Diary of the Mad Pigeon

Open Topic: The Nomination

Open Topic:  The Nomination

I haven't ran an open topic in quite a while, so I figured a post-Super Tuesday open thread would be rich fodder for my readers to gnaw on.

For my newer readers, the purpose of an open topic is for you to comment without my interference!  To that end, I've included some source material to get you started:

CNN Election Center 

Huckabee to get evangelical leader's nod

McCain all but clinches; Romney departs

Cheers, boos for McCain at conservative gathering

Clinton lent $5 million to her campaign before Super Tuesday

Five questions on Romney's withdrawal

Taking a closer look at the Clinton, Obama face-off

By no means are you restricted to the above articles--you can discuss third-party candidates, the primary/caucus process, compare and contrast the US system with European parliamentary elections, make fun of pundits, or whatever other direction you wish to take it!

In addition to comments, debates and thinly-veiled threats, please feel free to add more source articles or links back to relevant commentary on your own blogs.

So what are you waiting for?  Get Pigeoned!

Open Topic: The Jena 6

I haven't made up my mind about this issue, so I figured I'd hear what you have to say!

I won't allow Wikipedia in the classroom, but damned if I didn't have trouble finding a succinct online overview of the debacle (and anything that involves the Rev Al Charlatan is a debacle):

Jena 6

Or check out the latest dope at: 

Jena 6 news links on Yahoo

Jena 6 on CNN.com

What are you waiting for?  Get pigeoned!

Open Topic of the Week: The Mortgage Debacle

A boring topic... unless you happen to own a house, let alone with a sub-prime mortgage. 

I've got some real worries about this topic, which I'll share in next week's PIGEON'S RESPONSE.  In the meantime, how is this affecting youse guys, if at all?

Here's some source links to get you started:

New mortgage foreclosures set record
Mortgage crisis could hit economy
More sub-prime borrowers fall behind on repayments
American Home Mortgage gets bankruptcy backing

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Trackposted to The Crazy Rants of Samantha Burns, Perri Nelson's Website, DeMediacratic Nation, Right Truth, Big Dog's Weblog, Webloggin, Leaning Straight Up, The Amboy Times, Conservative Cat, Faultline USA, The World According to Carl, Pirate's Cove, Blue Star Chronicles, The Pink Flamingo, High Desert Wanderer, Gone Hollywood, and The Yankee Sailor, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

Open Topic of the Week: Rove/Gonzales/Craig Triple Header

Two more of Pres. Bush's inner circle gone, within weeks (days?) of each other.  Indeed, by the time some of my readers see this post tomorrow Rove will be driving his shrink-wrapped Jaguar out the front gates.

But what makes this a great topic--notably for me--is I have no opinion of either gentlemen.  None.  Nada.  Remember, I focus outwards on world events, and only have a vague idea on what the fuss is all about with these two.  After all, military officers are *supposed* to stay aloof of domestic politics (no, I'm not perfect); and frankly, I've never found our own domestic squabbles as exciting as watching the international tapestry unfold.

Thus, I'll throw these gentlemen out to my readers and see what you have to say!  I'll even toss in the developing Sen. Craig scandal to further chum the waters.

I'm providing one bare-bones source for each, and am hoping better informed readers cough up more raw data for the feeding frenzy.  Please note linking to your own blog posts is highly encouraged, although I ask you provide an excerpt.

Alberto Gonzales: A timeline of events
 
Karl Rove

EXTRA CREDIT:  On tape, Craig denies allegations of soliciting officer

Now get Pigeoned! 

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Trackposted to The Virtuous Republic, Perri Nelson's Website, Rosemary's Thoughts, Allie Is Wired, DeMediacratic Nation, , The Crazy Rants of Samantha Burns, Right Truth, The World According to Carl, Blue Star Chronicles, Pirate's Cove, The Pink Flamingo, Webloggin, Leaning Straight Up, and Conservative Cat, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

Open Topic of the Week: Reader's Choice

The only topic I can think of is the sub-prime lending debacle, but I decided to pocket it until another big-ticket real estate article comes along.

So I'll let YOU pick a topic!

The Rules of Reader's Choice:

1)  Whoever comments first gets to pick the topic--however, I'll certainly save additional topics for a rainy day.

2)  Give your topic a simple title so readers can instantly grasp it.

3)  Any topic (besides pr0n) is acceptable, but we'll get better commentary if it's something timely and is likely familiar to most readers.

4) Provide source links so other readers can study up before diving in.

5) Add questions if you want to "pigeonhole" the topic down one or several paths, or at least to stimulate ideas.

6) Keep in mind my military service somewhat restricts what I can openly discuss.  But hey, if YOU want to tackle a pigeon-non-grata issue I suppose I can sit back and watch...

Get Pigeoned!----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Trackposted to Outside the Beltway, Perri Nelson's Website, Rosemary's Thoughts, Right Celebrity, Pirate's Cove, The Pink Flamingo, Webloggin, The Amboy Times, Leaning Straight Up, High Desert Wanderer, Conservative Thoughts, Public Domain Clip Art, , and The Yankee Sailor, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

Open Topic of the Week: The September Deadline

As promised, the OPEN TOPIC OF THE WEEK is back following the July hiatus!

I had a couple of topics in mind (including an idea Canuck gave me), but considering the Sunni block just pulled out of the Iraqi government--let alone Parliament's gone off on holiday--I thought an open thread on the impending September deadline for Gen Petraeus' report was timely.

