Doug's Views: Media Archives

February 29, 2008

Can't we all just get along

This year it looks like no matter who is the Democratic candidate this will be the year for change in the White House. My fear is that inter-family squabbles might upset the apple cart and the Democrats will miss out again like they did in 2000.

Continue reading "Can't we all just get along" »

Posted by Doug at 10:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)
Posted to Media | Politics

December 11, 2007

Tom Brokaw on the Charlie Rose Show

watched a bit of Tom Brokaw on the Charlie Rose show tonight talking about his book "The Sixites" and the History Channel documentry on 1968 specifically (which was a good show - nothing about UFOs thank goodness). Here is a quote from that interview that sums up my personal philosophy.

Continue reading "Tom Brokaw on the Charlie Rose Show" »

November 13, 2007

Supporting the striking writers of the WGA

On November 13th, this blog and the blogs listed below will be on strike for the day in solidarity with the Writers Guild of America. As fellow writers and as TV fans, we are coming together to express our strong support for the writers and their goals. We believe that when a writer's work makes money for a company, that writer deserves to be paid.

Continue reading "Supporting the striking writers of the WGA" »

October 30, 2007

Thoughts on the Findlay Mayoral Forum

I posted on 10/24 about the recent Findlay Mayoral Forum that was held at University of Findlay on 10/22. It was broadcast on WFIN, WLFC, and UF-TV 20. At the time of my post I had not had a chance to see or hear the event and said I would get back to you. Well, I'm back.

Continue reading "Thoughts on the Findlay Mayoral Forum" »

October 28, 2007

It's Xanadu

Broadway adapts cult classic film "Xanadu" for the stage and while they play up the "plot" of the film they didn't touch the excellent music. That's good.

Continue reading "It's Xanadu" »

October 24, 2007

Some Ohio college students want to carry guns on campus

The Columbus Dispatch had a story on Tuesday 10/23 about a protest from some students who want to be able to have concealed weapons on campus. When Ohio adopted a concealed carry law they exempted university and college campuses. Students who feel such a prohibition is wrong, protested by wearing empty gun holster around campus. It just seems a bit childish as if carrying a gun is like some kind of gage of manliness or something. It would be better to just get a tattoo.

Continue reading "Some Ohio college students want to carry guns on campus" »

October 17, 2007

Ellen DeGeneres is in a dog fight

Sometimes one has to take a break and look at something that looks sad and funny at the same time. Recently talk show host Ellen DeGeneres and her partner Portia de Rossi adopted a small dog from the animal rescue organization "Mutts and Moms". It seems that the dog didn't get along with Ellen and Portia's cats so Ellen gave the dog to her hairstylist. When "Mutts and Moms" stopped by to check on the dog and found out that DeGeneres gave the dog away, they went to the hairstylist and took the dog back. They claim that DeGeneres violated the terms of the adoption when she didn't tell them she had given the dog away.

Continue reading "Ellen DeGeneres is in a dog fight" »

September 29, 2007

Become a banker through Kiva

Microfinance is where people are looking for financing for their ideas and businesses but the amount needed isn't the amount a typical bank would loan, if they would qualify, but if they could get it, it would make a huge difference in their lives. A new website Kiva.org lets all us get involved.

Continue reading "Become a banker through Kiva" »

September 23, 2007

Some thoughts on the Jena 6 protests

Protest the justice system and fight to get them all a fair hearing and see what happens.

Continue reading "Some thoughts on the Jena 6 protests" »

Posted by Doug at 2:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Posted to Culture | Life | Media

September 13, 2007

Protecting "our" children from books whether you like it or not

I was watching the local news on Wednesday when I came across a story about a book controversy in a local school district. It seems some parents complained about The Chocolate War an assigned book that they thought to be offensive. What is ironic is that one of the book and film's main theme is "conformity" - where the majority imposes orthodoxy in thoughts and belief. That is what censorship does. It imposes an orthodoxy in thoughts and beliefs by suppressing any that are contrary.

