NBC is finally making the right sort of moves for a ratings rebound. While the 2006 Torino Olympics had mixed ratings results including a low of 14 million viewers for the closing ceremonies, and lows of 16 million for some skiing events, NBC did garner around 26 million viewers for the high interest women's figure skating events. All of this helped NBC to place in the top 20 of last week's programs with the Olympic coverage.
But NBC is making other wise moves post-Olympic moves. DEAL OR NO DEAL is back for a full week this week, and will return on Mondays and Tuesdays after this week. Like the once popular ABC's, WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE, NBC has a chance to play this series out for sometime before audience fatigue starts to set in.
And NBC is greatly improving their ruined Friday night with DEAL OR NO DEAL, LAS VEGAS and the new drama CONVICTION. These are exactly the right sort of moves to improve Friday rather than make it a complete throwaway to the strong CBS lineup. NBC finally realizes that garbage like THREE WISHES, INCONCEIVABLE or THE BOOK OF DANIEL is absolutely not the kind of waste of network airtime to offer up. Compared to the old lineup of DATELINE, THIRD WATCH and LAW AND ORDER:TRIAL BY JURY, this new lineup is the best NBC lineup since these three Friday night programs. This is exactly the kind of Friday night moves I recommended here and on other Websites.
The only weak spot in the schedule is JOEY returning to NBC on Tuesday. While I personally like this show as not that bad of a comedy, JOEY will be absolutely slaughtered in the 8pm Tuesday time slot by AMERICAN IDOL, the quirky drama, NCIS, and will fight it out for the scraps of audience left over from GILMORE GIRLS, THE WORLD ACCORDING TO JIM and any UPN offering. JOEY may only see fourth place in this competition. But until NBC is able to have a better Tuesday night draw, JOEY at least is a decent lead-in to episodes of the outrageous comedy, SCRUBS. Some of last week's jokes were so outrageous that it was surprising a few made it under the network censor's radar.
But NBC should be in a position to improve it's ratings with a stronger second season leading into the May sweeps. And with any viewers who are not fans of the CBS coverage of March Madness college basketball which should bump new episodes of the CSI franchise, NCIS, CRIMINAL MINDS, GHOST WHISPERER and other popular programs as the competition heats up.
NBC should be able to close the ratings gap considerably with all their new improvements to their schedule. It's about time. NBC is a quality network, deserving of some decent programming improvements to add to their other quality programs such as the LAW AND ORDER franchise, CROSSING JORDAN, MY NAME IS EARL and other quality NBC schedule standouts.
Jumat, 03 Maret 2006
All That Glitters Isn't Gary
With the latest outrageous fall from grace of Gary Glitter, even his old CDs and records are not even selling very well on Ebay. His major glitter-era competitor, Marc Bolan and T.Rex contines to sell very well by comparison.
There are 1501 marc Bolan items currently on Ebay, and only 390 Gary Glitter items. Other British pop notables such as Alvin Stardust, The Sweet and Mud have some items listed as well as some sales.
Gary Glitter's music such as "Rock And Roll Part 2" will like;y remain popular during major American sporting events, but Gary Glitter's career seems more than over after his latest brush with the law.
Marc Bolan was killed in a car accident in 1977 when he was a passenger in a Mini Cooper and his head hit the windshield. Many of the older Mini Cooper automobiles did not have locking front seats or seatbelts and were a very unsafe automobile.
There are 1501 marc Bolan items currently on Ebay, and only 390 Gary Glitter items. Other British pop notables such as Alvin Stardust, The Sweet and Mud have some items listed as well as some sales.
Gary Glitter's music such as "Rock And Roll Part 2" will like;y remain popular during major American sporting events, but Gary Glitter's career seems more than over after his latest brush with the law.
Marc Bolan was killed in a car accident in 1977 when he was a passenger in a Mini Cooper and his head hit the windshield. Many of the older Mini Cooper automobiles did not have locking front seats or seatbelts and were a very unsafe automobile.
"Catholictown" Versus The American Town
On one hand any effort to promote faith in God is usually a positive feature. However in a Florida town, the effort to create a single town largely oriented simply around the Catholic faith is not without serious concerns.
