I have been harshly critical of Glenn Beck, but in the spirit of fairness today I give Beck high praise for his professionalism in revealing the full story of the anti-NPR video and exposing how its partial presentation, repeated ad nauseam and unfairly throughout the media, misrepresented the facts and slandered NPR.

I never thought I would write this, but I encourage every reader to go to Beck's website, the Blaze, and study for themselves the full video, and the whole truth, without the selective editing of the anti-NPR faction or the lazy misreporting that swept across the major media.

Why did this exercise in professional journalism come from Glenn Beck and not from MSNBC, CNN, other players at Fox News who I normally consider serious journalists, NBC, CBS and ABC?

And, since I am professionally indicting all of the above, why did it not come from me? At least I did not attack NPR over this falsely distorted video, or repeat the false attacks of others, as the media named above almost uniformly did, to their shame. But I could have done the research Beck and his staff did, and I did not.

If anyone at any other network did the reporting Beck did on that matter, let me know and I will sing their praises too. All I saw was the endless repetition of a false representation the same way that the same people at the same news organizations did during the Shirley Sherrod lynching party.

It is a hopeless cause to propose that the cable and national news networks do more reporting and fact-checking when anyone, left or right, is demeaned. It a hopeless cause to suggest the world would be a better place with more serious reporting and less shallow opining by the pundit and chattering classes who move from show to show parroting the latest polls, repeating the latest chatter, spewing ad nauseam and without fact-checking the latest slander of the day, thinking it is "good TV.”

Let me be crystal-clear. I support NPR, and public broadcasting generally. I support private and public funding, without which the quality of television for children would significantly decline. I believe NPR is highly professional and fair and is one of the finest news organizations in the nation. I am one of many taxpayers who wants my taxpayer money used this way.

It may be hopeless, but I propose from now on MSNBC, CNN, Fox News, NBC, ABC and CBS adopt this ironclad standard of ethics before reporting on any video, watch the video in full and tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth before airing slanders without fact-checking.

No more Shirley Sherrods, OK? No more partial excerpts. No more falsehoods or slanders repeated as facts by "news organizations" too lazy and sloppy to do their jobs, unless they want to be labeled as second-tier entertainment instead of trusted high-quality news.

I never expected to write this, but in the spirit of fairness, on the matter of the anti-NPR video Glenn Beck, his staff and his site the Blaze deserve the thanks of those who believe in the highest standards of integrity and accuracy of journalism.

Whether we usually agree with Beck or not, he has earned high praise on this matter. As Walter Cronkite often said: That's the way it is, today.

I have been harshly critical of Glenn Beck, but in the spirit of fairness today I give Beck high praise for his professionalism in revealing the full story of the anti-NPR video and exposing how its partial presentation, repeated ad nauseam and unfairly throughout the media, misrepresented the facts and slandered NPR.

I never thought I would write this, but I encourage every reader to go to Beck's website, the Blaze, and study for themselves the full video, and the whole truth, without the selective editing of the anti-NPR faction or the lazy misreporting that swept across the major media.

Why did this exercise in professional journalism come from Glenn Beck and not from MSNBC, CNN, other players at Fox News who I normally consider serious journalists, NBC, CBS and ABC?

And, since I am professionally indicting all of the above, why did it not come from me? At least I did not attack NPR over this falsely distorted video, or repeat the false attacks of others, as the media named above almost uniformly did, to their shame. But I could have done the research Beck and his staff did, and I did not.

If anyone at any other network did the reporting Beck did on that matter, let me know and I will sing their praises too. All I saw was the endless repetition of a false representation the same way that the same people at the same news organizations did during the Shirley Sherrod lynching party.

It is a hopeless cause to propose that the cable and national news networks do more reporting and fact-checking when anyone, left or right, is demeaned. It a hopeless cause to suggest the world would be a better place with more serious reporting and less shallow opining by the pundit and chattering classes who move from show to show parroting the latest polls, repeating the latest chatter, spewing ad nauseam and without fact-checking the latest slander of the day, thinking it is "good TV.”

