note on pole

Fuzzy view of fan

Dr Laura, Sarah Palin and the paradox

So I've let Dr. Laura Schlessinger's mistake (How is saying a word 11 times in a conversation a mistake?) marinate for a while before I put in my two cents, just to see if anyone else had the same reaction I did. Today I found this article at Forbes.com. I felt this quote from the last paragraph, "It's the paradox of free speech," said Julia Holak Tew. "She has a right to vocalize her thoughts in whatever poorly chosen words she wishes, but the public and the media also have a right to criticize her speech.", explains how I feel the best. Sarah Palin came to Dr. Laura's defense saying “Does anyone seriously believe that Dr. Laura Schlessinger is a racist?”. It is this type of spin that keeps the public from remembering that we all have a responsibility to defend free speech. Sure Dr. laura had a right to say what she said on her radio show, but she also has a responsibility to welcome criticism of what she said as well. She also should expect to be called a racist, if she uses racially charged language. She could have not used the word and still had the conversation with the woman she was talking to, she chose to use the word and all the power it carries. Ever heard the saying, "Don't bring a knife to a gun fight"? I think public figures like Sarah Palin and Dr. Laura forget that we all have to play by the same rules.

Here is another link to a Wall Street Journal article I read about the word and its origins.

She's Tight

Ahhh Alki!!!

Music rights and small business

Was surfing the news yesterday and came across this article in the New York Times about the people who enforce the music publishing rights for artists. It points out that not everyone has lost money in the changing of the music business.

The mayor in the alley

So I was in my bathroom this morning and I looked out the window to see the mayor of Seattle walking down the alley behind our condo. I neglected to get a photo. I hope there wasn't any graffiti on our building.

Sliversun Pickups and other gigs last week

So Saturday night we went out to the Silversun Pickups show at the Paramount. Some friends picked me up and we waded through the traffic that was being caused by the construction/Seafair parade. After finding parking and stopping to pick up tickets at will call we convened at Dragonfish for some food before the show. We hadn't been there to eat in quite a while and found some dishes we liked. I drank some sparkling sake that was just sweet enough for me.

When we arrived at the show the second band Against Me! was setting up. I thought they sounded like a updated version of Reo Speedwagon and the light show they set up was distracting. But that is just me. The band won over the audience and had people chanting their Anthems, which were also written on the amp/speaker stacks if one needed to reference.

The Sliversun Pickups played an amazing set. The show was subdued, but energetic. Sound was a bit muffled, but very good for a room that size. I have waited for some time to see them live, having missed them playing in Seattle before now and the wait was worth it.

We also saw the Flaming Lips in Central Park, NYC. They were better the last time we saw them in Marymoor Park, but a bad Flaming Lips show is better than most other events , so we had a good time.

phase3 playing at Rendezvous 10pm Fri. Sept. 24th 2010