Daily Kos: Senators Durbin and Feinstein have no love for citizen journalsists

December 2, 2009

By Billy Dennis

There’s talk of providing federal shield laws to protect journalists. But Sen. Diane Feinstein and Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) have taken steps, apparently TWICE, to make sure citizen journalists and bloggers aren’t protected:

Basically, Feinstein and Durbin want to restrict shield law protections for those who are either salaried employees or contractors of big media. If not, it’s basically fuck you.

This isn’t a partisan issue, it’s one between those who are so stuck in the past, that they can’t fathom a more diverse and expansive media environment — one that is no longer dominated by the NY Times and the TV networks.

Tags: blogs, Dick Durbin, freedom of the press, shield laws

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The only thing missing from yesterday’s tea-bagger protest was Bull Connor, attack dogs and some fire hoses March 21, 2010

Some of the anti-health care people sure do have some interesting views on race:
Rep. Andre Carson, D-Ind., told a reporter that as he left the Cannon House Office Building with Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., a leader of the civil rights era, some among the crowd chanted “the N-word, the N-word, 15 times.” Both Carson and [...]

Original post by Billy Dennis

Billy Dennis

Spring Turning March 21, 2010

The Cosmos strives for equilibrium today. The hours of daylight and dark are equal. Spring returns–even if the day is dark and cold, rainy, snowy, spitting sleet. It’s the thought that counts.

Modern Wiccans call the day Ostara. I am not found of the name. Like Easter itself, the name is taken from a Teutonic lunar Goddess Eostre. Mike Nichols, author of The Witches’ Sabbats, from the website of the same name, “Her holiday, the Eostara, was held on the vernal equinox full moon.” Technically that will fall on the 29th of March. According to Nichols, the Roman Catholic Church divided the vernal holiday into Easter–the first Sunday after the full moon following the vernal equinox–and Lady Day, the Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, on March 25th. This, of course, the day that the Angel Gabriel announces that Mary is “with child.” “Lady Day” was the name used by our first Wiccan founders.

I think I prefer the simpler “Spring Turning.” It was the phrase I used in my own fiction back before I was “officially” Pagan. It signifies a becoming. As Nichols says, it’s a springboard to Beltane, May 1st. Processes begun at the equinox find fulfillment at Beltane.

I hadn’t planned to celebrate the day, but a friend called late in the morning and said, “Let’s go to Bloomington to the Mennonite Relief Sale.” The day was dreary; and I knew that by the time we got there, most everything would sold, but I hadn’t been to the Relief Sale since it left Peoria. I was pleasantly surprised to get a bunch of pussy willows. I can’t remember the last time I had pussy willows.

And on the way back, I asked to stop in a Kelly Seed to look over their new shipment of heirloom seeds. I haven’t decided yet if I am going to plant a garden this year or slit my wrists, but Global Village in the Heights is collecting supplies for Haiti this month, and one of the things on the list is garden seeds. So I bought heritage melons, squash, radishes, and corn. And a packet of mixed lettuce if I decide to plant for myself. Spring is such a fickle time of the year…

witchsbrew

How Railroads Promote Ind’l Development – Past and Present March 20, 2010

I think the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway’s 172-page Industrial Development Brochure is incredible for its detail, and it shouldn’t leave prospective buyers of listed properties and buildings with too many questions. But if they do have any, they can always contact the railroad.

Closer to home, RailAmerica’s Toledo Peoria & Western Railway lists these properties. I’m curious, though, why two of them, here and here, which are nowhere near TP&W track, are listed (furthermore, they could find out that “Middle Road” is not spelled “Middel.”).

Genesee & Wyoming, Inc., owner of two local shortlines – Illinois & Midland Railroad and Tazewell & Peoria Railroad – provide few details on their website, but it does say this:

I&M’s extra-wide 200-foot right-of-way, and adjacent industrial sites on both I&M and T&P, offer excellent location opportunities for manufacturing, distribution and transload facilities.

