January 2005 Archives

And that future is pretty bleak.....

The way many high school students see it, government censorship of newspapers may not be a bad thing, and flag burning is hardly protected free speech.

It turns out the First Amendment is a second-rate issue to many of those nearing their own adult independence, according to a study of high school attitudes released Monday.

The original amendment to the Constitution is the cornerstone of the way of life in the United States, promising citizens the freedoms of religion, speech, press and assembly.

Yet, when told of the exact text of the First Amendment, more than one in three high school students said it goes "too far" in the rights it guarantees. Only half of the students said newspapers should be allowed to publish freely without government approval of stories.

Looks like Baton Bob is up to his old tricks......

Thanks to Kelly for the link!

I always get a little queasy when I watch Donnybrook.

Tonight's show reached a new level of screaming pundits behaving badly. At one point, Ray Hartmann seemed to be rocking in his chair muttering "What would Jesus do?" on and on as Wendy Wiese talked about Bunny Blunt's huzzzband. It was a little alarming to say the least.

And it is more than unnerving when callers phone in their opinions. Considering the level of Yay-hoo-eery that always follows the show, I seriously wonder who the hell is watching public television......oh, wait.... I think this kettle is done for the night.

Sens. to Introduce 'Stop Government Propaganda Act'

"The President said that his cabinet agencies made a mistake when they paid commentators to promote his agenda," [MA, Sen. Ted]Kennedy said in a statement. "It's more than just a mistake, it's an abuse of taxpayer funds and an abuse of the First Amendment and freedom of the press. ... If the President is serious about stopping these abuses, he will support this legislation."

Barry Williams and his wife Eila (pictured, right)are getting divorced.

I would be saddened to hear that Barry is leaving Eila 'coz he's still all crushed out on Florence, but I am much more upset that the AP is reporting that's he's divorcing Eila (they've even spelled her name wrong) and they're running a picture of Serena Williams.

Serena. Eila. Eila. Serena.

Well folks, looks like adult bookstores and strip clubs might be closing soon. Matt Bartle, pictured right, is quite the moral crusader. He has also sponsored bills that would:
--forever preserve an individual's right to hunt in Missouri
--increase admission costs to gaming boats
and has co-sponsored a bill
--making February 6, Ronald Reagan day in Missouri.

Bill Highlights (and what the hell is a sexual encounter center?)

The term “sexually oriented business” includes adult arcades, adult bookstores, adult novelty stores, adult video stores, adult cabarets, adult motels, adult motion picture theaters, adult theaters, escort agencies, nude model studios, and sexual encounter centers. Prohibits the exhibition of sexually explicit films, videos, DVDs, and live entertainment in viewing rooms at sexually oriented businesses. A person who violates this provision is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

If a sexually oriented business allows specified criminal activity or specified sexual activity on the premises or otherwise fails to comply with these requirements, it shall be considered a nuisance and closed pursuant to Section 567.080, RSMo.

Prohibits a sexually oriented business from being open between the hours of 10 p.m. and 10 a.m. on weekdays and Saturdays. These businesses will be closed on state holidays and Sundays.

Prohibits the Supervisor of the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control from issuing a liquor license to a sexually oriented business.

Any room, building or other structure regularly used for lewdness and assignation purposes is a public nuisance. Currently, only those places where prostitution is conducted are considered public nuisances.

Any person who establishes, maintains, uses, owns, or leases a place for lewdness, assignation, or prostitution is guilty of maintaining a nuisance. If convicted, a person will be by a fine of not more than $1,000 and/or a short jail sentence.

In other words, ya can’t watch boobies, get off to boobies, enjoy boobies after 10PM, drink a beer while watching boobies and you’re probably gonna get shut down (or go to jail) anyway.
-------------------------------------
Full story here.

Sen. Matt Bartle, R-Kansas City, wants to force adult entertainment businesses out of the state by stripping them of their profits.

Legislation pending in the Senate would impose a 20 percent tax on revenue of all "sexually oriented businesses," charge a $5 fee for each person entering their doors and prohibit them from staying open late at night.

"The goal of the bill is to make Missouri inhospitable for these businesses," said Bartle.

This article about tax payer dollars paying syndicated columnist Maggie Gallagher to promote marriage really troubles me.

Maybe Ted Turner really wasn't so wrong in his assertion that the Bush administration has a full-on propoganda machine constantly working to push Dubya's agenda.

