Indecent

For the first time since 1993, the FCC did not propose any indecency fines in 2005. That's a sharp contrast to the $7,928,080 in fines proposed in 2004 -- and the attention the issue received from federal policymakers. One reason that no actions were taken earlier in the year is that a lot of the complaints went away. A number of major media companies--including Viacom, Clear Channel, and Emmis Communications--had already settled a host of both proposed fines and outstanding complaints through consent decrees with both dollars and pledges to crack down on content the FCC doesn't like. Still, 189,362 complaints were filed in 2005, more than in any year except 2004, when the Super Bowl pushed that number to over a million. And the 2005 complaints were against 720 broadcast and cable programs, according to the FCC's last published count, which is more than twice the number of shows complained about in 2004. (Free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers.)

Just thought I'd post that as we see entertainment try and free itself from government censorship and freaky idiot complaints.

I listened to Howard Stern's replacement, David Lee Roth (formerly of Van Halen) this morning. His guest was his uncle, who was a navigator on a B-17 during WWII. Ummm.. I'm sure it's a fascinating tale around the dinner table, but it was a totally awkward borefest. It's really annoying when they laugh at things that are not funny just to make it seem like the program is funny. It's not. It's just an awkward mess.

Meanwhile, Stern is set to resume his radio program on Sirius satellite radio next week. I'm looking forward to it, not because his show is all that great, it's pretty good but not great, but because he'll be able to say whatever he wants, and I'll have to the right to listen to it, or not.

That fundamental freedom makes the right wing freaks crazy. They do not believe that I should have the choice to listen to what they consider to be filthy, if I want to. That represents a loss of power for the right wing, and for the government, and that makes them absolutely crazy.

Look for the government to attempt to regulate content on fee-for-service radio, as well as pay cable television, such as showtime and HBO. They do not want you to hear the word FUCK, and they do not want you to see the human body naked, nor do they want you to see what human sexuality is like.

They do, however, want your sons and daughters to get their fucking brains blown out in a war.