From the FreakSpeakers...

Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
Let your heart be light
From now on,
our troubles will be out of sight

Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
Make the Yule-tide gay,
From now on,
our troubles will be miles away.

Here we are as in olden days,
Happy golden days of yore.
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Gather near to us once more.

Through the years
We all will be together,
If the Fates allow
Hang a shining star upon the highest bough.
And have yourself A merry little Christmas now.

Where are your table manners Mr. Anderson Cooper?

This is addictive!



I bet Gloria didn't teach him those manners!
Thanks Marie!

A Little CNN News for Your Friday...

Well, it's been a LONG week and I've barely had time to watch Cooper, thankfully I was home in time last night to catch a truly funny Anderson Cooper as we all watched the Rosie and Donald Show (I meant soap opera). While I'm having the festival of wrapping today, I plan on watching the highlight reel of the shows I missed this week. Thanks to my TiVo for recording them!

God bless the second slowest news week of the year, it gave us the AnderSnark we all know and love (and missed these past months!).


Here is some updated CNN News from the most trusted source for news...and no, it's not TVNewser...

Rick Sanchez, a CNN anchor and correspondent, becomes the new prime-time weekend anchor for CNN Newsroom, it was announced today by Jon Klein, president of CNN/U.S. Sanchez, who is based in the network’s world headquarters in Atlanta, will also continue reporting for Anderson Cooper 360°.

“When Rick is on camera, you’ve just got to watch,” Klein said. “His passion for the news and natural gift for storytelling will be a welcome addition to our weekend coverage.” Since joining CNN in September 2004, Sanchez contributed to the network’s coverage of hurricanes such as Ivan and Jeanne and anchored CNN’s coverage when the New Orleans levees broke following Hurricane Katrina.

He has been part of the Anderson Cooper 360° reporting team for the last year, offering memorable stories such as the government’s airlift of illegal immigrants and, just last week, winter survival techniques for stranded hikers. He frequently uses his fluency in both English and Spanish to access unusual stories, as when he reported for the Anderson Cooper 360° special edition, “24 Hours on the Border.”

He also provided such coverage from Mexico City following congressional elections there and from Caracas, Venezuela, following President Hugo Chavez’s harsh criticism of U.S. President George W. Bush at the United Nation. Throughout his career, Sanchez has reported on major events across the United States and around the world, including on-the-scene coverage of the Sept. 11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center towers in New York City. Sanchez has also reported on wars in Afghanistan and Nicaragua, the invasion of Grenada and the fall of the Duvalier regime in Haiti. Additionally, Sanchez – who was born in Cuba and came to America at the age of 3 – has traveled to report live from Havana, Cuba, numerous times. Sanchez has also interviewed several prominent newsmakers, including Laura Bush, Jimmy Carter, Fidel Castro, Bill Clinton, Michael Gorbachev, Ted Kennedy, John Kerry and Manuel Noriega, among others.

Before joining CNN, Sanchez was an anchor for WTVJ/Channel 6 and an interim anchor for WBZL/Channel 39 in Miami. Prior to his tenure with the NBC affiliate, he worked for two years as a correspondent and anchor for MSNBC. Sanchez started his career as a television journalist at WSVN-TV Miami in 1982. He briefly worked as an anchor at KHOU-TV in Houston but soon returned to WSVN-TV. In Miami, he became the first person to both anchor a television news program and host a talk show on Spanish-language radio, El Show de Rick Sanchez. Sanchez joined MSNBC in 2001 as a correspondent and also delivered breaking news for CNBC and filed radio updates for NBC National radio. Sanchez’s professional honors include an Emmy Award and an American Medical Association “Distinguished Journalist Award.”

Sanchez studied journalism at the University of Minnesota.

I wonder how hard he studied because he kinda sucks, but that's just my opinion...

Thanks to liberation 337 for the cap.

What is a Catholic? with some other rantings...

Hi everyone again!

I have to admit that last night AC360 made me laugh, and God knows I needed to! I'm really liking the What is a Christian? series. As someone who was raised in a predominant Catholic country and private schools, I am surprised to know how "invisible" the Roman Catholic Church is in the USA, how different it is of what the Church calls "Separated Brothers" and how apart they are in political views. For Catholics, everyone non catholic will just go to hell, don't bother in even thinking otherwise. I can't recall to ever discuss the Book of Revelations nor the Rapture ( a core for Evangelicals ) in any Bible class. They also sort of play it cool with Muslims - until the PapaNazi-, because contrary to Protestants and Evangelicals, they acknowledge the Virgin Mary, and the Jews... well lets just leave it there... what can you expect from a church that brought you the Crusades, the Inquisition and the Opus Dei? Have you ever ventured within an Old Catholic Church or Cathedral? Are you familiarized with its art? They are the pioneers of S&M! If most of the USA population would have been exposed to it, probably they wouldn't be so scared of Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ. And the women's role in the church... well think more of the Taliban. After all there is no difference between the Burqua and a Nun's Habit. And some nun's - The Carmelites - are not even allowed to be seen by men. The church believes that women are to serve men. That's it!

• The madness, Rosie is a train wreck waiting to happen, and "The Donald" is just a plain misogynist homophobe douche bag.

• Nick Denton's stable got it all wrong, it is called AGING.

• And after all the bickering, attacks and questioning, the former AP photojournalist's story was corroborated, again, this time by CNN Senior Producer, Charlie Moore, so yes, there is a great possibility to meet people of other media when you are attending a junket...

And this I just have to share with you... is this guy on crack? Check the last item!

Technorati tags: Anderson Cooper, What is a Christian?, Catholic, Gawker, AP, Gallo, Rosie, Trump

Anderson Cooper Couldn't say it better!

What do you do when you are stuck in the middle of a cat fight?
Wise man that Anderson...


As always, thanks Marie!

Congratulations!

Time Magazine named us all Person of The Year! Definitely the latest Internet technology has changed the way people communicate, receive the news, and entire entertainment conglomerates, such as NBC, are crumbling down. The Web 2.0 revolution is here and ironically this was one of the factors that gave birth of what we have called The FreakSpeakers project.

Not long ago a reader asked us why we started this blog and just didn't just participate in the ones already established. Well, although Anderson Cooper brought us together, our concern of the lack of context and reliability of the information and the treatment of some topics guided us towards our editorial line. And time and again we were proven right! As our manifesto states:

"Today accountability is masked behind anonymity, Bylines hidden by zeros and ones. Armed with digital devices, Everyone publishes, everyone is "in the know". Ethics are non existent. Reputations are destroyed. Speculation is king. The truth is masked, a victim, a hostage."

Some people didn't understand what we were on to, and took it personally (... eat me!) and started a hate campaign against us, but we are very thankful that the concept has found its niche. And we want to thank our loyal readers, visitors and commenters of making this space alive.

Dr. 007

A Florida psychology professor has admitted being a Cuban spy. Carlos Alvarez, a professor at Florida International University, said Tuesday that he had been spying on Miami's Cuban exile community for nearly 30 years.

Alvarez and his wife Elsa plead guilty to avoid a jury trial.

"...The FBI said Alvarez continued his criminal conduct until June 22, 2005, when he admitted his activities to U.S. counterintelligence agents.

"This investigation unmasked a Cuban intelligence agent who served for many years as an educator, all the while spying on South Florida's Cuban exile community for his Cuban handlers," said United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Alex Acosta in Miami.

