Journalistic Integrity, Newsweek, and Riots

A number of stories are coming up about journalistic integrity. It's as if each media provider is being caught in some misrepresentation of some sort.

Lately, Newsweek is on the hotseat. The White House is claiming that the misrepresentation on the part of Newsweek has caused riots and killed people. As Raw Story points out, however, the error in Newsweek's reporting is not necessarily that our Interrogators are trashing the Koran, but that the Pentagon has acknowledged this in an internal investigation.

Here's a quote:
Where the Newsweek report likely erred was in saying that the U.S. was slated to acknowledge desecrating the Quran in internal investigations, and in relying on a single anonymous source to make grave allegations. But reports of desecration are manifold.

In light of recent witch hunts involving members of the press, I'm starting to wonder of the journalistic integrity isn't going downhill as much as we thought, but maybe certain individuals who want to distract us from other problems around the world have stepped up their persecution of journalists that do not agree with their views.

First, I didn't realize people in Afghanistan read Newsweek. Second, if they weren't already mad enough about us invading Iraq over WMD that weren't there, I'd be shocked and dismayed. However, I think many muslims are starting to assume the U.S. is lying whenever we open our mouths.

MC Hawking

I just caught MC Hawking's latest video, "What we need more of is science".

( Here are the lyrics )

On Suffering

There really has to be a happy medium in life, folks. Although the fact that you feel pain does indeed give you a startling indication that you're still alive, being happy also has a similar effect. And really, knowing that you could be really sad or really happy should be sufficient. You shouldn't expect to hit those extremes all the time. Don't get me wrong, I get in quite a little funk when I fuck up or when someone does me wrong, but I have to start talking to myself and being kind to myself sometime; who else is going to feed me and get me to work on time if I don't buck up and move on?

Lady Chablis was right: two tears in a bucket, motherfuckit.

1. Finding True Love Is like finding the missing sock in your dryer. If you try to hard it's not going to happen. And just because you've met someone and you like them, doesn't mean it's meant to be. Try looking for something else to distract you, like finding true happiness--which is not always synonymous with finding true love. Your love may be true, but he/she could still be a soul-sucking asshole.

2. You deserve better. Everyone out there thinks they are unlovable. More fetid bullshit could never be found tumbling down the slope of one's self-deprecating mind and out of their lips. You are lovable. You're just not lovable to everyone you want. We can't all have the charisma to melt people's souls. Otherwise, we'd cause a major rift in the charisma-wallflower continuum, causing a black hole of charm that would suck us all into an episode of the Partridge Family. Don't ask me how I know this. Just trust me. So, love yourself, live life, and try not to waste your time on people who don't appreciate your beauty inside and out.

3.When you meet someone, ask yourself, "Is she/he the most efficient use of oxygen?" If the answer is "not really", time to make like Leonard Shelby from Memento and forget to tattoo that Bad Motha's name on your chest. Then fuhgettaboudit.

4. The world is both huge and small. There is so much to see, learn, and do in this world. Spend your time eating and drinking it all up, and only slow down for the one who is worthy to accompany you on your journeys. It is enriching, empowering, and invigorating. It also makes you more intriguing in general. So when you run into the moron who dismissed you before, he or she will realize that his/her head and his/her ass have been trading places way too often.