Monday, July 04, 2005
Welcome, TFP Readers, and Happy Independence Day
First off, just wanted to say hi to any of you who found your way here through the blogging storites - both of them! - in today's Times Free Press.
Both articles are nice rundowns, though I don't know what in the hell a "blogging coach" is and how Bill Hobbs ostensibly does it. I was thrown by the quote from the marginally-infamous Carol Darr, who has come out (and testified) in favor of blogs like this one and others being regulated by the FCC under campaign finance laws as campaign activities. As it stands, blogs are considered to have a "press" exemption - the same exemption given to TV and newspapers. While what I do certianly is not the same as what the reporters at the TFP or even the Pulse do, it's a pretty batty argument to say that if I mention a candidate by name, I become subject to restriction on my speech.
But now on to the topic at hand - Independence Day. I hate calling it the 4th of July. It sort of neuters the day of its meaning. For all the troubles and drama facing our country right now, it's a proud thing to be an American. I won't bloviate, but we really did hit the jackpot in a lot of ways to live in a country like ours. Our prosperity and our drive have changed the world many times over. As China and continental Europe emerge as the new superpowers in the game of capitalism we created, we'll be facing many changes over the next 50 years. But in the end, our best hope to stay at head of the pack is our spirit of innovation and our spirit of sacrifice. From Saturday's Live 8 concerts, you can see the kind of effort it will take on our behalf to improve the world for others and stay in the position of being the nation that others look to for guidance. You know, maybe less going off half-cocked bombing nations back to the Stone Age, and more debt relief.
Ok, then. Rant over. Enjoy some fireworks, I know I will.
Both articles are nice rundowns, though I don't know what in the hell a "blogging coach" is and how Bill Hobbs ostensibly does it. I was thrown by the quote from the marginally-infamous Carol Darr, who has come out (and testified) in favor of blogs like this one and others being regulated by the FCC under campaign finance laws as campaign activities. As it stands, blogs are considered to have a "press" exemption - the same exemption given to TV and newspapers. While what I do certianly is not the same as what the reporters at the TFP or even the Pulse do, it's a pretty batty argument to say that if I mention a candidate by name, I become subject to restriction on my speech.
But now on to the topic at hand - Independence Day. I hate calling it the 4th of July. It sort of neuters the day of its meaning. For all the troubles and drama facing our country right now, it's a proud thing to be an American. I won't bloviate, but we really did hit the jackpot in a lot of ways to live in a country like ours. Our prosperity and our drive have changed the world many times over. As China and continental Europe emerge as the new superpowers in the game of capitalism we created, we'll be facing many changes over the next 50 years. But in the end, our best hope to stay at head of the pack is our spirit of innovation and our spirit of sacrifice. From Saturday's Live 8 concerts, you can see the kind of effort it will take on our behalf to improve the world for others and stay in the position of being the nation that others look to for guidance. You know, maybe less going off half-cocked bombing nations back to the Stone Age, and more debt relief.
Ok, then. Rant over. Enjoy some fireworks, I know I will.
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