There are certainly problems with the role of seperation of church and state in that can government funds go to fund a community largely built around the feature that only one religious group is welcome. In a state like Utah where the Mormon Church dominates, at least reasonable secular seperation exists between the church and government, although the Mormon Church certainly has a great deal of influence in all public policy decisions.
America was built on the belief of a free exercise of all religion, not communities in which only one faith dominates or promotes their personal church doctrines which are often at odds with Bibical teachings and Scriptural teachings.
For example, the sale of contraceptives will be discouraged in "Catholictown", yet no support in Scriptures exists for this doctrine. Clergy do not marry in the Catholic faith, which may be partially responsible for some of sex abuse problems within the church, and in oppostion to the teachings of Paul in the New Testament who offered marriage by clergy as an optional feature for Christians if they so choose. And further, what sort of religious prohibitions will be placed on popular culture. The concept of "community standards" now means that nothing that ridicules or questions the faith may be allowed, or that unreasonable standards imposed on retailers. What happens when constitutionally protected magazines, newspapers, books, CDs and videos are sold that are frowned on or surpressed in this community. And will all religions really feel welcome in such a community?
The practice of religion was really pretty much intended to reflect the Bibical teaching of "for me and my house" to allow for individual families to worship God, not for entire communities to impose wrongful church doctrines with the blessing of government authority.
Without a doubt most people who live in a community such as "Catholictown" are very good persons and most likely saved. But they are not following strictly Bible teachings and are instead good followers of purely a church doctrine.
There are certainly problems with the role of seperation of church and state in that can government funds go to fund a community largely built around the feature that only one religious group is welcome. In a state like Utah where the Mormon Church dominates, at least reasonable secular seperation exists between the church and government, although the Mormon Church certainly has a great deal of influence in all public policy decisions.
America was built on the belief of a free exercise of all religion, not communities in which only one faith dominates or promotes their personal church doctrines which are often at odds with Bibical teachings and Scriptural teachings.
For example, the sale of contraceptives will be discouraged in "Catholictown", yet no support in Scriptures exists for this doctrine. Clergy do not marry in the Catholic faith, which may be partially responsible for some of sex abuse problems within the church, and in oppostion to the teachings of Paul in the New Testament who offered marriage by clergy as an optional feature for Christians if they so choose. And further, what sort of religious prohibitions will be placed on popular culture. The concept of "community standards" now means that nothing that ridicules or questions the faith may be allowed, or that unreasonable standards imposed on retailers. What happens when constitutionally protected magazines, newspapers, books, CDs and videos are sold that are frowned on or surpressed in this community. And will all religions really feel welcome in such a community?
The practice of religion was really pretty much intended to reflect the Bibical teaching of "for me and my house" to allow for individual families to worship God, not for entire communities to impose wrongful church doctrines with the blessing of government authority.
Without a doubt most people who live in a community such as "Catholictown" are very good persons and most likely saved. But they are not following strictly Bible teachings and are instead good followers of purely a church doctrine.
Bush Doctrine Will Create New Long Range Problems For India And Pakistan
From the standpoint of serving the immediate interests of positive photo opportunites to appear presidential, the Bush swing through India and Pakistan appear to be successful. However that should not mask some serious problems that nuclear dealings with India and the promotion of the Bush Doctrine of pushing for democracies in states like Pakistan.
In India, while a major state that is certainly mostly friendly of U.S. foreign policy goals is a central nation to maintain strong relations with, still allowing India the use of fast-breeder nuclear reactors is only likely to spin off more nuclear weapons material. This may only set the region up for future arms race difficulties.
And in Pakistan, any push for democracy is only likely to allow radical Islamist or religious extremist oriented parties to capture control of the government and allow Pakistan's nuclear weapons to flow freely around the Islamic worls that are at least now under the control of military dictatorship government that at least is friendly to U.S. goals and maintains some control on these arms.
It certainly sounds very Jeffersonian for Mr. Bush to stand for world democracy. However, poor results in Iran with the radical government there, the Hamas victory in Palestine, the increased power of the Islamic Brotherhood in Egypt, and the dominance of Shiite religious parties and militia members such as the Badr Brigade in Iraq, begin to call this entire Bush Doctrine into question.