In Washington, Assistant Attorney General Kenneth Wainstein said the plea "demonstrates our firm commitment to protect our country and our citizens against the agents of foreign powers."--from CNN.com

I feel so much safer; don't you?

In other news:

Anybody else sick of hearing about Tara What's Her Name, aka Miss USA?

And hey, be careful with those gift cards. That's the new scam, apparently--thieves are stealing the numbers off the back of gift cards, waiting until the cards are activated, and then spending the cards online. When the gift card recipient goes to use the card, it's been drained by the thief. So make sure you buy cards from behind the counter.

The best story of this morning:

Reality check: 95 percent of Americans had premarital sex

Go here to read the article.

They had to do a study in order to come up with these results?!?

Bits 'n Pieces

Awww, poor Perez Hilton. Looks like people finally got tired of him stealing their pictures and posting them at his blog. He's being sued by X17 Inc., a Los Angeles photo agency, for $7.6 million.

Anybody feel sorry for him?

Didn't think so.

A 37-year-old Tesco employee was arrested in the Ipswich prostitute murders. Interestingly enough, he had his own MySpace.

Wonder if Ted Bundy would have had his own MySpace? Hmmm.

Looks like AC360 has a new hook--a place on the website where you can send in your own "Keeping Them Honest" stories. They're gonna feature some of the stories on the New Year's Eve show.

Oh, don't forget to watch Wednesday night to get the location code to win the trip to NYC. You may or may not win a chance to get "behind the scenes of 360," but a visit to the Big Apple would be fun, right?

Another Anderson Cooper Sighting! With a candid pic to prove it!

UPDATE! Here is another one, he is talking to the exhibition tour guide

Image courtesy of:concepfu, Gracias Eric!

Yes, and with his civilian uniform: jeans, parka and baseball hat.
Very nice exhibition BTW If in NYC check it out: 11 Spring - Wooster on Spring - Street Art ExhibitionSpring - Check their site !

P.D. he was alone and wasn't dating anyone in the pic

Anderson Cooper plays with his Rubik's Cube

The poor kid was nervous. And Anderson wouldn't shut his mouth... it was fun!
Thanks Marie for the video

A fight for equality or just cheap exploitation?

Many visitors of this blog knows my personal view about the gossip blogs and sites. Some people have gone so far as labeling me as homophobic for not wanting to address the Anderson Cooper controversy. The truth is I'm far from it. I've been very lucky to have extraordinary gay people in my life. I've been witness of the pain brought through discrimination, illness, religious bigotry, family rejection and the lack of equal rights. And have admire how most of them have overcome this and live their life as full as the law allows them to be. One of the happiest days of my life was to attend my friend's marriage in Madrid to his long time lover.

Today I came across with an article that finally pin points my position, presented by gay organizations and activists which I want to share with you.

• "It's not our policy to out people. We only out people when they have come out to us personally or when they have been previously written about by other publications." - Corey Scholibo, The Advocate's A&E editor
• "Media speculation about a celebrity's orientation is not something we support. This kind of gossip can lead some people to the decision to come out, as we've seen recently, or it may drive others further into the closet. People are going to become more guarded and secretive and not less, because they don't want to create any opportunities [for anyone to out them]." - Damon Romine, spokesperson for the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD)
• "I do not outright call people gay. I do not feel it is my place, or anyone else's place, to make people come out of the closet. Being shockingly hurtful just to get attention is not my style." - Trent Vanegas, blogger Pink Is the New Blog
• "I don't understand why we profit from having some bitter miserable person exposed against his will. How does that make a gay teenager happy to be gay? What kind of a role model does that establish? I don't think it does anything for anybody." - Bruce Vilanch, comedy writer
• "Spreading gossip is just your average pedestrian variety of immorality. Claiming that you're doing it to further civil rights is an outright sham." - Japhy Grant, screenwriter and author

So I think their position makes them "homophobes" like me.

Editorially it is a hard call. But what about the rumors that we pass on, knowing full well they're probably not true? I've been thinking about this for some time, and aside from the obvious answer (celebrity gossip is fun!).

We can find hundreds of Anderson sightings on the Internet, but all that makes him, I believe, is a man that walks and eat - and God knows he can gain some pounds - but that won't make him gay … or straight, for that matter.

Granted, his sensuality is something public, there is no surprise of all the people that are drawn to him. He is a very attractive man. But his sexuality is his, and it is no ones business and he has made that point loud and clear. His career, like almost all respected jounalists, is not based in his sexuality. We don't know absolutely nothing about Michael Ware's private life. And that is the way it is supposed to be. There are people who make their career solely based on their sexuality, but this is not Anderson Cooper's case.

Sometimes the news industry walks a thin line between its governing ethics and the entertainment factor. CNN's marketing campaign isn't helping either - I simply can't imagine ABC' website with Charlie Gibson fansite -. Personally I find it cheesy. Unfortunately for most viewers visibility is becoming more important than credibility. That could explain the "panty gate" and how it overshadows more important things. I would like CNN to spend more money in the actual production of the show than in ads.

And we have keep within the proper perspective where all the comments come from. People, who like ticks, live from the blood from others. And to answer last night's anon question that was not directed to Jade or Marie (I could bet it was towards Courtney and me):

"Anderson Cooper
Madison and E 62nd St.
Manhattan
December 13, 2006 @ 4 PM
I saw Anderson Cooper and a young woman with long black hair crossing Madison Ave., having an animated conversation.

12/14/2006 9:09 PM

Anónimo dijo...

Sightings, sightings! Thanks anon. I wonder if the people who dislike the posting of sightings of AC feel the same about them when it's reported that he's seen with a WOMAN as in this latest. I'm not directing this comment to Marie or Jade, so please don't get mad! I love this site. :D"

Well with that description it might have well be me, and that doesn't mean we are lovers. So I hope this entire post helps you understand my position.

Technorati tags: Anderson Cooper, CNN, Gawker, Gossip, Gay, GLAAD, Perez Hilton, sexuality, sightings, stalker, Salon, AfterEllen

Gupta Makes Office Visits to CBS

Happy Friday FreakSpeakers! Here's the news...

Following a long line of CNN reporters, Gupta crosses over to CBS. Maybe Anderson can give him some tips to make the transition smooth. It would be nice to see them do a story together for "60 Minutes" as they seem to work well together. The details below are courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter...

NEW YORK -- He's plenty busy already, but neurosurgeon-medical reporter Sanjay Gupta is adding another job to his resume. The five-year CNN veteran will contribute to the "CBS Evening News With Katie Couric" beginning early next year. Gupta's agreement with CBS is a lot like his colleague Anderson Cooper's deal; Gupta will remain with CNN and do up to 10 reports for CBS in 2007. This doesn't affect the recent hiring of Jonathan LaPook, a New York-based physician who also covers medical issues for "CBS Evening News." LaPook has what CBS News president Sean McManus calls the "day-to-day role," and Gupta will contribute several pieces from Atlanta and perhaps the field. Gupta joined CNN as a medical correspondent in 2001 and became senior medical correspondent in 2004. He recently signed a three-year deal to remain at CNN as chief medical correspondent, where he hosts "House Call" on the weekends and contributes to CNN shows with analysis, reports and specials like his Emmy-winning "Charity Hospital." That's nothing to say of Gupta's career as a neurosurgeon, where he performs surgery and is associate chief of neurosurgery at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta. He also is a member of the neurosurgery department at Atlanta's Emory University School of Medicine.

