I don’t always agree with Fareed Zakaria, but even when I don’t I can see that he comes to his opinion after much thought.  In his current article for Newsweek, "Iran is No Nazi Germany," I think he’s spot on.  The Bush administration, in its usual manner, has painted Iran as the reincarnation of World War II Germany and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as a modern-day Adolf Hitler, but as Zakaria points out this is just sloppy research with a litle doom and gloom thrown in for good measure, which is often the GOP playbook.  If there is one thing the president and his poorly chosen administration officials do well it’s giving all the wrong people more attention than they deserve.  Why?  Because it then gives the GOP attention; allows to scare Americans into thinking they are the best choice to keep us safe.  It sad and dangerous for our country.

Thank to the bastards at the American Family Association and their complaints to the FCC, twelve CBS affiliates have been frightened away from airing the network’s September 11 documentary.  First, as I’ve said before, I didn’t see this documentary when it first
aired; in fact, I tend to avoid all September 11-themed items like
this. No matter their good intentions, I just find it too soon for
these types of specials and movies. That being said, it’s really sad
that the bastards at the AFA and their wholly-owned sibsidiary, the
FCC, have scared people so much. This is history, for good or bad, and
sometimes history is not nice. It’s just like the AFA to see the bad
language uttered by people in the middle of a horric attack on America
as the most terrible thing. I also think the affiliates who are not
airing this documentary are total cowards. If the FCC was stupid enough
to fine CBS and its affiliates for the language in this film it would
have been the perfect vehicle to sue the FCC for censorship. I
understand the purpose of the FCC and it has its place, but they are
going too far. If the FCC is allowed to continue unchecked we’ll be
lucky if "darn" can be uttered on television, let alone actual historial events.

UPDATE:  Maybe the FCC bastards are finally seeing the error of their way (althouh I doubt it).  Now they’re reconsidering (via Jeff Jarvis) their recent rulings because the major networks are taking them to court.  It’s chilling that one group — one group! — with 3 million members can have such power over what 20 million people see no problem with viewing.

I may have mentioned this before, but I hate reality television in all its forms.  I’ve never had an urge to watch The Bachelor(ette), Survivor, The Amazing Race, or, God forbid,  Dancing with the Stars!  Hell, I have never seen American Idol.  When I sit down to invest my time in television I want a story, not someone’s pathetic real life.  That being said, I had the chance to watch Fox’s new song-fest, Celebrity Duets and I liked it.  Granted, I tuned in because I’m a huge fan of Lucy Lawless, and if I recall they did do a musical episode of Xena: Warrior Princess and remember that she was unexpectedly good.  She didn’t disappoint in this first episode.  Her first duet with Michael Bolton was OK, but she totally nailed it in her second duet with Smokey Robinson.  The rest of the celebrities were also surprising good; although, most were mediocre at best.  I think Jai Rodriguez and Hal Sparks, along with Lawless, are the ones to beat; especially Rodriguez.