Here's an editorial on the US and Iraq from Arab News, Saudi Arabia's First English Daily, Editorial: Iraq and US. The media is Saudi controlled, but it's interesting that the writer says that perhaps the best way to keep Saddam Hussein under control is to have UN weapons inspectors permanently stationed in Iraq. My question is, who is going to fund this solution? Is it the USA, since we fund most of the United Nations expenses anyway? I mean it sounds like a half decent idea, and an alternative to war, but it's logistics of this solution that bothers me.

For the wine readers, I tried Charles Shaw Cabernet Sauvignon, on sale at Trader Joe's for $1.99, and it was very good for the price. An article in the SF Chron said people were calling Charles Shaw wine, "Chuck for a Buck". The wine is young and it wasn't as smooth as a more expensive wine, but for a $1.99 it's totally drinkable and a great picnic or every day dinner wine. If I didn't know it cost a $1.99, I'd have guess the cost of the wine to be between $5-15.

Check this link out, Future of Public Interest in the Digital Age at Stake as FCC Proceeds with Plans to End Longstanding Safeguards. The FCC, which is coincidentially chaired by Colin Powell's son, is reviewing the FCC rules which allow how many media stations a company may own in a given market. I think the current number limit is eight, but the buzz on the conspiracy theory radio programs is that the FCC will lift the limits thereby creating media monopolies.

Don't we already have media monopolies on the radio with a company like Clear Channel, which owns a ton of radio stations? If a company like Clear Channel is allowed to own all the sources of media in a market, doesn't that they mean they will control all forms of communication media like radio and TV. This is not good. Of course, the internet is there as a source of alternative information, but I don't like that one company may one day be able to own and control every radio and TV station in a market. Talk about being able to "control the message".

I'm watching American Idol for the first time, and it's a very funny show. I'm watching and listening to these people, and I'm thinking I'm not such a bad singer. I took a semester of singing lessons from a woman who graduated from Julliard, so at least I had some training. Some of those people, I mean, it's amazing, Simon is right; they're really bad.

Just watching the judges' faces during the bad singing is hilarious. It's like watching a torture show, and what's a trip is some of those people don't know they're out of tune, can't carry a tune, or just can't sing period. No wonder it's a hit. It's a riot. A sad riot, but a riot nonetheless.