"Kindle" Price Lower, But Reasonable?
Don't know if you noticed it or not but Amazon semi-quietly lowered the price on its "Kindle" electronic book ("ebook"), or as they call it, "wireless reading device". (Hate shoving those book wires in my eyes.)
I have to say that, while I really like the idea of an ebook, I was pretty sure that at $399 the Kindle was going to be a non-starter. Once again: Bezos right, me wrong. The initial supply of Kindles sold out immediately at $399 and have been moving briskly ever since. Enough so, in fact, that publishers are quickly releasing more titles for the Kindle and new books are made available for it right away. Bezos is way right.
It is a pretty cool device but I still can't reconcile myself to the price. Plenty of good features to make it easy and even enjoyable to use but $399 just seems crazy. So the new price, announced a couple weeks ago, is down around 10% to $359. That's still in the "are you nuts?" range as far as my budget is concerned, but at least it's moving in the right direction.
It doesn't help me any that most of the rest of the ebook devices are around the $200 to $300 range. A few go higher -- up to around $700! -- and a few go lower but with those the content availability may be a problem.
The device is an obvious winner in handiness, ease of use and, more and more, access to desireable content. New NYT bestsellers are under $10 -- and you save a tree! I hope that the price for Kindle keeps moving in this downward direction. When it hits $49.95, I'm there.
Human-Machine Interface Isn't "New"
An article in the New York Times a week or so ago reported on ... a report ( huh? ) ... actually a letter published in the journal Nature about a research project in which monkeys with neural contacts embedded in their brains had learned to control an external mechanical "arm". The report in the NY Times seemed to be accurate with the facts that it had "reported" from the Nature article but it went just a touch hyperbolic with the flourishes.
Don't get me wrong. This is an amazing and wonderful step in advancing the understanding of the so-called "human-machine interface". It's a wonderful thing that this technology is being expanded and improved and so useful to the humans who need it and use it.
But; the article from the Times went out on the wire services and is being reproduced all over the place and it looks to me like not all credit is falling where it is due and that's just not OK.
The by-lined reporter for the Times, Benedict Carey, says, "The findings [attrbuted to "scientists" by Carey] suggest that brain-controlled prosthetics, while not practical, are at least technically within reach."
You have to keep the right frame in the right place Benedict! This is a new project and swell, to be sure, but "brain-controlled prosthetics" have been around for awhile. And that's without even picking on the sloppy construction of your statement. Is a wooden leg controlled by farts?
But getting to what must be the gist, you're talking about motorized mechanical prothetics which are controlled by the wearer -- that is, the wearer's brain -- via some means of bio-communication.
So, dude! What about the Boston Elbow? Patents for electro-mechanical wearer-controllable prosthetics go back to 1970 and the very practical "Boston Elbow" with biofeedback control (read "brain") was developed in that decade. Imperfect, maybe but still quite wonderful and definitely practical. Since that invention there have been many, many improvements and variations and then extending to other limbs and other organs.
I got involved myself in 1981 or '82 when I built a system to control a TRS-80 Color Computer using a couple of different bio-input methods. One was a simple galvanic skin response gizmo (a "lie detector") and the other was actually a slightly jiggered "biofeedback" Heathkit. There were demonstration programs for word processing and for house control but it could have been programmed for whatever. Rudimentary, sure. Not a brain implant, no; but still brain -- definitely not fart -- controlled. It even got as far as the regional finals of a competition held by Johns Hopkins University and the Tandy Corp. for microcomputers (as they were called in the day) to aid the handicapped. It was beat by the likes of Kurzweil's original "reader"
So; yes the continued amazing advancement is way beyond swell, but "practical" has been around for awhile and it's all be brain controlled. OK? Got it? Thanks.
Posted June 3, 2008 Permalink
Cellphones: Warrantless Citizen Locators?
