in case you missed it.

In lighter news, I'm officially relocating to Las Vegas. I've got a new job lined up and will be reporting for duty very, very soon.

That probably means I'm going to retire the Unnamed Source blog. In all fairness, though, I think it's already in retirement, no?

This doesn't mean I'm done blogging. It just means I'm going to focus my efforts on a new blog.

It's been a blast over here, though. But I decided long ago that when I head to the desert, I'm starting anew.

brinkley.

I had to say goodbye to my dog three days ago.

It's still very difficult.

I miss him.

is there anyone alive out there?

Are you still reading this?

stick around.

Stick around, kids. Things are about to get pretty interesting around here.

sponsor-my-move.com

I wonder if it would be feasible to solicit sponsorship of a move across country. You know, offer my ride, my shirt, my dog (who will accompany me) as interactive billboards for your message as we trek to the west.

Think about the exposure. Think about the PR. Not only would I act as a roving billboard, but for the right price, I would be your spokesman and data-gathering resource.

I would issue news releases to all the morning talk shows, all the local affiliates along the route and document my entire journey online.

It would be money well spent.

yelling 'fire' in a crowded theater.

Let me see if I've got this straight...people in Arizona showed up to the site of a presidential town hall meeting on health care reform carrying handguns and other firearms. Huh? I'm not on an anti-gun diatribe here, but I don't understand how one can logically decide a town hall meeting about health care is the proper venue to show up strapped.


Imagine for one moment if a person showed up to a presidential event three or four years ago with a gun strapped to his hip. How would the conservative media elite react to this? I recall people protesting President Bush in Indianapolis being removed or relocated from motorcade routes or the location because...well, your guess is as good as mine. And no one from the right uttered a word. Then again, Bush's first press secretary reminded Americans that, in the wake of 9/11, they need to "watch what they say and what they do."

At least one such gun owner, William Kostnic, claimed in an interview on MSNBC he was protesting that his rights are being stripped away by the federal government.

Over health care reform?

Again, let me see if I've got this: President Obama proposes health care reform legislation to, ostensibly, provide wider access to health care in America. And in the eyes of a few on the fringe, this is what a loss of rights looks like?

Compared to the last president—who REALLY stripped away our rights—I'll take Obama's version.

I know several gun owners and know them to be responsible about their weapons. They understand the safety and inherent responsibility to gun ownership. I can't imagine any of them would agree the showing up to a presidential even strapped is a good idea. Yeah, I know all about the Second Amendment, but just because it's a right means you can do whatever you want. You can't yell "fire" in a crowded theater.

For my money, it's irresponsible because it the Secret Service have no choice but to devote some resources to keep an eye on those who are strapped and those who may feel threatened (and do something stupid). If you need to ask why, you might as well roll a drum of gasoline into a lighter factory. It won't take much for the whole thing to go off.

remember, kids.

...lurkers suck.

my political views.

Yeah, that's about right.
My Political Views
I am a center-left social libertarian
Left: 1.95, Libertarian: 6.36

Political Spectrum Quiz

just so we're clear why i don't watch fox news.

It's occurred to me that I may have some fairly new readers poking about these parts. They already know I'm a left-leaning Democrat. Having said that, it's worth pointing out I don't consider all Democrats or liberals to be correct on everything. Just as I don't consider all Republicans or conservatives to be wrong on everything. I'm a pretty fair-minded guy.

And that is precisely why I can't have anything to do with Fox News. It has nothing to do with their conservative base, their conservative talk shows or conservative slant. I'm OK with that. So why do I turn them off? Simple:

BECAUSE THEY'RE SHITTY JOURNALISTS!

I chose the word 'shitty' because it's the only one that does them justice. Any network that continues to use the invented term "homicide bomber" without irony is a buffoon. Oops, they did it again!

Or how about referring to Michelle Obama as "Obama's Baby Mama."

Or remember the Obamas fist bump? How about teasing a segment about it (of all things) wondering if it's a "terrorist fist jab."

A WHAT????

I'm honestly not sure what sort of thinking goes into these decisions. I highly doubt every person who works for Fox News is a dyed-in-the-wool conservative. All I can surmise is they produce and report the news from a profit-centric place before a fourth-estate place.

They know their audience is largely conservative and/or votes Republican. So the newsroom is probably ran with that in mind; trying to keep that audience so they can keep advertisers so they can keep making money.

There's nothing wrong with making money. But when you compromise the integrity of news gathering and reporting, it's a huge problem.

Sorry to burst your bubble, my dear, conservative friends. I have nothing against Bill O'Reilly or Sean Hannity. I simply believe Fox News is synonymous with shitty journalism.

And by the way, THIS is an example of my kinda journalism! From CommonDreams.org:

MSNBC and Fox: Posing Divided, United They Stand
by Laura Flanders

There are days when one's reminded why one works in independent media. August 1st was one of those days, when the New York Times ran a front page media story that might as well have been headlined: GE and Fox Hush Hosts For Profits. Read more.

health insurance giants want to scare the shit out of you!

Glad to see someone from my field (public relations, not gaming) speaking out against the scare tactics being used in the health care reform debate. From CNN.com:

Whistle-blower: Health care industry engaging in PR tactics
From Ed Hornick and Elaine Quijano

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Wendell Potter knows a little something about the health care industry's practices and is not afraid of to speak out as the health care reform debate heats up around the country.
Wendell Potter once was a vice president in the public relations department for insurance giant Cigna.

Wendell Potter once was a vice president in the public relations department for insurance giant Cigna.

The former vice president of corporate communications at insurance giant Cigna, who left his post, says the industry is playing "dirty tricks" in an effort to manipulate public opinion.

"Words matter, and the insurance industry is a master at linguistics and using the hot words, buzzwords, buzz expressions that they know will get people upset," he told CNN Wednesday.
Read more.

THIS is why I am distrustful of any large entity. I am distrustful of government, believe it or not, when government gives me reason to be distrustful; just as it did during the Bush Administration. I am distrustful of corporations because so many have proven themselves to be lying, thieving, larcenous mercenaries if given the time, latitude and leeway. A free market system is fine by me, but too many for-profit organizations have proven the necessity of safeguards and oversight. The health insurance industry is one of them. And they're beginning to make the tobacco industry look sainted.