Sick of the news

I'm normally a news junkie, but this week I just can't watch it. It's worse when I'm away from home, because so few hotel channel lineups include FoxNews. Drudge lets me know about the big happenings, but even that tends to feel like scandal journalism after a while. I get so worn out listening to the incredibly liberal media slant on other channels. Case in point, MSNBC's Hardball. After reading Michelle Malkin's explanation of her recent interview, I'm even more disgusted with the way many of those in the media manipulate the message to serve their own purpose. Michelle was there to push her book, but they asked her to participate in a discussion about the Swift Boat Vets for Truth. Instead of being able to voice her opinion, she was shouted down at every point, while Willie Brown was allowed to make ad homenim attacks against the people who wrote the book. Apparently, Chris Matthews hadn't even read the book and wasn't aware of the claims inside. Michelle never got to talk about her book.

Cronkite retires

The venerable Walter Cronkite wrote his last newspaper column to retire. The interview on Reuters gives some perspectives on newspaper vs. television. A legend like him deserves to make a final statement about the nature of the press, and I found his well reasoned and insightful.

Sailing, sailing

Specifically, garage-sailing. Not sure why anyone would want to sail a garage, not very maneuverable (manoeverable?) I would expect. Tomorrow and Saturday, on our driveway, we're featuring some of the stuff we can live without in the hopes that someone else can't. Tricia's mom brought (rather, sent) a bunch of her teaching materials out in the hopes we'll attract a lot of teachers. Unfortunately, an unavoidable meeting at work called me away for Friday morning. Doesn't look like I'm going to be able to help the first day. It's unlikely I'll even be home in time for any part of the Friday sale. I guess the hardcore garage-salers show up Friday, but the mad rush is obviously Saturday. Hey, as long as we move some of this stuff, I'll be glad. No, I take that back. I'm actually somewhat nervous about what might get sold while I'm out of range. My comfy chair, any of the old computers in my basement, or who knows what clothes. I suggested that Ethan sell lemonade, tea, or maybe even some of my soda stockpile. (Currently five and a half 24-can flats of a really broad mix.) It might be just the ticket to keep him out of everyone's hair. Oh, and he's selling some of his toys. Trish has tagged them with a different color, and Ethan gets to decide how to spend the "take". Seems like a reasonable way to get him to part with stuff he may otherwise want to keep.

Scary Kerry

I'm an avid reader of The Drudge Report. Recently, Drudge has been covering information about a group calling themselves Swift Boat Veterans for Truth who are determined to set the record straight on Senator John Kerry's tour in Viet Nam. Their story, if true (and it appears to be so), is that Kerry is unfit for command because of the lies and distortions in his record. Among other things, he lied to obtain his medals, and was a "loose cannon" who couldn't be trusted to carry out direct orders. His commanding officer accuses him of coming to Viet Nam with intentions of building a political career. Today, I followed some links off the swiftvets site and discovered even more damaging evidence against Kerry at the curiously similar website The Winter Soldier Investigation. Apparently, a "War Remnants" museum in North Korea shows a picture honoring John Kerry for helping them defeat America in the Viet Nam War! The story of the picture is here, and verified here. An excerpt from the page (emphasis mine):

Jeff Epstein explains the importance of the photograph: "This photograph's unquestionable significance lies in its placement in the American protestors' section of the War Crimes Museum in Saigon. The Vietnamese communists clearly recognize John Kerry's contributions to their victory. This find can be compared to the discovery of a painting of Neville Chamberlain hanging in a place of honor in Hitler's Eagle's Nest in 1945."

I've never been one for political activism, but this is shocking and revolting! Anybody else having flashbacks of The Manchurian Candidate?