QFT...

A quick and short political post here. To anyone who plans on running for office in the future, near or far, please take a moment to read this quote from Senator Chuck Hagel (R-Nebraska), who wrote an Op-Ed piece calling for a US pullout from Iraq.

"Militaries are built to fight and win wars, not bind together failing nations. We are once again learning a very hard lesson in foreign affairs: America cannot impose a democracy on any nation -- regardless of our noble purpose."

Quoted for truth.

Media Vs. City of Saint George

I find the localization of stories and the desire for the news media to project its self outside of it's Neilson defined boundaries interesting. In example, during the inital stages of Operation Iraqi Quagmire local television stations were sending photojournalists and reporters overseas to be embedded with US forces. Now I can see the need for national media like NBC, CNN, etc., but local stations?

It all pays off in the end though when you're like KSTP in Minneapolis whose embedded photojournalist was with a US unit when they broke the locks on a weapons depot, then left it unsecured.

But despite the lucky 'right place and right time' occasionally, what purpose does it serve for local media to be involved (at this level) in stories that, while relevant, could be covered by a national outlet.

This was the question that hit me Tuesday morning when I arrived in St. George, Utah to a parking lot with 13 satellite trucks, two dozen Explorers & Xterra's, and about thirty or so news people milling about, dragging cables and setting up lights.

In case you didn't know, Warren Jeffs, the leader of the Fundamentalist Mormon Church (not to be confused with the regular Mormon Church) was placed on the FBI's 10 Most Wanted list for allegedly arranging a marriage between an underage girl and her cousin. The cousin is said to have forced the girl to have sex against her will, so Jeffs was charged with rape as an accomplice. The authorities believe there is more of this going on in the cities of Colorado City, UT and Hilldale, AZ, which is what got him on to the FBI's list.

Jeffs was arrested in Nevada, just north of Vegas by a Nevada Highway Patrol trooper on a routine traffic stop. Note to criminals, if you have warrants, drive the speed limit!

Anyway, in the tiny parking lot of Utah's 5th District Court's parking lot were affiliates from Salt Lake City, Phoenix, and Vegas; as well as FOX News Channel and CNN. Multiple newspapers and CourtTV were also there. But while I looked at it and shouted in glee 'MEDIA FRENZY!', I also understood. NV, UT and AZ all have heavy Mormon populations, and this story effects them all. Unfortunately, people like Jeffs and his church bring a bad image against the regular Mormons, just like those fucktards in Kansas who protest at funerals tarnish Christians.

So while this is not an example of over-localization (although I don't completely understand why one market can't just get reports done from the affiliate in the market the event is in) it does bring up things for us in the media to think about.

Satellite technology has made being able to report anywhere extremely simple. And now with the invention of DSNG (digital satellite news gathering) and DSNG trucks (like mine in the picture) that any schmuck photographer can operate (like me) a local station can project themselves anywhere at any time. But it's important to remember that while you are devoting all of these resources abroad (there were 3 photogs, myself included, and 2 reporters from KLAS alone in St. George) that stuff is still happening back home.

I think that it's important to use this technology when it's necessary and relevant, but just like being live for the sake of being live, if you over play it too much the viewer will become less and less impressed with it.

A final note, this posting is a commentary on the projection of local media into national events, and not a commentary on the Jeffs case and KLAS' decision to send crews to St. George. This story was relevant to Las Vegas in multiple ways and I support the decision to devote resources to it. Plus I love overtime, especially during a week when I get 16 hours of holiday pay as well!

Coming tomorrow, Media Frenzy! The story of fun times in Utah!

Header Updated

If you don't see the new header and still see the anniversary one, please refresh your browser! If that fails, please clean your cache!

Turkey Day!

Happy Thanksgiving! Today is the day that we sit and give thanks that the Indians sucked at fighting European invaders! They blame the smallpox blankets, but in reality, the crackers would have won anyway. They had their eyes on the prize! I'm unsure what turkey and Thursday afternoon football have to do with that, but what the hell ever!

Tomorrow is black Friday, the start of our celebration of the birth of our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ. We celebrate this by lining up like the retards we are at four in the morning to try and get an overpriced television for just a little less.

