The Butt of Jokes (and Cars)

Now that this will soon be obsolete, apparently, thanks to the Utah congressional delegation, we need a new motto for all those rust-buckets, gas-guzzlers, and limos in Mayor Adrian Fenty's motorcade.

Any suggestions? Here are a few:

"I'm driving to New York for decent pizza."

"Your vehicle is illegally wiretapped."

"My other pistol is a sawed-off."

"Road Head: Ray LaHood or Larry Craig?"

"D.C.: Free Museums Here, You Mooch."

"In the event of an Obama sighting, this vehicle will be temporarily unmanned."

"Experience the History: W. Mark Felt, Dana Stubblefield, Orlando Letelier."

"You probably hate cars in general."

"All Your Field Trips Are Belong to Us."

"Twit(ter) Capital USA."

Naoum Contribution -

"D.C.: It's like LA but with ugly people"

"Socialism.gov"

Paling around with Obama

This weekend I am at a Communications Law & Policy Symposium in Syracuse NY. The goal of the conference is to put together a comprehensive memo for Obama on a number of the key telecom, Internet and media issues...

although driving up and dinner in the Cuse were great, I think I would much rather have been hanging out with Obama here.

where have you gone...

...washerdreyer?

Even Realer than the Real Thing

I'm not sure what it says about us that this is one of America's most moving places and sounds that patriotic bass note that many of us feel throughout our lives, but the thing itself has played out in a thoroughly political way, all while the mothers weep and the fathers try to look stoic.

As someone who has seen wounded U.S. soldiers and attended a soldier's funeral in his line of work, my heart and head say it's the right decision.

Calling Joe Walsh

The Rocky Mountain News has officially lost its Rocky Mountain Way. I understand that tomorrow when the paper closes, the reporters and editors will build a jury-rig mountain out of desks and chairs, shoot a snow machine at it for 10 minutes, then ski down the peak and out the front doors in protest.

And according to Pew Research Center polling data, Denver is the most desirable city to call home in America.

How desirable can a city be when it loses one of its two major newspapers? (RMN daily circulation stood at 255,000 three years ago.) Wait, don't answer that...

Spring is in the air

Actually it's cold and rainy here.

But I just finished reading the the Summer of '49 (excellent read btw) and they're playing baseball in Florida! woo hoo!

More on my love for the Louisiana Governor

Like I posted here yesterday, this guy really gives me the creeps. Paul Begala writes a great article in the Daily Beast comparing Obama and Jindal to a child fighting Muhammad Ali.

Also for those of you that do not read thedailybeast.com you need to check out their Cheat Sheet, it is just a great summary of different stories throughout the day.

Are They Really the Same Thing?

From a recent mediabistro mail-out:

"I'm delighted to announce our newest online course, Writing About Parenting. Instructor Ziba Kashef is editor-at-large at Pregnancy, where she was formerly editor-in-chief..."

Italics added.

I mean, one follows the other. They don't occur simultaneously and aren't equivalent, at least with each child. It's like having someone in the American steel industry advise General Motors. ("Well, we both suck right now!") Of course if you took this song literally you could think otherwise I guess.

Epic economic fail

Thankfully,as far as I know this does not apply to me. But I did just find out that I won't be starting work until October. What should I do with my extra 3 weeks of pre-BIGlaw life?

How AT&T can increase your viewing experience

So is watching a football game more enjoyable if it costs you $29,000. At least this guy was not a Lions fan.

This is where all that talk of Open Access and Nationwide Broadband might come in handy.

hot wings

I ate too many.

Apparently this blog has readers who are not interested in my digestion.
I, for better or worse, now have hot wings on my mind. The ones I ate last night were kind of crappy. And I paid $8 for 12 wings! I should have my head examined.

There are lots of great things about Chicago...

in the summer. During the winter about the only thing we have going for us is the fact that you can eat 10 cent wings almost any night of week. So what was I doing getting crummy, expensive chicken wings at a pizza place last n...

Wow. Sorry. This is even more boring than Low Power FM radio.


UPDATE

Here in DC, everyone knows Jumbo slice. But what they might not know is that the Disco Jumbo Slice on U St., has Tandoori chicken wings with sour cream and cucumber dipping sauce. That is what is up.

