Centerfield

Something to break the ice.

I've been quiet on this blog, as I've been focusing on some non-political writing that I'm doing. Also, there hasn't been anything in the last week that has really got my blood boiling and forced me to write.

I do think, however, that the news has focused too much on this prison scandal, and not enough on how we can salvage the situation in Iraq.

I absolutely agree... The media's need to report a sensational story is annoying.

What do y'all think of MTV's upcoming gay television channel. I am a if you don't like it don't watch it kind of guy, but I am not sure what it says about our society that we have to have a seperate channel for homosexuals.

Can't we satisfy that market on the regular networks? How do we argue for tolerance in society if we are seperating everything all of the time? Are we admitting that homosexuality is different and unusual if we have a seperate channel for it?

Then again... Maybe I am over thinking it.

In general, I don't like multi-culturalism. But for cable TV, I think it's fine if channels narrowcast to specific interests.

What should I have for lunch?

Matt, I think you jump to the tempting impulse in saying "why do we need this, and I did momentarily as well. But if there's a market for it, and I'm not part of that market, why should I care, really? And why shouldn't I be happy when the market responds to better serve a subculture's needs, unless it harms me? And i don't think it harms me at all.

In general, I view ocurences where markets differentiate to serve minority populations better as a positive development. The alternative is a winner take all market, and that's a real drag unless you happen to be part of the winning majority. The WTA market is one where every marketeer decides to market to the biggest part of the population, so you the 7 biggest stations all market to the 18-34 crowd, and everyone else is SOL. Since I'm the sort of person whose tastes veer from the mainstream (consciously or not) I like it when the market instead differentiates.

Now all we need if for MTV to get some viable competitors so that Xtina, Britney, and Justin aren't the winners taking all. Where's the 24 hour channel of recordings of live performances of talented blues and jazz artists past and present?

Here's the thing that's been on my mind. The statue of liberty's message says "give us your tired, your poor, your huddled masses." Seems to me a lot of Americans think we should replace that message with a no vacancy sign. I'm not one of them.

I don't think we should financially support everyone who wants to come, because the lifeboat paradigm holds to some extent. But I also tire of those who spout the idea that we should essentailly close our borders, boot out the "illegals" and permanently entitle the people already here. Because it wouldn't work. I'll take the hard working immigrants working 80 hours a week as merchants and lives 10 to an apartment over the domestic entitlement princes and princesses who think they are owed something simply because they are American.

Vexing question of the day: Why does singer Vitamin C still have a career? Or ... does being a judge on WB's Superstar USA show really qualify as "having a career?"

Greg,

Don't you wish you could buy stock in "someone will resurrect the game show match game?" The continued growth in the celebrity market demands additional outlets for people who are "celebrities" despite having little or no talent. I mean, Joe Rogan has TWO jobs. How unfathomable is that?

Any golf nuts out there? If so, what is the best course you have played? For me, it is a tie between Hazeltine National Golf Club (site of the 1970 and 1991 U.S. Opens, and 2002 PGA Championship) and Interlachen Country Club (site of the 1930 U.S. Open and the 2002 Solheim Cup). However, I have not yet played Pebble Beach or the Old Course at St. Andrews, but I will before I die.

Oh my gosh!!! I hate Joe Rogan!!!!

I played Torrey Pines last year after I ran the Rock 'n Roll Marathon in San Diego. While I could barely walk, I can't recommend the course enough. It's beautiful, site of a PGA tour event, and when compared to other top notch golf courses, a great bargain. San Diego residents get to play it for around $40 and even for us non-residents who showed up Tuesday morning with no t-time, it was around $90.

I also agree that the media is focusing on the wrong things in Iraq. Well, not the wrong things but they are neglecting things that are important in order for us to make a generally well-informed decision about how things are going there. But it's my argument that reporting on military heroes and improved infrastructure would be difficult and that most journalists covering Iraq are happy to read the wire reports and write stories from those. Basically, I would argue that instead of being biased, most journalists are just getting by.

I'm a bit of a golf nut -- but I'm not very good, so I tend to stay away from difficult courses.

Our favorite spot to play is a little off-beat place called Hidden Valley, out in the country north of Columbus, Ohio. The place is, literally, hidden -- the entrance is right at a bend in the road, and if you're not paying attention, you'll miss it.

It's never crowded ... beautiful scenery ... and it's a pretty easy course too.

Todd, I'm into golf but I tend to be too cheap to pay big bucks to play the prestige courses. I'm more of a weekday special kind of guy. But I bet I'll try a few. I think the nicest I've played so far is Blackstone National. Next time I visit my buddy in SD, I may consider trying to get onto Torrey Pines.

Yeah, Joe Rogan. He could have stayed a decent guy on Newsradio and vied with Matt LeBlanc to inherit the Tony Danza crown, but no, he had to go bitter, sick, and twisted. I think this guy has real problems.

Iraqi council announces prime minister pick

This post is off-topic. Sorry.

Played a lot of golf and at most of the big name places you mentioned, including San Diego Toreey Pines many times. Much, much too slow a game for me until retirement age.

I'm a big golf nut as well. A friend of mine got a free round of golf at Pebble Beach as bonus so I went there and played with him. It was nice, but it got so fogged in we couldn't see 50 yards in front of us for the last few holes, making the last few ocean holes not very memorable. If you are going to the Monterey area, I'd highly recommend Poppy Hills, which is a lot cheaper, and also torture chamber for anyone that doesn't hit it both long and straight.

I'd love to play Torrey Pines, as well as the Bethpage Black. I've heard great things about Brandon Dunes along the Oregon coast as well, but never played it. Of course if I had to pick one course I'd like to play, it would be Augusta National just for the history, if nothing else.

I really like that the PGA is trying to have more events on public courses. It's a shame so many great courses you see on tv you just can't play unless you are in the know.

A friend of mine got to play Augusta last year. I think that knowing someone who has played it is as close as I am ever going to get.

I have not yet been to Whistling Straits in Wisconsin, site of this year's PGA Championship, but it too is supposed to be unbelievable.

William, I played at a really nice course near Lima, Ohio called Golf at Sugar Creek about 3 years ago. If you're ever in that area, I'd highly recommend it. At the time, it was reasonably priced and brand new. Golf at Sugar Creek

If I had to play golf to save my life, I'd just shoot myself and get it over with.

But I have been by the Torrey Pines golf course a few times; Torrey Pines is a beautiful spot. I went to UCSD, within walking distance.

Agree. Golf courses ruin good places for a good walk.

Re. MTV and "Special" Music Channel.

What... you don't like the idea of the "separate, but equal" concept for MTV's music programming? From this perspective, I am suspicious. However, from a business (commercial sales) point of view, MTV knows which markets mix profitably and which ones don't. For example, consider the establishment of nation specific MTV satellite stations in India.

Rick - it seems to me that the prisoner abuse issue is intimately tied to salvaging the Iraq situation. Sweeping it under the rug domestically will have repercussions internationally IMHO.