Olberman vs. O'Reilly vs. Dr. Tiller

In thier latest battle of words, Olbermann vs. O'Reilly round 5 so to speak, finds Olbermann ronouncing and blasting O'Reilly for his vehament pro-life rhetoric. The recent slaying of late term abortion Dr. George Tiller in his local church has given Olbermann cause to cite O'Reilly for his anti-abortion campaign on his Fox News show, No Spin Zone (insert laughter here). Olbermann claims O'Reilly and his ilk are part of the problem, in that their hate speech fuels people like the gunman in this case, to act like vigilanty zealots. O'Reilly's complicit participation, albeit small, is nonetheless a part of the news pundit culture that breeds irrational and abhorant behavior. For a more detailed account visit: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/02/olbermann-fox-news .

What's really fundamental about their latest diatribe against one another is that it's all basically about free speech. First, let me make it crystal clear that I am 100% in favor of free speech. But, I realize there are great consequencesa and possibly even greater responsibilities that go along with the first admendment right (especially in a public forum).

Mr. O'Rielly, if you really operated a show that was in fact, a no spin zone, then you wouldn't begin to try and put a spin on this gunman's cowardice actions. Instead, you'd take responsibility and aknowledge the part your words might have played in inspiring such hatred. Yes, of course, you'd like to think that all your viewers are intelligent and fair-minded. And, you may believe most of them could distinguish the BS, from the acutual news you may be reporting. But, they are not, which means you, along with all the other loose-lip political pundits have a responsibilty. Yet, even if you do believe everything you said about Dr. Tiller is true, you are evoking such pathological responses from your audience that are, and could, perpetuate domestic terrorism against abortion doctors.

But, quite honestly, both Olbermann and O'Reilly know this; however, their ongoing war of words makes for good entertainment television, which is what much of cable news is, entertainment.

Girls, Girls, Girls, Summer Single Reviews

Mandy Moore- I could Break your Heart any Day of the Week ***

Mandy Moore, or Amanda Leigh, the title of the starlet's 5th studio album, boast her displaying sightlier more vocal range and variability on the album's first single. It is not the kind of girl power single I would expect from Moore, but she manages to sell the song in a cutesy , yet gritty way. The hand clap cadence and the likely lyrics could make this a hit single. Yet, I can't help but wonder what Kelly Clarkson or Pink could've done with this track. Moore lacks the strong vibrato the latter two singers can infuse into a girl power anthem. So, she leaves me wanting a little more edge on this track. And, with a title like "I could break your Heart any Day of the Week," I wonder why the in-your face attitude almost fails to convince me.

David Guetta, Featuring Kelly Rowland- When Love Takes Over****

With huge hits like, "The World is Mine and Love is Gone," Guetta has solidified himself as one of the best club djs to date. And, in the same fashion as it's predecessors, "When Love Takes Over," will not disappoint. I love this song, everything from the pulsating dance beat, to the smooth vocal stylings. YES! Miss Kelly delivers on this track. The tone in her voice is so clean, crisp, and clear, no over singing here. Maybe this Destiny's Child has finally found her voice.

Britney Spears - Radar****

WOW! It only took almost 2 years to see this song released as a single. "Radar" first appeared on Brittany's "The Blackout" CD. It was one of my favorites. She added it to the "Circus" track list and I thought, "that's strange," but, mystery solved. "Radar" is poised as the 4th single from the platinum+ pop wonderland that is the "Circus" album. I'm looking for this to be her next number 1 single.

Jessie James- Wanted***

Look for this girl to "blow-up" on the pop scene. She's incredibly hot with great vocals. That's a package deal these days, it's the whole country pop thing that Jessica Simpson has tried unsuccessfully to top. Jessie James, think Carrie Underwood with spice and attitude.

Kristinia DeBarge- Goodbye***

Daughter of James Debarge, remember the popular early 80s family group, Debarge. James Debarge is usually remembered as Janet Jackson's first husband, although the marriage was annulled after the coupled lived together for a few months. Now, that you've got the back story, onto the review. "Goodbye" is a ear-catching tune. Nothing remarkably original, but the 1969 hit "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye" sample gives the track some extra appeal. Kristinia's voice isn't a powerhouse vocal, but it's pretty credulous on this dance-pop track. And, she's includes the new pop buzzword, "swagga" in the chorus, so she should score major street cred points.

Biased Schizo Media: And why you should like care

North Korea, Iraq, Afghanistan, Domestic terrorism, Prop 8, GM motors, more bailouts, and economic woes, any of these sound familiar; if not, then you’ve lived under a rock for the past year. All these keywords and phrases, for me, represent some of the flood of information that seems to permeate every crevice of our culture. If you log onto any blog or web site, AOL, yahoo, MSN, Huffington post, the Drudge Report, etc… you are presented with a litany of news worthy, albeit questionable news worthy items, with up to the minute feeds, to keep you inundated with the latest information. Now, I ask, how do you process so much information at a given time? You pick what you’re interested in and toss everything else. Makes sense, you do it all time. At home, if you’re talking to your spouse, 9 times out of 10 you’re only going to process about a ¼ or what he or she said. You’ll pick out the most interesting piece of information and focus on it. I’m not really questioning our cognitive process, not much we can do to change it. But, more specifically, the way we receive information, from our “trusted” news sources. Some of the media outlets that we’ve come to trust are not very trustworthy at all it’s all filtered second, or even third hand information. In the back corners of our mind, we know it. But, it’s so easy to take it all as the gospel.

I remember watching an episode of the view a few weeks ago. The women interviewed Fox news commentator, Glenn Beck. In the interview he claimed he never checked facts. “It’s not my job.” He claimed. So, for any of you watching his show, which I cringe at the thought, remember you’re just getting his opinion, a rather uninformed one. And, like assholes, we all have one. Or a more recent story would have you believe Supreme Court nominee Sonya Sotormayor is a racist. Hmmm… but a little inspection reveals quite the opposite, in terms of her case rulings. Check out this case, Pappas v. Giuliani, in which she dissented from the lower court’s opinion ruling summary judgment to the police department. Basically, it was a case about free speech. She could have very easily sided with the lower court’s opinion, favoring the police department’s firing of an officer whom spread hate speech pamphlets on his off duty hours. If she were a racist, she’d have been salivating over a case about blatant racist speech. You know, her chance to stick it to "whitey." But, she didn’t. I report all this to make a point crystal clear. Do your homework. There is so much information being passed your way these days that you can’t rely on its factual accuracy. Even this blog, especially this blog, question, question, question, it’s the best advice I can give.