Continue reading "Protecting "our" children from books whether you like it or not" »

September 4, 2007

Diane Lane Tribute Page

To prove once again, how pale and friendless I am, I finally finished my long awaited tribute page to actor Diane Lane.

Continue reading "Diane Lane Tribute Page" »

August 27, 2007

Flooding brings back memories

The recent flooding reminded me of other times when the Blanchard flooded. The last major flood was in 1981. Rawson Park was a large lake, most county roads were closed, and a car dealer moved his inventory to overpass on Central Parkway to escape the water.

Continue reading "Flooding brings back memories" »

Posted by Doug at 2:57 AM | Permalink
Posted to Findlay | Hancock County | Life | Media

August 18, 2007

Big Ten Conference profiting from tax payers

Exclusive television deals aren't unusual. Notre Dame has had an exclusive deal with NBC for many years to broadcast its football games each fall. What is different is that the Big Ten Network (BTN) will be on cable and no local broadcast stations will be able to show games slated for the BTN. It seems to be a problem for programs supported by tax dollars.

Continue reading "Big Ten Conference profiting from tax payers" »

August 14, 2007

Tooting my own horn

Announcing makeovers of two of my blogs. Proving once again I have no life and am quite pale.

Continue reading "Tooting my own horn" »

August 3, 2007

I've won a prize

A few months back I entered the Humanist Vision contest sponsored by the American Humanist Association. The challenge was to create a "commercial" about Humanism and post it on YouTube. There was prize money involved and the goodwill of the Humanist movement. See my entry here.

Continue reading "I've won a prize" »

July 26, 2007

Courier finally uses some ink on Democrat in Mayor's race

Staff writer John Graber used about 800 words on the front page of the July 20th edition to talk about Knopf and point out that unlike Sehnert, Knopf has some actual ideas about what he wants to do in office when he is elected. That is more ink for Knopf than I have read since the election season began.

Continue reading "Courier finally uses some ink on Democrat in Mayor's race" »

Posted by Doug at 1:21 AM | Permalink
Posted to Findlay | Media | Politics

June 30, 2007

Courier editorial is wrong about Fairness Doctrine

I normally ignore Courier editorials because it is simply the paper's view of some issue and I usually don't care what their view is. This time I was compelled to respond. The editorial titled "Talk Radio" echoed the same conservative "talk" that passes for programing on radio stations like WFIN.

Continue reading "Courier editorial is wrong about Fairness Doctrine" »

Posted by Doug at 8:30 PM | Permalink
Posted to Culture | Findlay | Media | Politics

June 24, 2007

New home for this blog

This is the first post on this blog since I moved it to a new server. I moved because my previous host made it near impossible to maintain my blog

Continue reading "New home for this blog" »

Posted by Doug at 12:41 AM | Permalink
Posted to Computers | Life | Media | Site News

June 10, 2007

2008 Election Burn Out Not My Fault

A friend of mine on an e-mail list I participate asked us what we thought of the recent GOP presidential candidate debates. I made a snide comment: "There was a debate last night?" She said that one of those men could be the next the President so I should care. I don't and here's why:

Continue reading "2008 Election Burn Out Not My Fault" »

Posted by Doug at 2:39 AM | Permalink
Posted to Life | Media | Politics

May 25, 2007

On Star Wars - 30 years later

I remember it well. The film had been in theaters almost a year when I finally was able to see it. It was the talk of my school and several kids already had the action figures and other merchandise. We were too poor to see a movie all the time so I had to basically wait until my Mom got her tax refund. But there I sat in my seat at the old Cinema World theater just outside the Fort Findlay Mall.