The self-proclaimed "medical news junkie" said Thursday that he is not too worried about the added workload. He doesn't take many vacations. "I consider a change of activity a form of rest," Gupta said. Gupta said he has been a longtime admirer of CBS' McManus and had lunch with him a few months ago. Gupta wanted to remain at CNN but liked the idea brought up by McManus of working for both networks, like Cooper does for "60 Minutes." McManus said he has been a friend of CNN chief Jim Walton for many years, and the idea came up in discussions with Walton. They were able to work it out so it worked for everyone. "It's a good deal for all three parties," McManus said.The details remain to be worked out, but Gupta believes he will start working on CBS pieces next month. He probably will work with a new crew for the CBS pieces while staying with the same one for CNN. He also will remain in Atlanta.

Anderson Cooper Walks!

Yeah, yeah...I know I said I wouldn't post so-called "gossip" again as to not incite riots and spectacles in the street, but, well, this is from "E!" and one of my favorite men, Ted Casablanca. Hugs and kisses to Ted, I love his snark!

Anyway in case you're interested...

Anderson Cooper, walkin’ and tawkin’ in the Rotten Apple. The silver stud-muffin was "shorter than expected," insist particularly sour New Yawkers, and he was heading down 58th Street with a colleague by his side and a cell on his ear. The Coop was wearing jeans and a down, black parka and was overheard discussing a piece "Diane" just did and its editing style. Sawyer, perhaps? Also takin’ the mean streets of InWhySee was...

Former CNN News Chief To Launch 'IraqSlogger' Site

For those of you not familiar with Jordan, here is a little background...

As Chief News Executive for CNN, Eason Jordan played a key role in planning CNN coverage of world events and conflicts. He worked at the news network from 1982 until his resignation in 2005 and was the recipient of two Emmy Awards, two Peabody Awards and the DuPont-Columbia Award.

He studied journalism at Georgia State University. He is also known for having a relationship with Mariane Pearl, widow of slain Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl.

On April 11, 2003, Jordan revealed that CNN knew about human rights abuses committed in Iraq by Saddam Hussein since 1990, but the network refrained from coverage of them in order to gain better access to information on Hussein's government. Jordan maintained that complete reporting would have jeopardized the lives of Iraqi informants, and confidentiality was ensured to protect the lives of anti-Hussein Iraqi activists and translators.

In November 2004 at the News Xchange conference in Portugal, Jordan claimed that United States armed forces were arresting and torturing non-coalition Arabic journalists in Iraq. He also claimed that American troops were intentionally killing these journalists. [1] That month, U.S. forces detained al-Arabiya reporter Abdel Kader al-Saadi for 11 days without explanation during U.S.-led attacks on Fallujah. [2] The U.S. has twice dropped bombs on Al Jazeera offices in Afghanistan and Iraq and on November 22, 2005, Britain's Daily Mirror carried a story on the minutes of a meeting between George Bush and Tony Blair in which the U.S. president appeared to propose bombing Al Jazeera headquarters in Qatar. The meeting between the two leaders took place during the height of the first battle for Fallujah.

On January 27, 2005, during the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, Jordan was reported to have said that American troops were targeting journalists in Iraq. He has since backtracked from the statement. Tapes of the event have not been released to the public.

On February 11, 2005, Jordan resigned to "prevent CNN from being unfairly tarnished by the controversy over conflicting accounts of my recent remarks regarding the alarming number of journalists killed in Iraq." After leaving CNN, Jordan founded Praedict, which describes itself as a "war zone-focused media company providing customized, up-to-the-minute news, intelligence, and safety tips to those in harm's way."

(NEW YORK) – For the past four years there has been no shortage of news and views on Iraq and the long-running war there. What’s been missing: a one-stop-shopping clearinghouse for nonpartisan information, including material coming out of Iraq itself from natives of that country, not from foreign correspondents.

Now that need is finally being addressed in the form of IraqSlogger, in Beta at www.iraqslogger.com, but due to be officially launched next week. Its director is the former CNN news division chief, Eason Jordan, who quit that post suddenly in 2005 after 23 years with the company. The name of his new venture, he says, was inspired by a Donald Rumsfeld reference to this war being a “long, hard slog.”

The concept, Jordan tells E&P, “grew out of the feeling that I think many people shared that there was no one place to go. Individual news organizations do terrific work but you can spend the better part of a day going from one site to another and one TV outlet to another,” searching for a full picture.

“Iraq is the story of our time,” he declares. His goal for the site is for it to become nothing less than “the world's premier Iraq-focused information source” -- and with no “political slant.”

His site includes everything from links to op eds and articles in mainstream U.S. papers to “viral videos” and jokes from Iraq. Jordan points to “nuggets” missed by the U.S. media, such as Iraqis getting “addicted” to the TV series “Lost,” or the latest kidnapping of contractors. Not merely a collection of links, it will focus on what he calls "original reporting from Iraq beyond the traditional."

One of the site’s unique and most valuable services is a daily roundup of news from Iraqi newspapers that few in the U.S. media have ever bothered to translate. Jordan has Arabic speakers here and in Iraq providing this service, and so far this week, these columns have gotten "far more" traffic than anything else on the site. A staffer in Iraq also monitors blogs there.

When have you ever seen coverage of what’s dominating the front page of the U.S. military’s Camp Victory paper, the Victory Times? IraqSlogger reports today that on the current front page there, “military doctors are calling on U.S. troops in Iraq to stop smoking.”

Taking a page from Slate, the site will offer a morning roundup of stories in U.S. papers. At the same time, it will present in-depth profiles of little-covered Iraqi cities. Up right now: a look at Hawija. Another item on the site wonders why the Iraq Study Group report said there were 5000 contractors in Iraq when the Pentagon has claimed 100,000. And surely it is the only site featuring the Kirkuk Police Blotter.

IraqSlogger is an “offshoot,” Jordan says, of Praedict, “a news and information company that focuses on hot spots around the world.” Jordan is founder and CEO. Praedict intends to launch a series of news and safety-focused sites, with IraqSlogger the first. It will soon be joined by a premium, subscription-only adjunct called IraqSafetyNet, aimed at providing “intelligence” and “security” tips to employers (both private and governmental) of people in war zones.

Jordan, who now lives in New York, is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Committee to Protect Journalists. He has won various Emmy, Peabody and Headliner awards and directed war coverage for CNN in Somalia, Yugoslavia and Iraq. He exited CNN in the wake of the uproar over his off-the-record comments (which he insisted were misinterpreted) at a Davos meeting concerning U.S. military involvement in the accidental deaths of several journalists in Iraq. He had co-founded the Iraq News Safety Group to help protect media workers there.

Others affiliated with the site include Nir Rosen and Robert Young Pelton.

So what's an example of Iraqi humor these days? From the site:

--An Iraqi guy has a new girlfriend and wants to know whether she is Sunni or Shia. But he is too shy to ask directly. Finally he asked her, "Where does your family bury your corpses?"

Deck the Halls

Deck The Halls | Send To Friends | Funny Animations at JibJab

from JibJab.com

Stupid Criminals and Other Things

WICHITA, Kan.(AP) - A Wichita man called 911 to report he was the victim of an armed robbery. The theft? A pound of marijuana worth about $1,100 that he had been trying to sell at his home.

