Sun 31 Dec 2006
Every year, I see news websites poll their readers about top stories, yet they only give readers three or four choices, leading to skewed and inaccurate answers.
The Hartford Independent Media Center wants to really know what you think. What events from 2006 do you think were the most important or newsworthy? Leave your responses in the comments area.
Fri 29 Dec 2006
While the nation morns a president others of us morn what could have been. Ford’s presidential pardon for Nixon has paved the way for a culture of cynicism that expects white-collar crime just as surely as nothing is done about it. By letting Watergate slide by with impunity the message has echoed for decades: those in power are not subject to any accountability. Getting off the hook has become a presedential and big business pastime. Iran-Contra. Enron. The current administration has too many examples to list.
Fri 29 Dec 2006
I’ve been a member of WWUH 91.3fm, public alternative radio, for over six years now. In that time my knowledge and appreciation for various musics have expanded exponentially. The single most influential music host to me on the WWUH staff: Maurice Robertson.
Much has been said recently about the 30 year WWUH career of “Wild” Wayne Jones and his Rock n’ Roll Memory Machine, including numerous congratulations from the musicians he’s served over the years. Rightly so. The show is amazing, bringing listeners not only an expanding early rock n’ roll canon, but history and anecdotes neglected in mainstream commercial media. Jones deserves all these kudos and then some. (more…)
Fri 29 Dec 2006
Military officials are trying a new approach to entice college students to serve in the Army and Marine Corps. Government and TV industry insiders tell Veterans of Future Wars that military recruiters have watched jealously as reality shows attract thousands of young, well-educated participants who don’t seem to mind putting up with all sorts of embarassing, uncomfortable and physically demanding conditions for relatively little reward. (more…)
Thu 28 Dec 2006
With the exiting of the Republican majority in Congress next week, progressive media outlets are celebrating, cautiously heralding a new era of ethical and social reform. But while just about any Congress would be better than the 109th was, the overtaking of Washington by Democrats does not even begin to address the flaws inherent in our currently corporate-ran, deep-pockets-win electoral system. In fact, the results of this past midterm election have only perpetuated the problem of misrepresentation rampant in government, both nationally and locally.
In the upcoming Congressional sessions, I and my district will be represented in Washington by Senators Chris Dodd and Joe Lieberman, and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro. Do I even know who these people are? More importantly, do they even know who I am?
(more…)
Thu 28 Dec 2006
In the brave new world of 21st Century postmodernism, certain ideas can’t possibly be expressed. It’s not that the expression of these ideas is forbidden. Rather, it’s that there can be no consensual understanding of them, and so their expression communicates nothing. (more…)
Thu 28 Dec 2006
from WTNH:
(Deep River-WTNH Dec. 27, 2006 9:45 PM)_ State police are on the scene at Cockaponset State Park in Deep River where a 23 year old male feel 25 feet while hiking with a friend.
Thu 28 Dec 2006
Time to plan a protest!
Below is information on a “sexual brokenness” conference in Kensington.
Queer activists from around Hartford are organizing to protest this event.
Please contact Steve at DaytonBear@aol.com to get involved!
Here’s the info:
Healing Sexual Brokenness Through the Father’s Love
http://www.exodus-international.org/ministry-to-exgays-events.shtml_
Thursday, January 18 - 21, 2007
Kensington, CT
Wed 27 Dec 2006
Once again, American corporate media mangles what could be a multi-dimensional news item: the possibility for polar bears to be listed as an endangered species. The Hartford Courant, MSNBC, and a bevy of other news outlets published some version of Juliet Eilperin’s Washington Post article, which would have been a fine example of journalism, if it weren’t for an omission of one major part of the story–oil. (more…)
Wed 27 Dec 2006
It is almost certain that the FDA will approve food and milk from cloned animals the end of this week. Consistent with their track record, the FDA has expedited approval, ignoring contrary input from scientists, food safety advocates, and even industry, not to mention an overwhelmingly skeptical public. According to the Center for Food Safety, little is actually known about the health hazards and other ramifications of cloned animals, although it is clear that genetic abnormalities are more common and that because surrogate mothers are treated with high doses of hormones clones are born with compromised immune systems which then opens the door for veterinary pharmaceuticals in the our food supply. Read on here.
Kind of reminds me of the bangup job that the FDA has done with genetically modifided foods, particularly the lack of research and testing, or is the lack of regulation, or maybe I am thinking about how none of these products are/will be labled as GM or cloned? Recommended reading: Seeds of Deception.