No, Kos, the WTO doesn't own Xmas, yet!

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Monday December 18, 2006 · 11:42 PM PST

2006/12/18 · 23:42

This investigative diary is prompted by Kos's earlier diary about Disney asserting ownership of, of all things, Santa Claus (Disney's War Against Christmas, 12-18-2006 17:36:32 PST). As everyone knows, culture chickenhawk Bill O'Reilly waxes Homeland Security bright Orange at this time of year, at the very thought that someone would commit a cultural felony against the culturally-dominant feast of Xmas. In an effort to be fair and balanced, it seemed that this news hook offered the perfect opportunity to look at a genuine point of a real war--one of patents, copyrights and trademarks.
First, if you missed Kos's excellent post, or are a little fuzzy on the details and are too full of Xmas eggnog to scroll back, here's the thumbnail sketch. A mature man, age 60, (Jump, Rudolph! Jump, Dasher!)

jfdunphy

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Thursday December 14, 2006 · 9:50 PM PST

2006/12/14 · 21:50

Fans of the novel Catch-22 recognize the character Milo Minderbinder as the one who specialized in the black market in illegal goods of World War II; trading goods amorally, with the "enemy" and allies equally; whose first loyalty was to making a buck, regardless of which side was making the deal, or even which product provided the profit. This seems to be the most appropriate metaphor with which to frame the context for the grand larceny being committed, IMO, under the auspices of the self-styled "Iraq Study Group."
The options in Iraq are obvious even to beginning students of chess--the military situation in Iraq is at a stalemate. (Unless W. decides to drop nuclear weapons on insurgents and masses of more-or-less innocent civilians). But the commercial media reports also ignore (Jump!)

jfdunphy

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Tuesday November 28, 2006 · 11:33 AM PST

2006/11/28 · 11:33

Considerable ink has been spilled in the advertising world about truth-in-advertising. There are rules about what companies, particularly drug companies, can or can not say in ads. Their claims have to be backed up by research, the drugs must be efficacious for the use claimed, etc. Even the somewhat more slippery world of advertising of consumer goods still has to have some basis of fact to make the claims they make in their ads, enough to pass muster with the Federal Trade Commission, Food and Drug Administration, or the equivalent "watchdog" for the industry.
That being said, let us now contemplate the use of the term "all volunteer army." Everyone knows that not everyone is a volunteer. Yet people who are supposed to be dedicated to accuracy--editors, journalists, copy editors, pundits, and press watchdogs-- (jump)

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Does the misuse of "All Volunteer Army" bother you?

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Does the misuse of "All Volunteer Army" bother you?

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(NJ-08) I shook Jack Murtha's hand today

jfdunphy

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Monday October 23, 2006 · 4:17 PM PDT

2006/10/23 · 16:17

(NJ-08) House Congressional District 08 is home to Paterson, NJ, Passaic, and parts of Essex County (where Newark, NJ is). Dem Bill Pascrell Jr is considered far and away the front runner (there are a few Sandoval signs in the district), so it's considered a relatively safe seat for Democrats. Nevertheless, Pascrell sits on one of the Homeland Security subcommittees, and since 9-11-2001 happened just across the Hudson River from NJ, the issues on his committee assignments hit a real nerve with his local NJ constituents. A lot of us think that Congressman Pascrell's diligent attention to duty on homeland security will be a much-needed asset in Congress, particularly as the FBI has said that the stretch of NJ between Newark Airport and NYC ranks as the most dangerous (jump) Read More

NJ-Sen Repub Kean Jr drops out of TV debate

jfdunphy

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Sunday October 15, 2006 · 8:14 AM PDT

2006/10/15 · 08:14

(NJ-Sen) Just sticking to the debate schedule, I tuned in to WABC-TV for the second scheduled installment (not live per TV station restrictions) to be totally surprised--Repub Senate Candidate Thomas Kean Jr. at the last minute refused to participate live in the debate!
As a NJ voter, who reads the local papers, I was still surprised--I didn't see anything in the local papers about this--and of course since the "debate" is pre-taped, this should have been news at the time of the taping.
Even better, in the first few minutes of the now one-sided debate segment with TV news reporter Diana Williams (who's asking tough questions, so no one's tossing softballs here) asks about the charges in Kean's ads (jump!) Read More

The shadow of Tip O'Neill as Speaker of the House

jfdunphy

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Wednesday October 11, 2006 · 7:32 AM PDT

2006/10/11 · 07:32

(Il-House). House Speaker Denny's Hastert's troubles over the Congressional Page scandal are bad enough on its own merits to warrant Hastert stepping down immediately, IMO. But if others need further convincing, as apparantly they do, it may be helpful to hark back to the record of earlier speakers, to provide some more perspective.
The references I cite here come from the marvelous book Tip O'Neill and the Democratic Century, by John A. Farrell.
Stick with me below the jump for a few passages that seem worthy of mention, in light of Hastert's handling of the Congressional Page sex scandal, and Hastert's efforts to retain power: Read More

(NJ-Sen) Marsha Kramer skewers Repub Kean Jr on stem cells

jfdunphy

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Sunday October 08, 2006 · 6:34 AM PDT

