Desultor

Torch, as it turns out, is most likely related to torture et al. We got the word in the Middle English period from Old French torche. This word, in turn, is assumed (because of cognates in the other Romance languages like Sp. antorcha) to have come from a late vulgar Latin *torca, which would have come from familiar old classical torquere, “to twist”. The reference would be to the way they made torches – by twisting rags or tow dipped in pitch or oil around a stick.

“Dishes October 20 2004”

I’ve been writing letters to representatives, editors, etc.

In response to this editorial about the Sinclair Broadcast Group’s plan to force its affilates to preempt prime time programming for an hour-long anti-Kerry attack ad masquerading as a documentary, I did these 150 words or less.

Your editorial “Fairness door swings both ways” is off base. Whether it’s OK for Sinclair Broadcast Group to force its stations to air the “Stolen Honor” special is not a First Amendment issue.

Sinclair uses public airwaves to broadcast. Our airwaves are an extremely valuable property of the American people. Sinclair is allowed to use part of this property of ours for free – unlike, for instance, cell phone companies, who pay us for the portion of the airwaves they use.

This amounts to a taxpayer subsidy of Sinclair. But it’s not corporate welfare,
because we demand payback. Part of our payback is that Sinclair has an obligation to help us hold a fair election. If they broadcast propaganda right before the election, they are ripping off the American people. This “public interest” obligation has been upheld by the Supreme Court, and doesn’t conflict with the First Amendment.

I pretty much bit this off of Reed Hundt and tried to folksy it up a little. I put it up here because it seems pretty good to me, but what I want is to get wicked excellent at letter writing, and I’d welcome any advice.

I’ve been writing occasional letters to representatives, editors, etc.

In response to this editorial about the Sinclair Broadcast Group’s plan to force its affilates to preempt prime time programming for an hour-long anti-Kerry attack ad masquerading as a documentary, I did these 150 words.

Your editorial “Fairness door swings both ways” is off base. Whether it’s OK for Sinclair Broadcast Group to force its stations to air the “Stolen Honor” special is not a First Amendment issue.

Sinclair uses public airwaves to broadcast. Our airwaves are an extremely valuable property of the American people. Sinclair is allowed to use part of this property of ours for free – unlike, for instance, cell phone companies, who pay us for the portion of the airwaves they use.

This amounts to a taxpayer subsidy of Sinclair. But it’s not corporate welfare,
because we demand payback. Part of our payback is that Sinclair has an obligation to help us hold a fair election. If they broadcast propaganda right before the election, they are ripping off the American people. This “public interest” obligation has been upheld by the Supreme Court, and doesn’t conflict with the First Amendment.