On Monday the Chronicle stated in their editorial that:
Finally, former CBS News anchor Dan Rather, who got his start in Houston, wrote a sad footnote to his mostly distinguished career when he sued his old employers for $70 million. The suit alleges that CBS made Rather a scapegoat for an inaccurate story about George W. Bush’s service in the Texas Air National Guard. Whatever the network executives’ sins, they don’t deserve to be punished to that degree after paying Rather millions per year long after he had passed his prime.
Rather’s suit, while presenting a weak case against CBS, makes a wounding case against his own prowess as a broadcast journalist. Despite the fact that Rather bore the title of managing editor of CBS News, he alleges in his suit that he bore no responsibility for the content or accuracy of his broadcasts: The mighty network anchor is revealed for what he or she is, merely a familiar face reading from a teleprompter reports he or she had nothing to do with preparing.
I had to respond:
To: viewpoints@chron.com
Subject: True Colors
The Houston Chronicle’s Editorial Board showed their ties to the corporation are stronger than those to the journalist when they decided to chastise Dan Rather (Mistakes, Sept 24).
His lawsuit is more about forcing the big boys (which includes Viacom and The Hearst Corporation) to allow journalism ferret out the truth. When you are in fear of your job, you can’t be an objective journalist!
Whether you believe in the veracity of Mr. Rather’s initial report or not (the report stand whether the pieces in question are legitimate or not - and they have not been proven false), the ability of The Press (which means the foot pounding journalist, not the Corporation) to seek the truth was damaged by his summary termination.
-Bill Shirley
Houston, Texas
I should have added “this lawsuit isn’t for himself, it’s for the Cub Reporter”.
September 26th, 2007
Posted by
bshirley |
inthenews, media |
one comment
There is a great pool on flickr called “DRM is like…”
Digital Rights Management. It’s only on legally purchased music and keeps you from doing things that are legal to do with purchased music. It’s what makes “squirted” music on Zunes only play three times. It’s what makes NBC’s new “free video service” (with commercials) only allow you to view a TV show for a week. (How long will that VHS tape of Heroes last?)
How long till it dies out? I’m really interested to see the end game. Open media is the only answer.
September 26th, 2007
Posted by
bshirley |
media, picture, web |
no comments
The US Military can’t patrol their own camps, they pay others to do it.
Oh, they can patrol the camps, but they don’t have enough people to do all the jobs that need doing in Iraq, so they hire “private contractors”. Basically, mercenaries. But the State Department hires as many as 8 times more (from Blackwater - the leading “security” firm doing business in Iraq) than the Pentagon does1. And some of those guys went on a shoot-em-up spree. The military is much too familiar with this.
“The problems with the absence of oversight, management, doctrine, and even law and order when it comes to private military contractors have been known for a while.”2 And our government has failed to act on any of this.
Just as their was failure to adequately plan before the 2003 invasion of Iraq, just as there has been an absence of true diplomatic efforts before and after the invasion, there has been utter lack of action on huge problems with the mercenary “civilian contractors”.
Such inaction by government is absolutely impeachment worthy. The only reason I don’t think it is treasonous is because I think they believe they have a valid intent. I believe they are merely incompetent. If it were proven true that their behavior was one for personal or corporate profit in blatant disregard of morality, decency, and law, that would be another case.
September 26th, 2007
Posted by
bshirley |
government, inthenews |
one comment
In something so boneheaded it’s bound to fail, NBC (who previously withdrew video content from iTunes) will now be providing proprietary DRM’d video downloads of their programming that expire after a week. And it only works on Windows.
“With the creation of this new service, we are acknowledging that now, more than ever, viewers want to be in control of how, when and where they consumer [sic] their favorite entertainment,” said Vivi Zigler, Executive Vice President, NBC Digital Entertainment. “Not only does this feature give them more control, but it also gives them a higher quality video experience.” [emphasis mine]
That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. How is requiring software that works only for NBC, and plays only on your computer (no other devices), possiby giving you more control!
No more Heroes on your Apple.
Oh, and NBC, hire someone with an English degree to editor your press releases.
September 20th, 2007
Posted by
bshirley |
corporations, media, television |
no comments
A lot of great songs on their list. A few I could do without. You can chase the link on the guitar and vote on the National Anthem of Texas (as anointed by Lone Star beer).
Boogie Back to Texas — Asleep at the Wheel
Miles and Miles of Texas — Asleep at the Wheel
Colors Are All the Same — Bill Pekar
San Antonio Rose — Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys
I’ve Been Everywhere (In Texas) — Brian Burns
Llano Estacado — Cooder Graw
Texas Time Travelin’ — Cory Morrow
That’s What I Like About Texas — Dale Watson
Way Down Texas Way — Dale Watson
Lone Star Blues — Delbert McClinton
Rolling Stone from Texas — Don Walser
Beautiful Texas Sunshine — Doug Sahm
Texas Me — Doug Sahm
Yellow Rose of Texas — Ernest Tubb
Waltz Across Texas — Ernest Tubb
Ay Te Dejo En San Antonio — Flaco Jimenez
London Homesick Blues — Gary P. Nunn
What I Like About Texas — Gary P. Nunn
I’m a Texan — Gary Stewart
Deep In the Heart of Texas — Gene Autry
(more…)
September 19th, 2007
Posted by
bshirley |
beer, music, web |
no comments
dad’s view
I was in Canyon Lake a few weeks ago for the show in Gruene.
Took this picture from the balcony outside the breakfast area - it’s the same view as the living room. The lake was quite high, and the damn was running full open. You can see the peninsula across the way is partially submerged. It was totally under a few years ago during their major flood. All the trees survived over a month under water.
Below the picture, out of view, is the bocce court and the horse shoe pit.
September 18th, 2007
Posted by
bshirley |
family, picture, weekend |
no comments
