Clipmarks | dsatkins's clips

Biased coverage? No way!?!?

Tue, 13 May 2008 18:59:06 GMT

clipped by: dsatkins
clipper's remarks: Every election is rife with biased coverage by the main media news outlets; it's just that party heads deny it until it works against them.

Whether you believe in the “vast right wing conspiracy” or the “left wing media” scourge, it seems that bias in the machine has indeed played a large role in defeating Hillary.

Clip Source: thehill.com

“Clearly it has been a biased media, no question about it,” McAuliffe said on Fox News. When asked how much of the mainstream media is “in the tank” for Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.), who leads Clinton in the race for the Democratic nomination, McAuliffe estimated that about 90 percent of the media favor Obama.

“It is what it is. We’re not complaining,” he stated. “We have to deal with the hand we’re dealt with.”

McAuliffe added that “every independent study has said that this is the most biased coverage they’ve ever seen in a presidential campaign.”

He also praised Fox News, which is often viewed as a conservative media outlet, as “one of the most responsible in this presidential campaign.”

The War on Terror

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 17:14:06 GMT

clipped by: dsatkins
clipper's remarks: Finally wising up to the implications of semantic appropriation.

Clip Source: www.nysun.com

The Bush administration has launched a new front in the war on terrorism, this time targeting language.

“Regarding ‘jihad,’ even if it is accurate to reference the term, it may not be strategic because it glamorizes terrorism, imbues terrorists with religious authority they do not have and damages relations with Muslims around the world,” the report says.

For example, while Americans may understand “jihad” to mean “holy war,” it is in fact a broader Islamic concept of the struggle to do good, says the guidance prepared for diplomats and other officials tasked with explaining the war on terror to the public. Similarly, “mujahedeen,” which means those engaged in jihad, must be seen in its broader context.

The reason: Such words may actually boost support for radicals among Arab and Muslim audiences by giving them a veneer of religious credibility or by causing offense to moderates.

“Don’t compromise our credibility” by using words and phrases that may ascribe benign motives to terrorists.

Themes, Topics, Messages

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:01:26 GMT

clipped by: dsatkins

Clip Source: www.vcu.edu

Most playwrights express their themes with considerable subtlety. That's the difference between a Theme and a Message. It's the job of Directors and Literary Managers or English professors to discover the Themes you've woven into the dialogue.

Some examples of themes in contemporary plays . . .

David Henry Hwang's M. BUTTERFLY
Racial stereotypes blind you to reality.

Wendy Wasserstein's THE HEIDI CHRONICLES
A heavy price is paid by women who were the career path-makers of the 1970's.

Beth Henley's CRIMES OF THE HEART
It's a crime not to follow your heart's desires.

And a grand old play . . .

Tennessee Williams' CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF
Overly sensitive people are crippled by the lies of the world we live in.

Barack - Jan. 2008

Wed, 16 Jan 2008 13:59:08 GMT

clipped by: dsatkins

Clip Source: my.barackobama.com

Obama's made a big move among African-Americans since December -- up 21 points -- and now leads Clinton by 60-32 percent in this group, his biggest lead among blacks of the campaign and his largest margin in any group in this poll. He's also up by 21 points among independents, leading Clinton by 44 to 31 percent...

The changes in overall preferences in both races are remarkable. Among Democratic likely voters, Obama's gained 14 points and Clinton's lost 11 since the last ABC/Post poll, completed Dec. 9...

The mantra of change continues to resonate with Democrats ... Obama beats Clinton among "new direction" voters by 53-27 percent, his second-largest margin in any group...

Obama did particularly well with younger voters in Iowa and New Hampshire; nationally, he's improved by 26 points among leaned Democrats under age 40, leading Clinton by 52 to 35 percent in this group...

Now Jafar can NEVER Return Again!!! Hoo-ra!

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 20:33:20 GMT

clipped by: dsatkins
clipper's remarks: No one else will care about this but KUDOS to John Lasseter if this un-cited claim is true and the DisneyToon department will stop showing such a lack of respect for kids by dosing them with sequels that have no heart.

Clip Source: en.wikipedia.org

Tinker Bell is an upcoming 2008 direct-to-video computer animated film based on the Disney Fairies franchise being produced by DisneyToon Studios. The movie was delayed for a year after John Lasseter, creative head of Walt Disney Feature Animation made several comments and complained that the film was "virtually unwatchable" ^[1] and that it would hurt both Walt Disney Feature Animation as well as the Disney Consumer Products line it was meant to support. ^[2] It has been reported that the complications surrounding this movie are the reasons that Disney will no longer produce straight-to-DVD sequels.