I researched Maggie Gallagher (who says she just forgot to mention it) and found this:

People who argue for creating gay marriage do so in the name of high ideals: justice, compassion, fairness. Their sincerity is not in question. Nevertheless, to take the already troubled institution most responsible for the protection of children and throw out its most basic presumption in order to further adult interests in sexual freedom would not be high-minded. It would be morally callous and socially irresponsible.

Morally callous and socially irresoponsible? I guess being on the dole doesn't fit that definition.

PROPAGANDA

Etymology: New Latin, from Congregatio de propaganda fide -- Congregation for propagating the faith, organization established by Pope Gregory XV died 1623

The spreading of ideas, information, or rumor for the purpose of helping or injuring an institution, a cause, or a person

Ideas, facts, or allegations spread deliberately to further one's cause or to damage an opposing cause; also : a public action having such an effect

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ANOTHER COLUMNIST WAS PAID TO PROMOTE BUSH PROPOSAL
Tue Jan 25 2005 20:13:59 ET

In 2002, syndicated columnist Maggie Gallagher repeatedly defended President Bush's push for a $300 million initiative encouraging marriage as a way of strengthening families.

But Gallagher failed to mention that she had a $21,500 contract with the Department of Health and Human Services to help promote the president's proposal, reveals Howard Kurtz in Wednesday runs of the WASHINGTON POST.

"The Bush marriage initiative would emphasize the importance of marriage to poor couples" and "educate teens on the value of delaying childbearing until marriage," she wrote in National Review Online, for example, adding that this could "carry big payoffs down the road for taxpayers and children."

Gallagher explains to Kurtz: "Did I violate journalistic ethics by not disclosing it? I don't know. You tell me." She said she would have "been happy to tell anyone who called me" about the contract but that "frankly, it never occurred to me" to disclose it.

National Review Editor Rich Lowry said of the HHS contract: "We would have preferred that she told us, and we would have disclosed it in her bio."

Last week, Joe urged me to join him for a performance of The Bindlestiff Family Cirkus - which I thoroughly enjoyed!

Afterwards, we strolled down to the City Museum where we met up with a group of folks who showed us some very interesting things to do with our mouths.

I've often joked about running off to join the circus - and now that fire-flinging-folks have taught me this little trick, I just might!!!

Thanks to Jill for taking these photos.

Joe, Jill, me.

Jim instructs us in the basics of handling the magikal fyre!

The way I look at it, I've had worse things in my mouth.

My birthday is no cause for joy, apparently.....

After all, it's Jan. 24, the "most depressing day of the year," according to a U.K. psychologist.

Uttered with a voice reminiscent of Vincent Price meets Paul Lynde, hands facing each other, fingers twirling, eyebrows raised.....

Deep inside our dick-licking Fortress of Sodomy comes the news that purveyor of righteousness James Dobson has unearthed our insidious plan to convert helpless younglings into craven, same-sex lovin' ghouls - or worse - into anti-American fiends who could give a rat's ass what others do in their bedrooms! Oh the horror! Come, my minions, we terrorists of tolerance much concoct yet another scheme to destroy the helpless, traditional Christian families of the U-S of A.

Our carefeully constructed agenda has failed again!

Oh...looks like the devilish gay-lovin' tolerance mongers don't have to mess with this one....

We're never going to hear those words again from one of the nicest men I've ever had the pleasure to work with and get to know personally.

I remember when I pitched a Valentine's Day fundrive with Mike Sampson and I was both thrilled and scared outta my gourd: his pithiness and quickness-of-wit were the trademarks of his professional presence, and all I wanted to do was laugh when he smarted off and just let him go. He would throw the pitch to me (so...Rob...tell us about those roses....)and I'm make some lame-brain attempt to keep up.

He was a wizard of words and a turn of phrase.

He was also remakably kind and in the years since leaving the station, I'd seen him at every art opening I attended, this or that party, or strolling down Euclid. It was always a party when Mike was there.

He always asked about my love life, my work life, my creative life and was always so supportive of whatever scheme I was cooking up.

I'm going to miss the sparkle in his eyes, the warmth of his voice and the compassion of his spirit.

He was a tremendous person and I wish my words could match my feelings right now. I sit here silent....missing a voice I'll hear no more.