In many developing states, society is not yet advanced enough to promote a state of democracy. And in India where moderate religious beliefs predominate, and is a fertile ground for democracy, the opposite exists in other poor states in which radical Islam is taught in many Mosques and the population is more likely to elect irresponsible extremists to power.
The Bush swing through India and Pakistan is likely to give Mr. Bush a small public opinion boost right when two new polls just this week put his performance approval at 34-38%, and his personal approval is as little as 29%. But personal political goals should not interfere with intelligent foreign policy goals. The two goals are not always similar in their end results, whether intended or not.
In India, while a major state that is certainly mostly friendly of U.S. foreign policy goals is a central nation to maintain strong relations with, still allowing India the use of fast-breeder nuclear reactors is only likely to spin off more nuclear weapons material. This may only set the region up for future arms race difficulties.
And in Pakistan, any push for democracy is only likely to allow radical Islamist or religious extremist oriented parties to capture control of the government and allow Pakistan's nuclear weapons to flow freely around the Islamic worls that are at least now under the control of military dictatorship government that at least is friendly to U.S. goals and maintains some control on these arms.
It certainly sounds very Jeffersonian for Mr. Bush to stand for world democracy. However, poor results in Iran with the radical government there, the Hamas victory in Palestine, the increased power of the Islamic Brotherhood in Egypt, and the dominance of Shiite religious parties and militia members such as the Badr Brigade in Iraq, begin to call this entire Bush Doctrine into question.
In many developing states, society is not yet advanced enough to promote a state of democracy. And in India where moderate religious beliefs predominate, and is a fertile ground for democracy, the opposite exists in other poor states in which radical Islam is taught in many Mosques and the population is more likely to elect irresponsible extremists to power.
The Bush swing through India and Pakistan is likely to give Mr. Bush a small public opinion boost right when two new polls just this week put his performance approval at 34-38%, and his personal approval is as little as 29%. But personal political goals should not interfere with intelligent foreign policy goals. The two goals are not always similar in their end results, whether intended or not.
Kamis, 02 Maret 2006
Yet Another Silly Right Wing Talk Radio Personality
Right wing talk radio personalities seem to flourish like weeds, and are often of nearly equal worth as well. Another absurd example is Jeff Kropf,R-Sublimity, an elected member of the Oregon State Legislature who refused to vote on issues at the Oregon State Capitol late this last session because he could make far more money offering opinions on right wing talk radio than in the Oregon Legislature.
Today, filling in for right wing talk show host, Las Larson, Kropf attacked the salary of teachers, and offered no sympathetic solutions to the $57 million dollar cash shortfall in the Portland Oregon School District which may force 150 teachers to lose their jobs and close as many as six schools.
It should be a telling factor when right wing talk show hosts preach to a choir that opposes school funding, and this alone should speak for itself.
It should also be a telling factor when a right wing legislator refuses to fulfill their elected duties when the money is better somewhere else, but opposes teachers earning a decent salary.
Kropf even refers to himself as "A Vision For Oregon's Future" on a state legislature Website. When this future only involves self interest and has no serious values for supporting vital services such as education, then most normal persons would ask what kind of a "vision" is this?
The absurd theatre of right wing talk radio goes on.
Today, filling in for right wing talk show host, Las Larson, Kropf attacked the salary of teachers, and offered no sympathetic solutions to the $57 million dollar cash shortfall in the Portland Oregon School District which may force 150 teachers to lose their jobs and close as many as six schools.
It should be a telling factor when right wing talk show hosts preach to a choir that opposes school funding, and this alone should speak for itself.
It should also be a telling factor when a right wing legislator refuses to fulfill their elected duties when the money is better somewhere else, but opposes teachers earning a decent salary.
Kropf even refers to himself as "A Vision For Oregon's Future" on a state legislature Website. When this future only involves self interest and has no serious values for supporting vital services such as education, then most normal persons would ask what kind of a "vision" is this?
The absurd theatre of right wing talk radio goes on.
The Power Elite Households Play Both Sides Of The DP World Deal
Among the top families of America's national ruling class, a curious split is taking place over the DP World ports deal. Former Senator and Presidential candidate, Robert Dole has been hired by the UAE government to lobby for the DP World deal, while his wife opposes it. And among the Clinton household, Senator Hillary Clinton opposes the deal, while her husbands is holding true to his globalist goals of the past, and appears to support the DP World deal.