Reading a recent article in the Seatle P.I. about the police out there tracking missing people using cell phone records without a warrant. The mission of the police, in the cases discussed, was all good but the article brings up some interesting questions of legality and privacy and it suggests a few more.
A quick scan with Google reveals that this is quite a wide-spread phenomenon and that polices forces at all government levels -- local, state and federal -- all across the country are using this technique for finding "missing" people.
Continue reading "Cellphones: Warrantless Citizen Locators?"
Posted May 25, 2008 Permalink
Google Maps Plane in Flight Over Mt. Vernon
I've heard about guys who "collect" sightings of airplanes in flight on Google Maps and found a plane in flight myself just this evening. I searched Google for references to it but couldn't find a single one so maybe this is a new sighting.
The airplane is almost directly over George Washington's residence at Mount Vernon in Virginia.
Below is a screen capture of the view on Google Maps. The plane is there in Google Earth also. If you look just south of the main residence (the large red-roofed building adjacent to the oval drive) between the house and the river you'll be able to see a passenger jet in a steep bank. The second image below is zoomed in on the jet.
Google Maps image of George Washington's residence at Mt. Vernon, VA. with an airplane visible in a steep bank directly south of the main house (large red structure) between the house and the river.
Zoomed in on the plane shown in Google Maps and Google Earth images of George Washington's residence at Mt. Vernon, VA. The airplane is visible in a steep bank directly south of the main house (large red structure) between the house and the river.
Cool.
Posted April 26, 2008 Permalink
Airline Passengers' "Bill of Rights"?
Earlier this month a US federal court judge struck down a New York State law known as the "New York State Airline Passengers' Bill of Rights". His ruling was that regulation of the airline industry is solely in the jurisdiction of the federal government.
There are many, many things wrong with this picture.
I mean, really; how is it that airline passengers need a bill of rights anyway? If the business situation for airlines has deteriorated so much that the airlines feel no need to observe even the most basic principles of human decency and compassion, then it is quite clearly time to return to the standards of industry regulation.
If the airlines executives' parents didn't teach them how to behave then The People, thru all of our governments -- state and federal and even local -- need to tell them how exactly what is expected of them. But let me tell you boys: this reflects very poorly on your mothers. You'd better start thinking about what she would say about your behavior -- and about how you'll feel when its your Mom who's trapped in that airplane for six or eight hours.
Continue reading "Airline Passengers' "Bill of Rights"?"
Posted March 26, 2008 Permalink
You Don't Need a New TV!
No; you do not have to get a new TV. Your old TV can still be used after the coming change to all-digital television broadcasts.
Some friends mentioned this week that they thought that they were going to have to get brand new TVs before next February. No. A new TV is not required.
Here's what's happening. On February 17, 2009, all full power television stations in the United States are required to stop broadcasting in the old style system called "analog" and continue broadcasting in digital only. This is known as the DTV transition.
The DTV transition is a good thing.
Yes; it is correct that analog TVs will not work directly with digital broadcasts, BUT you still don't have to buy a new TV. All you'll need is a converter box for your TV and those are going to be very cheap or even free.
Continue reading "You Don't Need a New TV!"
Posted March 23, 2008 Permalink
Refurbs Update: Still a Great Deal!
REFURBS! I posted about refurbs a couple of years ago and it's time to do it again. There are some amazing deals to be had out there! And it is easier than ever to find lots of great "refurb" deals.
I was mainly talking about computers the last time, but almost any manufactured product that you can imagine is available at a deep discount as a refurbished or "remanufactured" fully warrantied product.
Do NOT be put off by the term "refurbished". Many of these products are, in fact, brand new and never used. The rest are so slightly used that you might never notice.
Refurbished -- sometimes called "refurbs" -- has become a catchall term these days. It now seems to mean any product that's been returned to the manufacturer after it's been sold once to a retailer.
Note; not necessarily "returned by a consumer" but just sold once to a retailer and never even moved out of their warehouse.