Updated Schedule of Presidential Primaries and Caucuses

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 21:40:41 GMT

clipped by: dsatkins

Clip Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

The key moments in the nomination race are:

Thurs Jan 3: Iowa caucus (Dem and Rep)

Tues Jan 8: New Hampshire primary (Dem and Rep)

Tues Jan 15: Michigan primary (Rep)

Sat Jan 19: Nevada caucus (Dem), South Carolina primary (Rep)

Tues Jan 29: Florida primary (Rep), South Carolina (Dem)

Tues Feb 5: 22 states hold primaries on "Super Duper Tuesday".

American Craftsman Design

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 14:49:53 GMT

clipped by: dsatkins
clipper's remarks: Socialism, Individualism, and Design

Clip Source: en.wikipedia.org

The American Craftsman style has its origins in the earlier British Arts and Crafts movement which dates back to the 1860s. The British movement, which spawned a wide variety of related but conceptually very distinct design movements throughout Europe, was a reaction to the degradation of the dignity of human labor resulting from the Industrial Revolution. In many ways it was a reaction against the over-decorated aesthetic and disregard for the worker of the Victorian era. Seeking to ennoble the craftsman once again, the movement emphasized the hand-made over the mass-produced.

William Morris, was a staunch socialist and as such the philosophy behind the Arts and Crafts movement in the UK is clearly part of the materialist dialectic. However, the expensive materials and expensive hand-made techniques meant that the movement was in fact serving the wealthiest clients, a seeming contradiction to its roots in socialist philosophy.

Thanks but no thanks...

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 14:48:55 GMT

clipped by: dsatkins

Clip Source: www.slate.com

It's true that revisionists, in their insistence on toppling myths, can come across like whiney nitpickers. And myths do have their own cultural value. But the problem is that holidays turn into a tug of war between cold, hard history and comforting popular folklore, between fact and faith. Shouldn't our holidays be able to accommodate both?

Thanks, but No ThanksThe debate over "the war on Christmas" spreads to Thanksgiving.

Tags: religion

"The Big Mo": Super Duper Tuesday

Tue, 13 Nov 2007 16:02:59 GMT

clipped by: dsatkins

Clip Source: www.cnn.com

It could all be over after 'Super Duper Tuesday'

In other words, February 5 -- Super Duper Tuesday -- could become, essentially, a national primary. The campaign could start on January 14 and end just over three weeks later, with two thirds of the Democratic delegates and over 80 percent of the Republican delegates chosen by February 5.

In 1984, Gary Hart won an upset over frontrunner Walter Mondale in New Hampshire and then won the Florida primary a week later on sheer momentum. What President Bush's father once called "The Big Mo.''

Tags: politics election

CNN Election Center - Nevada Primary

Tue, 13 Nov 2007 15:26:35 GMT

clipped by: dsatkins

Clip Source: www.cnn.com

States to Watch

Analysis: Democratic and Republican caucuses five days after Iowa seen as a crapshoot

Why were caucuses moved up? Four reasons: the growing West, a large Hispanic population, a heavily unionized work force and the influence of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada

Republicans followed the Democrats' lead and will hold their caucuses on the same day to coincide with their regularly scheduled precinct meetings. Reasons for doing so: Nevada is a key Western state that voted for Bush in 2004, and the earlier caucuses help increase voter participation

Traditional working-class Democrats hold sway over liberal activists, which could help candidates prepared to talk about practical issues and policy details

John Edwards could benefit from three years of cultivating ties with organized labor

Nevada voted for Bill Clinton twice before returning to the Republican fold, which could help Hillary Clinton

Tags: politics, election

No Schilling for Philly?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 12:50:13 GMT

clipped by: dsatkins
clipper's remarks: My hopes were up. Plus Schilling's name's got to be good for a pun or two. Right?

Clip Source: mlb.mlb.com

Report: Schilling close to returning

Veteran hurler in negotiations with Sox for one-year deal

BOSTON -- It appears that Curt Schilling might have his farewell tour in a Red Sox uniform, after all.

Schilling's comments of Monday come exactly one week after he filed for free agency. The paper also reported the Astros, Diamondbacks and Phillies all contacted Schilling shortly after he filed for free agency.