Naoum

New Word - Retrosexual

Bravo Deirdre! This Article is fantastic! I knew my friend was writing this article but I did not know if it came out yet. I was sitting at my desk thinking, whatever happened to that piece she was talking about, and sure enough Google came through once again.

Deirdre did a study on retrosexuals, in other words people that start up relationships with others from their past. Either old relationships re kindled or high school crushes that reignite. I found the piece really interesting and it is certainly a fun read.

Enjoy!

Pull the Ayatollah's Beard for 500 Points

Then pull his leg in negotiations over nuclear centrifuges for 1,000 points. Just kidding.

Is this the "future of news" that has been sought for the way Col. Percy Fawcett tried to catch a peek of the city of "Z" in the Amazon? The gaming community on the Internet shares some similarities with current events blogs: inside information sharing and insult culture in the comments section, predictions about what's coming next, and digitized camaraderie.

Maybe we are reaching the point where everything can be interactive, even stories about health care or defense contracts. Perhaps the goal is to make a "Guitar Hero" for policy and political questions. But as it's been pointed out before, one negative social consequence of things like "Guitar Hero" is the creation of aversion to difficulty.

This Mic is Now Hot

In addition to being the soul of wit, brevity is also the soul of good writing. In that spirit: hello, nice to be here, thanks Naoum.
OK, here’s a bit more.
Takuan, my signature on this blog, was a 17th century Japanese monk. He was sort of a dyspeptic Jiminy Cricket, mixing colorful exhortations and comical insults in the middle of startling mood swings. Being a monk, he moralized. He also wrote a lot of hectoring school marm prose, counseled nobles and badgered Japan's greatest samurai Musashi (at least in fiction), and devised the neon-yellow radish often called the Takuan pickle, which instantly makes your mouth contract into a thousand deep wrinkles.
So you see, Takuan would have done very well in Washington! Then again, if anyone has ever come up with a new and notable culinary dish in D.C., this has so far eluded the investigative reporters at The Washington Post.
Still, it’s an interesting place. It’s an interesting time to be here. Given that there is an actual town in Japan called Obama, I’m sure Takuan, if he were actually here, would be incredibly confused. Welcome to the Washingtonian condition. I’ll be keeping an eye on it for you, along with the world of journalism.

Finicky Fish Require Better Fisherman

This article from Ad Age claims that our impulsive DVR and Interweb driven media viewing habits have not negatively effect TV advertising. Of course this article is written by Ad Age, and it is probably in their best interest to keep the spirits of advertisers and TV sales departments high, but might they actually be telling the truth?

I agree with the quote, "when the fish get finicky...it makes you a better fisherman. The presentation of the bait and how it is delivered -- getting it in the right spot at the right time --becomes critical." It seems like advertising on TV might even be considered an artform.

My Old Boss and Current Boss

Here is a video from the CSPAN series the Communicators. Their guest last Friday was FCC Commissioner and my former boss, Jonathan Adelstein.

This program does a great job of taking the current Media and Telecom issues and framing them in a way that makes them accessible to the general public. We are at a "Crucial Point" in our country's technological and media development and I believe everyone should play a part or at least keep informed of the important issues. Regulation in this period is inevitable and if we the public do not involve ourselves in the legislative and rule making process, we will wake up and realize that all the proposed regulations benefit the large media conglomerates who have invested millions in lobbying efforts to boost their profit margins.

Aside from this rant...another important issues that has come up recently is the idea of reinstating the Fairness Doctrine. I plan on posting my thoughts on the Fairness Doctrine in the near future, but in the meantime here is my current boss, Jerry Fritz, in an earlier version of the Communicators discussing a number of issues including the Fairness Doctrine.

My Old Neighbors

I used to live right next to this place. When it first opened no one would ever be in there, then all of a sudden the place started booming (Now I think I know why.)

My friend stopped by for a smoke and a beer last week and was upset to find out the our neighborhood Hade Bade had stopped serving alcohol. Seems like very long sentences are the only things they will be serving now....HEEEH!

Oh God!

Check out the video here from MSNBC. This clip explains everything. I think it is a little disrespectful considering the times and issues we are facing as a nation to come out and give this sort of speech after the President just spoke about unifying the country and finding a better way out of this crisis.