Openly gay, uncloseted actor/comedian Jason Stuart, is in town - and just had the most interesting comment about Show Me. St. Louis' Heidi Glaus' ribbed sweater and sensible pants.

"That's the gayest outfit I've ever seen."

Whatever could he mean? I did a little research (that is, Googled) and all I could find at www.ksdk.com is this:

Heidi still enjoys sports and plays basketball and softball whenever she gets the chance. She also hits the road whenever Wynonna Judd is in a decent driving distance.

Those Hollywood types and their showbiz lingo.....It's all a mystery to me.

A few thoughts on political collateral in our new and improved ownership society.

"On this day, prescribed by law and marked by ceremony, we celebrate the durable wisdom of our Constitution, and recall the deep commitments that unite our country."

-- Prescripe me some much stronger drugs, some ceremonies are just a pompous waste of money, and commitments are for Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve.

"Americans, at our best, value the life we see in one another, and must always remember that even the unwanted have worth. And our country must abandon all the habits of racism, because we cannot carry the message of freedom and the baggage of bigotry at the same time."

-- Unless we're talking about faggots.

"Eventually, the call of freedom comes to every mind and every soul. We do not accept the existence of permanent tyranny because we do not accept the possibility of permanent slavery. Liberty will come to those who love it."

-- Unless we're talking about faggots.

"We will persistently clarify the choice before every ruler and every nation: The moral choice between oppression, which is always wrong, and freedom, which is eternally right. America will not pretend that jailed dissidents prefer their chains, or that women welcome humiliation and servitude, or that any human being aspires to live at the mercy of bullies."

-- Unless the jailed dissidents are Muslim, unless the women are knocked-up and barefoot, and unless the so-called human beings are faggots.

I was starting to get very concerned about the perpetual bad mood that I've been in for days weeks months.

Last night's adventures with Joe has turned that frown not-exactly upside down. Maybe more of a half-smile laced with wry cynicism. But it's an improvement.

Joe had blown out a tire and I was helping him out and we stopped to get some food at our favorite Chinese buffet. While sitting there, I noticed that the place was over-run with homosexuals. This is not the kind of place that should ever be that gay.

Everywhere I looked there was a fag!

And a steady stream of faggotry kept flooding through the doors. And they weren't annoying loud mouthed boiz, either. They all looked like huzbands out for dinner, or friends out to gossip or the non-annoying-type-of-gay-with-his-mother that is so rare to find.

It was so unexpected - so strange - that the persistent super-bad mood faded into an absurd appreciation for unexpected kookiness.

So.....we went to see House of Flying Daggers. As much as I love an unlimited Mongolian buffet, I love silk and sword movies more! The film is beautiful and so is Takeshi Kaneshiro. My love affair with Clive Owen may be over!

In honor of super gaiety of the night, I've forever changed it's title. It's not quite as good as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Drag Queen (that's another story) but it is quite entertaining.

In a week, I will officially enter my mid-thirties and I’ll be the first to admit that I am extremely uneasy with this inevitable slide into a nomenclature that carries a decided level of societal expectations.

I was really freaked out when I turned 25. My father had been killed a month earlier, I was in a back-breaking job and I had not achieved any level of personal or professional success. One year and one week from now, I’ll be 35 and I’m once again overwhelmed by my own expectations for where I think I should be in my life.

I’ve never been to Europe, I’ve spent half almost half my life steeped in debt, I’ve only had one significant relationship with a man, and my creative identity seems to be sputtering. It’s kind of grim. Not exactly hopeless – I have a great extended group of friends and my current job affords me some wonderful social opportunities. But there is a slowly gathering malaise when I think about living alone.

It’s just very hard – or at least it is for me. It’s hard to cook for one, to keep one’s laundry perfectly cleaned and pressed, to keep the bathroom tidy and keep my bills paid on time. It’s hard for me to find time to read, blog, workout, clean, shop for cute clothes, take photographs, make art, call my mom, work, be social, have time to just stare out into space. Sometimes, I get very boggled by all the things I want to do. I sometimes wonder how other people do it, and being a tad over-critical, I feel as if I’m just a big-huge failure.

With so many things and people that add value to my life, I’m starting to consider that something has to go. Some sort of housecleaning is in order – in both my internal and external worlds. And that is, perhaps, the thing that makes me profoundly sad. It has been often said that you cannot have it all. When I was young, I didn’t believe that adage, but as I seriously contemplate my life, I am slowly coming to believe that in trying to achieve balance, the scales of what-you-do have and what-you-don’t have to be level.

