A local media columnist argued that it would provide a useful alternative point of view, especially since BBC provides a critical view of American policy, if we had access to Al Jazeera. This is in honor of its worldwide expansion this week. Last year, I read an interesting (if a bit too supportive of the station; a slightly more critical eye might have helped at times) book by Hugh Miles on the station. Likewise, there was the documentary Control Room, which showed the beginning of the Iraq War from the perspective of reporters from that station. So, I concur. An email:
I appreciated your article today about alternative points of views that would be provided if we had access to the controversial Middle Eastern news channel. It might interest you that LINK TV (available locally on Dish Network) does provide clips from various news programs from the region on a 1/2 hour wrap-up show entitled "Mosaic: World News From Middle East."
LINK TV and Free Speech TV both (that end of the dial also has adult education programs, including from BYU, farm reports, the Pentagon Channel, and other fun stuff) now and again provide some viewing interest to this writer. One show that I appreciate is the monthly "Liberty News," a progressive look at the news. The latest was a special report defending the U.N., which can be viewed here. Free Speech TV also has various "Keynote" speakers and documentaries that are of interest. For instance, there was a series of "abortion diaries" discussing in a positive way the choice of women to have them ... given millions have them, the fact this is not more prevalent is almost criminal. Last night, there was an interview with a Greenpeace activist. There was an interesting documentary on the various purposes of cannabis. And, so forth.
While on the television front, I think those caveman commercials for Geico are played -- now, I didn't quite like the first few, but apparently they were quite popular. Well, now they are just stretching the theme too far, as if the caveman is their new spokesperson -- come on, that is the job of the little green guy. No, not Kermit. The English speaking Gecko.
OTOH, one has to admit that there are some fun commercials out there. I know, overall, the concept of commercials is a bad thing and all, but if we must have them, let them be fun. Yes, a mixed bag, some just plain pretentious and/or annoying. Still, even the low rent ones grow on you -- like the one on 2AM with an annoying Italian wife (think Marisa Tomei or something) trying to get her husband to get a new carpet. Or, one for "Head-On" that has people say the old commercials annoy them, but the product is great. That's cute.
Finally, back to yesterday ... last year, we had Doug Floutie doing a drop kick for an extra point ... yesterday, we had Chad Pennington doing a pooch punt (on a fake 4th Down play), and rather well to boot (natch).
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* The paper also has an interesting account of a wealthy gay man who gave lots of money to the opponent of upstate Republican Sue Kelly, who lost by about two percent in a surprising upset. Seems she supported the anti-gay marriage amendment, which sort of upset the guy. [Kelly wasn't helped by a YouTube clip of her running away from a reporter trying to ask her about Iraq.] It is such pathetic knee-jerk loyalty that led to so many Republican House losses ... we are not talking conservative losers in all cases in the least.
They can whine now about Bush -- including about not saying "bye bye" to Rummy let's say last summer -- but it's their own fault. Establishment Dems in various cases had to be pushed to support some of the winning candidates -- they never really gave Lamont their support, which will rankle whenever Lieberman has another "Meet the Press" appearance or is used as a life raft for the likes of Charles Krauthammer (his post-election column had a picture of JL next to it!), so they are not exactly smelling like roses. Remember the whole "50 state strategy" debate?
But, the Republicans made them look like wankers. A bunch of lemmings. Good riddance.