October 15, 2004

I don't usually watch CNN's "Crossfire." It's on during the day, and the hosts are annoying political hacks who revel in shouting matches. But their decision to bring Jon Stewart on as a guest was a brilliant one.

Paul Begala and Tucker Carlson probably figured Stewart would make a few jokes and promote his book, "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart Presents America (The Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction."

Instead, Stewart gave a pointed critique of how the media -- particularly shows like "Crossfire" -- are failing the American public.

The sad thing is...he's right.

"A free and independent press is essential to the health of a functioning democracy. It serves to inform the voting public on matters relevant to its well-being. Why they've stopped doing that is a mystery. I mean, 300 camera crews outside a courthouse to see what Kobe Bryant is wearing when the judge sets his hearing date while false information used to send our country to war goes unchecked. What the fuck happened? You spineless cowards in the press have finally gone too far. They have violated a trust. Was the president successful in convincing the country? Who gives a shit? Why not tell us if what he said was true? And the excuses! My god, the excuses! 'Hey, we just give the people what they want. What can we do? This administration is secretive. Uh, but the last season of 'Friends' really is news.' The unmitigated gall of these weak-willed...You're supposed to be helping us! You indecent piles of shit! I...fuck it! Just fuck it!"
--Jon Stewart, "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart Presents America (The Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction"

October 14, 2004

The FBI wanted to know who checked out the book "Bin Laden: The Man Who Declared War on America" from the Deming, Wash., library. But the library refused to hand over the records without a court order. When the FBI got a grand jury subpoena, the library filed a motion to quash it and forced authorities to back off.

Drawing on data sources to measure the public's propensity for reading, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater has declared Minneapolis, Minn.; Seattle, Wash.; Pittsburgh, Pa.; Madison, Wis.; and Cincinnati, Ohio to be the most literate cities in the U.S.

The best search engine for finding first edition, out of print and autographed books is BookFinder.com. Started in 1997 as a class project, BookFinder spiders through the inventory of more than 60,000 booksellers. The folks who launched this site also write a blog of book-related news.

October 13, 2004

A new Jaded Writings column has been posted. This week, I share a few of the burning questions I have about the upcoming election.

Keith W. Mines, a 28-year veteran of the active Army and Reserves, posed eight fantastic questions "about how the next president will organize our military for war and how he will position our country in the world." I'd love to hear the candidates' answers.

* Chris Carter - 10/13/57
* e.e. cummings - 10/14/1894
* Virgil - 10/15/70 B.C.
* P.G. Wodehouse - 10/15/1881
* Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. - 10/15/17
* Mario Puzo - 10/15/20
* Evan Hunter (a.k.a. Ed McBain) - 10/15/26
* Noah Webster - 10/16/1758
* Oscar Wilde - 10/16/1854
* Eugene O'Neill - 10/16/1888
* Güenter Grass - 10/16/27
* Arthur Miller - 10/17/15
* Jimmy Breslin - 10/17/30
* Wendy Wasserstein - 10/18/50
* Terry McMillan - 10/18/51
* John Le Carré - 10/19/31
* Art Buchwald - 10/20/25
* Robert Pinsky - 10/20/40
* Debbie L. Feldman - 10/20/51

October 12, 2004

I'm a chocoholic, folks, but even I draw the line at fried Oreos.

October 11, 2004

Laura Hatch, the 17-year-old who went missing more than a week ago (see below), was found over the weekend in the back seat of her smashed car, about 150 feet below N.E. Union Hill Road in Redmond, Wash. Hatch was trapped in her car without food or water for eight days, and was found by a member of her church.

On Saturday, Sha Nohr had a vision of Hatch and drove to N.E. Union Hill Road. She scrambled over a concrete barrier and was searching for the missing teen when she spotted the wrecked car buried in the thick vegetation. With the help of a passing motorist, Hatch was extricated from the vehicle and taken to the hospital, where she was treated for severe dehydration, a possible blood clot near her brain, broken ribs, a broken leg and facial injuries.

One of my favorite sections of the newspaper is the comics page. After reading dozens of stories about death and destruction, I relish the chance to lighten my mood with a giggle or two.

Since I read all of my news online now, I had to figure out a way to get my daily dose of humor on the Web as well. Thankfully, I found it on UComics.com, a Website that offers my all-time favorite strip: Calvin and Hobbes.

October 10, 2004

For women, it means arranged marriages, enforced ignorance, imprisonment, familial beatings and virginity examinations. Oh, and let's not forget asking for your husband's permission to vote.

"Sometimes I wonder if men and women really suit each other. Perhaps they should live next door and just visit now and then."
--Katharine Hepburn

Past Afterthoughts