Where C-SPAN is the local TV news
|
|
| The Washington Canard Where C-SPAN is the local TV news |
|
|
Thursday, April 29, 2004
JUST IN CASE YOU WERE WONDERING I do still post to Armed Prophet. Only it's been even less frequent than my posts to this page lately. If you can handle a little bit more politicking than usually goes on around here, I've just uploaded a rather lengthy (and un-proofread) series of observations about two diametrically opposed events that I happened to visit last night and the night before. Click here. Also, tomorrow afternoon I'm flying back to three hours in the past, where I grew up and was schooled. A few readers here will be meeting me for drinks post haste, at a legendary establishment (whose website I can't seem to locate right now. Serves me right for taking the business card out of my wallet) in Portland. That means no posting here for awhile, unless I find some free time while couch-surfing my way across the Great Pacific Northwest. As Bob Saget used to say: Until next time, America. Wednesday, April 28, 2004
THE FROHN ON LOAN Finally. But first, this:
[ahem] Uh... so Dave Frohnmayer came to town. That's about it. I guess he was in town to yak it up with his cronies on the NCAA board and maybe get around to thinking about some changes to the (tyrannically oppressive) BCS system. While he was here, the great man himself deigned to hang out with some local alums, but please not in any location more decorative or pricey than a ground-floor meeting room waaaay to the back of the Rayburn House Office Building on a Tuesday evening. But the Alumni Association did throw in a hosted bar, which was nice. Then again, my Jack and Cokes (Jacks and Coke, like Attorneys General? Consider your opinion solicited!) had to be Beam and Cokes. Rayburn, like all the other House buildings, are what your high school would be like if it was five hundred times bigger and made with dull granite marble instead of brick, although the teachers lounge -- i.e. the offices and committee rooms -- are at least carpeted. I never snagged much more than long-forgotten oddities from the prop room at my high school, but if anybody remembers anything about a House Agriculture Committee gavel ... I should stop typing about this subject right now. The few people I know well in this town weren't coming to this thing, so I was basically expecting to be a wallflower through most of this, until I built up the courage to go introduce myself to the Frohn -- hoping he wouldn't recognize me but sort of afraid he would, and would scowl. (Oh, who am I kidding? I was hoping for the scowl.) Why scowl? Basically it's all about this. Instead I ran into a few people I knew through other people and separately, who it turns out knew each other. Then I saw a couple people I knew through watching Ducks basketball games at a nearby bar, then somebody else who happened to work in the office of my congressman (I'm still registered to vote in Lane County ... who's running to replace Torrey?) and had led my sister and me around the Capitol Building last September. Then some student senators from my time as a student journalist/gadfly at the University of Oregon. So it turned out I had some conversation with my booze, and a relatively easy time getting an audience with Frohnmayer, who was on pretty good terms with my other fellow recent graduates.
I explained that I worked for the online division of a prestigious-though-esoteric non-partisan news magazine in town, and that I pretty much embodied the ultimate in narrowminded Beltway thinking, even though I come, of course, from a swing state.
"You bet." "Will the D's take back the Senate?" Yes, "D's." At least it's better than calling them "Demos." "No. All the Dem-held Southern states are likely to go Republican, even though they've got some decent candidates. I'd say 40-60 chance." "Okay, how about Bush's ads, are they working? Are his numbers going to stay up?" "Hard to say. He did bounce back, but as long as it's this close, it could come back. And that's never good news for an incumbent." Predictably, there was no mention of the failed basketball stadium project. I wanted to go up afterward and ask if he'd consider my plan -- i.e. take the roof off Mac Court, add two levels and put the top back. But there wasn't the time. Afterward, I went out to Capitol Lounge (better known as Cap Lounge) to pour more mixed drinks down the hatch and bullshit my way through baseball talk (having just finished "Moneyball" made this substantially easier) until I had to stumble back home, stopping only long enough to pick up some 7-11 Taquitos for dinner. The next day I took a cab to work, and I was hating life all day long. There! It took me a week to put this post together, but I actually came through! Coming soon: The Michael Kelly book event, and the thing about the aforementioned congressman! I swear it's coming. But you may have to wait a week. Thursday, April 22, 2004