I know there are not many readers of this site, but doesn't anyone think that the whole converting to Catholicism (which happens to go over very well in a state like Louisiana), all that talk about curses and devils (also a Louisiana thing) and his threats to turn down Stimulus money (1% actually while he makes it seems like he is turning down all of it) is a load of bull @#$%?

I kind of want to start campaigning for Obama in 2012 right now...

A Friday Night Must

So...I have a new Friday night spot!

JoJo's on U St. Apparently the website is down or else I would post the link.

Every Friday Night there is this band called the "Just Us Band" featuring King Snake. These guys are awesome, MoTown, James Brown, Ottis Redding, Marvin Gaye...everything.

Got there around 9 o'clock and sat at a table with about 6 other people, originally planning to leave after about a drink. This band was soo good, I did not I leave until they were done playing (probably sometime around 1am.) Everyone in this little place was on their feet dancing and singing. I was amazed, and King Snake casually told me that it was like that every Friday.

Caution - the place is small, but the Margaritas and the Burgers to complement the music were delicious.

FCC Conditions on Mergers, Enforceable?

This article http://groups.google.com/group/gio-talk/browse_thread/thread/b1195fa18a7feeaa/d06e2237c2c25d10?lnk=raot#d06e2237c2c25d10 from the Media reform Listserv, brings up a number of interesting questions.

First, how is the Rural Broadband money from the Stimulus Bill really going to be doled out? It seems like both Verizon and AT&T have dropped the ball in this area, and should not receive Stimulus money for something that they already promised to do.

Second, when the FCC places conditions on Mergers such as the AT&T BellSouth Merger, how is it possible for them to hold the companies accountable and bring an enforcement action if the conditions are not met? The FCC's authority is to regulate in the "Public Interest," and they have control over the licenses. If this is the case and this article is correct when it says that AT&T made a number of promises for access to low cost DSL for every customer, then why has the FCC not stepped in with any enforcement actions?

I feel like I might do a little more research into this area.

Never Get Dish!

DISH Satellite TV is a Scam!!! Service goes out all the time, my Fox Soccer Channel never works, if it is cloudy I only get about 10 channels...AND now that I have been a customer for over three months, I need to pay $29.00 if I want a technition to come out to my house and fix any sort of reception problem.

Verizon Where Are You!!!

I came across this article about MD HB1182 the Statewide Cable Franchising Bill. The author of the article is calling for everyone to call in to their state representative and stop this Bill from passing.

Apparently the Bill will eliminate local franchising, do away with franchising fees and get rid of local public access requirements. I am a strong believer in public access channels and cable franchises that work (where the local community holds the cable company accountable to the franchise contract.) However, if there is no accountability for the cable companies then the franchise is essentially a monopoly allowing the cable company to provide exclusive service to an area with no price or other restrictions or competition. (This is the problem with my neighborhood the only cable provider I can choose from is Comcast).

The idea of the public service commission taking over the responsibility of the local community franchisers might not be so bad. This might allow for more competition and may even drive one competitor to offer an internally funded PEG station as a competitive advantage.

Ok I do not completely believe that last statement but I am furious with DISH, do not like Comcast and do not seem to have many other options.

DTV Delay and 700 MHz Auction

While there have been numerous articles and blogs discussing the pros and cons of the DTV delay I have not seen much written about the effects on Verizon, AT&T and the other companies that were supposed to start using the freed up spectrum TODAY.

I have a series of questions surrounding the rights of these companies and their ability to sue for some form of "taking." First, what exactly happens if Qualcom Verizon or AT&T wanted to roll out some of their next generation services on their new spectrum? Do the companies have a right to compensation if the DTV Delay Bill is taking away all economic use and value of their newly acquired property? How is spectrum considered in terms of property, because the airwaves are essentially just leased to be used in the public's interest?

I just thought I would write down my questions and answer them as soon as I can get a real answer...



UPDATE:

The questions above really boiled down to what category of property the Spectrum falls into. The AT&Ts and Verizon's have bid on the Spectrum but they do not have ownership rights of the Spectrum. Spectrum is owned by the public.

As for the Regulatory Taking issue; the Sierra Tahoe case raises questions as to whether a restriction on use for such a short period of time can really amount to a per se taking deserving of just compensation.

In the end however we will never have to reach these questions because AT&T and Verizon would never raise a stink about the DTV Delay because it would bring them very bad publicity.