For me, it’s a decision of what to let go…….and I’ve never been very good at subtraction.

So.....

links to this "sex bomb" story which seems like this "sex bomb" story.

Looks like the Weekly World News scooped everyone.

The fine folks over at Westboro Baptist Church (yes - these folks are real) have an idea about what caused the tsunami.

We sincerely hope and pray that all 20,000 Swedes are dead, their bodies bloated on the ground or in mass graves or floating at sea feeding sharks and fishes or in the bellies of thousands of crocodiles washed ashore by tsunamis. These filthy, faggot Swedes have a satanic, draconian law criminalizing Gospel preaching, under which they prosecuted, convicted and sentenced Pastor Ake Green to jail - thereby incurring God's irreversible wrath: "He suffered no man to do them wrong; yea, he reproved kings for their sakes; Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm." Psa. 105:14,15.

America, who is awash in diseased fag feces & semen, and is an apostate land of the sodomite damned. Let us pray that God will send a massive Tsunami to totally devastate the North American continent with 1000-foot walls of water doing 500 mph -- even as islands in southern Asia have recently been laid waste, with but a small remnant surviving.

And you wonder if this is the wrath of God?

Yay, Jesus!

So much for national security....

Military Has Discharged 26 Gay Linguists

By KIM CURTIS

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - The number of Arabic linguists discharged from the military for violating its "don't ask, don't tell" policy is higher than previously reported, according to records obtained by a research group.

The group contends the records show that the military - at a time when it and U.S. intelligence agencies don't have enough Arabic speakers - is putting its anti-gay stance ahead of national security.

Between 1998 and 2004, the military discharged 20 Arabic and six Farsi speakers, according to Department of Defense data obtained by the Center for the Study of Sexual Minorities in the Military under a Freedom of Information Act request.

After yesterday's post on Bunny Blunt, I expected to take a break from critical fashion coverage and discuss matters of real importance. Well, lo and behold -- Prince Harry is a Nazi, Joan Rivers won't say an evil thing about Star Jones and Serena Williams introduces the most hideous sports outfit ever (that nylon tube on her chest really baffles me - is it for tennis balls, a Nalgene bottle, a SARS mask?) and now one of those Hilton sisters may be shilling fashions at Dillards. I admit to being a bit overwhelmed by all this fashion frenzy.

I quickly recovered, thanks to a story about the new Queer Eye show. One of the guys is kinda hot - in a Right Said Fred kinda way. And then this story, with a link to super hot Peter Brady really threw me for a loop.

Perhaps more serious matters will rule tomorrow's posts.

Yesterday, Mr. Blackwell issued his list of worst dressed - and while all that is interesting, I was more amused by the bubbly-brouhaha over Mrs. Melanie Bunny Blunt's Anna Karenina homage.

If you missed the image from the Post's front page yesterday, you missed quite a treat.

Diatriber clued me into this vision of loveliness and then Deb Peterson offered this lovely gem: Fashion police ticket Mrs. Blunt, wherein our favorite gossip columnist claimed Bunny had overtaken Bjork in fashion misjudgments. I take offense to that, since Bjork's outfit actually made her look thin.

The Post had a couple of stories, my favorite being: Inaugural events unfold with dignity and military precision.

Matt and his wife, Melanie Blunt, left the church and climbed into a white Ford Mustang convertible, joining a parade to the Capitol. Matt Blunt spurned tie and tails and wore a business suit. Melanie Blunt, who is seven months pregnant with the couple's first child, wore a peach and cream-colored suit. She has a background in fashion, having earned a degree in merchandising. An aide said the morning's unexpected chill prompted her to don a last-minute addition: a cream-colored cape with fur trim and a billowing fur hat.
- - - - - -
In an Inauguration Day that favored subdued ceremonies over flamboyance and fireworks, Gov. Matt Blunt was portrayed as a down-to-earth, churchgoing man who will stick to the basics.

I was struck by so many things in these two stories.

• Ford Mustang?
• Spurned tails?
• Background in fashion?
• Billowing?
• Being over Flamboyance?
• Basics?