Continue reading "On Star Wars - 30 years later" »

Posted by Doug at 1:16 AM | Permalink
Posted to Culture | Findlay | Media | Movies

May 8, 2007

Summer movies I love

This weekend was Superhero weekend for me. I rented the DVD of Superman Returns which I saw last summer and I fell in love with the film all over again. So I decided to post one of my favorite scenes

Continue reading "Summer movies I love" »

Posted by Doug at 1:46 AM | Permalink
Posted to Life | Media | Movies

March 17, 2007

I want my NFL please

When I moved to Columbus the issue because troublesome. I am now in the middle of 2 team's market area (Cleveland and Cincinnati) and also could be included in a 3rd (Pittsburgh) and all of them are in the AFC. Our local CBS station has the thankless job of deciding which team to show each week of the season especially if they are playing at the same time - which seems to be most of the time. The NFL and CBS doesn't allow WBNS to move the other games to another channel like WWHO which is a broadcast channel or to a dedicated digital cable channel.

Continue reading "I want my NFL please" »

March 13, 2007

No, I don't listen to Glenn Beck

I discovered that this site was mentioned on the listener forum for conservative radio host Glenn Beck. So I checked it out. Here are some answers to the questions posed by the readers there:

Continue reading "No, I don't listen to Glenn Beck" »

November 13, 2006

Louise Brooks an Icon

November 14th marks the 100th birthday of one of the most iconic actresses of the silent era. Louise Brooks was only active in films for a few years but she left an incredible mark that influences culture even today. To mark her birthday I created a tribute page on Brooks and why I like her.

Continue reading "Louise Brooks an Icon" »

October 1, 2006

When moralists throw stones....

Less than a week after former President Clinton handed the right wing their ass on Bin Laden and President Bush had more proof of his lies thrown in his face when the National Intelligence Estimate came out, a sex scandal has erupted in the US House of Representatives. Rep. Mark Foley (R-Florida) resigned suddenly after learning a report on his inappropriate Internet contact with a 16 year old House page was about to be reported on ABC News.

Continue reading "When moralists throw stones...." »

Posted by Doug at 6:28 PM | Permalink
Posted to Life | Media | Politics

September 25, 2006

President Clinton hands Fox News its ass

The buzz in the political pundit arena today is the interview former President Bill Clinton had with Fox News' Chris Wallace. It was suppose to be about Clinton's work on his Global Initiative project which includes the support from Fox News owner Rupert Murdoch. Wallace instead tried to ambush Clinton about the current myth spinning in conservative pundit land - that Clinton didn't do enough to kill Osma Bin Laden during his presidency.

Continue reading "President Clinton hands Fox News its ass" »

Posted by Doug at 5:14 AM | Permalink
Posted to Media | Politics

September 11, 2006

9/11 still powerful after 5 years

I still vividly remember what I was doing that morning in 2001 when the first reports came in, I was noodling on the computer. I had just come home from my night job and I had the "Today" show on in the background while I decompressed before going to bed. After seeing the 2nd plane hit the tower I didn't go to bed until around Midnight the next day.

Continue reading "9/11 still powerful after 5 years" »

September 4, 2006

Good Luck Katie

On Tuesday, September 5th, Katie Couric will begin as a sole anchor of the CBS Evening News. Couric spent 15 years on the fluff news show "Today" on NBC so some have complained that she won't succeed on a "hard" news show. Some have said she wouldn't because of being on "Today" while others say it because she is a woman - they still think a woman can't deliver the news.

Continue reading "Good Luck Katie" »

Posted by Doug at 4:54 PM | Permalink
Posted to Media | Women

August 31, 2006

Cowtown Qube

Qube was the first try at interactive television and debuted in Columbus in 1977. It was a demonstration project from Warner Cable (now Time-Warner Cable).

Continue reading "Cowtown Qube" »

Posted by Doug at 10:35 AM | Permalink
Posted to Columbus | Culture | Media

August 19, 2006

Who cares about the murder of JonBenet?