The victim told police Thursday that a buyer had pulled out a sawed-off shotgun and stole the drugs.

Police brought in a drug-sniffing dog to the house and located more marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

The victim was booked into Sedgwick County jail on several charges, including possession with the intent to sell drug.

The thief has not been found.
*****

AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - A Texas lawmaker is aiming to allow the blind to hunt. Texas State Representative Edmund Kuempel has introduced a measure that would allow blind people to hunt any game that sighted people can currently pursue.


He hopes it will be passed after the legislature reconvenes in January though he does not expect it to come into affect until 2008.

"This opens up the fun of hunting to additional people, and I think that's great," Kuempel told Reuters.

The bill may find little resistance in Texas, where politicians of all stripes endorse hunting, which is wildly popular in the state.

Under the bill, blind hunters would be required to have a sighted hunter with them and would be allowed to use laser sights and other devices that are currently not allowed.

"A blind person can shoot a rifle by mounting an offset pistol scope on the side of the rifle instead of on top," said Terry Erwin, the Austin-based Hunter Education Coordinator with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

"This allows their companion behind them to peer over their shoulder and help them sight it, but the blind person can pull the trigger," he told Reuters.

Only in Texas, right?

Mrs. Betty Bowers' Dispatch from the Front Lines of America's War on Christmas

Dear Soldiers for the Baby Jesus:

Once again, pagan combatants, wielding verbal grenades made of non-specific cheer, are on a militant rampage to retake the Winter Solstice, a holiday invaded and occupied by Christians over 1,700 years ago.

Friends, we stole December fair and square -- and are going to stay the coarse ones in turning a season devoted to love and joy into an vitriolic turf war all about us!

The first shopping skirmish of the season occurred when my Personal Shopper spotted secular insurgents maraudering behind the Estee Lauder counter. I personally overheard several of these "Happy Holidays" extremists, uniformed in the Lauder infantry's blue, paramilitary smocks, boldly declare a jihad on the Baby Jesus' birthday. As I feigned interest in an egregiously harloty shade of bright red lipstick, I overheard the make-up militia chant such bellicose, Christmas-hating greetings as "Have a wonderful holiday!" to civilian shoppers. They also brandished IEDs (introductory exfoliating devices) to Christian foundation buyers, Bible-believing bargain hunters simply looking for a Christmas gift that came free with a $35 purchase.

Moments later, bell-ringing infantry from the Salvation Army were called in to drown out the battle cries of "Ho! Ho! Ho!" from a sidewalk Santa. This invasion appears to have been based on faulty intelligence as it turns out that the Santa bellowing "Ho! Ho! Ho!" was merely greeting Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton and Britney Spears as they drunkenly stumbled out of Neiman-Marcus. Before Baptist mercenaries realized this mistake, angry Pentecostal militia had already rounded up striped-stockinged enemy combatants (pint-sized operatives calling themselves "elves"). They were wrestled to the ground just outside of their bunker, a Styrofoam gingerbread house in Bloomingdale's window.

Bill O'Reilly and I undertook a reconnaissance mission to undercover anti-Christmas propaganda militants. Holiday hostilities began after I resourcefully used a "Noel" candle from Pottery Barn (which Bill mistook for a candy-striped pagan tribute to Jeb Bush's crackwhore daughter) to ignite an appalling "Peace on Earth" banner dangling just outside a notorious secular stronghold called Sephora. As Bill jumped up and down on the flaming banner, he screamed at frightened eye-shadow and fragrance browsers, "Peace on earth? You can take your anti-troops, anti-Bush, pinko pacifistic agitprop and shove it right up your --"

Fortunately, a resourceful spritz of "Hillary Duff with Love" Eau de Parfum Spray not only prevented Bill from completing his proctologic entreaty, it also caused so much collateral damage to bystander shoppers that "Hillary Duff with Love" has replaced Polonium-210 as my favorite disabling spray during our current campaign to retake the fur department at Saks for Jesus.

As all of you arm yourselves for CHRISTmas shopping this season, know that your comrade-in-arms, Mrs. Betty Bowers, is with you in the AMEX-accepting trenches. Your Commander-in-Cashmere wishes all of you a joyous Baby Jesus Day and asks you to remain vigilant against secular uprisings, such as shockingly rude cards that wish so-called "nice" things without pandering to your particular brand of faith. And a special word of warning to you lady shoppers out there: Watch out for Pastor's notoriously inaccurate missile-toe!

So Close To Jesus, I Still Haven't Forgiven Him For Stretching Out Last Christmas's Lovely Elie Tahari Paulo Sweater By Allowing The Entire Trinity To Try It On All At Once,

Mrs. Betty Bowers
America 's Best Christian

Just SHOOT ME!

Some of you might have noticed I've been away for awhile... maybe some of you might have not even missed me, or simply very happy that I was not around. To all the newbies HI! and welcome!

As I finish moving, I have to admit I miss my view. The Atlantic Ocean is always calm during the winter. And while I complain about how nasty and "cold" the weather has become, Courtney always brings me back to reality... so 2007 looks busy with all the remodeling I'm planning for my house. At least that will take me away from watching the news.

So back at my Blog role, and using a new blogging software, I just have to comment on the things that got all twisted and crazy in just two weeks.

• The republicans are acknowledging at last how they screwed up in Iraq.
• Pinochet decided to go to hell instead of facing justice.
• Michael Ware is OUT of hell ( THANK GOD!) for awhile, the last time he reported at CNNI he looked very calm and less wired
• A scumbag is trying to play nice and admits that the journalistic standards of his blogs are lower than those in traditional media
• Karl Penhaul lost his sidekick - congratulations Cal! -
• And I got invited to participate in a Gilrs Gone Wild video..., I gracefully declined, I'm way to old for that kind of exploitation.

And I just missed the opportunity to rant about the Pope!

See you all later!

Technorati tags: Anderson Cooper, CNN, Pinochet, Michael Ware, Nick Denton, Gawker

All in the name of dirty business

Here at FreakSpeakers we have always taken the gossip columns and sites with a grain of salt. Not that everything is false, but the button line is that sometimes it is intended to "blackmail" or force competitors into business, Newscorp owns both Fox News and the New York Post, both harsh critics of Anderson Cooper and CNN. We like to focus in the way business is made, and how those decisions affect the public perception of the news content and the media.

The CNN marketing department have kicked in the overdrive promoting AC as a brand. And it seems they have acknowledged the power of News Corp and gave in buying three simultaneous ads - a skyscraper and two banners - at New York Post's Page Six site. We can speculate all we want. But at the end it is just advertising dollars and your mind.

Technorati tags: Anderson Cooper, CNN, NewsCorp, New York Post, Page Six, Advertising

A Soldier's Perspective

Remember Anderson Cooper and the "360" gangs little trip to Afghanistan in September? Well apparently a serviceman who was stationed there has written about the events that unfolded on September 11 while at the base. From the Pocono Record, here is an excerpt about Cooper and CNN. Click the link to read the article in its entirety.

Later that same day, I received some interesting news that had me guessing whether it would turn out to be an unwelcome burden, or a much-needed diversion from the present grief. I discovered that somehow CNN had discovered the existence of our little outpost.

