The Mouse messes up
In Googling around about the case of the blogger Mr. Spocko, who had his blog shut down by his ISP after a Disney-owned radio station threatened to sue, I ran across a nice summary of the situation on something called FASTForward Blog.
The real story is how KSFO doesn't want its advertisers to know what kind of filth they are supporting. Mr. Spocko was trying to expose hate radio for what it is. As FASTForward Blog notes, there aren't enough lawyers in the world to control the blogosphere, and attempts to censor it often backfire.
It's always struck me as strange how corporations that spend millions of dollars protecting their images turn around and give ad dollars to the worst sort of racists and homophobes. As Mr. Spocko so ably demonstrated, it's largely because the scum that grows on right-wing AM radio is rarely exposed to any sort of scrutiny by the wider media.
Sunlight and oxygen are the true means by which we will change the media landscape in this country. One has a Constitutional right to say nearly anything one wishes in political speech, but that doesn't mean corporations who fund hate radio should continue to get a free pass. We applaud efforts to expose those who profit from hate.
MORE-- Spocko's Brain, the official title of Mr. Spocko's blog, as a new host apparently. So you can go there and see what kind of vile, inhuman stuff KSFO puts on the air. If progressives said stuff like that there would be federal agents at our doors within hours. But as always it's okay if you're a Republican.
What, we can't take a joke? Torturing people and digging up corpses-har har har har har. Nothing like some virulent racism thrown in also to get your commute under way. The idea of Nancy Pelosi with a bulls-eye on her eyes, simply hilarious. Classic comedy.
Spocko’s Brain had posted dozens of examples of KSFO right-wing morning drive talk show hosts, who are known for such tasteful exercises as enacting a mock electrocution of New York Times editor Bill Keller in a defective electric chair, calling for the execution of journalists they deem liberal, labeling themselves “pro torture, demanding that callers make fun of Islam and referring to Barack Obama as “Halfafrican.” Spocko also sent letters to KSFO’s advertisers, inquiring if they really wanted their brands associated with the views expressed on the station, and inviting them to listen to program segment audio files posted on the Spocko’s Brain site.Goldy was scheduled to have Mr. Spocko on-air last night on KIRO 710. While I missed that, it's an outrageous case of a large media corporation throwing its weight around.
In late December, Disney lawyers sent Spocko’s Brain and its ISP, 1&1 a cease-and-desist letter because of alleged copyright violations against the ABC Radio affiliate. 1&1 Internet took the site down entirely on January 2.
Once the dispute became public, much of the blogosphere rushed to Spoko’s defense and dozens of web hosts stepped forward to provide access to the disputed KSFO audio files. The Electronic Frontier Foundation volunteered to defend the blog against legal action. Some of the biggest and most widely read political and media blogs–like DailyKos–provided extensive coverage of the controversy and posted the disputed files, daring Disney to sue them. Selections were posted on YouTube.
The real story is how KSFO doesn't want its advertisers to know what kind of filth they are supporting. Mr. Spocko was trying to expose hate radio for what it is. As FASTForward Blog notes, there aren't enough lawyers in the world to control the blogosphere, and attempts to censor it often backfire.
It's always struck me as strange how corporations that spend millions of dollars protecting their images turn around and give ad dollars to the worst sort of racists and homophobes. As Mr. Spocko so ably demonstrated, it's largely because the scum that grows on right-wing AM radio is rarely exposed to any sort of scrutiny by the wider media.
Sunlight and oxygen are the true means by which we will change the media landscape in this country. One has a Constitutional right to say nearly anything one wishes in political speech, but that doesn't mean corporations who fund hate radio should continue to get a free pass. We applaud efforts to expose those who profit from hate.
MORE-- Spocko's Brain, the official title of Mr. Spocko's blog, as a new host apparently. So you can go there and see what kind of vile, inhuman stuff KSFO puts on the air. If progressives said stuff like that there would be federal agents at our doors within hours. But as always it's okay if you're a Republican.
What, we can't take a joke? Torturing people and digging up corpses-har har har har har. Nothing like some virulent racism thrown in also to get your commute under way. The idea of Nancy Pelosi with a bulls-eye on her eyes, simply hilarious. Classic comedy.
