Zoot Suit Riot - The Distracted and Silent Press

t r u t h o u t | St. Paul's Police Protest the Press

Source: www.truthout.org

Police in full riot gear arrest protesters, and members of the press, at the GOP convention in St. Paul. (Photo: Reuters)

Arrests were made of journalists and the protesters they were covering at both political conventions these past two weeks, but as Michael Winship of PBS' Bill Moyers Journal writes here, only the St. Paul police actually targeted the journalists, from a wide variety of news outlets and political leanings, both before and during the large events.
This premeditated and concerted effort at stifling wide and more complete coverage of events of national and public significance, especially through physical abuse and arrest, is an abomination, as well as being illegal and unconstitutional.

Why is this abuse and arrest of journalists not being covered by any mainstream media? This is news and journalists should be making it known - such abuse affects all of us, not just those who dare to have the guts and chops to shine a light on it. When there is corruption, we're supposed to follow it, not run away... It's like being a tornado chaser. We're not wishing for it to happen, but if it's there, it's there.

In a world where federal governance and law enforcement are relied upon with increasing frequency and without regulation and checks of power, how can we possibly expect to extricate ourselves from partisan politics if we cannot even recognize our responsibility to society and fulfill our duty to question authority's restraints over discourse and information?

...Go on

Is A Gift A Gift Without The Effort?

Facebook’s virtual gifts may make more than $40 million this year » VentureBeat

Source: venturebeat.com

Are virtual gifts replacing life-size ones? Is this a good thing or a bad thing? It certainly saves on clutter and hey, it's the thought that counts for some people, right? Plus, it leaves less mess and can be shown off to more people in more places wherever they are. ... And I guess flowers last longer this way.
But ultimately, as lucrative as it is, it seems to me more an alternative or additional gift option than a replacement one. I'm pretty sure that most people still prefer the enjoyment of ripping wrapping paper to shreds and excitedly tossing tissue paper in the air to end the suspense of best-gift-ever or gag-gift-extraordinaire.
There's nothing like flaunting that great gift in other people's faces, right? ... Oh, just me?** Oh well.

** (just kidding)

...Go on