The right-wing blogosphere is falling all over itself hoping to bring down CNN's chief news executive, Eason Jordan. The left is ignoring it...with the exception of Jeanne D'Arc at Body and Soul who an excellent account today. Her piece is worth reading. The rest is hype and bunk.

This is just stunning. You don't have to buy any theories about the military deliberately targetting journalists to recognize that there's been a clear pattern throughout this war of indifference to the deaths of reporters, mixed in with a good deal of harrassment. In a truly democratic country, with any interest in freedom of the press, that would call for investigations and a serious look at what could be done to make sure reporters aren't killed by soldiers who are stressed or who haven't been given information they need.

In the country we live in, it invites the vultures to circle around our moribund press.

The right-wingers think they smell blood. Newsflash: Eason is not Trent Lott. Give it up already.

The Internet and show business are about to forge a new connection. Ultimately, it will mean original programming coming to your computer.

The Sunnyvale, Calif.-based company signed a huge lease last month to take over most of the former headquarters of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. in Santa Monica, which will soon be known as Yahoo Center. Lloyd Braun, a veteran TV executive, will run the new division, Yahoo Media Group, that will be based there. He plans to move some employees from Silicon Valley and aims to poach Hollywood talent to build a media powerhouse.

Amy Goodman talks to Danny Schecter about WMD: The Movie--"his new documentary exploring the U.S. media's inadequate coverage of the war in Iraq from the lead-up to the fishy deaths of unembedded"

The film is now open in New York City and Buffalo. More info. available here.

Dear Mr. Fantasy. Paper Sun. The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys...

Jim Capaldi, drummer for Traffic, has died of cancer at 60.

Steve Winwood on Capaldi's death:

by TChris

Michael Powell is gone, and so, it seems, is the administration's controversial effort to weaken regulations that prevent media companies from monopolizing the ownership of newspapers and television stations in the same markets. The Justice Department will not seek review of a federal court's order that blocked the FCC's rule change.

"This is a recognition of the failure of the commission to adequately justify its rules and is a recognition of its failure to protect the public interest," FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein, a Democrat, told The New York Times. "This is a historic decision for the media democracy movement."

Johnny Carson has died at 79 of emphysema. Here's more on his career. From another article:

“Mr. Carson passed away peacefully early Sunday morning,” his nephew, Jeff Sotzing, told The Associated Press. “He was surrounded by his family, whose loss will be immeasurable. There will be no memorial service.”

R.I.P.

Edgewise voices what I was thinking when I read about Jefferson Airplane drummer Spencer Dryden's death January 11....he shouldn't have died this way.

Reading through the fan tributes in the Guestbook at SpencerDryden.com, I found this comment from Dryden's fellow musician Norton Buffalo: "What a sad display of how this 'great' nation 'takes care' of it's people."

He's referring, of course, to the miserable material circumstances of Dryden's death at 66: impoverished, uninsured, living alone in a rented or borrowed cabin on a friend's property. No one should end up that way, but more of us will as our nation explicitly abandons any notion of shared responsibility in favor of "ownership."

From the official press release on Spencer's death:

Spencer had been besieged by bad luck in recent years. A hip replacement that didn't take well left him permanently disabled. In September 2003, fire destroyed his home and all of his possessions and memorabilia. Three weeks after the fire, he suffered a heart attack and was told that he needed cardiac surgery. Friends and family worked tirelessly throughout 2004, including hosting a benefit concert in Dryden's honor, to raise the funds needed for the procedure. A week before he was set to have it performed, he was diagnosed with cancer. His battle with the disease lasted only three months.

Watch this VW ad for the VW Polo....it features a suicide bomber who ignites himself and the car survives....leading to a tag line, "small but tough." It's been making the rounds at advertising blogs and now it turns out it's a hoax. [Via Daily Dish.]

by TChris

FCC Chairman Michael Powell, best known for his controversial efforts to regulate indecency while weakening laws that promote diverse media ownership, will resign today.

If you're as turned off by the Inauguration as we are, there is relief at Air America Radio. You can listen on the Internet it doesn't broadcast in your area. And the good news to report is that Air America Radio has turned itself into a success:

Coinciding with the presidential ceremonies, Air America will launch its brash Bush-bashing talk-radio format onto the airwaves in President Bush's backyard -- Washington, D.C. -- as well as Detroit and Cincinnati, bringing its total nationwide reach to 45 markets.

[hat tip Mememorandum]

How much would it take to get you to spend 30 days in jail? There's an offer out of $20,000.00. For real. It's from the producers of a new documentary series called "30 Days" that will air on FX (cable network). Here's the details I received from the producers:

If you are a male prosecutor or former prosecutor between the ages of 30-50 who is interested in participating in a documentary about prison life by living in a jail for 30 days, please email a short description of yourself and of your prosecutorial career. Please include what your current occupation is and whether or not you feel you could leave your job for 30 days (with compensation).

We are currently casting for FX series "30 DAYS", a documentary-style, unscripted series from award-winning filmmaker Morgan Spurlock. Thedocumentary-style show adapts for TV the concept of Spurlock's critically-acclaimed "Super Size Me".

From the press release:

Just watched Mick Jagger accept a Golden Globe for "Old Habits Die Hard" - song from the "Alfie" movie. It was the best part of an otherwise very dull show. Which might be because I've seen so few of the movies and none of the winning tv shows (Nip and Tuck? Desperate Housewives?)

He was relaxed and funny, although I didn't get the inside joke about Paramount. Does anyone know what he was talking about?

I would have liked it if Jamie Foxx won for Redemption, the film about Stanley Tookie Williams, doing life at San Quentin. He won for 'Ray Charles' though, which was also outstanding.

'Closer' and 'Million Dollar Baby' were big winners. 'Sideways' too. Those seem to be the three to see.

Update: Add the Aviator, Leonard DiCaprio just won best actor award for it. Humble speech, too. Further update: Aviator wins for best picture as well.