You Wish, Powell

Looks like the FCC isn't getting enough jollies censoring content on network TV and radio alone. Now they want to start censoring cable, satellite and the Internet. Too bad their mandate doesn't extend that far. If Powell's crew wants to sail into those waters, it will be faced with opposition that understands the difference between the limited-bandwidth "public airwaves" that carry TV signals and private signals like those that enable cable TV , satellite and the Internet.

And no, we haven't seen any reason to wrest the Invisible Conceptual Idiot Baton away from Michael Powell and re-gift it to someone else.

Election Results Goofiness

I've been following the trials and tribulations of Bev Harris and the folks at Black Box Voting both on the web and on the Randi Rhodes Show on Air America. Folks, there is definitely some goofy shit going on. I'd recommend you read the 11/16 story on Black Box Voting's home page at a minimum. And dig further if it interests you (it should). There is some serious shit going down in Florida.

Bev Harris and her crew are doing some serious work to determine if there is, in fact, evidence of fraud. If you dig what she's doing, do what I did and send them a donation. I sent 'em $50.

More LIRR Ad Madness

Whoever is doing this probably has plenty of time on the train during which they're not being observed. Maybe one of the folks who cleans the train?

Might be a bit tough to see, but someone cut the heads off pictures from one ad and pasted them onto this ad for The O.C.. The heads are those of Dr. Phil and Oprah. Couldn't tell who the other folks were. (One looks like Olympia Dukakis.)

You simply can't do this on the train in full view of the passengers. And unless you take a train that runs at 3 AM or something, one would never run into a situation where one could pull this off without having somebody see something, which makes me think it's probably one of the cleaning folks.

Help Stop Insane Proposed NYC Bike Law

Rick Bruner e-mailed me this morning to call my attention to a new proposed law that would require licenses for all New York City cyclists over the age of 16. Failing to get a license would mean that anyone caught without one would be subject to fines of $100-$300, imprisonment (up to 15 days in jail), plus police can impound the bike.

I've written in the past about how New York City is incredibly unfriendly to alternate forms of transportation. Anything gasoline- or electric-powered that isn't an automobile or motorcycle is illegal, by virtue of the fact that these vehicles need to be registered as motor vehicles, but the DMV will do no such thing. So you can't legally ride electric or gas scooters. Now some crazy councilwoman, Madeline Provenzano, wants to further discourage alternative transportation by requiring $25 registration fees and license tags for all bicycles ridden in the city.

If you're as pissed as I am, you can send a fax to Provenzano. Please do so.