As was repeated ad nauseam, Mr. Blunt was sworn in on *count em* TWO Bibles - one which he reads daily...So inspiring, don't ya think? Perhaps if I ever take public office, I'll be sworn in with a copy of Honcho wearing my own fur lined outfit:

I'm daydreaming now, thinking of the phalanx of pumped up muscle boys in my Mini-Cooper motorcade, stepping out into the crowd of well wishers wearing an Armani suit hiding my Victoria's Secret..... Anyway, that is sooooooo off topic -- my personal demons shouldn't distract from the rest of this missive.

Back to basics, so to speak -- the fashion commentary continued today with the oh-so-clever Kansas City Star's Hats off to Melanie B:

Melanie Blunt made a striking fashion statement at the inauguration of Missouri's 54th governor Monday, wearing a furry, oversized hat and three-quarter-length ivory cape coat, with matching gloves and shoes.

Mrs. Blunt, 32, is expecting the couple's first child - a boy - in March. Underneath the snowbunny[sic] ensemble she was in a peach maternity dress. Spence Jackson, spokesman for the governor, said Mrs. Blunt hadn't planned to wear the coat, but it was chilly Monday in Jefferson City, with temperatures in the 30s.

So once again, Bunny Blunt takes center stage in state politics. I've also noticed that reporters keep mentioning that she's pregnant -- otherwise we'd just assume that she's fat and tacky rather than resplendent with motherhood and tacky.

My ultimate goal is to find out where our Mistress of merchandising found her ensemble. I tried Lillian Vernon first.

Perhaps:

Disneydirect.com: Princess Faux-Fur Cape and Muff

On Sale: $49.99 Was: $79.00 (Item #48346M)
She steps out of a fairy tale and into her own winter wonderland in our Princess hooded cape and muff. Wrapped in pink and white faux-fur, your princess is in royal company with Belle, Cinderella and Aurora embroidered on the front. Fluffy white muff with ''Princess'' embroidery completes the outfit. Both fully lined with faux-taffeta. Side slits for arms to slip through. Pom-pom ties are removable. Dry clean only. Acrylic with polyester lining. Imported.

Bring it on! defense an insult to vapid teen girls everywhere......

FORT HOOD, Texas (Reuters) -- A lawyer for Spc. Charles Graner Jr., accused ringleader in the Iraq prisoner abuse scandal, defended piling naked prisoners in pyramids Monday as valid prisoner control and compared it to shows by cheerleaders.

"Don't cheerleaders all over America form pyramids six to eight times a year. Is that torture?" Guy Womack, Graner's attorney, said in opening statements to the 10-member military jury at the reservist's court-martial.

The Chicken Shits in the Supreme Court decline to hear gay adoption case.

Florida Gov. Jeb Bush has maintained that the children, often products of troubled and unstable backgrounds, should have a father and a mother.

"It is rational to believe that children need male and female influences to develop optimally, particularly in the areas of sexual and gender identity, and heterosexual role modeling," justices were told in a filing by Florida's attorney, Casey Walker.

I sincerely hope that all the good Christians that are leaving these children parentless open up their hearts and homes to these kids.

Oh, wait......they need to have hearts first.

This cannot be good - no way, no how......

News Corp. to Buy Rest of Fox for $6 Bln NEW YORK (Reuters) - Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. (NWS) on Monday said it would take full control of its Fox Entertainment Group Inc. (FOX) unit in a stock swap worth about $6 billion, which it said would simplify the media conglomerate's structure.

The actor issued the following statement, "Speaking for the entire world....we pray for swift resolution to this most horrific of personal tragedies."

On a much lighter note, The White House issued a job-opening in its Illegal Use of Taxpayer Dollars Propaganda Machine Office.

Oh, and Arnold's lobotomized auntie-in-law died.

Call me cynical - but it looks like the upcoming Get Hooked on Health St. Louis is not going to do one damn thing to address the rampant health problems that face St. Louis, namely lead poisining and syphilis, huge spikes in HIV infection among black women and an obscene meth problem.....but hey! you can meet Sponge Bob.

Afterall, the first step towards being healthy is watching a lot more cable telvision.