Oh sure; refurbished can actually mean "refurbished" -- i.e., returned to the factory and fixed & cleaned up. But, these days, at least as often as not it means simply that the device was sold once and then returned to the manufacturer. That might simply mean that it was overstocked at a big-box store like Wal-Mart or mis-ordered by an end-user. In either case it was simply returned unopened.
Continue reading "Refurbs Update: Still a Great Deal!"
Posted March 5, 2008 Permalink
Folks Keep Asking: 720p or 1080p?
"1080p." That's the simple answer.
Folks (Computer Guy clients & folks from Coffeerooms) keep asking, "We're getting a new TV but get confused by the numbers. Should we get a TV with 720p or 1080i or 1080p or what?"
Simple answer: 1080p. Period.
There will be arguments toward the other values, but the arguments are mostly irrelevant and often incorrect. The only possible exception might be price but even that can be overcome by going to another store to find a 1080p set at about the same price. (Or wait a week. LOL)
Here's the deal on those resolution numbers: the higher the number the better. Same with the little letter "i" or "p". The higher ("p") the better.
The relevant numbers are 480, 720 and 1080. These are the vertical resolution values for TV images. Other numbers on TV sets mean that they don't do "native" TV resolution and must be "fiddled" in some way to work. Why bother? (I say, "don't!") Just skip those.
The 480 is old school TV in digital form. Skip these if possible. The TVs that only do 720p are technically HD according to the spec, and the images will look very nice. But not as good as 1080p. And some helpful sales person or cable guy that's only true right now and starting to fade already. In 1960 the same sales guy would have said, "most shows are in black-and-white". More and more HD is 1080. They're also forgetting to tell you that a good 1080p set will process the 720p signal into a 1080p and, in the process, make it look even better. (Check them out side by side in the store. Check 720 and 1080 TVs by the same manufacturer in the same product line and you'll be able to see a sweet difference.)
Continue reading "Folks Keep Asking: 720p or 1080p?"
Posted February 22, 2008 Permalink
TigerDirect Goofy Sales Tricks?
We've discussed before how (except for their unfriendly Return Procedure) TigerDirect is a regularly used source for needful technology. They have the all good stuff at or near the low price and fast, reliable shipping.
They should be proud of their reputation and depend on it to close the sale. Instead they behave like the sleaziest used-car salesman that the dark side of one's imagination could conjure up. Bad return policy; sleazy sales tactics. Maybe I should start questioning my loyalty.
Here's the problem today:
TigerDirect Inaccurate Price Comparison
TigerDirect loves their rebate "deals" -- advertised pricing and price comparisons where they state the price with a rebate subtracted. So $250 less a $50 mail-in rebate become advertised as $200.
But it's not $200. You can only get one rebate, so if you need two or more of the thing, you're SOL. Plus there's shipping and handling and extended warranty and return insurance and, well, a list of things to make it not really $200.
Don't know why some state AG hasn't called Systemax on this chicanery, but it'd be swell if one of them would. Maybe it would encourage Systemax, aka TigerDirect, et al, to stop the price fibbery. Just stick with the (real) good price and terrific shipping. (If any AG's are reading this; while you're at it, please take a look at the Systemax return "policy". Clearly created by some creature that only Christopher Walken could play.)
Today's example: TigerDirect comparing their "price" of $199 for a monitor to another store's $249.
Actually the TigerDirect/Systemax price is exactly the same: $249. But then when you start comparing shipping and other factors the other store could actually end up cheaper!TigerDirect sent a promo email out yesterday (2/15/08) headlined with an Acer 22" monitor for "$199*" and misleadingly comparing it to (quote) "Staples... $249".
Systemax does not mention that:
-- A. their own actual price is really the same: $249
-- B. their $199 quote is only after a Mail-In rebate and that the rebate is only available once per customer. That means that if you actually need 2 or more monitors then you are still going to pay $249 each for those, and that
-- C. at Staples any order over $50 ships FREE so that, comparing two apples to two apples, the TigerDirect price is actually HIGHER. $502 to $500 (at $27 for standard shipping).