And yes, I can do this for any holiday. :)

Have a great holiday and enjoy either your time off or the holiday pay! Or in my case, I'll do both!

Added: A Thanksgiving Day laugh! Greatest SitCom EVER.


Another Addition: I refer to the black Friday in a commercial sense as the beginning of the Christmas season. Not to the Friday when Jesus was crucified. I'll never understand how that Friday could have been a Good one, but I guess that's why I'm not a theologian.

While this Friday has nothing at all to do with Jesus, it is the 'official' start to the Christmas season, which is why I chose to use it to satire. Hopefully this addition will get Tony off my ass! Damn you Tony!

YAY! Recognition!

I've been added to the Las Vegas Information Center's list of blogs! I assume because they are trying to cut down on the number of people who come here...

"Vegas has people like HIM there? Ugh... Let's go to Puduka."

What do you get...

...when you take 13 satellite trucks, 24 Explorers/Mountaineers/Xterras, 20 cops including snipers, a town of about 15,000 people and a polygamist accused of making a 14 year old girl doink her cousin?

Media frenzy, of course! Story coming Friday!

Stupid Blog!

I didn't publish a post when I thought it did, and now I look like an asshat.

Anyway, happy FIRST birthday to little Erin Chronister! WOO HOO! He turned 1 on the 19th!

edit: I still look like an asshat, since when I published this, the unpublished post actually published. Ah well.

1!

Happy birthday to little Erin Chronister, the son of one of my very best friends back in Illinois! He turns 1 today! Hurray!

\o/ \o/ \o/ \o/ \o/ \o/

If At First You Don't Succede In Being An Asshat....

Try again, I guess.

The Las Vegas City Council is once again attempting to curtail free speech on the Fremont Street Experience in the name of saving people from those guys who hand out cards for our many escort services (i.e. hookers).

The previous law was ruled unconstitutional and recently confirmed as such. However the city says that they have revised the law to pass constitutional muster, although I don't see how.

Mayor Oscar Goodman says, "I'm a great believer in free speech, but I also believe in people's right to be left alone."

What's the problem with that? Well, first off, people do not have the right to be left alone when they are out in public. A quick review of the constitution finds no amendment stating such. There are laws (rightfully so) against harassment, but I for one have never seen any of these guys constantly try to force the advertisements on anyone. If you just ignore them as you walk by, they don't care.

Secondly, any law restricting free speech/activities, especially unpopular speech/activities goes against the fundamental values that this country was founded on.

And third, am I the only one who finds that in the land of legalized prostitution (albeit not in Clark County), gambling and about any other vice you can think of that goes unchecked here, they want to stop people from handing out advertisements for shady, yet legal businesses hypocritical?

OtakuPhotog will be your source for information on this. I will follow the process of this new law, which will directly impact the rights of Las Vegas media (in regards to access to the FSE and the people/businesses that occupy it) until it is once again ruled unconstitutional.

Crimes Against Humanity...

No, I'm not talking about how K-Fed is divorcing Britney Spears now that he's turned her into a man cow. I'm talking about television...

I get angry on a daily basis now. On G4TechTV (which is another crime all together, but we won't go into that here) the canceled FOX show Arrested Development airs. After each episode I sit fuming that some cum bathed asshat somehow made the decision to can it.

How is it possible that a show with both subtle and blatant humor in it, all of which is pure hilarity, gets canned after three seasons - not even full seasons - yet moronic carbon copy game shows, asinine reality shows like 'Dancing With The Stars', 'Skaiting With The Stars', 'Fondling Yourself With The Stars', and the like are renewed over and over and over again.

Moronic sitcoms that all have the same basis are picked up and over-hyped; 'Till Death', 'The War At Home', etc... Shows that exist because their creators can't come up with anything origonal... 'NCIS'? 'CSI: Miami/New York/Boise, ID', any of the 281 law shows...

Yet Arrested Development, one of the greatest single camera shows of the television area is bounced. Firefly... Gone. E Ring... Gone. Futurama... Gone. Studio 60... Gone. Family Guy... Gone, then brought back because FOX realized what fucking idiots they were. Enterprise... Gone. All so we can make room for 'Who Wants to Marry My Mother's Diseased Cat' and that show coming out which is just a black 'Groundhog Day.'