For whatever reason, the producers of Anderson Cooper's show had decided that our base would make an ideal site to from which to air a few stories on Afghanistan as the fifth anniversary of Sept. 11 neared. There was a combined feeling of curious excitement, and annoyance. It was amusing to me to see how some guys would openly criticize the press, and yet seemed genuinely interested in the prospect of appearing on CNN.

I had a sort behind the scenes look at what goes into television productions. A couple of military public affairs officers had showed up before the CNN crew showed up to help us prepare for the upcoming dog and pony show.

Through several meetings, the leadership at the base sorted out some key issues regarding the CNN broadcasts. We had to figure out things like where we would house the crew, how we ensure their safety in the event of an attack, and which soldiers were the most photogenic.

The public affairs officers needed to ensure that we would be sufficiently active to make some good stories, and asked about the details of our scheduled Sept. 11 memorial service. We had a Sept. 11 memorial service planned? Good thing the public affairs officers were there.

The CNN crew arrived, and all personnel on the base went into full Hollywood mode. Soldiers that I hadn't seen wearing a clean uniform in months donned their Sunday best. The dining facility, serving the same menu over and over again, was suddenly cooking like Emeril was in the back kicking it up a notch. For me, at least, CNN's presence was entertaining.

I got to live the outtakes of life. I was rousted from bed one morning so that we could shoot the howitzers. I headed to the fire direction center and was informed that we were waiting to de-conflict overhead airspace with some helicopters in the area.

As I stood there, I kept getting calls from the gun-line asking about the nature of the delay, and how much longer it would take. I didn't know at the time that we were shooting in part for CNN, that the broadcast was already live, and that

Anderson Cooper was desperately trying to cover the time with something interesting to say. Finally running out of verbiage, he was forced to cut to commercial. Eventually, we managed to get coordinated and CNN got the broadcast they were looking for.

The folks from CNN had been making a big deal about our Sept. 11 memorial.

As the entire base formed up for the service, we half-heartedly predicted that the bad-guys would take this opportunity to nail us all at once.

Sure enough, as predicted, just when the cameras went live, we heard the whistle and boom of a rocket striking near the base.

Anderson Cooper's broadcast consisted of an enormous gaggle of soldiers running for cover.

A second attempt at the broadcast later that night would be successful.

Finally, after a few days of excitement, CNN left, and life on the base returned to normal.

I soon returned to my routine, and was left to face the remainder of the deployment. How would I pass the next five months?

In Case You Missed It

Anderson Cooper on 60 Minutes last night:


and Part II:



I'm slightly disappointed I didn't hear him introduce himself at the beginning of the show, but maybe next time, huh?

Thanks, Marie!

Cal Perry Promoted to Bureau Chief

Nic Robertson has a new boss, and he's a hottie. Why do all the good ones end-up in Baghdad? Sheesh...

(CNN Press Release) – CNN has promoted Baghdad bureau director Cal Perry to bureau chief, it was announced today by Tony Maddox, senior vice president of international newsgathering operations. As bureau chief, Perry manages CNN’s coverage in Baghdad and throughout Iraq.

“The Baghdad bureau chief stands as one of the most important and challenging jobs in journalism today and is certainly a critical position within CNN’s international newsgathering efforts,” Maddox said. “Cal has more than proven his mettle with our coverage from Iraq in recent months, and we’re eager to see his work from the region in the future.”

Perry joined the network in 2003 shortly after the initial coalition invasion in Iraq, working on the International Desk as an editor. Soon after, he was assigned as a Baghdad-based producer, a role which placed him as an embedded reporter among troops fighting in Mosul, Fallujah, Ramadi, Baghdad and elsewhere in Iraq. In addition to his coverage in Iraq, Perry covered the death of Yasser Arafat and other stories involving the Israeli-Palestine conflict.

In 2006, Perry covered the war in Lebanon as both a producer and on-air correspondent. He and correspondent Karl Penhaul were the first journalists to arrive in Tyre, Lebanon, amid fighting there. Perry also created and produced the CNN Presents documentary Combat Hospital, which detailed the real-life drama inside the 10^th Combat Support Hospital in Baghdad.

Perry earned his political science degree from Skidmore College.

CNN Worldwide, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner Company, is one of the world’s most respected and trusted sources for news and information. Its reach extends to nine cable and satellite television networks; one private place-based network; two radio networks; wireless devices around the world; four Web sites, including CNN.com, the first major news and information Web site; CNN Pipeline, an on-demand broadband video service; CNN Newsource, the world’s most extensively syndicated news service; and partnerships for four television networks and one Web site.

Seriously.

LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- Mel Gibson's bloody epic "Apocalypto" debuted as the No. 1 weekend movie, proving the filmmaker still can deliver a winner despite his drunken-driving arrest and anti-Semitic rant last summer.

Story highlights:
• "Apocalypto" debuts at No. 1 despite Mel Gibson's troubles
• $14.2 million haul modest compared to "Passion of the Christ"
• Sony romance "The Holiday" is No. 2 movie with $13.5 million

Unbelievable. I don't plan on ever seeing this move. Ick. Not my style at all.

Head On

So maybe these commercials don't make Anderson Cooper grumpy, but they irritate me! I think CNN alone is responsible for this product making tons of money. One day this past summer, I counted the commercial airing over 15 times just during the daytime broadcasts. The advertising technique is so popular now, that I've seen other commercials using the same annoying format. Head On, be gone!

(New York Daily News) – The commercials are everywhere and likely to give you a headache.

In rapid fire, a female voice instructs: "HeadOn, apply directly to the forehead!" A zombified woman does just that.

The maddening low-budget promo has been hypnotic: Americans have snapped up 6 million tubes of the dubious headache treatment in the past year, and that has doctors slapping their foreheads in frustration.

HeadOn is a concoction of homeopathic compounds and herbs - like goldenseal, Bryonia alba and blue flag - common to alternative medicine.

"I've never seen that for headache at all," Dr. Robert Duarte, a neurologist at Long Island Jewish Medical Center, said of HeadOn's ingredients. They have not been formally tested for headaches and migraines, added Dr. Fred Freitag of Chicago's Diamond Headache Clinic.

Other ingredients are menthol, often used as a cooling agent, potassium dichromate - a salt - and white bryony, an irritant that can be poisonous if ingested.

So far, the topical HeadOn appears to be safe, but it contains so little of its active ingredients that it's uncertain they'd have any effect, Freitag said.

The makers beg to differ.

HeadOn "creates a localized effect which stimulates the production of endorphins [feel-good hormones], which act on the nerve endings to reduce pain," said Dan Charron, vice president of sales at HeadOn maker Miralus Healthcare. The Plantation, Fla., firm hasn't published any scientific data about how the product works.

Dr. Richard Lipton, director of the Montefiore Headache Center in the Bronx, thinks HeadOn could help some migraine sufferers for a far more simplistic reason: It's mainly wax.

"If something coats the skin, it's not affecting what's fundamentally a brain process, but it may protect the skin from stimuli that would otherwise make the pain worse," Lipton said.

Charron insists there is no wax in HeadOn.

The ambiguity is such that in April, the Better Business Bureau recommended that Miralus tone down its claims.

The product has "insufficient evidence to support performance," the bureau ruled. So Miralus tweaked its ads - and sales jumped by another 30%.

The ads have sparked a series of parodies on the YouTube Internet site, including giggling teens rubbing irons and staplers on their heads.

Miralus took note of the mockery and recently made a new commercial that winks at how annoying its ads are: An exasperated HeadOn user interrupts the familiar mantra and declares, "I can't stand your commercial, but your product is amazing!"

