Posts Tagged ‘reality’

MSNBC worth paying for?

Posted: May 4, 2009 by datechguy in oddities, opinion/news
Tags: , ,

Newsbusters covers the Broohahhah concerning many cable networks making MSNBC a pay network.

With that all as pretext, readers should be aware that cable and satellite companies have not dropped MSNBC. Instead, in some cases, and for whatever the reason, its accessibility may have become more expensive and its position in the channel lineup may have changed.

Kos’ kids are blaming the ratings on the move:

In the past few weeks, it has come to my personal attention that one cable or satellite company after another has been quietly moving MSNBC away from the news channel section of their lineup and into the premium section, or into the stratosphere of three and four digit channels.

As a result, when the ratings came out this week, it was no surprise to see how MSNBC is now a distant third behind CNN and FOX.

I think it’s exactly backwards. I think MSNBC is like Turner Classic Network. It is a niche network and the cable companies have figured out that they don’t get any bang by giving it away. The Kos kids WILL pay for their MSNBC because they are the niche that MSNBC markets for (except for Morning Joe)

I like TCN but if I want it I have to pay for it because most people don’t care for the old stuff enough to pay for it. (Actually I watch the few movies they offer on demand free since I can’t afford it right now). This is MSNBC all over.

They are programming for the Choir and the Choir will pay.

How can you tell that the president is no longer named Bush?

Because this headline and story can run in the dying Boston Globe:

Accidental deaths plaguing US in Iraq

The 130,000 American troops serving in Iraq are more likely to die in accidents, from natural causes, or in other “nonhostile” incidents than at the hands of insurgents, according to Defense Department statistics for the past eight months ending in April.

Funny I don’t remember the Globe ever noticing a difference between combat and non combat deaths before or mentioning Accidental anything. It was all about the Evil BushCheneyHitlerNeoConRepublican destroying young American boys and girls and pillaging and ravings Iraq.

The Globe better get it out of their system while they can, they have so little time

My post earlier this week about the worm turning managed to get more hits than anything I put up since the Boston teaparty photos or my instalance.

I’d like to think its because the conservative troops not only can be rallied but WANT to be rallied. They know that in the end reality trumps a facade, they are spoiling for a fight and just need to be pointed in the direction to do so. Well apparently the Sundries Shack via the green room sees the same potential that Rush and I do:

The thing is, the left hears the distant rumble of America’s real muscle and they are worried. You can see it, if you brave the shrill bloviations and glib japes and get close enough to look in their eyes. They feel the real change coming and they know. That’s why they’ve gotten louder and more shrill and are taking shots at anything that moves. The gnawing feeling in their guts is telling them, more and more, that they don’t have the stranglehold on us they think they do.

And part of fighting back, of being Conan instead of Captain America? Calling them on things:

Hold Obama and his Administration in toto to standards we’d expect and demand from friends, neighbors, businesses we deal with, or our own children, ourselves. You get the picture.

If Obama says there will be transparency in governance and government…OK, Mr, President…where is that transparency?

If Obama and Pelosi and Reid claim their’s is or will be the most ethical ever…hold their feet to the fire. Not one step backward. Push back. Make it clear to the American people where the threats are and who is aiding and enabling those threats to grow. I am not willing to bet my life, nor that of my children, nor my grandchildren, on the misteps and platitudes of this Administration. Are you?

Not one step backward!

Calling them out is easy. When a “feminist” or a liberal attacks a woman because of her appearance call her out. Remember there were feminists during the last election that knew candidate Obama for was he was is. And others discovering his promises are smoke. An honest feminist or liberal will call out a misogynist no matter their politics or sex.

When the president says he wants a dialog take him up on the offer. And when he ignores it ask: why? Remember how many months has it been since Rush offered him time on his show to debate the issues with him and the White house still has its tail between its legs? Note the dismissive comments at the Tea Party Site by the brave acolytes of this White House. They know their leader’s strength is image not reality so his followers make excuses and insults. This is called fear.

Remember these guys over reach. Don’t forget the feared John Stewart was given a spanking by Bill Whittle and he apologizes publicly.

The worm continues to turn. We just have to keep fighting.

Update: The other McCain get it on the Misogyny bit:

Please remind me of this video, next time a feminist calls me a misogynist.

And he fights!

Ah the joys of public sector unions

Posted: April 30, 2009 by datechguy in local stuff, oddities
Tags: ,

Was at the post office today to quickly pick up stamps since I had a bill or two to pay. I noticed that the stamp machine was down. Fortunately there was no line so I was able to get my stamps quickly.

While there I asked how long the machine was down, the clerk told me that it was down permanently. The order came from on high to shut it.

This didn’t make any sense to me since it would make the normally long lines even longer. It didn’t make much sense to her either but that was the order.

On my way home I stopped at Romano’s Mkt and told the story to Mike. Since the guy who used to maintain those machines lived upstairs of the market he had interesting details to tell.

Apparently my local post office wanted to add another clerk to shorten the lines. As money is tight they needed to move someone to the clerk line. The fellow who maintains the machines was elected.

I asked why he couldn’t just fill the machines in the spare time? Well under the union contract the maintenance of the machine is classified as a full time position, the clerks can’t touch them. This had been a sweet deal for the fellow since it didn’t take 40 hours a week to maintain the machines so he was on easy street.

So the post office had two bad options to choose from: Continuing to give full time pay for part time work, or make him a clerk but eliminate the stamp machines. They choose the later likely figuring at least he would have to work for his pay.

Thus a foolish union rule made a government agency less responsive to the public while appearing as a positive on the accounting books.

As the public sector grows under this president expect to see a lot more of this efficiency all across the board.