A Peacock Does Strut, Even Without Reason

To re-join its use of the classic Peacock Logo, NBC is starting the new season by bringing back the old positioner, too.

Even if they're abdicating five hours of sciprted creativity a week, that is cool.

A flashback taste of the future:

Non Sequitur of the Day: The Longest Day Edition

D-Day +65 years.



But, gee, why p.o. the Queen?

For one pretty small journalism class, its teacher left a fairly big mark

I mentioned my high school journalism teacher, Richard Amberg (right), here last fall. He passed away last week.

Looking back on what was a relatively small class that produced Grosse Pointe North's student paper, North Pointe, in addition to enabling us to have many extended lunches at Big Boy, Mr. Amberg oversaw and encouraged the creativity of some people that have turned out pretty well, including:

=> D.C. chief of Associated Press, Rob Fournier;

=> Free Press film critic and teacher John Monaghan;

=> Accomplished musician and teacher, Stacia Petrie;

=> Former Detroit News reporter Rob Zieger;

=> Law professor and blogger Mark Osler;

=> Really smart computer engineer and blogger(!) Dave Giard;

=> Limousine entrepreneur, Cullen Meathe;

And, ummm, moi.

That was one staff.

Though his loss is sad, his family should be pleased and proud of what he has left behind.

How can you follow the rule of law if you don't enforce the rules?

After much deliberation, the president has released the torture memos. Too, Justice is looking at the legality of the legal minds hacks who drafted them, apparently devoid of legal authority. One of the hacks, however -- you call now call him "Your Honor" -- seems to have second thoughts.

Oh, sure, now.

But then, too.

So while Krugman continues to press for America to enforce the rule of law -- as I have previously -- in order to "reclaim its soul," dithering continues amongst those who should know better.

On the right, Peggy Noonan channels Geoffrey Rush in "Shakespeare in Love," suggesting that the breaking of any torture laws should have remained a "mystery."

And on the (allegedly) left, Harry Reid resists the call to do his job. Rahm-bo, too.

So, if it's the prospect of putting Republicans in the clink to fracture a bi-partisanship which doesn't exist because of Republicans, let's just go with a Truth and Reconciliation commission. Amnesties all around, just so we can figure out what happened.

Those do not remember history are, indeed, doomed to repeat it.

Below: "See, I disagree with ya, Matt, 'cause I'm relyin' on legal memos from lawyers which are absolute bullshit. But I say they're legal. So, there ya go. Heh-heh-heh."

If Batista had thought of this, Castro would've never had a chance

The U.S. has undertaken a loosening of restrictions on Americans' interactions with Cuba.

First, perhaps the Democrats being able to win Florida in a presidential election gives them comfort they can pull the new policy off without alienating the vibrant and passionate aging and shrinking due to death anti-Castro Cuban emigre population.

Two, Canada's had a rational Cuban policy for a long time and they seem to be doing fine with it.

Three, the way to just finish the job of getting the mob back to its rightful place running Habana casinos? Airdrop the equivalent of hundreds of malls' contents on the island, and sell the exclusive marketing rights in each product category to whichever company wants to get the initial foothold in the market.

Pop, computers, clothes, whatever. Get some retail sales going.

Think of it as a Caribbean stimulus package.

NHL Realignment: Scouts v. Blues Would Be Just As Good as Royals v. the Cards (An OT Post)

One of my favorite blogs, Uni Watch, shared a neat link about the past (and future) of the NHL in Kansas City, where I have a bunch of hockey-lovin' and playin' relatives. (This Saturday, go Chip!)

The Kansas City Scouts joined the league with the Capitals, but then ended up moving to become the Colorado Rockies (bringing the mountain west Don Cherry and "Rock and Roll, Part 2"), and then turning into the New Jersey Devils. It has a nice new arena waiting for a major league tenant, and it continues to be used as leverage for any NHL or NBA team angling for new digs, just like Tampa Bay's domed stadium was for more almost two decades prior to getting the Rays via expansion.

Which is all a roundabout way to saying that the NHL needs to get smart to better compete for the shrinking North American entertainment dollar. To that end, number one is re-alignment, which I've goofed around with for a long time before this article took it on.

I don't do fantasy sports, so, y'know, give me a break.

Travel expenses must be reduced, rivalries intensified, and league-wide exposure increased. So, I propose: go to four divisions (which I have optimized for regional rivalries, though Buffalo tortures me), play each team not in your division home and home, and play the rest of your games against your division.

In the playoffs, you have to play out of your division and, just to throw in a few extra playoff gates, have seeds 4 and 5 do a home-and-home total goal playoff, like soccer. And, just for fun, forget the conferences and rotate the divisions in the last two rounds, like the NCAA basketball tournament. Ever since the league had the Stanley Cup Playoff logo with "west" on the right and "east" on the left, I've sensed that NHL's conferences were, perhaps, false distinctions.

My proposed divisions:

> New York Rangers, New York Islanders, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Columbus, Boston

> Minnesota, Detroit, Chicago, St. Louis, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto

> Washington, Tampa Bay, Florida, Carolina, Dallas, Atlanta, Nashville

> Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Anaheim, Los Angeles, San Jose, Colorado and Phoenix

The odds of this happening? Slim to none.

The ability to post this because I have this little soapbox? Total and absolute.

Enjoy and discuss.

