heads - Life During Wartime

This ain't no Party, This ain't Disco, This ain't no Foolin Around

Is junk media making you sick???

Another Attack on Blogs

Techdirt: Journalism Professor Says Citizen Journalists Should Be Regulated

from the ah,-the-old-elite-standards-again dept

There's just something about the idea a lack of "elite" gatekeepers that upsets some people. It's why you hear complaints about Wikipedia or blogs or home videos on YouTube. For some reason, there are a group of folks (often the former elitist gatekeepers) who feel that since not all of the content is great, useful or interesting, it all is problematic in some way or another. The latest to express this type of viewpoint is David Hazinski, a journalism professor and former NBC correspondent, claiming that "unfettered" citizen journalism is "too risky" and that it needs to be regulated (via Romenesko) by "official" media companies, handing out "certificates" to citizen journalists. Unfortunately, his basic premise seems to be incorrect. He states: "Supporters of "citizen journalism" argue it provides independent, accurate, reliable information that the traditional media don't provide." That's not quite true. While some supporters may claim that, in general the benefits of the idea that anyone can be a reporter isn't necessarily about reliable information, but about providing additional viewpoints and information to try to make sure that more of the story is out there for people to find. It's not necessarily about being better -- but just giving an outlet to people who can add more to the story. He's certainly right that it can be abused, but that's missing the point. Sure it can be abused. But so can the traditional press. What's more important is that such abuses can also be outed and brought to light, just like any other news story. Hazinski is right that professional journalists should be verifying the information provided by "citizen journalists" but that should be true of anyone they accept information from. Almost all of the complaints he lobs at these untrained journalists applies equally to the trained ones -- so it's hard to interpret this piece as anything but complaints from someone who doesn't like the riffraff encroaching on his turf.

Scrooged Again

Dan Bern - Jerusalem

I've Been a Fan of this guy for a long time.

Saturday Folk Musc Fest

Congratulations Mr Leonard Cohen for making into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
This is my Favorite LC song, Joan of Arc

Asshole of the Week

Think Progress » Rep. King: ‘Every Child’ In American Schools Needs To Learn ‘The Tenets Of The Christian Faith’

Earlier this week, Rep. Steve King (R-IA) introduced legislation recognizing the “importance of Christmas and the Christian faith.” The resolution passed 372-9.

Last Wednesday on Fox News, King said he introduced the bill because he believes “we’re a Christian nation founded on Christian principles.” In an interview on Alan Colmes’ radio show yesterday, King went even further, saying that “every child” should “be taught” the “tenets of Christianity”:

COLMES: Should they be taught Christianity, should every child learn Christianity?

KING: I think they should learn it. If you’re going to learn American history, you cannot teach it without teaching Christianity.

COLMES: It’s one thing to teach the history of how religion may have been part of our growth as a country. It’s another thing to actually teach the tenets of a religion. As if the people going to school should learn the tenets of a particular faith. You’re not saying they should learn the tenets of Christianity, are you?

KING: I think they need to understand the tenets of the Christian faith and other faiths that have affected the history of this country.

King’s concedes that if “the tenets of Christianity” are to be taught in school, “other faiths” should be taught as well. But given his contention that “the foundation” of “our American culture is Christian” and his need to recognize “the Christian faith” in the Congressional Record, it is difficult to believe the sincerity of King’s attempt at tolerance.

King has shown animosity towards non-Christian religions in the past. As ThinkProgress has noted, he opposed resolutions recognizing the Muslim celebration of Ramadan and the Hindu Diwali. After nine Democrats voted against his “Christian faith” resolution, King attacked them, saying “how they could vote ‘yes’ on Islam, ‘yes’ on the Indian religions and ‘no’ on Christianity.”

Political Cartoon of the Week

Lessons on Life

Lessons on Life

There was an Indian Chief who had four sons. He wanted his sons to learn not to judge
Things too quickly. So he sent them each on a quest, in turn, to go and look at
A pear tree that was a great distance away.

The first son went in the winter, the second in the spring, the third in
Summer, and the youngest son in the fall.

When they had all gone and come back, he called them together to describe
What they had seen.

The first son said that the tree was ugly, bent, and twisted.

The second son said no it was covered with green buds and full of promise.

The third son disagreed; he said it was laden with blossoms that smelled so
Sweet and looked so beautiful, it was the most graceful thing he had ever
Seen.

The last son disagreed with all of them; he said it was ripe and drooping with
Fruit, full of life and fulfillment.

The man then explained to his sons that they were all right, because they
Had each seen but only one season in the tree's life.