Here are a handful of sources to get your teeth gnashing; as usual, you're more than welcome to add more raw sources in your comments:

Sunni Arab bloc quits Iraqi government 

Awaiting key bills, Iraq's Parliament adjourns 

Nominee Mullen: Little political progress in Iraq   

Cheney predicts progress in Iraq report

U.S. forces welcome least deadly month of Iraq push 

Republicans consider limiting troops' mission in Iraq 

I'm looking forward to reading your remarks!  As for me, I'll lay in to this topic in next Wednesday's THE PIGEON'S RESPONSE.

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Trackposted to Perri Nelson's Website, Blog @ MoreWhat.com, The Virtuous Republic, Rosemary's Thoughts, The Random Yak, DeMediacratic Nation, Right Truth, Stuck On Stupid, Webloggin, Leaning Straight Up, Cao's Blog, The Amboy Times, The Bullwinkle Blog, Pursuing Holiness, third world county, Nuke's news and views, Wyvern Dreams, Public Eye, and Gone Hollywood, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

Open Topic of the Week: Palestine

Wonder how The Palestinian Authority's going to get out of this pickle?

From the Financial Express:  The dream of home for the homeless Palestinians is now passing through the worst time in history. The ongoing fratricidal war between the forces loyal to Fatah and Hamas has virtually created two separate Palestinian states-the West Bank of Jordan River controlled by nationalist Al Fatah guerrillas supporting the Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas and the Gaza strip overrun by the Islamist Hamas guerrillas loyal to Palestinian Authority prime minister Ismail Haniyeh. Meanwhile, President Mahmood Abbas has dissolved the Palestinian unity government, fired the prime minister, and has declared a state of emergency.  CONTINUED

But wait--there's more!

What is happening in Palestine?

Abbas mulls early Palestinian elections

US considers Blair for Palestine envoy

Of course, these four sources barely scratch the surface of this violent power play in the Levant.  With that, share you thoughts, but also share more sources and background information.  links back to your own posts on this topic are welcome!

Open Topic of the Week: Reader's Choice

All I can think about is my [PIGEONED] research paper, so I it's a good day to hand off the OPEN TOPIC gavel to my readers.

That said, here are the rules again:

1)  Whoever's first gets to pick the topic--however, I'll certainly save additional topics for a rainy day.

2)  Give your topic a simple title so readers can instantly grasp it.

3)  Any topic (besides pr0n) is acceptable, but we'll get better commentary if it's something timely and is assumedly familiar to most readers.

4) Provide soure links so other readers can study up before diving in.

5) Add questions if you want to "pigeonhole" the topic down one or several paths, or at least to stimulate ideas.

6) Keep in mind my military service somewhat restricts what I can openly discuss.  But hey, if YOU want to tackle a pigeon-non-grata issue I suppose I can sit back and watch...

Get Pigeoned!----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Trackposted to Pet's Garden Blog, Outside the Beltway, Right Pundits, Perri Nelson's Website, DeMediacratic Nation, stikNstein... has no mercy, Right Truth, The World According to Carl, Pirate's Cove, Webloggin, The Pink Flamingo, Stuck On Stupid, The Amboy Times, Dumb Ox Daily News, High Desert Wanderer, Pursuing Holiness, Gone Hollywood, and The Yankee Sailor, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

Open Topic of the Week: Immigration (The Reform Edition)

I ran an Immigration Open Topic last year, but with the Senate reform bill on the verge of collapse I figured it was time for a revisit.

Here are some more sources I've hastily gathered:

Neglected Truths of the Immigration Debate

Immigration: Google Makes Its Case

Immigration bill pits Ph.D.s vs. farmworkers

It's Time to Make History: Americans Need a Victory on Immigration

Why restrict immigration at all?

Take a look at last years remarks, compare them with the sources above and share your own thoughts on the subject!   Feel free to add more sources or links to your own immigration posts, as well.

To note, my opinion hasn't changed much, but I'll share 'em again next week in "The Pigeon's Response."

ADMIN NOTE:  I'll be offline on Sat 9 June, camping out at the local Barnes and Noble working on a research paper.

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Open Topic of the Week: Music (The iPOD Edition)

Off the top of my head, I think this is the third music-related OPEN TOPIC I've posted here at the diary.  But the following two articles inspired me to run a digital edition:

Amazon announces DRM-free MP3 music store

Apple rolls out copy protection-free iTunes

I've had some choice words in the past for Digitial Rights Management, or DRM, so DRM-free downloads instantly caught my eye!  So i dug up some more sources:

iTunes Plus Personal Info Raises Hackles

DRM Watch

Digital Rights Management and Copy Protection Schemes

How Hollywood Has Been Trying to Disrupt Innovation

But to be true the OPEN TOPIC format, I can't "downsample" the topic to one thought; so I considered sound quality as another angle:

An Audio-Quality Arms Race?

Something up MOGS' Alley!

History of Digital Formats

Your music, differing formats:  No file standard yet in the digital music world 

Threads on Digital versus Vinyl at Google and DIYAudio

As usual, you don't have to stick to these sources or ideas:  compare MP3 to the 8-track, pontificate on speaker quality, discuss software mixing tools, praise/condemn the ubiquitous iPod, take the topic where you want it to go!

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