Adventures in Batshit Politicians: Motor City Edition

James Scott was crazy, Coleman (MFIC) Young was obnoxious, but the collective insane bloc of the Detroit City Council took the cake today. While fending off the ravenous hordes of no suburban whites determined to loot the city of its "jewels" who don't care enough about the city to want anything, they took time from from manning the barricade to serenade their sycophants with "Onward Christian Soldiers," as they prepare to save Cobo Hall from a deal that gives the city millions of dollars for a dilapidated conference center and veto over its future operations.

If Monica Conyers and Barbara Rose Collins can call out Mayor Ken Cockrel, Jr. for invoking the name of his father, they must be called out for invoking the name of Our Father.

Behold the batshit craziness:

One Last Breakthrough from a President Obama

On this remarkable, historic day of the Inauguration of President Obama, many have pondered and discussed the meaning of having an African-American as our president and, essentially, as (once again) the leader of the free world.

But these pundits miss a bigger, more macro story because they're blinded by the president's skin color -- while they're talking about whether people will continue to be blinded by his skin color.

The bigger, more general breakthrough is this: not since the days of the founders of our country has a president been the child of a parent who was not born on American soil. The last possibility was Mike Dukakis, and we remember how that went.

That this president's father was born in Kenya -- or for our discussion, anywhere not America -- yet sired (and abandoned) a son who has personified the American dream, shows the progress that our culture has made:

* That a child of a single mother -- notwithstanding the ravings of a lunatic -- can do great things in America;

* That anyone's son, molded from our uniquely America melting pot, can become formed into something great.

So, despite the anti-immigrant hoo-ha that tends to be aimed toward our southern border -- that means you, Lou Dobbs -- it seems that America once again lifts its lamp beside the golden door of opportunity.

Your Really Should Watch the Entire "I Have a Dream" Speech, so Here You Go

"Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children."

Which makes the "fierce urgency of now" all the more relevant today.

And how cool was it that Rev. King delivered and earlier version of his speech at Grosse Pointe High School?

Behold, and rejoice on this eve of an historic day:

Non Sequitur of the Day: Holidaze Edition

Happy Epiphany, a.k.a. the 12th Day of Christmas.

Now, go on, ya hosers:

Non Sequitur of the Holiday: Fowl History Edition

"Heritage turkey."

Ben Franklin would be so proud.

The Original Six Should Have, Like, Its Own Division

Nice to see the Wings playing fellow Original Sixer Montreal in Detroit for the first time in seemingly ages.

Hope it doesn't sully our, ahem, rivalry with annoyance by teams like the Nashville Predators, played out over what seems like a few dozen games each season.

It Was 70 Years Ago Today . . .

Tonight marks the 70th anniversary of Kristallnacht, the beginning for the attempted endgame toward Hitler's final solution.

I'd suggest that pinheads like these read up on the history of this nightmare to truly appreciate their freedoms, but then again, they're many times people who don't believe that the Holocaust happened, either.

It Was 48 Years Ago Today

That JFK proposed the idea (sort of) for the Peace Corps, in the middle of the night on the steps of the Michigan Union in Ann Arbor.

Pretty cool, eh?

One year of an underperforming football team definitely does not define us Wolverines. Go Blue.

Barack's Killer Line for This Evening

As it becomes ever-more entirely clear that Gramps would rather sacrifice any shred of honor or decency he has left in this campaign in order to try to win, it reminds me of George Santayana's quote: "Those who cannot remember the past, are condemned to repeat it."

So, let us return to fifty years ago, when crazed, fear-based demagoguery crap finally met its match, when a fed-up nation's frustration came to a head in a great American ah-ha moment, when evil finally met its match in the seven words of an American speaking truth to power:

"Have you no sense of decency, sir?"

Country first, my ass.

Go get 'em, Barack:

JFK in Detroit, Labor Day, 1960 Presidential Campaign:

Yesterday:

Governor Williams, the next Governor, John Swainson, ladies and gentlemen; My friend and colleague, Senator McNamara; Friday night we campaigned in Portland, Maine, Saturday at noon we went to San Francisco, Saturday night we went to Alaska; tonight we are in Detroit. We did not make that trip for pleasure. We made it because we believe it is vitally important that the Democratic Party win this election. This country cannot afford, nor can the whole free world afford, four more years of a do-nothing Republican leadership. (Applause)

I am delighted to be here, to participate in the Labor Day ceremonies tomorrow. It is a great occasion. But I can assure you that if we are successful in the election in November that the vacation for this country will be over. (Applause)

Today in The D, and elsewhere:

Ahh, those who forget history...

McCain-Palin, meet Dole-Kemp.

And over here, Geraldine Ferraro.

And finally, your book buddy this semester, Dan Quayle.

I cannot wait for the debates.

Non Sequitur of the Day: #24

"Car Prom."

R.I.P and Me

If you're Roger Smith, who had the bad fortune to die the same day as Evel Knievel, and you're reading your obits, it would have to suck to be you. . . perhaps even slightly worse than being dead. Because in addition to being called a "greek tragedy" and, basically, a failure, they dismiss your towering achievements like the Cimarron and other accounting-driven feats of badge engineering. And then, to be someone who I imagine was a good Oakland County Republican, to have Michael Moore -- who started his career literally on your back -- mentioned in the lead of your obits? Poor guy will be corkscrewing his way to Japan, perhaps bumping into a rusted-out '86 Nova (above) at the end of the trip.

Detroit Rock City

Cheers to Metro Times and whoever else I still know down there for their outstanding piece last week, the 100 greatest Detroit songs. You must check it out. For me, however, two things. One, everyone will have a favorite left off, and mine is the great and hyper-political "Ball of Confusion," by the Temps (above). (Also memorably covered by Love and Rockets.) Two, why didn't they ask me to vote? :-(