Before the Internet Age, railroads published and circulated booklets detailing industrial development sites in various communities they served. One example was the Chicago Rock Island & Pacific Railroad’s 1964 booklet. One page of the Peoria section, which appeared in the railroad’s 1963 Annual Report, can be viewed by clicking the thumbnail below.

The Rock Island’s promotion of both the Galena Road Industrial Park and Pioneer Industrial Park caught the attention of the Peoria Journal Star, which mentioned it in a June 16, 1964 editorial.

Past and present, American railroads know that to remain viable long term they must continuously promote their services to prospective industrial and logistics firms. And the only change is the type of media.

- David P. Jordan

David P. Jordan

I write this with all love and respect to the local guys because they ROCK, but Comcast is Satan March 20, 2010

I’m the kinda guy who is always going to wait until the very last minute to pay his cable bill. Usually, I find out it’s due when I can’t get on the Internet
So I’m in the Comcast office on Dries Lane ever other month.
Those guys rock. Professional, friendly and quick. Kudos.
But when I have actual [...]

Original post by Billy Dennis

Billy Dennis

Day by Day: Skin status update 3/20/2010 March 20, 2010

Today’s strip: Chris Muir is hearing my pleas. Sam is again in the low-cut, skin-tight little black dress. Chris treats up to a front view and a maddeningly curvaceous profile.

Billy Dennis

Day By Day: Skin status update 3/19/2010 March 20, 2010

Today’s strip: Now this is more like it. Sam is in a skin-tight, low-cut little black dress. There’s a front view and a side view. You go, Chris!

Billy Dennis

It’s official: The Captain America movie is going to suck March 20, 2010

Via Slashfilm:

Now there’s a slight update: according to IESB, the shortlist is now only three names: Chris Evans (Sunshine, The Fantastic Four); Channing Tatum (G.I. Joe, Stop-Loss) and Sebastian Stan (Gossip Girl). I’ve stumped for Evans before, but am a bit surprised that he’s still on the list, because of that Fantastic Four association. But that’s no big deal in the long run, as the Marvel Studios film universe has nothing to do with the Fox version of Marvel’s characters. (Confusing!) Evans is easily the best choice here.

Feh. We need a traditional square-jawed hero for this role, not some pretty boy. Evans is an X-games sorta guy. Cap is a baseball/football/track letterman kinda guy. And the FF movies sucked and that kinda stink don’t wash off.

justiceblogofamerica

Let’s not kid ourselves, we are ALL thinking the same thing about that retired white cop who pulled a gun during a Pekin traffic stop and somehow didn’t get his sorry ass shot March 20, 2010

But I am far, far to politically correct to suggest that a black guy who did this wouldn’t be sitting in the Tazewell County Jail right now. Just sayin’.
Here are some possibly related postsDecember 23, 2009 — Five Peoria police layoffs averted (0)November 29, 2009 — Pekin is on the right track (2)October 22, 2009 [...]

Original post by Billy Dennis

Billy Dennis

Iron Man 2 Trailer (OFFICIAL) | Home Video Marketing March 20, 2010

if you guys think this is amazing, wait till the Avengers movie comes out. dakkota92 Says: March 19th, 2010 at 4:03 pm. he wanted more money they said no soo he quit. SilentWorld13 Says: March 19th, 2010 at 4:08 pm …

Home Video Marketing – http://links.homevideomarketing.com/

Billy Dennis

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Of course this would mean that he could be a villain in Iron Man 3 or even the Avengers movie. Now what if each major villain of the Marvel heroes banded together? Mandarin for Iron Man, Red Skull for Captain America, Loki for Thor, …

Mail It To Team-Up – http://mailittoteamup.blogspot.com/

Billy Dennis

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Make your events absolutely unforgettable, with entertainment programs by international award winning sleight of hand artist and speaker, Mitch Williams.

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City mulls over cuts to basic services, giving $37M to hotel developer March 20, 2010

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Daily Kos: Senators Durbin and Feinstein have no love for citizen journalsists

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