Sat, 2003-10-11

Tempo	Okazo
11:32a	Apparently I was indeed on Fox News Yesterday at work someone (whom I don't know very well) mentioned that they saw me on the 10pm television news (a couple weeks ago, concerning the anti-Iraq-occupation rally). I don't know whether I'm more pleased to have had my interview broadcast, or more disturbed that I'm acquainted with someone who actually watches Fox News. :) If anyone actually has a recording of the segment, I would enjoy seeing it, and I wonder whether Fox fairly represented what I said or not, given their own slant in favor of the military action. Speaking of Fox News, infinitevoid posted an entry with a link to an interesting research article establishing a statistical link between popularly-held misconceptions about Iraq and which news source people use. In particular, Fox News watchers were significantly more likely to believe 1 or more of the 3 bogus myths: # U.S. forces found weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. # There's clear evidence that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein worked closely with the Sept. 11 terrorists. # People in foreign countries generally either backed the U.S.-led war or were evenly split between supporting and opposing it. (Komentu)
1:51p	astroturf letters about glorious success in Iraq Many soldiers, same letter ... the US military is doing a bogus "astroturf" campaign making letters from soldiers to the editors of newspapers around the US which pretend to be grassroots letters written by the soldiers. The letters are written in a ham-handed propagandistic style extolling the glorious successes of the war, omitting any mention of unfavorable events. (Children smile and run up to shake hands, and in their broken English, shout: "Thank you, mister." ... The fruits of all our soldiers' efforts are clearly visible in the streets of Kirkuk today. There is very little trash in the streets, many more people in the markets and shops, and children have returned to school. This is all evidence that the work we are doing as a battalion and as American soldiers is bettering the lives of Kirkuk's citizens.) Worse still, it seems that soldiers were asked to sign the letter if they agreed with it, but not told that the signed letters were going to be sent for publication to newspapers. ("A seventh soldier didn't know about the letter until his father congratulated him for getting it published in the local newspaper in Beckley, W.Va.") Google reveals some more examples and discussion. E.g.: Sgt. Shawn Grueser to the Charleston Daily Mail and Spc. Nathan Whitelatch to the Connellsville Daily Courier. (Via thismodernworld.com.) (Komentoj: 2 | Komentu)
8:37p	Austin Chronicle's rabid opposition to the smoking ordinance I read yet another bit in the Austin Chronicle that talks as if the city's impending smoking ordinance is clearly the most horrendous thing since <insert your favorite atrocity here>. I'm sick of the Chronicle acting like anyone who might want to enjoy live music without feeling like crap and damaging their health from all the smoke is a fool or a fascist, so I wrote them a letter. Personally, I can see both sides of the issue (with respect to business owner's rights versus health rights of consumers). I've talked with some friends who say "From a selfish point of view, I sure support the smoking ban in clubs, but from a libertarian point of view, I feel conflicted." But these same people usually have no problem with laws making other requirements of businesses, whether it be fire exits, handicapped access, not discriminating against minorities, etc., which are similar cases of business owner's rights versus the public good. Why is smoking different? It seems murky to me. I am bugged by the Chronicle's surprisingly smug arrogant tone in many pieces written about it over the past few months, which all carry the subtext of "no reasonable person can disagree with us on this." I guess I got a little acerbic myself near the end of my letter, perhaps frustrated by the 300 word limit. :) ( letter to the Chronicle ) (Komentu)

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