Two bucks isn't much, but it is a fact. Of course the cost of buying this item from TigerDirect gets progressively more expensive the more items you need to buy. The more monitors you need to buy, the greater the advantage, in this case, goes to Staples.
Come on TigerDirect/Systemax: play straight. Why do you think you need to try to trick us all the time? It's like some kind of weird pricing pathology -- "Must lie to stay on top. Must trick customers to feel good about self."
Why does Systemax insist on these come-on shams, why do they think it is necessary, and why do they continue to get away with it? Shame on you Systemax.
Posted February 16, 2008 Permalink
Tournament Indicator -- Dry Name; Sweet Results
Poker is new to me. No; seriously. It’s just since the TV phenomenon has kicked off in the last few years that I really started to get into it. Not unique to me, I suppose, the televised tournaments had the desired effect and I started playing. First with a computer based game, then eventually online to start playing with actual people.
I picked up a few things to read to try to help improve my game but found that most of the literature is too dry and academic to work for me or too celebrity driven to really work for anybody. Ditto for videos. What I really wanted was a tutor to help me apply the bits that I did learn from the books. I always learn better with a teacher.
So I started looking around for some software tutors or tools to help me play better poker and, hopefully, learn how to be a better player. Good news! They exist.
Continue reading "Tournament Indicator -- Dry Name; Sweet Results"
Posted December 19, 2007 Permalink
Verizon Steps Up but New Breed Still Down
Updating the saga of New Breed / Verizon and the uncredited cell phone; Verizon Customer Service called yesterday to follow up on my comments in the satisfaction survey. (Lucky for me that this survey happened.)
A very pleasant person who immediately identified herself with full name and location (in South Carolina, not off shore) and then apologized for the delay in getting my phone credited. She kindly listened while I explained my concerns and frustrations. She assured me that they wanted me to be comfortable in being able to recommend Verizon again. Cool.
Then she explained that she'd send a notice through the system right away to get my phone credited ASAP but that the New Breed folks had 48 hours to get back to her with a solution. So; by two days from her call I would have credit for the phoen. I think I must have paused or hmmph'ed or sighed or something to indicate my surprise at this because he filled with something like "it's to be sure it has time to go through channels."
This seems like the New Breed tail is wagging the Verizon puppy. Really; doesn't it? Who's got the power here? And here we are back at the initial question and problem -- should it take 48 hours to get the phone checked back in. Nope. And should it be allowed 48 hours for the service provider to get back to either Verizon, their direct customer, or to me, Verizon's customer for whom New Breed is acting as agent? This compounds the intial goofy wrongness by at least 100%.
Now back to the kind and pleasant lady that called from Verizon: she seemed to be picking up on the irony that was brewing here so she also assured me that my "verbatim" -- the message that I had recorded for the survey -- and her notes about this would be going to the executives in charge of these services at Verizon and that they would "hear [my] concerns directly". Wonderful.
I took this opportunity -- hoping that the call was recorded -- to explain my view that Netflix presented a better model for handling the "reverse logistics" matter better than New Breed. I hope that will get to the Verizon execs for consideration too. New Breed needs to be kicked into gear or replaced.
OK. If she's not just pacifying me at this point, but if the message is going to get to the Verizon execs to fix the problem (by replacing or fixing New Breed) then, yes; for sure I'll be happy enough with Verizon to be able to recommend them again.
Posted December 17, 2007 Permalink
New Breed Falls Down - Part Two
OK; time for an update on the misery of returning a phone to Verizon via it's logistics agent, New Breed.
As of this writing, New Breed has been holding my phone for 9 and a half days! No word whatsoever from New Breed about when they will release it. That's nuts.
Verizon had the bad luck to call me today and ask if I'd recommend then to a friend or family. Scale of 1 to 10 -- I gave them 5. They asked for explanation of the low mark, I gave them New Breed.