It must be August - the dog days of summer - when our supposed mainstream media have nothing to report so we get stories right out of the old "True Crime" magazine. Just like the obsession on the Scott Peterson case, or the missing co-end in Aruba, the media seem to obsess about scandalous stuff.

Continue reading "Who cares about the murder of JonBenet?" »

Posted by Doug at 12:59 AM | Permalink
Posted to Culture | Life | Media

July 31, 2006

History of MTV

At 12:01 am on August 1st 1981 Music Television - MTV for short - signed on the air. The cable channel changed the cultural landscape in many ways - not all of them positive. Here is a list of the videos played in the first hour back in 1981

Continue reading "History of MTV" »

August 8, 2005

Peter Jennings 1938-2005

The "face" of ABC News died today and I really miss him. I was a Cronkite kid, growing up with Uncle Walter who I trusted as much as my mom. Then when he retired and Dan Rather took over I was a bit lost. For some reason I just never cared for Dan.

Continue reading "Peter Jennings 1938-2005" »

August 7, 2005

How REAL is Big Brother 6????

The largest unkept secret is that reality TV is not unscripted as they advertise. Most are taped weeks before you see them and themes or story lines are worked out either in general before the show tapes or as the show is produced.

Continue reading "How REAL is Big Brother 6????" »

Posted by Doug at 10:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Posted to Media | Television

May 20, 2005

A Couple of Funnies

If you enjoy life then you like to laugh at the absurd. I got a couple for you today from the past week.

Continue reading "A Couple of Funnies" »

Posted by Doug at 10:59 AM | Permalink
Posted to Culture | Media | Television

January 27, 2005

Michael Medved shouldn't be a film critic

Something happened to Medved. It is the same thing that happened to ABC TV's John Stossel. Medved became a cranky conservative. He now is referred to in the press as "conservative commentator and cultural critic". He still feels he must review movies from his conservative perspective.

Continue reading "Michael Medved shouldn't be a film critic" »

Posted by Doug at 3:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Posted to Media | Movies | Religion

January 13, 2005

"Rathergate" still doesn't change the facts

Okay, let me get this straight. An "independent" investigation of the 60 Minutes September 2004 report on discrepancies in President Bush's National Guard service record cost the jobs of 4 CBS staffers. Senior vice president Betsy West, 60 Minutes executive producer Josh Howard and senior broadcast producer Mary Murphy have all been asked to resign. Producer Mary Mapes was dismissed for what was called a "Myopic zeal" in reporting the story based on documents that may have been forged. Yet the investigation could not state conclusively whether the documents were forgeries or not. The report also found no evidence that political bias was a factor in the network's journalism.

Continue reading ""Rathergate" still doesn't change the facts" »

Posted by Doug at 1:33 AM | Permalink
Posted to Media | Politics

November 1, 2004

Bush has edge in final NY Times poll even though it shows he has done a bad job overall

Today is the last day of the long 2004 Election season. Living in a "battleground" state has been interesting and tiring. Each of the Presidential candidates kept coming around about once a week for months. Each seems that neither want to let the other have the last visit as if that will matter.

Continue reading "Bush has edge in final NY Times poll even though it shows he has done a bad job overall" »

Posted by Doug at 12:08 AM | Permalink
Posted to Media | Politics

October 24, 2004

Why The Dispatch endorsement of Bush is a vote for Kerry

My local newspaper, The Columbus(Ohio) Dispatch, printed their endorsement for President this morning (October 24). They picked George Bush for another term in office. Why?

Continue reading "Why The Dispatch endorsement of Bush is a vote for Kerry" »

Posted by Doug at 11:31 AM | Permalink
Posted to Columbus | Media | Politics

July 13, 2004

Stewart zings Blitzer - film at 11

I was watching The Daily Show tonight and Jon Stewart had on Wolf Blitzer from CNN. Stewart just hammered Blitzer about the 9/11 Senate Report released today.