LONG LIVE MY iBOOK My iBook is dead. And Apple has determined it's not covered under the extended warranty, and The House that Jobs Built wants $700 to fix it. I do have $700 ... but if I put it toward the computer, I'm liable to be evicted. Worse, I have one day left to cut my losses by canceling my $250 AppleCare plan -- I bought it one day from a month ago -- if I decide to do so. Oh and Citibank, through which I've done all my banking for nearly 1½ years now, has already declined me for a loan to get enough to trade up to a newer model. So what happened? Well, since you ask, apparently there's liquid inside the machine. What kind of liquid, they didn't say. I did indeed spill some booze in the vicinity of my computer last weekend, but I was fairly certain nothing got near the keyboard. Perhaps not. I won't link to it, but I nearly hung up my hat over at Armed Prophet when I thought I'd lost my computer last time. The situation now is at least as bad as this one. That time it cost me less cash-wise, but it cost me a couple years worth of data, which hurt more. This time I'm fairly calm; you can really only mourn a computer once. As of now I'm still waiting to see how a few things play out, but no matter what it's going to cost me again -- either in money or in long-term technological inconvenience. I pray it's the former. P.S. Yes, the Frohn thing is still coming. It's basically written, just not in shape. Same with a report on an emotional reading for the collection of the late Michael Kelly's writings at Politics & Prose last night. Also written, also not ready for blog time. They will be soon, but this is the first time in months I've still been at the big office building by the river this late in the evening. It's time to check out and maybe partake in a little of what must have caused all this trouble in the first place. Wednesday, April 21, 2004
"COLORADO SHOTGUN MASSACRE" JUST DOESN'T HAVE THE SAME RING TO IT Very interesting, very ambitious, and very good article in Slate today about Columbine and the motivations behind it. The author is Denver-based writer Dave Cullen, who chronicled the aftermath for Salon back when he actually stood a chance of getting Salon to CTC (as Rasheed Wallace would say), and he wrote some fascinating pieces back then. So why did they do it?
Speaking of that asshole, the article quotes from his diaries, which are highly entertaining -- at least in small doses:
"YOU KNOW WHAT I HATE!!!? People who say that wrestling is real!! . . . "YOU KNOW WHAT I HATE!!!? People who use the same word over and over again! . . . Read a f---in book or two, increase your vo-cab-u-lary fucking idiots." But wait, he's not done:
YOU KNOW WHAT I HATE!!!? STAR WARS FANS!!! GET A FaaaaaaRIGIN LIFE YOU BORING GEEEEEKS! Part of me wishes I could get my hands on more of this to fisk at will on days where I have time to post but nothing to say. (This is more often than you might think, which is a depressing prospect for a writer.) I suppose I could -- most of this has been released by the authorities to the public, but I'd probably have to show up in person at the Littleton Sheriff's Department Records Depository between 9AM and 5PM on a weekday. The other part of me thinks that's probably for the better anyway. Anyway, enough of that. The article is very much worth your time. Go read it. In the meantime, I'll try to get around to posting my conversation with The Frohn. P.S. All of this reminds me of something highly inappropriate I once published in that magazine I used to run. George Carlin used to make fun of massive-casualty disasters all the time (and probably still does) but in retrospect, I wish I hadn't let this go to the printer. P.P.S. I won't say who actually wrote it. If you know, just keep it to yourself. Tuesday, April 20, 2004
NO TIME TO BLOG! I have a very important date! Of sorts! One that no one but me knows about! In a few short hours, former Oregon gubernatorial candidate, NCAA board memeber, UO president and all-around survivor Dave "The Frohn" Frohnmayer will be making an appearance at the Rayburn HOB (House Office Building, for the Hill-uninitiated) at some sort of alumni reception thing. The invitation arrived weeks ago, but not until yesterday did I look at it very closely and notice that an RSVP was requested by April 9. I suppose the only thing to do is try to sneak in, by dressing appropriately and pretending I belong. If they give me any trouble, all I have to do is whip out my trusty student body ID card, which was made for a mere $5 replacement fee (one of several I paid over a half-decade in Eugene) on 10/29/01. If that fails, I'll try getting by as a member of the press. If that fails, well, there's nothing a little shoving match can't solve. More forthcoming, assuming there is more to tell. P.S. Also, today is 4/20. I hope at least some of you back in Oregon are enjoying the day in a way I really can't -- or rather, isn't worth it -- out here. If so, burn one down for me. This homie couldn't be there. Saturday, April 17, 2004
WHOA There's bizarre, there's bizarre, and then there's this. P.S. It's the middle of the night and Deborah Norville is interviewing Elmo on MSNBC. Asked to explain what Kofi Annan does, Elmo guesses: "He keeps the peace." Well, that's one way to put it. P.P.S. Just returned from KB2. Indeed different from the first. First reaction: I preferred the Bruce Lee track suit and the Japanese girl with the ball-and-chain. But David Carradine is the man. Thursday, April 15, 2004
