Wednesday, April 07, 2004

A Chron alternative The Los Angeles Times ran a story today about a group of local activists who set up what they're calling an alternative news source -- BeyondChron.org -- to the San Francisco Chronicle. Bravo for more sources of news. On the other hand, what this group is really disappointed about (and somewhat naively so) is that the Chron does not share their activist agenda. So what they're producing is not so much news as a series of closely related online leaflets about their causes. I know it's stuffy and arrogant in an old media way to say it, but harangues about the way the world ought to be run aren't news all by themselves; they shouldn't be excluded from the news, but there's a lot more to getting the story than just having the Correct Point of View. 6:28:47 PM    comment []

No yee-ha, no cups Great read in the Washington Post on the growing popularity of bull-riding. The story claims that bull-riding on TV is outdrawing NBA regular season games. Increasingly, and largely because of the sport's dependable violence, Americans beyond the traditional country rodeo audience are embracing bull riding. Capitalizing on its notoriety as the most dangerous eight seconds in sports, the event has hit the big time, attracting television deals, huge crowds, serious money and major corporate sponsors. The story claims that bull-riding on TV is outdrawing NBA regular season games. The Professional Bull Riders Inc. site includes a rundown on what equipment the "bull athletes" wear. Bicycle shorts under their jeans, but no protective cups. 10:58:22 AM    comment []

© Copyright 2004 Dan Brekke.