NEWSPEAK Blog

Dems Promise Bloggers Props at Convention

Will the Elephants follow suit, or just rely on talk radio?

Democrats who are planning their party's 2008 convention in Denver say bloggers working alongside traditional journalists will change the way the event is reported.

Chief Executive Officer Leah Daughtry even says the presence of bloggers means the August event will be covered --quote-- ``in groundbreaking ways.''

Daughtry met today with about 400 reporters, bloggers, camera operators and others scoping out the Pepsi Center, the downtown Denver arena where the convention will be held August 25th through 28th.

The Convention committee plans to allow access for at least 56 blogs _ one for every state, territory and the District of Columbia. Officials say they will add additional bloggers, but did not say how many.

The convention is expected to bring more than 35,000 people to Denver.

Green Party Joining October 27th Protests

around the country and in Denver. This is really exciting news.  It means that finally, some activist organizations are beginning to unite for the common good.  It would have been better if the announcement had come sooner, but better late than never!   Carpools leaving Justice and Peace offices at 9:00 am.

Regional Anti-War Protest Scheduled for Denver

Join peace activists from Colorado Springs who will be traveling to Denver on Saturday, October 27th to join the nationwide action calling for an end to the Iraq war.  The protest will demand an immediate end to the US occupation of Iraq.  People from all over the region and all walks of life will gather in 11 major cities around the country that day. The Denver event will be held at Lincoln Park, near Mariposa Street and West 12th Avenue, beginning at noon.  You can catch a ride or help carpool from the Justice & Peace Commission offices at 214 East Vermijo around 9:00 am.   For more details you can call their office at 632-6189.

Petition Chevron! The Burmese Regime's Pipeline

EarthRights International petition telling Chevron to use its influence to stop the violence in Burma. 

ERI will be interviewed by Amy Goodman on Democracy Now, Friday, October 12th.   
Interesting activist organization that uses litigation and legal mechanisms to hold corporations and governments accountable for human rights violations and environmental abuses. 

More blood for oil. 

World War IV Proponent, James Woolsey, to speak at Colorado College

James Woolsey, ex-CIA director under Bill Clinton and active member of several hardline and neoconservative advocacy organizations will be speaking at Colorado College at Shove Chapel on "Solutions to America's Energy Crisis", Thursday October 4th, 7:30 pm.  He will address America's addiction to fossil fuels and actions individuals can take to help solve national security problems.  Woolsey is currently vice president of the consultant group, Booz-Allen-Hamilton, but his record as CIA director, a champion of "Reaganite policy of military strength and moral clarity", along with his open support of the invasion of Iraq will be making him a target for protest and bannering outside the chapel that evening.  He has been quoted as saying that the United States is currently fighting "World War IV"  and is for expanding government powers to wage the war on terrorism.  I'm curious as to what other solutions he has for our energy crisis other than invading the Middle East?  Sigh....

And then there were two!

News of the hung jury on the St. Paddy's Day Seven was cause for a little celebration, but rumors behind the scene were that the police department was still pushing for some kind of legal action, fearing that civil suits would be filed against them or the city by some of the arrested and injured.  There were rumors that the City Prosecutor's office was resisting and advising that the case be dropped to avoid further unpleasant publicity, but today the city has dismissed charges for all of them except Eric Verlo and Elizabeth Fineron!
They both will attend a pre-trial conference tomorrow.  The city is wanting to amend the charges, yet again (can they really do that?) to include failure to disperse after a lawful order.  The city is also offering Eric and Elizabeth a "deferred sentence" which could include an agreement to dismiss charges if they agree not to sue the city.   They would have separate trials if this goes to court and a guilty verdict is said to make it more difficult to proceed with civil actions.  Eric is quoted as saying that he would consider a settlement if the police department admits its officers acted wrongfully and if the city will consent to undertake a reform of its policies and officer training.
I think this calls for active protests based on what we hear tomorrow. 
I'm curious as to what you all think...?

The Paris Hilton Syndrome... I'm Special!

It started with the Hippie Spawn, Now it's only worse, and it's Mr. Rogers fault, via HuffPost via WSJ

The British meaning of the word.

This seemed somehow apprapoe...

Democracy when?

anybody else read the new KRCC newsletter yet?

it contains this gem:

"Now, at 7PM weekdays, we'll be giving the Pacifica program Democracy Now a trial run. It offers a recap of daily news and, in their words: "Democracy Now!'s War and Peace Report provides our audience with access to people and perspectives... including independent and international journalists, ordinary people from around the world who are directly affected by U.S. foreign policy, grassroots leaders and peace activists, artists, academics and independent analysts. In addition... [DN] hosts real debates -- debates between people who substantially disagree." Tune in, have a listen and tell us what you think."

DM starts tonight  at  7pm on krcc....

Cipher Week: Guest Blogger JT Rogstadt

This is the third in our series of guest posts by Cipher Editors at Colorado College. Here's JT Rogstadt:

I don't think my picture requires too much explanation. It's me enjoying nature with an upper lip shadow that looks like a Hitler-stache. My major in college is self-designed. For now it's called "Art & Culture", but at some point I'd like to change that name to something a lot more specific and a lot more creative. Essentially it's a blend of cultural studies type courses (Music and Imperialism, Literary Theory, Performance Art, etc.) and creative craft-based courses, either studio art or filmmaking. The idea is to develop some sort of critical theory about material/popular/art culture and apply it toward the actual making of "art".

So essentially I have no use for fact-based courses , either in terms of the sciences or math, or anything concrete (except history is cool). Just theory. And speculation. And "cultural studies", whatever that means. All of this is just to justify a somewhat obsessive interest in movies and music. I don't even really know that much about "Art" per se, except that I really dislike the new Peter Max exhibit at the Fine Arts Center. I mean, the exhibit is fine. I think the museum usually does a decent job. But I think Peter Max is a media whore. He has not one, but two differentsignatures-as-logo! What the fuck. Anyway, look for a possible critique of his art in the upcoming Cipher issue. Anyway, the point is I don't really care about art so much as pop culture. And politics and social issues and shit too.
OK, that's me.