NEW DFW! Whoa! When did this happen?  Bookslut, aren't you supposed to keep me up on these things? I used to have the Howling Fantods in my bookmarks, then came the Great iBook Crash of 2004. So I'm still a bit disorganized. Now I probably have no right to be that excited about this, because I haven’t gotten to his "compact history of infinity" yet, but this marks Wallace’s first foray into fiction since I was fighting MIP citations a half-decade ago. I think I can finish off "Crime and Punishment" and the collection of Harlan Ellison stories I"ve been putting off -- and if I use my upcoming cross-country flight time judiciously, Vlad Nabokov’s "Pale Fire" -- in time for "Orblivion"'s June release. Plus, as long as I'm on a pop culture kick, I'll mention that I just got tickets for KB2 tomorrow night. If my first name didn't get me killed the first time around, I should be safe this time. Wish me luck. Wednesday, April 14, 2004
DEPT. OF UNFORTUNATE HEADLINES You have to take my word for it now, but Time.com first posted this story about President Bush's prime time press conference with the headline:
RELIABLY SOURCED Over at The New Republic, Andrew Sullivan is taking issue with Richard Leiby's Eason Jordan/Marianne Pearl story (which I mentioned here). And issue, and issue, and issue -- the danged thing runs more than 1,800 words. His main objection seems to be that the story it's invasive gossip, not hard news. And while I agree with his details, I guess Mr. Sullivan doesn't properly appreciate the fact that Leiby writes a gossip column. Yet Sullivan charges:
Tuesday, April 13, 2004
YOU LEARN SOMETHING NEW EVERY DAY There's an interesting op-ed in the Washington Post this morning. I won't quote much -- just enough to give a taste:
By John F. Kerry To be successful in Iraq, and in any war for that matter, our use of force must avaunt beforetime therewith thro tother twain yon flapdoodle gramercy, forsooth...
Monday, April 12, 2004
MORE BELTWAY GOSSIP Here's the kind of thing I'll keep reading Wonkette for. There’s only question: is the TV journalist in question Bill Hemmer or Anderson Cooper? Smart money: Cooper. P.S. If Wonkette was male, he’d be savaged as an irrepressible homophobe and probable closet case, no? I mean, can you say preoccupation? Paging Andrew Sullivan… LOOKING OUT FOR LEIBY No fan of Richard Leiby am I, but apparently the Washington Post’s “Reliable Source” columnist is coming under fire for the only really good scoop he’s yet had, viz. reporting the romantic relationship between disgraced (and married) CNN producer Eason Jordan and Daniel Pearl’s widow, Marianne Pearl. I didn’t realize it was causing all that much consternation, but apparently the uproar was sufficient that the Post’s ombudsman, Michael Getler, devoted today’s column to just that. Getler quotes liberally from an online chat in which Leiby fended off criticism from angry readers, and his defense should more than settle it. Leiby’s column usually consists of ‘Redskins owner Dan Snyder had lunch with actor and former Senator Fred Thompson’ and ‘lots of people showed up to see George Clooney have lunch at the Palm.’ (It’s always lunch in this town.) But when Leiby actually stumbles across something juicy, people start berating him? Beyond the occasional intern scandal, DC has precious little worthwhile gossip worth reporting. Let him have this one. Friday, April 09, 2004
MADDON'! James Lileks, on "The Sopranos," in his latest Bleat:
Or he dies. I think that's what they'll do. I think the fall of Tony Soprano would make for a season even better than this one, and this one is exceptional. The pattern above is that bad things will happen to the main characters -- Sopranos family members, mostly -- but they don't get killed. Or at least they haven't been. Already Adriana has been talking to the feds for almost a season and a half, and if Christopher is supposed to be Tony's successor, one or both of them will be dead, in prison or in the witness protection program by the end of the series. With the latest episode, one can see how Tony might now find out. Killing Adriana might keep him out of prison, but it would destroy his relationship with Christopher. And what of A.J.? Doesn't seem like he'll be going to college right now -- will he meet the same fate as Jackie Jr.? Will Carmela walk away from the awful comprimise she's lived for most of her life? All told, there is no way for this show to end happily, and nor should it. I say the more carnage the better. David Chase's contention that there will never be a "Sopranos" feature film would seem to reinforce the assumption that the whole thing will be blown apart by the end of Season 6. The anticipation of all this makes for some damn compelling TV. I just hope the way it plays out won't be a letdown. P.S. There's a fairly interesting thread about this over at Television Without Pity. I'd say the consensus is most everybody ends up "dead dead dead" and those who don't are left with pathetic, miserable lives. I'm counting on it. WELCOME ABOARD Entering the blogosphere this week is an old college buddy and fellow journalist known to most simply as "A.K." I've added the link to my blogroll at left as well. He's only just underway, but it looks like he'll be focusing on news and politics in Portland and around the state, UO sports, Portland baseball, plus jazz and local rock bands. Sounds like a good premise. Drop in if you have a moment. Thursday, April 08, 2004
OOH! OOH! I GET IT! Sometime yesterday afternoon, Wonkette served up this:
Sometimes we like to post things only about 500 Googling monkeys will get. So here goes: Note to certain self-serious, enormously expensive, unlinkably elitist, faxed political summary composers: The falcon flies at dawn.