Pinochet dies at 91

Former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet died today at a Santiago hospital. Pinochet took power in 1973 after leading a coup which brought down the democratically elected government of Salvador Allende. What followed was years of systematic human rights abuses and the murder of thousands of civilians who opposed Pinochet's rule. These murders were carried out by death squads known as the "Caravans of Death." Victims of the death squads were buried in mass graves and to this day, many Chileans remain as "desaparecidos," or "disappeared."

Pinochet was never prosecuted for any of his actions because of his poor health. He did, however, remain under indictment due to the efforts of his political opponents and the relatives of those killed under his regime. His health had been on the decline since the early 1990s but worsened after a heart attack last week.

Anderson Cooper and Other News...

I can't believe it's Sunday again already! That means back to the grind tomorrow and I was just getting used to the weekend. All right...here we go...

Do you have plans for New Year's Eve? Well, I think we have a date with Anderson Cooper. Trust me, that's better than what I have to choose from around here, but that's another story. I pulled this from the "360" site:

"Keeping them honest" has been a 360° mission in 2006. For Anderson's New Year's Eve special we want to know how you're "Keeping them honest." If you or someone you know is trying to right a wrong in your community, tell us about it and we may feature your story on the New Year's Eve special.

Me, Anderson on television and a bottle of champagne on NYE. What makes this different from any other night? The champagne, of course ;)

Moving on...

Did you read about the Andersighting in D.C., this on Wonkette?

• Anderson Cooper Sighting! That’s right. I was sitting next to the ambiguously gay and very sexy “360” reporter last night [12/6] in the Jury’s restaurant/bar in Dupont Circle. He appeared to be on a date with a rugged looking young man with a goatee. I believe the date heard me say as Anderson walked out, “Look! Anderson is so hot he walls like a sex machine”.
• Anderson Cooper totally “360’d” a group of Democrat press folks (plus one Republican) at Biddy Mulligan’s just now [12/7]. He’s with an unidentified Spanish man.

Me thinks poor Cooper can't meet any member of the same sex for anything without speculation. Shame on you Wonkette. After all, it is the D.C. version of Gawker and we know they make up crap all the time.

And the love of Anderson Cooper extends around the world! Anderson has a fan in Japan, check out her site, Addicted to Anderson Cooper, and welcome her to the family.

Anderson Cooper is Cool

Hello FreakSpeakers! Last night's "Anderson Cooper 360" was like a breath of fresh air! It was classic Cooper and Crew. It was obviously a Friday where everyone was feelin' good...and it made for a great show. Frankly, it was a flashback to the type of shows that made me sit-up and notice Cooper just a few years ago.

I'm going to take Betty Ann moment here...yesterday Cooper mentioned having his tonsils out as an adult and talked about how horrible it was. Well, you know what...the man doesn't lie. I had mine out two years ago and it was the most horrible, painful, miserable experience. I had to be off work for two weeks and didn't swallow right for weeks after that! Like Cooper, I'm no doctor, but yank them out of your youngsters...the earlier the better.

And here is my Lorie Ann moment...Anderson don't hate your laugh. People love you for your laugh. I have what I consider to be a rather annoying laugh myself. I sound just like Betty Rubble when I laugh. People say its cute, I say not so much.

For our international viewers tonight, I hear CNNI is pretty unreliable when it comes to broadcasting AC360, so I've included the best part of last night's show, essentially a Reporter's Notebook about his guest hosting job, and some caps, courtesy of Sheryn, so that you too can enjoy the one, the only, Anderson Cooper!

For the next time Anderson, don't blame the coffee. You don't like hot drinks, remember?

Have a rockin' Saturday friends :)

COOPER: Yes. That's right. I did a little moonlighting this morning, filling in for Regis Philbin on "Live with Regis and Kelly". Although, really, frankly, can anyone fill in for Regis? I don't think so.

Shall I stick to my night job? We'll take a look when 360 continues.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) STEVE WHITMIRE, VOICE OF KERMIT THE FROG: You know, I'm really glad to see that it's you, Anderson. I thought Regis had finally gone gray. Hard to tell on the monitor.


(END VIDEO CLIP)

COOPER: I didn't understand that joke. Anyway, that was Kermit the Frog having a laugh at my expense. I'm sure I'll figure it out by tomorrow morning. That happened this morning on "Live with Regis and Kelly". Kermit is actually taller than he looks on television.

I was sitting, of course, in for Regis Philbin. It was my fourth time co-hosting. The question is, am I improving at all? Well, you decide. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER (voice-over): This time around, things started off pretty well. The studio audience is always welcoming, and Kelly is great.

RIPA: You're here, and I'm excited about it.

COOPER (on camera): I'm very excited.

(voice-over) The first 15 minutes is still the toughest part. It's unscripted. But this time I brought props.

(on camera) This is me with Oscar the grouch.


(voice-over) Just in case things really went dry, I also brought a news scoop.

(on camera) Britney Spears, she made an announcement.

RIPA: And?

COOPER: She apologized.

RIPA: For?

COOPER: For showing her bits and pieces.

RIPA: Ohhh!

COOPER (voice-over): I was trying to be diplomatic with that word choice, but I can't begin to explain why I said this.

RIPA (on camera): I love that someone got the go-go dancer pregnant.



RIPA: Yes. Yes.

COOPER (voice-over): Did I really say that? Maybe it was something in the coffee.

The coffee mugs on the set actually gave me some trouble. Drinking while you're talking is harder than it looks. Watch my first attempt. About a minute into the show, I reach and pull back, mission scrubbed.

About five minutes later, I try again and get the mug all the way to my lips. But wait a sec. Not enough time. It's my turn to say something. Quick, put it down. Like I said, harder than it looks.

More than seven minutes into the show, I finally nailed it.

(on camera) It's going to be a long morning.

(voice-over) Actually, it went by pretty fast.

One thing I really wanted to get right this time was the kiss and hug, also much harder than it looks. Last time with Nicole Richie, I went in for a peck on the cheek, but then she started to reach out her hand. I went in for a brief kiss. How awkward was that?

This time with Diane Sawyer, it went much better.


(on camera) Please welcome Diane Sawyer.

(voice-over) A quick smooth hug and kiss, no hesitation. My handshake with Brian McKnight, also stumble free.

They say practice makes perfect. But it hasn't helped my laugh. This was me last time.

RIPA: Something like...

COOPER (on camera): (laughing)

(voice-over) What is that? It's like a laugh/snort/chortle. Sadly, not much better this time.

(on camera) (laughing)


RIPA: And then the next thing...

COOPER (voice-over): It's still as annoying as ever, which Kelly is kind enough to overlook.

I've always liked her, but we really bonded this time over a mutual fan and her unusual tattoos.

(on camera) So on one leg, she's got you and Regis?

RIPA: Yes.

COOPER: On the other leg, she's got me.

RIPA: To me the very interesting thing is what happens at night when it's cold and she cuddles up with herself and rubs her legs together?

COOPER: We make out. RIPA: Yes.

COOPER (voice-over): Kelly is the perfect co-host. She's smart. She's funny, really talented. And did I mention visionary?

RIPA: I think there should be an AC TV.

COOPER (on camera): Oh, yes? From your lips to God's ears.

RIPA: Anderson Cooper television. A 24-hour Anderson Cooper channel.

