Today is December 7th. A Day that will live in infamy. It is the 63rd anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. The attack that lead to the US involvement in World War 2. Each day over 1000 WW2 veterans die. Let us not forget their sacrifice.
There was a spectacular fire in Chicago last night. The world famous Loop saw another fire in one of its many high rise buildings. The 29th and 30th floors of the LaSalle Bank Building burned as the Chicago Fire Department followed new procedures for high rise fires. The first priority was search and rescue. Unlike the fire at 69 W. Washington 14 months ago, there were few civilian injuries and, so far, no casualties.
While the rescue mission was in full force the fire coming out of the building made for some spectacular live television. Most Chicago stations stayed with the coverage far into the night.
I would say that the best pictures came from Channel 2, but Channel 2 also had the worst reporting and anchoring. Anchor Diane (Bums) Burns continually interrupted officials and reporters with inane comments or comments she just heard from the official or reporter. Anchor Antonio Moro seemed afraid to say much of anything. The most aggressive and interesting comments came from political editor, Mike Flannery.
There, unfortunately, was no station that provided good reporter coverage or commentary.
While the CFD plan for rescue and fire suppression worked fine, there media relations was weak. The CFD spokesman had little information on the activities and refused to answer questions. Pretty worthless. Since there was no information coming from the CFD, reporters and producers used speculation, eyewitness accounts, and rumor to fuel their reports. Very poor reporting exemplified the evening.
Here are some interesting items.
+In January, nine new governors will take office. With a change in the governor's seat comes many changes that cost millions of dollars. From welcome signs to letterhead to signs on doors, anything with the former governor's name must be changed.
Stateline.org has an interesting article on the costs.
Stateline.org: New govs spell change - road sign by road sign..
+Congress may show some integrity and backbone. Over 100 members of Congress are planning to block further funding of the UN. If this happens, it will demonstrate to the UN that the scandals at the UN are important and should be dealt with openly and honestly.
Well, maybe, Congress is just looking to cut something in the budget.
As noted here before, the US should drop all support for the UN, pull out of the UN, and ask the UN to leave the US. How much of this will really happen. Very little, but it is nice to know some members of Congress are anti-corruption.
Congress May Block UN Budget Over Oil-for-Food Probe -- 12/07/2004
+The House is expected to vote on a revised(?) Intelligence Reform Bill. While some Republicans have come on board the new bill, James Sensenbrenner will not vote for the measure. He is still concerned over provisions that will allow illegal immigrants to obtain a drivers license.
There is no doubt that there needs to be reform in the intelligence community, but to allow illegal immigrants to obtain drivers' licenses makes little if any sense.
In a statement Sensenbrenner said, "Americans deserve a ill that can prevent another 9/11." He is right.
House Expected to Vote on Intelligence Reform Bill -- 12/07/2004
+The US Supreme Court will hear an interesting case today. The issue is whether consumers can buy wine directly from vineyards using the phone or the Internet. About half of the states prohibit such purchases.
Yahoo! News - Summary: High Court Hears Wine Dispute
More later.
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