2006/10/08 · 06:34

(NJ-Sen) This morning was one of the TV debates in the hotly-contested race for the NJ Senate Seat. The debate pitted appointed US Senator Robert Menendez, who replaced Jon Corzine as Corzine won NJ Governor, against Repub candidate and current NJ State Senator in Trenton, NJ. The debate was not live, per the decision of the networks (not the candidates). But there were enough fireworks to show off Repub candidate Tom Kean Jr's. trademark stumbling and bumbling style, and a parade of mis-statements from the Repub side to give independent voters who hadn't read anything about the issues a clear choice between the two candidates.
Of course, I am a partisan Democrat, so root for Menendez. But trying to look at it through the eyes (jump!) Read More

(Il-14) Who's on Second?

jfdunphy

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Monday October 02, 2006 · 10:43 PM PDT

2006/10/02 · 22:43

(Il-14) One of the big reasons that the Congressional Page scandal now engulfing House Speaker Dennis "Denny" Hastert is important is that, if the president dies or is incapacitated, the mantle of command falls first to the Vice President (now Dick Cheney), and then, if that doesn't work, the Speaker of the House (i.e. Denny Hastert). If rumors of war with Iran are correct, then this question assumes a more-than-academic importance, as incapication could easily include periods of time for which the president and vp could well be alive, but for reasons of security may not be able to communicate through the normal channels of government.
More below the jump. Read More

(NJ-Sen) Some real blanks in Tom Kean Jr's positions

jfdunphy

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Monday October 02, 2006 · 6:06 PM PDT

2006/10/02 · 18:06

I am a partisan Democrat. But the following information comes from the non-partisan site called OntheIssues.org. For those following the key Senate race in New Jersey between Dem. Senator (appointed) Robert Menendez and Repub challenger Thomas Kean, Jr. (Emphasis on the Junior), this might be helpful in talking to your independent voters.
My major contribution here will be in presenting the results of Kean Jr.'s and Menendez's positions on several issues side by side.
Stick with me below the flip (jump!) Read More

(NJ-Sen) Less Live TV time Than "Punxatawney Phil"!

jfdunphy

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Sunday September 24, 2006 · 5:50 PM PDT

2006/09/24 · 17:50

(NJ-Sen). In another media-created mess, TV coverage will have network thumb-on-the-scale again, giving a little conservative help behind the scenes to Rep. Senate Candidate Thomas Kean, Jr. (As in not his dad, the chairman of the ill-fated presidentially appointed 9/11 commission). Here's a little background.
Everybody in the country gets a taste of live TV coverage on Ground Hog day, as the nation's weather newsreaders have a little fun covering the famous groundhog Punxatawney Phil. The Live coverage is designed to perpetuate the old wive's tale that if Phil sees his shadow, there will be another six weeks of winter. (Sort of the intelligent design approach to the science of meteorology). Yet Phil will get more live coverage this year than one of the key races for control of Senate (jump!)
Read More

NJ Timecapsule: Junior Kean Hearts Alito for Supreme Court

jfdunphy

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Sunday September 17, 2006 · 6:49 PM PDT

2006/09/17 · 18:49

(NJ-Sen) As a New Jersey resident, I continue to be astounded by polls that show stumbling, bumbling Tom Kean, Jr., with any kind of competitive numbers, let alone a slight lead. The newspapers and TV stations, eternally lazy, let the Repubs manipulate them according to the talking points, driving negative press stories against Menendez, DESPITE previous testimony that praised Menendez's courage in helping to expose corruption in Hudson County. Yep, another form of swiftboating, turning the situation upside down.
However, the blogosphere does not need to conform to the straitjacket press coverage. All the Dems need to do, IMO, is to remind NJ voters that Kean Jr. supports hard-right judges like Alito. It's already on the record (jump) Read More

9-11 Coverage only Pat Robertson could love

jfdunphy

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Monday September 11, 2006 · 8:21 PM PDT

2006/09/11 · 20:21

Like many Kossacks, it seemed to me that the Disney/ABC mockumentary flap was just another chess piece being moved on the board as part of the ruthless Republican drive for the election. Let's not forget, whoever wins power has control over the issue of war and peace, and access to the "football," so we are talking major stakes. One of the things that was remarkable about this, however, is that this one piece was basically a $40 million in-kind election gift to the Republican Party. Only, as they are still temporarily in power, the watchdog agencies supposed to protect the public are instead busying themselves with investigating political opponents.
In looking at past elections, however, I think I stumbled across a pattern that will help understand (jump!) Read More

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No, Kos, the WTO doesn't own Xmas, yet!

ISG: Milo Minderbinder strikes again

Ad ethics: Ivory Soap vs the All Volunteer Army

(NJ-08) I shook Jack Murtha's hand today

NJ-Sen Repub Kean Jr drops out of TV debate

The shadow of Tip O'Neill as Speaker of the House

(NJ-Sen) Marsha Kramer skewers Repub Kean Jr on stem cells

(Il-14) Who's on Second?

(NJ-Sen) Some real blanks in Tom Kean Jr's positions

(NJ-Sen) Less Live TV time Than "Punxatawney Phil"!

NJ Timecapsule: Junior Kean Hearts Alito for Supreme Court

9-11 Coverage only Pat Robertson could love