COOPER: We'll work on that.

(voice-over) In the meantime, I guess I can always work on my laugh.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: Do I really laugh like that? It's so annoying. Is this how I laugh?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's not annoying at all.

COOPER: Sure. Of course. Yes. Thank you. All right.

Ameren on the Hot Seat

NewsChannel 5 Exclusive: Ameren CEO Responds To Criticism

By Mike Bush

(KSDK) - Ameren CEO Gary Rainwater is in the eye of the storm.

"Obviously I'm on the hot seat," says Rainwater. "Obviously I'm responsible and I'm accountable."

But even as criticism rains down, Rainwater is giving his company high marks. In fact, he says, on a scale of one to 10, Ameren's storm response is a 10.

"We really are among the best in the industry at restoring power in these severe weather events," says Rainwater.

Rainwater says Don't blame Ameren; blame Mother Nature. He says there's only one thing that could have prevented the outages.

"We could bury the power lines. We could put them all underground and that would make them virtually weather-proof," says Rainwater. But he adds that would cost at least $20 billion over the next 25 years and for homeowners, that would mean electric rates at least three times higher than they are now.

Rainwater was asked if there was absolutely nothing Ameren could have done to prevent the massive power outages in both July and December.

"Absolutely nothing is a very strong term but we've been in this business for 100 years, we have done all of the things that can make a difference in minimizing the damage from these storms," says Rainwater.

From the reservoir collapse last December, to the storms in July, to the power outages of the last week, Rainwater calls this past year "challenging." But he says please don't call the company arrogant.

"Our company cares about our customers," says Rainwater. "We are doing everything possible to restore power to our customers."


AP/KSDK
****

I know some of you have already seen Tom Foreman's post about this on the 360 blog, but if you haven't read his post yet, I encourage you to head over there.

Also, I thought I'd share something I find rather amusing and disgusting at the same time. Yesterday, I got my electric bill from Ameren in the mail. Enclosed was a notice saying:

"AmerenUE has filed revised tarrif sheets with the Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC) which would increase the company's electric service revenues by approximately $360.7 million, and which would increase the company's natural gas service revenues by approximately $10.8 million. For the average residential customer the proposed increase would be approximately $6.00 per month for electric and $6.00 per month for natural gas.

...

Public comment hearings have been set before the PSC as follows..."

So, in other words, Ameren is now wanting to RAISE OUR RATES and is holding hearings next January with the PSC (same group our governor is hoping to have investigate Ameren via public hearings). Here's a bit from an AP article:

By JIM SUHR
Associated Press Writer

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Top leaders in Missouri and Illinois, where thousands of customers remain without power after last week's winter storm, sharply criticized a utility's response to the crisis Thursday.

Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt asked his state's Public Service Commission to hold public hearings and said he wants St. Louis-based Ameren Corp. to provide a clear plan for preventing a recurrence.

"Thousands of Missourians have been without power for nearly a week. This is unacceptable," Blunt said in a statement. "Missourians expect and should receive reliable service from their utility companies."

As of Thursday, about 50,000 Ameren customers still lacked power, most of them in Illinois. At the peak, more than 500,000 Ameren customers in both states were without power."

From Anderson and Kelly this morning...

Thanks to our friend bcfraggle, we have a couple of caps that feature the oh-so cute little guy and Kermit too ;)

Why Can't They Throw Bill O'Reilly in Jail?

In all seriousness, okay not so serious, jailed journalists. It happens, and quite frequently these days. Although in some of the countries Cooper visits, I think it might be better to be jailed versus kidnapped by terrorists, but either way it's no stroll on the Santa Barbara beach.

I vote to imprison Bill O'Reilly and Ann Coulter. I guess they fit the term of journalist, albeit very loosely.

Could you imagine Anderson Cooper behind bars? All those horrible prison movies come to mind...you know the kind I'm talking about. I wonder who Lifetime would cast to play the part of Cooper? And of course, you know the other question I'm dying to ask, but will refrain from asking here...my dirty little mind at work again. Ugh.

Jailed journalists worldwide hits record
By Michelle Nichols, Reuters

NEW YORK - The number of journalists jailed worldwide for their work rose for the second year with internet bloggers and online reporters now one third of those incarcerated, a US-based media watchdog said today.

A Committee to Protect Journalists census found that a record 134 journalists were in jail on Dec. 1 -- an increase of nine from the 2005 tally -- in 24 countries with China, Cuba, Eritrea and Ethiopia the top four nations to imprison media. While print reporters, editors and photographers again made up the largest number of jailed journalists -- with 67 cases -- there were 49 imprisoned internet journalists, making them the second biggest category, the New York-based committee said.

"We're at a crucial juncture in the fight for press freedom because authoritarian states have made the internet a major front in their effort to control information," Committee Executive Director Joel Simon said in a statement. "China is challenging the notion that the internet is impossible to control or censor, and if it succeeds there will be far-ranging implications, not only for the medium but for press freedom all over the world."

Among those jailed in China were Zheng Yichun, a Chinese freelance contributor to overseas online news sites who wrote a series of editorials criticizing the Communist Party. The census also found there were eight television journalists, eight radio reporters and two film/documentary makers in jail. Other countries where journalists were imprisoned were Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gambia, Iran, Maldives, Mexico, Russia, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, Turkey, United States, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.

The Committee to Protect Journalists said 84 journalists were jailed for "anti-state" allegations like subversion and divulging state secrets, with many of those imprisoned in China, Cuba and Ethiopia. The census also showed 20 imprisoned journalists were held without any charge or trial and that Eritrea accounted for more than half those cases.

The committee said the United States imprisoned two journalists without charge or trial -- Associated Press photographer Bilal Hussein, now held for eight months in Iraq, and Al Jazeera cameraman Sami al-Haj, jailed for five years and now held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Joshua Wolf, a freelance blogger who refused to turn over video of a 2005 protest to a US federal grand jury, was also in jail. For the eighth year in a row, China led the way in jailing journalists with a total of 31 imprisoned on Dec. 1, the census found, followed by Cuba with 24 reporters behind bars, Eritrea with 23 in jail and Ethiopia with 18 journalists jailed.

I'm the string around your finger reminding you...

Anderson Cooper is co-hosting with Kelly "Perky" Ripa this morning on Regis and Kelly. Check your local listings! I woke-up at 3AM to go and set the TiVo because I forgot to do it last night. That's love Anderson...3AM....cold, hardwood floors, -3 degree wind chill making the apartment bitter cold...just remember that Cooper.

Holiday Lights

Holiday Lights
by Marie

This my family vacation home in AZ. It is almost
an exact replica of a home in TX. The one in TX has a
pink exterior and ours is tan. Also, ours have cactus.
The lights were put up by my brother and his friend.

After I finish putting up the lights at the home I am
at, I will post the picture.

There is no snow in this area of the country, but the
temps do hover around 55F (daytime) this time of the
year.

Does anyone else put up outdoor lights for the winter
holidays?

Prager Continued to Baselessly Attack Muslim Rep

Here's a follow up to the article I posted yesterday about Dennis Prager.