He told them that you cannot judge a tree, or a person, by only one season,
And that the essence of who they are and the pleasure, joy, and love that
Come from that life can only be measured at the end, when all the seasons
Are up.

If you give up when it's winter, you will miss the promise of your spring, the
Beauty of your summer, fulfillment of your fall.

Moral:

Don't let the pain of one season destroy the joy of all the rest.

Don't judge life by one difficult season.

Persevere through the difficult patches and better times are sure to come
Some time

Live Simply.

Love Generously.

Care Deeply.

Speak Kindly.

Leave the Rest to God.

Happiness keeps You Sweet,

Trials keep You Strong,

Sorrows keep You Human,

Failures keep You Humble,

Success keeps You Glowing,

But Only God keeps You Going!

Things that make you say what the F%^K?

Arenlist mailing list
Arenlist@list.aren.org

The House passed this bill today. The vote, surprisingly, was
372-9, with 10 members also voting "Present," meaning they took no
position on the legislation, and 40 not voting. One of the "Present"
votes was cast by Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.). More Democrats -195 -
voted for the bill than Republicans, 177.
The nine members who voted against the bill - God bless them! - are
Reps. Gary Ackerman (D-N.Y.), Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.), Diana DeGette
(D-Colo.), Alcee Hastings (D-Fla.), Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), Jim
McDermott (D-Wash.), Bobby Scott (D-Va.), Pete Stark (D-Calif.) and
Lynn Woolsey (D-Calif.).
Here's the text of H.Res. 847, just so you know how important
Christianity and Xmas are:
"Recognizing the importance of Christmas and the Christian faith.

Whereas Christmas, a holiday of great significance to Americans and
many other cultures and nationalities, is celebrated annually by Christians
throughout the United States and the world;

Whereas there are approximately 225,000,000 Christians in the United
States, making Christianity the religion of over three-fourths of the
American population;
Whereas there are approximately 2,000,000,000 Christians throughout
the world, making Christianity the largest religion in the world and the
religion of about one-third of the world population;

Whereas Christians identify themselves as those who believe in the
salvation from sin offered to them through the sacrifice of their
savior, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and who, out of gratitude for
the gift of salvation, commit themselves to living their lives in
accordance with the teachings of the Holy Bible;

Whereas Christians and Christianity have contributed greatly to the
development of western civilization;

Whereas the United States, being founded as a constitutional
republic in the traditions of western civilization, finds much in its history that
points observers back to its roots in Christianity;

Whereas on December 25 of each calendar year, American Christians
observe Christmas, the holiday celebrating the birth of their savior,
Jesus Christ;

Whereas for Christians, Christmas is celebrated as a recognition of
God's redemption, mercy, and Grace; and

Whereas many Christians and non-Christians throughout the United
States and the rest of the world, celebrate Christmas as a time to serve
others: Now, therefore be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives-

-

(1) recognizes the Christian faith as one of the great religions of
the world;

(2) expresses continued support for Christians in the United States
and worldwide;

(3) acknowledges the international religious and historical importance
of Christmas and the Christian faith;

(4) acknowledges and supports the role played by Christians and
Christianity in the founding of the United States and in the formation
of the western civilization;

(5) rejects bigotry and persecution directed against Christians,
both in the United States and worldwide; and

(6) expresses its deepest respect to American Christians and
Christians throughout the world."

Dar Williams - "The Christians and The Pagans"

It's starting to look like Yule. This was the most requested song on my net radio show why back when on PFSN (Pagan FreeSpirit Network). Enjoy and have a Blessed Yule.

Congress Looks At Vet Suicides

A Bad Week For Scooter

From 2PJ

Earlier this week I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby decided to drop his appeal - this was for his part in the outing of Valerie Plame. From the AP:

Libby, the former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, was convicted of perjury and obstruction for lying about his conversations with reporters about outed CIA operative Valerie Plame.

And yesterday was this:

President Bush granted pardons Tuesday to carjackers, drug dealers, a moonshiner and a violator of election laws, but not to I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, his vice president's former top aide who was convicted in the case of the leaked identity of a CIA operative.

This has gotta be pissing off the wingnuts. I can just hear them now:

• Scooter remains a convicted felon when that liar Joe Wilson remains free?
• But Armitage was the leaker!
• She was only a desk-jockey!
• She wasn't a covert operative!
• She was a soccer mom!
• Her cover had already been blown by Aldrice Ames!
• It was Wilson who lied about the Uranium in Niger!
• It's a coup attempt from within the CIA!
• Hey, Sandy Berger stole documents!
• In his socks!
• And Bill Clinton lied, too!
• Bill Clinton!
• Bill Clinton!
• Bill Clinton!