(no subject)

Startling -- to me, at least -- quote from this Washington Post story:

“We fought for every one of these streets,” Col. B.P. McCoy, 41, commander of the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment said during a dangerous, zigzagging trot through a northern neighborhood to inspect Marine positions. The streets were empty. A few scorched cars littered roads.

I wanna know how this statement was collected. I’m not doubting its veracity, but it’s hard to read such a dramatic POV in a news story without stopping to wonder how its writer came to possess it. Was the reporter trotting right alongside the colonel? Were they in radio contact? Did the colonel happen to say it while he ran past the spot where the reporter was crouching for cover?

It really shows to me the risks these journalists are taking. This is exactly the sort of reporter I wouldn’t be, had I stayed in that field. Wheeew.

(no subject)

Have finally started listening to Air America at work. I mostly like it, but, ugh... Al Franken needs to take caller-coddling lessons from the WBUR hosts. Tom Ashbrook’s “We hear you loud and clear, and I’ll stop you there” at a rambling caller is rather less flinchworthy than Franken’s “Do you mind if we play commercials during your pauses?” (Yeah, I realize that comedy is half his shtick, but don’t zing the callers for being nervous... furrfu)

There, he just did it again! “I want to talk about some bills that are in the House, and the Senate.” “Yes, yes... that’s where bills would be.” Stop that, gah.