Kia's World

From the Washington Post:

D.C. Superior Court Judge Wendell P. Gardner Jr. said the demonstrators violated the law by protesting at the plaza of the Supreme Court, where such activities are banned. He rejected arguments that they were practicing free speech when they marched to the plaza.... During a three-day trial, prosecutors presented a videotape that showed several officers warning the protesters to remain on the sidewalk, where demonstrations are legal, or risk arrest.

Oh come on.  They didn't stay on the sidewalk?  They get 2 months in jail because they didn't stay on the sidewalk?  And who decided to make demonstrating in front of the Supreme Court illegal, anyway?  They are the guardians of our rights, and we're not even allowed to protest in front of them?  Sigh....

From the MediaDailyNews:

The effects of Tuesday's vote by the Federal Communications Commission to loosen restrictions on cross-ownership of media will not be felt for at least a year or two.... But once the kinks are worked out, the decision could be a boon to newspaper owners.

To go into more detail, the restrictions being loosened were those of cross-ownership, which previously forbid corporations from owning both a newspaper and a news program, or a news program and a news radio station, at the same time.  The article in question is pleased with the deregulations, but even the author admits that "It may not benefit readers."

By making it easier for newspapers to merge their operations with TV stations, the rule changes will "allow them to produce both story content, video content and audio content, out of a single enterprise with a single management, single newsrooms and a single sales staff," he says. If they can pull that off, Doctor says newspapers can reduce overhead and produce a substantial cost savings. Publishers could further benefit from combining their Internet presence with broadcasters.

It also makes it that much easier for companies to plug their products and slant the stories in their favor.  Thanks, FCC!