In pursuit of complete control of its content, Viacom would rather pay Google than take Google's money. Viacom shareholders, are you listening to this?

Avoiding any direct discussion of herself, this has been Viacom/MTV's model for music video promos for decades - they have been notorious for cutting off access to product for any other budding video channel, either by threatening the record companies that produce them or by threatening the cable providers .

Then they decide that MTV doesn't need to show videos anymore! (Yes, I know they show them in the early morning. That's the exception that proves my point.)

kaweahdave : Before we start congratulating Obama on his tactics, let's see if they actually work.

Ten primary wins in a row, and Sen. Clinton's "inevitable" win worn down to and endgame struggle.

I'd say his tactics are working pretty well.

"Obviously, they have no real political principles, but don't they have any strategic instinct at all?"

This is the question that I'm always asking -- I don't expect potiticians, and Congressmen in particular, to act in any way other than in their own best interest, but explain to me how capitulating constantly to a President with the lowest approval ratings of all time works in their best interest?

"In doing so, he pretty much hit the pavement face first, unfortunately," producers told Arrington.

That? Was kinda awesome. Heh.

I've always believed that the goal of journalism was to bring information to light.

Here we have at least two cases of writers who want to keep horrible things in the dark, "in dark rooms" as McArdle wrote, or "it is often best to keep the lights off" as Cohen wrote.

How can we trust any of them if this is the attitude? How have the never learned what most of us already know -- that the worst of crimes are done under cover of darkness?

...because I'm defending Chris Matthews, who, by God, does NOT need my help. But Kevin James, having gotten the fax from Republican headquarters did agree to come on and push the Bush slander. Since Bush had already raised the topic of "appeasing Nazis" (and talk about the pot calling the kettle black), anyone defending that obnoxious lie pretty well ought to know what they're talking about.

Your average right-wing blabbermouth doesn't know a thing about anything, and Matthews exposed that very nicely.

As has been noted:

Starbucks may not have the BEST coffee, but it's damn sure better than what we used to get before they came around. When I was growing up in Brooklyn, the only place you ever could get an espresso or a cappucino was down in the Village or Little Italy.

Folgers and Maxwell House never had a French Roast or a Columbian Supreme back in the the day - that's the Starbucks influence.

There simply aren't enough of the others around to make a difference at any given place or moment, so until there's a different coffeehouse pulling espresso on every block that pays health insurance for part-time employees, I'm pulling for Starbucks.

Oh, and please note - a "cup of coffee" at Starbucks only costs a buck-fifty...two bucks ($1.95) for the venti, or large. Y'all might want to lay off the caramel and the whipped cream. That's not a coffee, it's a milkshake.

Here's an oldie but a goodie:

Extend Medicare to all citizens. An Executive Order would do it (and I KNOW that folks will say it can't, but it can) - the insurance companies will shriek bloody murder as they're dragged off to hell, but that's a good thing.

There is no acceptible solution that allows for insurance companies in the business of providing basic health care to all Americans.

NONE.

Thinking that the inscos would even begin to negotiate such a solution was the basic failure of the Clinton effort.

No candidate can say this out loud, of course, not and get elected. Or even survive, really.

Still, let me say it again. Medicare for ALL citizens. If you want more, then you certainly can pay for that.

I AM going to vote for Obama in the general election. That's because I will DROP A CONCRETE BLOCK ON MY OWN FOOT before I ever vote for a Republican for anything.

Besides that - I will never give another dime to his campaign or to the Democratic Party. I just contributed to the EFF to continue this fight and I'm forwarding the letter to Obama and the DNC to let them know that this is a contribution that they didn't get.

I will support ActBlue and I will work to put everyone who supported this corrupt and craven bill out of business.

Wrong on all of the facts and phenomenally stupid.

The character of Batman sacrifices himself body and soul to seek justice, every single night. He takes personal responsibility for his actions.

The concept of sacrifice for the greater good is at best unknown amonst the Bushists. Personal responsibility is treated with an even greater contempt.

Welcome to the side of the light, my friend, and welcome to the future.

The reason the lad mags exist is to fulfill the fantasy that magazine model-type women might in some way want a guy who, at best, can afford the magazine. It's a powerful fantasy, but mosy men know that it is certainly a fantasy.

I've noticed a trend where men hang out together all the time, and have no interest in dating a woman. Is the beer killing their sex drives?

Hanging out with the boys is a lot easier and safer for the self-esteem than risking near-certain humiliation.

Very few woment pretend to want men that aren't the equivalent of Mr. Big, in looks or wealth.

~

So, if you want to score a magazine model, become wealthy.

Otherwise, just forget about it. There's always porn or video games.

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