I really find it difficult to believe that there are really that many morons in our society that these new shows, and the ones that keep getting tossed at us, appeal to. Therefore it is only reasonable to assume that Neilson Media Research, the company who gathers all the ratings information purposely seeks out the stupidest people they can find.

The way it works is that Neilson sends out diaries (and in some markets, people meters) to a select few. Those few are then mathematically set up to represent 10,000 or so actual TV viewers. So if you have a hundred morons with diaries that watch 'Deal or No Deal', Neilson assumes that there are actually a million morons watching that.

It's like how the FCC works. They receive 2 complaints, but under their mathematical formula, 1 complaint = one billion people. So they assume two billion Americans were offended by 4 frames of Janet Jackson's right nipple.

What is the solution? It's complicated, but I believe a full scale rebellion is in order. What we must do is seek out morons and find out if they were issued a Neilson diary or meter. Once that is done, you must confirm that they are actually a moron by asking them what they watched on TV last night. If their answer is a reality show (Survivor & The Amazing Race being one of very few exceptions since it is enjoyable to watch other people suffer for our amusement), a game show or any sitcom on FOX or ABC, you are to beat them until they are either incapable of filling out a diary, or they call Neilson and tell them that they have stock in a TV network.

If the moron realizes that a beating is impending and pleads for mercy, you can accept that, granted he only fills out the diary with shows you would have watched.

I know what you are thinking... It's mean to be violent against morons. But it seems like it will be the only way, as an armed revolution against the networks would fail. Network executives have legions of Satanic Armies that lack the ability to die defending them.

I am sorry it has to resort to this, but it is for the benefit of all humanity. Stupid television creates stupid children (since stupid parents stupidly put their children in front of the televisions instead of making them learn things, or spending time with them), and those stupid children grow up to become stupid adults who eat nothing but McDonald's and wonder why they became so fat. Those who skip McDonald's become either news consultants or contestants on reality shows.

Long live the revolution!

Warning: Erin Winking is not responsible for anyone breaking the law. By reading this, and inhaling, you hereby relieve Erin Winking of any liability if you beat a moron.

Sorry!!!!!!

John Farrell yelled at me... No posts makes him ANGRY!

Anyway, till something happens that is post worthy, enjoy this little intermission!

2 Years, 4 Days!

I missed it again! Jesus Christ I can never get married! I can't even remember my own anniversary, much less anyone else's! Ah well.

November 2, 2004 was my first post! It was just as craptacular as all the rest! The best part of my blog is the header! Which reminds me, make sure you refresh so you can see the 2nd anniversary header!

Now, time to celebrate! Play this music before looking at the pictures!

Okay, I probably got a bit carried away with the animated gifs there. Sorry.

Democracy NOW!

I am beginning to become more and more smitten with this state. Friday I got to do one of the benefits of being a Nevadan and participated in early voting!

For two weeks, prior to the election, people are able to go to their local early voting station and vote then. I tell you it beats me having to head to my local polling place, which of course is a senior center, and fight in line with the old timers who come out to vote first thing in the morning.

I rolled out to The Meadows Mall up by the 95 and Decatur. I had my voter registration card in hand and my list of who and what I was going to vote for.

But that was about the easiest part. There are some tough races this year. And a lot of things hanging in the balance.

The Nevada's gubernatorial race has heated up over the past weeks, mainly with the Chrissy Mazzeo Scandal, which quite frankly has my bullshit meter flying off the chart. Even more so now that I've heard from people I know who are in the know as well.

I am not ashamed to say that I cast my vote for Jim Gibbons.

WAIT JUST A DAMNED MINUTE, ERIN! You claim to be a Libertarian, yet you voted for a Republican, confirming that fact that Libertarians are just wimpy Republicans!

No. As a matter of fact, unlike most Republicans or Democrats I refuse to vote party lines. I vote for who I feel will represent my views the best. It is 'representative government' after all.