Continue reading "Stewart zings Blitzer - film at 11" »

Posted by Doug at 2:58 AM | Permalink
Posted to Culture | Life | Media | Television

June 17, 2004

A Look At the Uber Fan

Music, like all forms of art, allows us to express ourselves to others. Music can convey the full rage of human emotions. Music we love is any that touches us in whatever way we are feeling or want to feel. It is a given that not all of us feel the same way or enjoy music in the same way.

Continue reading "A Look At the Uber Fan" »

Posted by Doug at 2:40 AM | Permalink
Posted to Life | Media | Music

May 27, 2004

Sometimes conservatives just don't get it and it has nothing do with liberal elitism

I read the May 19th Cal Thomas column that appeared in the May 25th Dispatch (Marriage Massachusetts-style). He comments that the so-called moral and cultural boundaries have been removed since the move to consumption and pleasure replaced restraint and acting on behalf of the general welfare after World War II. He thinks that the decision to allow same sex marriage in Massachusetts was just a wave in that movement.

Continue reading "Sometimes conservatives just don't get it and it has nothing do with liberal elitism" »

Posted by Doug at 2:17 AM | Permalink
Posted to Media | Politics | Religion

April 29, 2004

I'm addicted to "Chick Flicks"

It hit me in the theater the other day as I watching the 8 hours of previews before the film I paid money to see in the first place. I am addicted to chick flicks. I love those movies that either star women or are for women and teen girls. It creeped on me slowly but I finally became aware that maybe my "man card" was running out.

Continue reading "I'm addicted to "Chick Flicks"" »

Posted by Doug at 1:53 AM | Permalink
Posted to Life | Media | Movies | Women

March 4, 2004

10 Commandments Letter Exchange

I write letters to the editor of local newspapers I read. Ususally something I read upsets me enough I have to respond. One exchange took place between September 22 and October 1, 2003, in the Findlay Ohio Courier newspaper. I was born and raised in Findlay and I read the on-line edition of the paper everyday. I wrote in response to an article related to the Judge Roy Moore 10 Commandments legal case.

Continue reading "10 Commandments Letter Exchange" »

Posted by Doug at 12:20 PM | Permalink
Posted to Findlay | Hancock County | Media | Religion

February 17, 2004

The Bell Curve: Science or Political Statement?

This essay was the result of a discussion I was having on an e-mail list in which I participate called Human_ism back, in 2000. The person I was debating about The Bell Curve accused me of not reading the book as we debated the merits of it. I had not read the book. I came to my views about it from articles I read about the book. So, to take that argument away from my opponent, I bought the book (ugh) and read it (My eyes! My eyes).

Continue reading "The Bell Curve: Science or Political Statement?" »

Posted by Doug at 12:19 AM | Permalink
Posted to Humanism | Media | Politics | Writing

February 5, 2004

Do you believe in Miracles?

Most Americans will remember that famous line uttered by sportscaster Al Michaels as he called the final seconds in the 1980 Olymic Hockey tournament semi-finals pitting the US team versus the powerful Soviet team. The US had won 4-3 and the next day beat Finland to win its first Gold medal in hockey since 1960. A major motion picture called "Miracle" debuts on February 6th which tells the story of the 1980 team and its coach Herb Brooks who did the impossible.

Continue reading "Do you believe in Miracles?" »

Posted by Doug at 5:56 PM | Permalink
Posted to Culture | Media | Movies | Sports

January 22, 2004

Happy Birthday Diane Lane

Today is the birthday of my favorite actor - Diane Lane

Continue reading "Happy Birthday Diane Lane" »

Posted by Doug at 12:23 PM | Permalink
Posted to Media | Women

May 21, 2003

Law & Order just broadcast

Law & Order just broadcast their 300th episode. Who'd thunk it?

Continue reading "Law & Order just broadcast" »

Posted by Doug at 11:21 PM | Permalink
Posted to Culture | Life | Media

Doug's Views

A unique look at my world. Includes my interests and complaints