Continue reading "New Breed Falls Down - Part Two"
Posted December 14, 2007 Permalink
"New Breed" Falls Down on Little Stuff
OK; I gave up on the KRZR phone (reviewed in my last post) and sent it back to Verizon. That was over a week ago and it still hasn't been credited to my account so that I can get a new phone to replace it. Weird.
The phone left here in the capable hands of FedEx on Monday afternoon and they delivered it to "New Breed" -- Verizon's "logistics solutions provider" -- iin Texas on Wednesday at precisely 5:16 AM. FedEx hits the "two-day" mark with hours to spare. Thanks FedEx.
Verizon uses logistics specialist firm New Breed to facilitate and expedite processing of wireless phone orders, including phone returns like mine.
Verizon customer service told me that once my returned phone is in New Breed's hands they will "check it in" to Verizon's inventory and then my account will be credited for the returned phone along with my "new in two" and new contract discounts. At that point I may then place an order for a new, replacement telephone.
But; Verizon customer service also warned me that, once my phone had arrived "at the warehouse" -- meaning, at New Breed -- it would take "at least a week, maybe two" for my phone to be checked back into the inventory and for me to get credit.
I don't know why, but I assumed that this was just a disclaimer. You know; along the lines of those prize redemption warnings to "allow 6 to 12 weeks for delivery" where you actually get it in 2 to 4 weeks. This is the 21st Century after all and New Breed says right on their website that they are all about "engineered logistics" to "simplify and automate" "reverse logistics" (that is, product return) processes" to "achieve more efficient results."
All good; right?
Nah. Depends on what you mean by "efficient", I guess.
I'll tell you that, to me, "efficient" does not mean that Verizon/New Breed can hang on to my phone for a week and not issue my needed credit. Or, for that matter, to even have the courtesy to confirm that you have received it. (Thank goodness and FedEx for their "signature on file".)
It seems to me that, in this case, "efficient" would be to check in my phone as it arrived. Or maybe take a few hours; OK. Or maybe you could stretch it out to 24 hours. But, how is it even possible for it to regularly take more than that? More than 48 hours? More than 72 hours? More than 120 hours? This is not efficient. It is not.
My phone could have been delivered to India in less than 24 hours! Maybe "New Breed" should bring that thought into focus a time or two.
They've had my phone for over 5 days. That's nuts.
Here's something to take note of; this company sells its "logistics expertise" to the airline industry to deliver parts for planes. It's probably only coincidence that all these massive airline delays have been in the news lately. Nothing in those stories about planes grounded waiting for parts ... is there?
Heads up Verizon; New Breed sure is taking the shine off of your customer service. It's not so "new" after all -- just ordinary old poor, slow service.
Posted December 10, 2007 Permalink
Motorola KRZR K1m -- Send it back.
I've been using the Motorola KRZR K1m that I got from Verizon for 3+ weeks now. I got it as my "new every two" phone. Thank goodness for Verizon's 30 day satisfaction guaranty. I am not satisfied. Actually; I'm seriously let down.
I had assumed -- I know, I know -- that since Motorola was one of the pioneers of small cell phone technology and is clearly one of the leaders -- maybe the leader -- in designing stylish and pretty wireless phones that they would also be a leader in user interface and general usability. Sorry to say it but with this phone, the KRZR, they miss many more usability targets than they hit.
Since getting this phone and trying to use it and then comparing notes with other users and with sellers of mobile phones I've been quite surprised to find that it isn't just this phone that Motorola falls down on. The issues that I have with the KRZR seem to extend to the entire line of Motorola phones!
Continue reading "Motorola KRZR K1m -- Send it back."