American Muslim News Briefs | Wednesday, December 06, 2006

ON MSNBC, PRAGER CONTINUED TO BASELESSLY ATTACK MUSLIM REP.-ELECT

On the December 4 edition of MSNBC's Tucker, conservative radio host and Townhall.com columnist Dennis Prager continued to accuse incoming Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) of "imperil[ing]" America because of Ellison's reported intention to use a copy of the Quran during the ceremonial photo op on the day he is sworn in. Prager acknowledged, as the weblog Think Progress reported, that Ellison would use the Quran for "a photo op" and not the actual swearing-in, which is conducted in a large group. Ellison is the first Muslim ever elected to Congress.
****

And here's Dennis Prager's column, from Townhall.com:

America, Not Keith Ellison, decides what book a congressman takes his oath on

Keith Ellison, D-Minn., the first Muslim elected to the United States Congress, has announced that he will not take his oath of office on the Bible, but on the bible of Islam, the Koran.

He should not be allowed to do so -- not because of any American hostility to the Koran, but because the act undermines American civilization.

First, it is an act of hubris that perfectly exemplifies multiculturalist activism--my culture trumps America's culture. What Ellison and his Muslim and leftist supporters are saying is that it is of no consequence what America holds as its holiest book; all that matters is what any individual holds to be his holiest book.

Forgive me, but America should not give a hoot what Keith Ellison's favorite book is. Insofar as a member of Congress taking an oath to serve America and uphold its values is concerned, America is interested in only one book, the Bible. If you are incapable of taking an oath on that book, don't serve in Congress. In your personal life, we will fight for your right to prefer any other book. We will even fight for your right to publish cartoons mocking our Bible. But, Mr. Ellison, America, not you, decides on what book its public servants take their oath.

Devotees of multiculturalism and political correctness who do not see how damaging to the fabric of American civilization it is to allow Ellison to choose his own book need only imagine a racist elected to Congress. Would they allow him to choose Hitler's "Mein Kampf," the Nazis' bible, for his oath? And if not, why not? On what grounds will those defending Ellison's right to choose his favorite book deny that same right to a racist who is elected to public office?

Of course, Ellison's defenders argue that Ellison is merely being honest; since he believes in the Koran and not in the Bible, he should be allowed, even encouraged, to put his hand on the book he believes in. But for all of American history, Jews elected to public office have taken their oath on the Bible, even though they do not believe in the New Testament, and the many secular elected officials have not believed in the Old Testament either. Yet those secular officials did not demand to take their oaths of office on, say, the collected works of Voltaire or on a volume of New York Times editorials, writings far more significant to some liberal members of Congress than the Bible. Nor has one Mormon official demanded to put his hand on the Book of Mormon. And it is hard to imagine a scientologist being allowed to take his oath of office on a copy of "Dianetics" by L. Ron Hubbard.

So why are we allowing Keith Ellison to do what no other member of Congress has ever done -- choose his own most revered book for his oath?

The answer is obvious -- Ellison is a Muslim. And whoever decides these matters, not to mention virtually every editorial page in America, is not going to offend a Muslim. In fact, many of these people argue it will be a good thing because Muslims around the world will see what an open society America is and how much Americans honor Muslims and the Koran.

This argument appeals to all those who believe that one of the greatest goals of America is to be loved by the world, and especially by Muslims because then fewer Muslims will hate us (and therefore fewer will bomb us).

But these naive people do not appreciate that America will not change the attitude of a single American-hating Muslim by allowing Ellison to substitute the Koran for the Bible. In fact, the opposite is more likely: Ellison's doing so will embolden Islamic extremists and make new ones, as Islamists, rightly or wrongly, see the first sign of the realization of their greatest goal -- the Islamicization of America.

When all elected officials take their oaths of office with their hands on the very same book, they all affirm that some unifying value system underlies American civilization. If Keith Ellison is allowed to change that, he will be doing more damage to the unity of America and to the value system that has formed this country than the terrorists of 9-11. It is hard to believe that this is the legacy most Muslim Americans want to bequeath to America. But if it is, it is not only Europe that is in trouble.
****

Let's hear it, FreakSpeakers! I want to hear from you!

"Anderson Cooper 360" Wins Another Emmy

CBS, CNN, NBC and PBS divided up the spoils at the Emmys for business and financial reporting handed out by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Thursday.

CBS, CNN and NBC each received two awards and PBS received one. CBS recipients were 60 Minutes for "Oil Sands" and CBS News Sunday Morning for "Relics of Rock."

Anderson Cooper 360 won for "Black Market Infertility," and CNN Presents for "How to Rob a Bank."

NBC winners were Dateline's "Bitter Pills" and NBC Nightly News' "Congress's Private Air Force" and "Congress a la Carte."

PBS' Frontline won for its piece, "Can You Afford to Retire?"

The Password is...

Iraq.

That's what the whole sweepstakes-password-location-thingy reminded me of last night. Anderson Cooper must've dug it being that he was practically glued to the television as a child, and perhaps even as an adult I suspect.


I feel like I need to conduct my own "Keeping Them Honest" investigation. Who is Betty Ann and Lorie Ann? Are they real people with real thoughts or CNN plants? I can't believe he read her comment from the blog. I shook my head, I don't get it. Surely these names have to look familiar to people and not just those of us who read the blog. It's an interesting phenomena, once I wish I had time to chase down. But alas, I'm not a professional Anderson Cooper blogger, I just play one on television ;)

Which other journalists interest you? Which ones, good or bad, fire up your cup of ire? Let us know here at FreakSpeakers and we'll see that not only the good journalists, not just Anderson (don't worry, I still love your style), but journalists who need to be called out for the jerks that they are get some attention.


Thanks to bcfraggle for the great screencaps.

Anderson Cooper Takes the Field as a 'Minutes' Man

New York Daily News
By Marisa Gutherie, Staff Writer

Anderson Cooper, the face of CNN, makes his debut on CBS' "60 Minutes" Sunday, the first of multiple reports Anderson is scheduled to do for the famed newsmagazine.

Cooper fronted stories for the now-defunct "60 Minutes II," but the original show is still viewed as the pinnacle of TV journalism and could serve as a tryout of sorts.

"He brings a lot to the table," said "60 Minutes" executive producer Jeff Fager. "We're always looking for the next full-time correspondent who will eventually join us down that road. He's going to show what he can do in the next couple of years. We'll see how it goes. I'm optimistic."

Cooper will interview Abu Ghraib whistleblower Sgt. Joe Darby, who turned over the infamous photos of U.S. soldiers abusing prisoners there. Darby and his wife have not been able to return to their home and are still in hiding.

"He doesn't want anyone to know where he lives," said Cooper. "He and his wife are still kind of looking over their shoulders. The piece is about how that decision (to turn in the pictures) has completely changed his life, and changed it in many ways for the worse."

Cooper worked on the story with associate producer Casey Morgan and longtime "60 Minutes" producer Bob Anderson, who generated the story, said Fager.

"Anderson was seriously involved in the story," he said. "It's a collaboration between the producer and correspondent. We really believe in that process. Anderson is a serious reporter who really knows how to collaborate well. It's part of why he fits in so well here."

Cooper's "60 Minutes" stories will air on CNN's "Anderson Cooper 360" after they appear on CBS. CNN executives granted Cooper permission to appear on "60 Minutes" only if it didn't interfere with his day job, which means Cooper works on the pieces during weekends and vacations, he said.

"I don't really take vacation anyway, so it hasn't been too bad," he said.

But he views his work at "60 Minutes" as an "incredible opportunity to learn," he said. "The bar is pretty high over at '60 Minutes.'"