Friday January 21, 2005
It Only Seems Like Good News
FCC Chairman Michael Powell is stepping down. For those who opposed his easy on business, tough on indecency stance, this might seem like a good thing. Things, however, are likely to get worse. Powell, after all, was appointed to the commission by Clinton.
Who will be the next FCC Chairman? Although Bush could install a new commissioner directly into the chairmanship (James Dobson, come on down!), I’m guessing he’ll elevate one of the two Republicans who are currently on the commission — Kathleen Abernathy or Kevin Martin. My bet is on Martin.
How bad would that be? Let’s see. As the Miami Herald details, he carried water for Ken Starr during the Clinton witch hunt, served as the deputy general counsel to Bush/Cheney 2000 and was one of the first legal storm troopers on the ground during the Florida recount. But here’s the beauty part — he’s completely hysterical about indecency. Here’s the intro from a written statement he submitted as part of his testimony before Congress last year:
Television today contains some of the coarsest and most violent programming ever aired — and more of it. Indeed, the networks appear to be designing programs to “push the envelope” and the bounds of decency. At the FCC, we used to receive indecency complaints by the hundreds; now they come in by the hundreds of thousands. Consumers, particularly parents, are increasingly frustrated and, at times, outraged. Something needs to be done.
Sounds like W.’s man.
Posted by jim at 02:58 PM ||
Thursday January 13, 2005
Sight & Sound
See a sublime collection of photographs in which people have been removed and replaced with drawings of people. Do not read the artist’s statement. Never read the artist’s statement.
Hear The Clash’s “White Riot” recreated as a music box lullaby for babies.
Posted by jim at 05:13 PM ||
This Must Be the Place?
People wind up here at Encyclopedia Hanasiana looking for a lot of things. A little peace. Solace, perhaps. Information about litigation involving Evel Knievel. The person who recently found this site with a certain, very specific search phrase, however, was probably disappointed. Regrettably, I just don’t have any “pictures of unfashionable maternity clothing in the year 1980.” Sorry about that. Freak.
Posted by jim at 04:51 PM ||
Friday January 07, 2005
Pay to Play
Over at Craigslist, a tourist-weary New Yorker has presented a plan for the 2005 New York City Visitor Behavior Initiative, which will fine/charge Big Apple visitors for engaging in various touristy activities. I would like to do my part by throwing all the weight of my other blog — Shiny Pointy & Tall, a moblog devoted to pictures of people taking pictures of the Chrysler Building — behind this noble effort. How much do you think taking a picture of the Chrysler Building should cost anyway? I would be happy to collect the fees.
(via Gawker.)
Posted by jim at 11:25 AM ||
Wednesday January 05, 2005
He Sure Sounds Like a Pimp
Evel Knievel on the justice system:
They disregarded the goddamn law and they ought to be discharged, they ought to be ashamed of themselves. They ruled against the law. What good is law in the United States of America if five or six goddamn bimbos are going to rule against it?
The K-man better be careful or he might end up with a cabinet post.
Posted by jim at 05:04 PM ||
Tuesday January 04, 2005
Ce n’est pas un Pimp
My good friend Adam — no doubt sensing from the previous post that I find the word “pimp” generally fun to be around — makes my afternoon by directing to me to the case of Knievel v. ESPN, which was decided today by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The facts are these:
Famed motorcycle stuntman Evel Knievel and his wife Krystal were photographed when they attended ESPN’s Action Sports and Music Awards in 2001. The photograph depicted Evel, who was wearing a motorcycle jacket and rose-tinted sunglasses, with his right arm around Krystal and his left arm around another young woman. ESPN published the photograph on its “extreme sports” website with a caption that read “Evel Knievel proves that you’re never too old to be a pimp.” The Knievels brought suit against ESPN in state court, contending that the photograph and caption were defamatory because they accused Evel of soliciting prostitution and implied that Krystal was a prostitute.
The court ruled 2 to 1 against Evel, but both opinions are must-reads for fans of overthinking.
Posted by jim at 05:24 PM ||
Saturday January 01, 2005
Happy New Year!
Alexandra and I are with my parents in Kentucky. Today we decorated some cookies for a family get together. See if you can guess which one is mine. (HINT: They all are, but one of them is my favorite. SECOND HINT: My mom made me eat it before the guests arrived.)
Posted by jim at 01:06 PM ||
