Why not begin this with a possibly irrelevant aside?

About thirty years ago my boss at Columbia Pictures, David Begelman, was sentenced to community service for the embezzlement of a paltry few hundred thousand dollars. I noticed that a couple of days later a black welfare mother...

The unedited version of this report was sent to me a few days ago. It was published by the Washington Post and I infer from it that in their opinion they know what is "good" for people to listen to and diminish those who do not share their opinion.

My...

It was and is so interesting to me how certain words stir up so much emotion, while at the same time other words and deeds like kill, rape, bomb, destroy, torture are accepted with aplomb by most people, particularly the American Federal Communications Commission.

It...

The final 2008 "days are dwindling down to a precious few" and I face my annual task of sorting things out so that at least there will be some sort of order in my life as I begin 2009. Needless to say that I do not mean emotional order as...

I noticed this fascinating piece at five this morning. It is extremely interesting and of great concern.
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Thank God: Someone Will Be Watching

In a surprise announcement, Georgetown University...

I watched our Vice President as he met with members of the media in order to "re-direct, or re-write" his history and legacy, and particularly his role in our countries "war on terror, our war in Iraq, and the acceptability of our torturing people"

Listening to him is difficult...

"Fathom"

From dictionary.com

a unit of length equal to six feet (1.8 meters): used chiefly in nautical measurements

to measure the depth of by means of a sounding line; sound

In that I have never used the word that I can recall, now is the time for me to...

While I presently call myself a "media consultant" I am in fact just another unemployed studio and network executive. While working in the industry, I ignored many opportunities to do certain "grants of rights" deals, with the understanding that the transaction would happen as soon as I received confirmation that...

This quote is from a British newspaper speaking of the media in the United States: "Instead of challenging officialdom, it's become a conduit, a funnel down which officialdom can talk to us."

Many of my friends and critics tell me, "enough already Norman, no one cares...

I just loved the following taken from a "trade report":

NBC replaced scripted series with talk show host Jay Leno in its Monday to Friday 10 p.m. time slots.

NBC was criticized by several television producers at Hollywood Radio and Television Society's "Hitmakers" luncheon panel Tuesday. A report quotes...

I wrote this paragraph about the Writers Strike ten months ago.

"The labor dispute between the writers and studios is a simple one. The mega companies believe that they are entitled to keep all of the money that their content earns, and the writers, like other talent,...

It had been a difficult time for me since the Election in that my blood pressure had returned to near normal. I was happy to reduce my meds, but only for a while.

The following "message" was sent to me by a Right wing friend, and needless...

There are two versions of this short "story." The first was sent to me by a very right wing New York man who I am sure did not write it, but just forwarded it.

The second is a slight re-write of the same piece that I wrote in order...

I was recently sent an article from the Wall Street Journal, the bastion of the centrist press, written by that centrist reporter, Peggy Noonan. This quote was taken from that article.

"The press knows who the press is for, and it isn't generally the one to...

About ten years ago I was a guest panelist on a television program along with three others, all of whom were TV critics. When the subject was raised by one of the panelists as to why television was not "as good as it should be" I of course replied.

"In front of every silver lining there is a dark cloud."

I know that I am in deep trouble when I resort to quotes by Yogi Berra. One of my favorites that do not fit here in any way is "If you don't know where you are going, you will...

Goldfarb dies at 96.

The Rabbi who will conduct the service for him speaks to members of his family in order to determine what his life was about. After speaking to all of the available relatives, he is concerned in that not one of them has said a single...

It was in 1943 that my parents moved our family from the Kingsbridge Road section of the Bronx to what is still a beautiful building on the Grand Concourse a few blocks from Yankee Stadium.

The US Navy had the temerity to take over our apartment building to use as...

I get only slightly nuts when I hear the Republicans including Senator McCain laud Governor Palin's overall readiness to assume the Presidency of our country.

Who of all of the candidates in recent months, has shown to be well prepared to do what is set out below?

If...

Please be patient since sooner or later I will get to the point I am trying to make.

I will first write or appropriate several hundred words in order to obliquely make my point.

The basic concept for this piece was brought up by...