Pinging Freedom

Joshua Livestro offers an entertaining piece in which he contends that (1) the “Western media” was a catalyst to the fall of communism in Eastern Europe, therefore (2) it should now be playing a similar role in the Middle East, but (3) since the mainstream media is in bed with the dictators, it’s (4) now up to bloggers to help spread liberty and democracy abroad.
Uh, no. Last time I checked, journalists have the responsibility of simply reporting events. It’s not their job to promote political movements.
Moreover, there’s no small irony in Livestro’s criticism of how the mainstream media cavorts with the tyrants:

But we all know the MSM: they’ve never come across a dictator they didn’t like or at least want to be friendly with in return for “access” (access to what, by the way? The truth?).

Sounds a little like Washington D.C., doesn’t it?
As far as bloggers grabbing their notepads and heading to Beirut, it’s a nice idea. But for the most part, the only people with that degree of commitment who can afford to jaunt around the globe are already doing so, courtesy of the mainstream media.

Volunteer Tailgate Party

. . . over at Miss Zoot.

February News Ratings

This doesn’t speak well regarding the direction of TV news channel viewership. It beats me why most of those shows gaining viewers are doing so. And it’s quite disappointing to see Countdown’s numbers getting worse.
How many people can be left to watch CNBC primetime?

Don’t Try This At Home

Every quarter or so the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility (for attorneys) puts out a newsletter. One of its interesting features is the section listing disciplinary actions against bad lawyers. Typically, misconduct involves an attorney (1) stealing a client’s money; (2) neglecting cases; (3) failing to respond to something; (4) conflict of interest; or (5) committing a crime (e.g., drunk driving).
Here’s a winning entry from the Winter 2005 edition:
“John Smith” (Shelby County):

In one case, [John Smith] prepared a fictitious court order purporting to award $170,000 to his client when there was no such order. In a second matter, [Mr. Smith] falsely informed his client that he had prepared a motion to set aside the dismissal of that matter when no such motion had been prepared. He further mailed to his client a fictitious motion with a false certificate of service to all parties.

Hmmm. I wonder how long Mr. Smith thought he could get away with those documents (especially the $170,000 order) until someone figured out something was amiss.

Study: Surveillance Cameras Don’t Reduce Crime

A study by the British Home Office has found that that country’s use of surveillance cameras has not been effective in reducing crime.
This would be good to remember the next time someone wants to hang up more public cameras in America for purposes of “security.”

Outlawing The Future

I guess banning nonexistent gay marriages isn’t enough. Now there’s this:

A conservative lawmaker is again drawing criticism for a bill he says is about gay rights but some of his colleagues say is about political posturing. State Rep. Brian Duprey, R-Hampden, wants the Legislature to forbid a woman from ending a pregnancy based on the projected sexual orientation of a fetus. He said the bill looks into the future in case scientists find what he described as a “homosexual gene.”

Maine must be a well-run ship if these pressing matters are the type of issues its lawmakers have the luxury of grappling with.