Now is the time to Get Hooked on Health St. Louis! As individuals, as families, through our schools, in our neighborhoods and in workplaces throughout the St. Louis community, it's time to take active steps toward improved health and fitness.

presents...... Meet SpongeBob SquarePants in the Delta Dental Fit Fun for Kids Area. "Teeth on the Go" with the Tooth Wizard & PlaqueMan!

presents...... Play ball! Extreme Dodge Ball - prizes awarded!

presents...... Fight Like a Girl Challenge & Martial Arts Training on the Get Movin' Floor

presents...... "Check Up or Check Out" Men's Health Area, with FREE health tests and screenings for men .......and meet Cardinals' greats Lou Brock and Andy Benes at the Spike Check Up or Check Out booth!

presents...... "You Call the Play" & other exciting games in Mercy Health Plan's Interactive Alley

presents...... "Low Carb & Lovin' It" Host George Stella on the Healthy Cooking Demonstration Stage & healthful food and beverage sampling in the Hautly Cheese Health & Fitness Marketplace

presents...... Test your golf skills and have your golf swing professionally analyzed, while you compete for a golf vacation prize package

presents...... Climbing Wall in the Ruggedly Fit Area

presents...... Home Health & Safety Area with Digital Finger Printing

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presents...... Meet "Savvy" Host AJ, and enjoy expert presentations from the YMCA Health & Fitness Stage

presents...... Stop Violence Against Women" & Mobile Mammography in the Missouri Baptist Medical Center Women's Health Area

presents...... Featuring Dr. Pamela Peeke and FREE registration for the 2005 National Body Challenge with Bally Total Fitness

presents...... Enjoy the Travel R&R Feature Area and register-to-win!

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Sheik Fawzan Al-Fawzan, a Muslim Saudi professor says Allah hates homos and Christmas sex....

WorldNetDaily: Homosexuality, fornication cause of tsunami?

"We know that at these resorts, which unfortunately exist in Islamic and other countries in south Asia, and especially at Christmas, fornication and sexual perversion of all kinds are rampant," he said. "The fact that it happened at this particular time is a sign from Allah. It happened at Christmas, when fornicators and corrupt people from all over the world come to commit fornication and sexual perversion. That's when this tragedy took place, striking them all and destroyed everything. It turned the land into wasteland, where only the cries of the ravens are heard. I say this is a great sign and punishment on which Muslims should reflect."

Al-Fawzan urged Muslims to atone for their sin. "All that's left for us to do is to ask for forgiveness We must atone for our sins and for the acts of the stupid people among us and improve our condition. We must fight fornication, homosexuality, usury, fight the corruption on the face of the earth, and the disregard of the lives of protected people."

The Fragrance for a New Kind of Redneck

Redefining Hoosier

Like most immigrants to Mound City, he quickly figured out that the local lexicon had something else in mind with the word. If outside the metropolitan area hoosier refers to the fine residents of Indiana, here it remains a term reserved for the uncultured and uncouth. A river-city redneck, if you will. A term often preceded by the adjectives South Side, south city and Jefferson County.

Not So Tiny Bubbles, Afterall

Ohhhh!!!! I'll be glued to the TV for this one.....

--Guy Hovis & Welk co-Star Ralna

Guy Hovis, a vocalist from Tupelo, Miss., who performed on the Lawrence Welk show, will sing, "Let the Eagles Soar," a song written by Attorney General John Ashcroft.

Thomas Basile, a spokesman for the committee, said the song is a favorite of Lott's. When Ashcroft served as senator from Missouri, he and Lott were members of the singing senators' quartet. The group also included Sens. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, and Jim Jeffords, I-Vt.

Lott said Bush and first lady Laura Bush selected Graves and Graham. As chairman of the congressional committee, Lott chose several of the other performers, including the Alcorn State University Concert Choir from Mississippi. The chairman typically picks musicians from his home state.

The congressional committee received $1.25 million for the ceremony. A separate Presidential Inaugural Committee is raising some $40 million to cover the cost of the parade, the nine official inaugural balls and candlelight dinners with the president and vice president for major donors.

Staples Pulls Advertising From Sinclair (washingtonpost.com)
News Programming Perceived as Biased
By Frank Ahrens

Office-supply retailer Staples Inc. is pulling its advertising from news programming on Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc. television stations, saying the decision was fueled in part by e-mails from customers angry at what they consider to be the broadcaster's right-wing bias in news and commentary.

First time I've heard of ad dollars being pulled 'coz folks are pissed at right wing zealots! Trouble is, not only does the St. Louis Sinclair station (our ABC affiliate) not even bother to broadcast local news, there's not a Staples for 200+ miles.

I guess it's a draw - but yay for Staples, anyway!