Posted December 3, 2007 Permalink
Things To Keep In Mind While Buying A Cell Phone
Buying a Cell Phone: An Overview
by: guest author Sherry Khan
In the last decade the cell phone industry has grown thousand fold all around the world. A cell phone is somewhat necessary for an individual to keep up with the busy life of the current era. A few years back, a cell phone was not considered a necessity; it was just a luxury that was being enjoyed by only a small number of individuals. But nowadays, life without a cell phone seems impossible. People all around the world are addicted to the use of a cell phone. This is mainly because the cell phone is no longer just a cell phone; it has evolved into many things like a personal digital assistant (pda), music player, a global positioning system (gps) and a lot more. Everyday different manufacturers around the world are introducing the models with the new features. This is what needs to be taken into consideration when you go for buying a cell phone. You need to be sure about the features you want that suit your lifestyle well.
The Money Matter
Nowadays there is so much choice for an individual to buy a cell phone. Every company is producing the models with state of the art technology and features everyday. Price is the main thing that makes a difference in these different models. An expensive phone is likely to have more features, reliability and a better technology than a cheap one. Everyone wants a best phone in the market for him but high price of the cell phones comes in the way therefore price is a big thing that needs to be kept in mind while buying a cellular phone. But expensive and sophisticated phones are not everyone's choice; there are people who just want a simple cell phone which is not much expensive but does its job well only as a cell phone. Also the extra features provided in the expensive phones are not everyone's need.
Therefore the price is a main thing to keep in mind whenever you to buy a cell phone. Do not buy a cell phone just because it is expensive; buy the one that suits your needs.
Choices in Different Vendors and their Models
Continue reading "Things To Keep In Mind While Buying A Cell Phone"
Posted September 27, 2007 Permalink
How To Build A Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder
Before starting this article about building a squirrel proof bird feeder, let me ask you this question, what’s with squirrels? We all know that watching these creatures roaming around the backyard lawn can be truly delightful. But they can also cause destruction to your birdfeeders and scare the birds away. Most squirrels like the foods intended for the birds. During winter, indomitable homeowners and squirrels are in a battle over bird food in numerous backyards. Other animals, like raccoons, steal bird food, but more often squirrels raid bird feeders. Ignoring the extremes of winter season, nothing beats the squirrel in persistently achieving its goal, they have enough agility and dexterity to be able to climb onto any surface that birds could reach, and most often squirrels succeed in adapting in the urban-suburban habitat that we humans created.
Actually there are two ways of keeping squirrels away from birdfeeders.
Continue reading "How To Build A Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder"
Posted July 8, 2007 Permalink
NASCAR Misses a Turn
NASCAR is losing its audience. And I don't mean that its audience is drifting away. No; NASCAR is actually driving, er, forcing their audience away.
It was reported in the NY Times Sunday Sports section (April 15, 2007) that NASCAR's audience growth is slowing and that it's TV audience is actually down significantly from last year.
The fault for this decline belongs to NASCAR and Fox Sports.
To put more of a point on it: it's the "pre-race" show, Daryl Waltrip and "boogity, boogity, boogity".
The pre-race show used to be a separate program, listed in at different time in the TV Guide and sometimes even on a separate TV network. The pre-race has now morphed into a 30-60 minute badly (very badly) produced footbal half-time show that has little to do with racing and a lot to do with wasting the audience's time.
Tip for NASCAR: if you don't want to loose my interest then give me what I come for -- racing.
Daryl Waltrip. Ugh. Please give Daryl a vacation. A permanent vacation.
In February, 2001 Daryl was lucky or unlucky enough to be in a perfect storm at the end of the Daytona 500. All within a few seconds, Daryl, who was new and still quaintly amateurish in his color coverage for Fox Sports, spontaneously shouted the joy as his brother Michael won the Daytona 500 and sombertly witnessed the fatal crash of the great Dale Earnhardt. Some experts have rightly called it one of the great moments in sports broadcasting.
Unfortunately Daryl has confused this important moment with himself. He thinks that he created the moment rather than just being a piece, an element, in it.