"I have had a combination of [emotions], knowing that the end is coming, knowing that my kids are old enough to understand and we've certainly talked about this," she said. "The kids are old enough, and we've moved them all their lives, and the possibility of moving them is hard because they're at an age where they've settled into an age group where they've made friends, but on the other hand, we know it's one year."

Schilling was 9-8 with a 3.87 ERA in 2007 and earned three wins in the playoffs, improving his postseason mark to 11-2.

Tags: sports, baseball, philly

Tone over music?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 12:11:07 GMT

clipped by: dsatkins
clipper's remarks: The movie looks faithful to tone and strongly executed. To me it looks amazing.

Clip Source: popwatch.ew.com

'Sweeney Todd' Trailer: Is it so bad to be a musical?

But aside from a street scene with Johnny Depp sort of sing-talking to passers-by, then drawing out the lyrics "I will have vengeance, I will have salvaaaation," you'd be forgiven for thinking that this was another weird Burton drama with another weird turn from Depp, who boasts a white skunk streak in his bushy mane. Not that this is an outright musical with more sung-through dialogue than most Sondheim productions.

[Video]

Of course, Sweeney Todd is not the only movie musical to soft-pedal its musical nature in trailers. To varying degrees, recent adaptations of Broadway hits like Chicago, Rent, Dreamgirls, and even Joel Schumacher's Phantom of the Opera have downplayed their song-and-dance aspect.

Why do you think the studios are still so shy when it comes to promoting musicals?

Tags: music, musicals, theatre, film, previews

Some Aftermath to the Philly (D)ebate

Thu, 01 Nov 2007 17:00:20 GMT

clipped by: dsatkins
clipper's remarks: The Hill assesses the fallout from the October Debate at Drexel University.

Clip Source: thehill.com

In a memo from the Obama campaign, spokesman Bill Burton said Clinton “offered more of the same Washington political calculation and evasion that won’t bring the change America needs.”

Burton wrote that Clinton dodged questions on Social Security, Iran and the National Archives issue.

Clinton drew fire throughout the day from the Republican National Committee, which sent around a compilation of negative press releases from state Republican parties in Texas, Florida, Georgia and California.

The senator did not appear ready to surrender Wednesday, though. When accepting the AFSCME endorsement, Clinton handed McEntee a pair of boxing gloves.

“When it comes to fighting for America’s working families, I’ll go 10 rounds with anybody,” she said.

Tags: politics

Sticks & Stones Book Review (Author Jack Zipes)

Thu, 01 Nov 2007 15:54:19 GMT

clipped by: dsatkins

Clip Source: findarticles.com

Sticks and Stones: The Troublesome Success of Children's Literature from Slovenly Peter to Harry Potter. - book review

Zipes explores the world of children's literature, and its connection to the socialization of children. He questions whether children have ever really had a literature of their own. He contends that books written for children are, in many ways, "the grown-ups' version"--a story about childhood that adults tell to children, and this can be a problem: even experts do not know what children make of what adults give them.

Zipes discusses tales ranging from the grisly nineteenth-century moral lesson of Slovenly Peter (whose fingers get cut off) to the male-dominated Harry Potter series

he gives clear voice to the forces behind the huge boom in children's book publishing since the 1980s, which has served to form a safe veil of promoting literacy that disguises its own truth, namely that children are seen as commodities and used as pawns to increase parental consumerism.

Tags: literature politics

2008 Presidential Primary Schedule

Thu, 01 Nov 2007 15:11:41 GMT

clipped by: dsatkins
clipper's remarks: Keep up to date!

Clip Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

2008 Primary election calendar

January
5	Wyoming (R)
14	Iowa
15	Michigan
19	Nevada, South Carolina (R)
22	New Hampshire
29	Florida, South Carolina (D)
February
5	Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho (D), Illinois, Kansas (D), Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico (D), New York, North Carolina (D), North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah, West Virginia (R)
9	Kansas (R), Louisiana, Nebraska (D), Washington (D)
10	Maine (D)
12	District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia
19	Hawaii (D), Washington (R), Wisconsin
March
4	Massachusetts, Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont
8	Wyoming (D)
11	Mississippi
April
1	Pennsylvania (D)
22	Pennsylvania (R)
May
6	Indiana, North Carolina (R)
13	West Virginia (D)
17	Maine (R)
20	Kentucky, Oregon
27	Idaho (R)
June
3	Montana (D), New Mexico (R), South Dakota
6	Hawaii
28	Nebraska

Tags: politics schedules