These Impossible Days

Former president and creator of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), Jack Valenti died yesterday of complications from a stroke. Valenti was a controversial figure in the film industry and a powerful lobbyist in Washington.

I can't say I'm sad to see him go. The man had way too much power. He single handedly created the rating system that we all know and love (or hate) today. He had the power to force directors to change the content of their films for fear of their film not getting put into a theatre or becoming a flop because it was slapped with the all-to-feared NC-17 rating.

The politics of the film industry and censorship is way too deep for this bit, and I fear that little has changed since Valenti stepped down as president of the MPAA several years back. But love him or hate him, one cannot deny that Jack Valenti was a key architect in shaping the entertainment industry into the beast that it is today.

Posted by J. Parker at 10:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

You gotta love the Dutch.

Posted by J. Parker at 10:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I have a hard time taking these early debates very seriously. Usually the candidates play it safe at this point in the game and give broad answers such as, "all options are on the table," when asked about things like Iran. Don't get me wrong out of anyone currently in the race, I'm behind Obama. But I was a little disappointed with his answers regarding Iran.

I didn't catch the debates last night but Crooks and Liars has a couple of good clips for your viewing pleasure.

• Obama, Kucinich and Gravel Talk Iran
• Gravel: "Some of These People Frighten Me

Posted by J. Parker at 10:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The other day, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee issued a subpoena for Condoleezza Rice to testify on issues of the war in Iraq. Rice said this morning, however, that she was "not inclined" to honor the subpoena.

I'm sorry...but it was my understanding that you really didn't have a choice when a subpoena was issued. Am I completely wrong in this. I think I will consult my good buddy Webster on this:

sub-poe-na - A writ commanding a person designated in it to appear in court under a penalty for failure.

But don't worry...Rice said she was happy to answer any questions via a written letter. Thank God for that.

Posted by J. Parker at 11:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), a 2008 presidential candidate, announced Wednesday that he was filing articles of impeachment against Dick Cheney. The grounds: that Cheney "purposely manipulated the intelligence process" and "fabricated a threat of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction" with the purpose of getting the public to support the invasion of Iraq.

But the big question of the day is will these charges have any legs to run on? House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is on the recording as saying that impeachment is "off the table," and the Democratic majority seems to have no desire to remove the Bush administration from office. Instead they hope to hold out until the 2008 election and take the White House back the good old-fashioned "democratic" way. The media also seems hellbent on making Kucinich out to be a left-wing nutjob.

Continue reading "Kucinich Files Articles of Impeachment Against VP" »

Posted by J. Parker at 11:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

EcoGeek has the scoop on the upcoming all-electric Mini Cooper.

Green Car Congress on a Pennsylvania school district receiving a plug-in hybrid school bus.

Treehugger: Canada's new environment policy leaked early and 'Carbonfree' Light Bulbs: Offsets Done Right.

Grist Magazine has the skinny on Schwarzenegger's threats to sue the EPA.

Posted by J. Parker at 10:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

WARNING: Political Correctness has left the building. You may be able to find it wandering around the halls of CNN or FOX News with his good buddy Sensitivity, but I can assure you, you will not find him here.

If that doesn't sit well with you...then go fuck yourself.

Continue reading "Long live the Mooninites" »

Posted by J. Parker at 10:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Bush announced a new health care initiative Tuesday night at the State of the Union address that I haven't really heard many people talking about. So I thought I would take a jab at it.

Bush's plan: to allow people who are currently paying for health insurance to deduct it from their taxes at the end of the year (with limits I'm sure). One's gut reaction would probably be: "wow, that sounds like a pretty good deal." But I fear that the devil is hidden in the details (as he usually is).

Continue reading "Bush's new healthcare plan" »

Posted by J. Parker at 08:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Ford Motor Company has posted the biggest loss in the company's history. The auto giant is reporting a $5.8 billion loss in its fourth quarter making its total deficit for the year $12.7 billion.

So my question is this: if Ford is $12.7 billion in the hole for the year, how can it produce advertisements claiming that Fords are the #1 selling cars in America? Seems to me that if that was the case, they wouldn't be hurting so badly.

Continue reading "Ford posts biggest loss in its history" »

Posted by J. Parker at 08:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Senator Barack Obama has filed paperwork to form a presidential exploratory committee. According to a video statement that he released, come February 10, he will announce whether he will run for the office or not.

Continue reading "Obama forms presidential exploratory committee" »

Posted by J. Parker at 03:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)