In the UAE, former President Clinton has earned $450,000 for speaking engagments in this country. In addition, the Clinton Library has received $500,000 from the UAE.
Despite this seeming support for DP World deal by former President Clinton, his office officially claims that both he and Hillary clinton are in "lockstep" opposing the deal, despite this evidence that may suggest that this is another household playing both sides of this issue with the public.
In the UAE, former President Clinton has earned $450,000 for speaking engagments in this country. In addition, the Clinton Library has received $500,000 from the UAE.
Despite this seeming support for DP World deal by former President Clinton, his office officially claims that both he and Hillary clinton are in "lockstep" opposing the deal, despite this evidence that may suggest that this is another household playing both sides of this issue with the public.
Rabu, 01 Maret 2006
The Only "Good News" For Bush White House With 34% Public Support Is The Far Worse 28% Public Support Of Congress
While the awful 34% public approval for the Bush White House was recorded in the CBS poll released yesterday, an even worse score of just 28% for Congress went largely ignored.
This mere 28% public approval support is very significant. It proves the Republican Congressional leadership priorities of putting big corporate business interests first and ignoring the mainstream public ones, as well as the lack of issues that the Democrats seem to be championing are angering the majority of all voters.
In the coming elections, while Democrats tend to be currently showing more voter support traction than Republicans for the coming 2006 elections, it still should not be ignored that Democrats seem to manage to miss opportunities.
Even popular columnist, Joe Klein noted that Democrats "never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity" yesterday on Lou Dobbs' CNN program.
It is very telling that Congress actually rates lower with voters than all the very public bumblings of the Bush White House. This could translate several ways for the 2006 elections:
1. Voters could vote for sweeping changes in Congress. However this seems unlikely because most Congressional seats are in relatively safe districts and while the opinion of Congress as a whole is low among most voters, many voters still tend to think that their own representatives in Congress as "good guys".
2. Many voters could be alienated, and not vote, allowing for possible slight Republican gains as these voters seem to be moltivated no matter how rotten the news.
3. Democrats could have the opportunity for big gains, but due to poor organization, fundraising and get out the vote projects fall far short when easy broad gains could have been made.
4. Republican voters feel disillusioned, and fail to support their candidates in big numbers, allowing Democrats across the country to slip by.
But by far the most interesting outcome was with the off year elections in New Jersey and Virginia where Democrats actually only held their own ground, instead of gaining any new ground, and actually failed to capitalize off any discontent with the Bush White House or the Republican lead Congress.
The poor approval rating for Congress is another interesting statistic to mull over.
This mere 28% public approval support is very significant. It proves the Republican Congressional leadership priorities of putting big corporate business interests first and ignoring the mainstream public ones, as well as the lack of issues that the Democrats seem to be championing are angering the majority of all voters.
In the coming elections, while Democrats tend to be currently showing more voter support traction than Republicans for the coming 2006 elections, it still should not be ignored that Democrats seem to manage to miss opportunities.
Even popular columnist, Joe Klein noted that Democrats "never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity" yesterday on Lou Dobbs' CNN program.
It is very telling that Congress actually rates lower with voters than all the very public bumblings of the Bush White House. This could translate several ways for the 2006 elections:
1. Voters could vote for sweeping changes in Congress. However this seems unlikely because most Congressional seats are in relatively safe districts and while the opinion of Congress as a whole is low among most voters, many voters still tend to think that their own representatives in Congress as "good guys".
2. Many voters could be alienated, and not vote, allowing for possible slight Republican gains as these voters seem to be moltivated no matter how rotten the news.
3. Democrats could have the opportunity for big gains, but due to poor organization, fundraising and get out the vote projects fall far short when easy broad gains could have been made.
4. Republican voters feel disillusioned, and fail to support their candidates in big numbers, allowing Democrats across the country to slip by.
But by far the most interesting outcome was with the off year elections in New Jersey and Virginia where Democrats actually only held their own ground, instead of gaining any new ground, and actually failed to capitalize off any discontent with the Bush White House or the Republican lead Congress.
The poor approval rating for Congress is another interesting statistic to mull over.
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