Also, there was no Libertarian running for the governorship here. In fact, strangely enough, there really doesn't seem to be much of a Libertarian party in Nevada at all. There is a Libertarianesque party called the Independent American Party (IAP). I considered voting for them until I went to their website and read this:

The Independent American Party was formed within the teachings of primitive Christianity with the goal of bringing our government to the full realization of its origin.

Now, I've got no problems with religious people, however anyone who threatens the separation of church and state will get no support from me.

Anyway, I like Jim Gibbons. While I don't agree with all of his positions, nor support of President Bush, I do believe that he would make a better governor than the three opponents. And I'm not just saying that because of Dina Titus' god awful accent either.

The next one on the list was for Nevada's 3rd Congressional District. This was one of the ugliest campaigns I have ever seen, with both Democrat Tessa Hathen and Republican Jon Porter attacking each other with foaming mouths. I wasn't planning on voting for either of them, but after being at the LV-1 debate last week I decided to cast my vote for Mr. Porter, despite there being a Libertarian running.

I really couldn't find any information about the Libertarian candidate, thanks again to (probably) the LPN's lack of presence in this state. Miss Hathen seems like a nice person, but she's been schooled by Harry Reid, and I really don't want to see someone else THAT liberal in Congress. (Although, I must admit, her angry rant about firing the SecDef, Donald Rumsfeld made me horny...) So I sold out and I voted for Rep. Porter not because I wanted him to win, but because I didn't want him to lose.

For the Senate, I really wanted to vote for Senator Ensign. He really appeals to me, as he seems like one of the few actual conservatives left in the Republican party. (Neo-Con = Big Government War Mongering Liberal Pretending To Be A Republican) However I threw my support behind the Nevada Libertarian Party's chairman, Brendan Trainor.

The only other race that really mattered was Clark County Sheriff. Another nice guy, Undersheriff Doug Gillespie was running against businessman Jerry Airola. While Mr. Airola has been absolutely pummeled by the Las Vegas media (KLAS included), I believe that he will do a good job as Sheriff. An informal poll (well not a poll, but chats) between our good friend John Farrell and the officers on METRO reveal that many of them are unhappy with the way the department is ran.

Even people who endorse Mr. Gillespie are against him. (In the secretly recorded conversation mentioned in that news article, Laurie Bisch, a former canidate for sheriff and 'vocal' supporter of Gillespie calld him “an arrogant and condescending piece of shit.”) In fact, I would believe that anyone who is below a captain (with a couple of exceptions) would not support Gillespie.

Gillespie says everything is fine and dandy the way it is. No one can believe that. Crime is skyrocketing. METRO officers are killing people left and right. (and PLEASE, don't take that as I don't think officers should not have the right to defend themselves. The police, just as every other human being has the inherent right to use whatever means necessary to defend themselves and others. Take it as I mean it, as the officers are not being trained properly, and as such are placing themselves in positions where they have no choice to use deadly force.) People are being killed with alarming frequency in vehicle accidents as METRO's traffic division is understaffed and cannot conduct traffic enforcement because they are spending all their time taking reports on fender benders. I could go on and on, but I won't.

METRO needs a change, and while I don't think Mr. Airola is the greatest choice in the world, we only have two to choose from. (Of all the primary candidates, I would have voted for former Lt. Ron Williams if he had been in it.) So that's who I voted for.

Everyone else on the ballot I just kind of randomly chose names. (For some positions, like Las Vegas Township Constable. What the is a constable? Where are we? Wee England?)

There were several ballot questions to amend the Nevada constitution. The biggest ones? Question 4 & 5 which would determine which smoking law (toothless #4 or Nazi-era #5) would take effect. It was like deciding to punish a a guy who robbed a bank by either letting him go free (#4) or sentencing him to death (#5). Who thinks of this shit?

The other one was Question 7. The legalization of up to one ounce of personal use marijuana. If passed, it will enact an NRS (Nevada Revised Statute) that will strictly control and tax marijuana. This is a no brainer. Yes on 7!!

I've done my part! Now don't forget to do yours! Get out there and vote on Tuesday so that way you can complain about all the people you voted for!