Anyway, some of you may have noticed the link to Ana Marie Cox's snarkfest down and to the right on this page, and some of you may remember my "announcement" on Armed Prophet a few weeks back. The one about no longer reading Wonkette, that is. So why the change of heart? Partly because the Washington Canard sort of plans to enter the DC blogging community (sort of) and Wonkette undeniably belongs to that community. And partly because I was asked to. A week or two after I posted that and another item about seeing her at a panel discussion, I got the following email from Ms. Cox:
Seriously, a more balanced Wonkette could work. I'm almost as far right as Wonkette is left, The Washington Canard is not that blog, but it could be if someone like Jason Calacanis offered me the money to do it. Note: Cross-posted to Armed Prophet. Wednesday, April 07, 2004
WHEREFORE ART THOU, E-R-C? We're heading into at least day 4 of renewed, sustained fighting in the so-called Sunni Triangle around Baghdad, and yet E-Rocky-Confidential hasn't been updated since Sunday. Well, not to be too morbid or anything, but I have pretty good evidence that E-R-C was still kicking as of about noon today, because one of my other sites was last visited by someone at nwp-dmz-253.nwp.usace.army.mil around then. So that's good. Just wanted to pass that along, as I'm sure others of you have been wondering. Memo to E-R-C: No one's going to hold it against you if you're too busy to blog. So just keep running the hits up on my website, and I'll know you're doing okay. P.S. I'm sending off my lot of replacement CDs ASAP, I swear! Tuesday, April 06, 2004
GREAT SPAMS OF THE INTERNET An old favorite from the Prophet, now transported to the Canard. Here's the latest:
From: cherrigist55@bestbox.com [mailto:cherrigist55@bestbox.com] Sent: Wednesday, March 31, 2004 11:46 AM To: [MY LAST NAME], [MY FIRST NAME] Subject: Spamed? I have visited this website and I found you in the spammer list. Is that true? [LINK HERE] WHAT YOU CAN LEARN FROM READING THE NEWSPAPERS Like from this op-ed in the Post:
By Bill Clinton Tuesday, April 6, 2004; Page A21 This month marks 10 years since the advent of the Rwandan genocide, a cruel, violent and well-organized rampage that resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of innocent men, women and children and the total disruption of Rwandan society...
The writer was the 42nd president of the United States. Monday, April 05, 2004
TOO LATE Conan O'Brien, on wanting the "Tonight" show and the circumstances under which he might leave the Peacock, in the Sunday Times:
Still also -- oh, that Carrot Top. If he's good for anything, if he has any purpose at all, it's taking abuse. Sunday, April 04, 2004
NEW & IMPROVED! Welcome back! Or, just welcome! If you're here, you've probably arrived from my other outlet over at Armed Prophet. There's a new look, new fonts, new links, a picture to help set the mood, and... well, that's it. It is just a blog, after all. The old content is gone, deleted on accident during upgrades, but I may get around to digging out the old Word files, if anyone cares. But in the meantime, welcome. It's late on a Sunday, so blogging won't really commence until tomorrow or so. Stay tuned. |
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