And the rest of us have to live with his mistake. For 5 year now. Check the TV numbers NASCAR; when did they start going down? Was it when Daryl decided that he and "boogity, boogity, boogity" were more important than the race itself? (Let me help; yes, that is when the audience started to leave.)
"Boogity, boogity, boogity" is not an exciting way to kick off an event. It's not interesting. It's not even cute. It's boorish. It's boring.
And to let the "personality" that "owns" this phrase make such an issue out of making sure that we all know that he owns it and that he has his own, personal special time for saying it and that somehow we should all think that both he and his catchphrase are extra special -- well that's just stupid.
In previous years we had the pleasure of listening to commentatng voices that cared about NASCAR as "sport" more than as a personal track to fame. Benny Parsons -- a gentleman expert and friend of fans. That was the old way. Now we have Daryl Waltrip whose entire career has been colored by his behavior as a bit of an ass and, at best, a disregarder of fans but, at worst, disparager of the folks who paid his way.
NASCAR's TV audience is decling because of Daryl's bad manners and his "look at me" coverage and because of the weird concept of moving the actual racing to the back end of the TV show.
Make the race coverage start at the listed time. Create a different show for the folks that want it. And you might tell your fans at the track, at every race, what is the start for the concert and what is the time for the actual race.
"Racing" -- NASCAR: it's in your name.
Posted April 16, 2007 Permalink
Imus: Move to New Orleans Now
As of today, April 11 '07, it's been a week since Don Imus abused the women of Rutgers basketball and his position on the US national airwaves with his repugnant remarks. There are calls for him to be fired and it is quite easy to understand where those are coming from. There is no excuse for what he said and for what that did to those young women and to the rest of us.
I can't say what is an appropriate response from all of us to Mr. Imus but it must be something and something very significant -- that's for sure. A two-week hiatus is not enough. That is tepid symbolism at best -- just a vacation at worst.
On the other hand; to completely shut down the Imus program would be a huge loss for most Americans -- whether they know it or not -- and for him it would just mean retiring five or ten years early.
To shut down his program and take him off the air would loose an opportunity for him and for all of us to learn from this disgusting and hurtful national racist event. If we make it go away in a flash of firing then we'll stop talking about it and, make no mistake, we will stop learning from it almost as quickly as Imus disappears.
We could, though, keep him on the air and keep him -- and us -- contrite and aware and talking about it. Don't let him or us forget that what he said was dirty and ugly and that it makes him dirty and ugly forever.
Bigger for the rest of us; firing Imus would also loose us a very important political and social forum; perhaps the only truly "open" political forum in America. Jeff Greenberg called the Imus show "a salon" and that's correct. The "Daily Show" gets close in it's last 15 minutes 4 days a week but only close. Bill Mahr likes to think that he has a salon but it is too full of Bill and Bill's bull to be called an "open forum" the way that Imus's show is 3 hours a day, 5 days a week. (The first seasons of "Politically Incorrect" where great, but then Bill found, well, "Bill".)
So how can we do what's right about Imus' awful words last week but without destroying all the good that Imus has done and can continue to do if we let him?
I think that Imus should move to New Orleans. He should move his entire show to New Orleans and keep it there until that city's hurricane-related damage is completely cured.
He and his family should move to a house that is in the shadow of the levees to make sure that there is constant national awareness of the condition of the walls that do or do not protect the city.
Every day have the mayor of New Orleans on to discuss whatever the Mayor wants to discuss. Make McGurk be quiet. Turn off his microphone. Everyday have other members of the New Orleans and Mississippi communities on to talk about what is or isn't happening to cure their Katrina ills.
Every day keep the focus on the Katrina damage that America has not stepped up to fix -- and after a year and a half is starting to forget. What happens to New Orleans and that area could happen to any of us. The federal government -- who is us: by us and for us -- should have fixed this situation long ago. Now let us send the soul damaged Imus down to New Orleans to help cure that American city and to find the healing for his own moral self.
Posted April 11, 2007 Permalink