Let me be crystal-clear. I support NPR, and public broadcasting generally. I support private and public funding, without which the quality of television for children would significantly decline. I believe NPR is highly professional and fair and is one of the finest news organizations in the nation. I am one of many taxpayers who wants my taxpayer money used this way.

It may be hopeless, but I propose from now on MSNBC, CNN, Fox News, NBC, ABC and CBS adopt this ironclad standard of ethics before reporting on any video, watch the video in full and tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth before airing slanders without fact-checking.

No more Shirley Sherrods, OK? No more partial excerpts. No more falsehoods or slanders repeated as facts by "news organizations" too lazy and sloppy to do their jobs, unless they want to be labeled as second-tier entertainment instead of trusted high-quality news.

I never expected to write this, but in the spirit of fairness, on the matter of the anti-NPR video Glenn Beck, his staff and his site the Blaze deserve the thanks of those who believe in the highest standards of integrity and accuracy of journalism.

Whether we usually agree with Beck or not, he has earned high praise on this matter. As Walter Cronkite often said: That's the way it is, today.

Throw a bag of popcorn in the microwave and chew on these movie snacks ...

After a writer interviewing her new husband, hockey player Mike Comrie, mentioned in his article that a script for the "Spider-Man" reboot was on the couple's kitchen table with the part of "girl" highlighted, Hilary Duff is the latest rumored Mary Jane Watson or Gwen Stacy. [The Globe and Mail]

Liam Neeson has joined the cast of director Peter Berg's "Battleship" along with Brooklyn Decker, Taylor Kitsch, Alexander Skarsgaard and Rihanna. [Deadline]

"Exorcist" author William Peter Blatty is suing Warner Bros. saying that they are concealing profits from the classic horror film. He wants the studio to open up their accounting books and is asking for unspecified damages. [TMZ]

Natalie Portman has been approached to replace the recently dropped-out Angelina Jolie in the $80 million 3-D movie "Gravity," about a woman stranded alone on a space station. [The Hollywood Reporter]

Actor Glenn Shadix, who played the interior decorator Otho in "Beetlejuice," died Tuesday (Sept. 7) morning after fell from his wheelchair and hit his head. He was 58

Throw a bag of popcorn in the microwave and chew on these movie snacks ...

After a writer interviewing her new husband, hockey player Mike Comrie, mentioned in his article that a script for the "Spider-Man" reboot was on the couple's kitchen table with the part of "girl" highlighted, Hilary Duff is the latest rumored Mary Jane Watson or Gwen Stacy. [The Globe and Mail]

Liam Neeson has joined the cast of director Peter Berg's "Battleship" along with Brooklyn Decker, Taylor Kitsch, Alexander Skarsgaard and Rihanna. [Deadline]

"Exorcist" author William Peter Blatty is suing Warner Bros. saying that they are concealing profits from the classic horror film. He wants the studio to open up their accounting books and is asking for unspecified damages. [TMZ]

Natalie Portman has been approached to replace the recently dropped-out Angelina Jolie in the $80 million 3-D movie "Gravity," about a woman stranded alone on a space station. [The Hollywood Reporter]

Actor Glenn Shadix, who played the interior decorator Otho in "Beetlejuice," died Tuesday (Sept. 7) morning after fell from his wheelchair and hit his head. He was 58

Glenn Shadix (SHA-dix), the actor best remembered for his portrayal of a portly, pretentious designer in the comedy "Beetlejuice," has died. He was 58.
Personal manager Juliet Green told The Associated Press that the Alabama native died in his Birmingham home Tuesday morning.
Green did not immediately know the cause of death. The actor's sister, Susan Gagne, told The Birmingham News he had been using a wheelchair to get around and he appeared to have fallen in his kitchen and hit his head.
The actor's website says a memorial will be held Saturday in Birmingham.
Shadix starred in the popular 1988 Tim Burton film as a droll interior designer who dabbled in voodoo. He also was a voice actor in "The Nightmare Before Christmas" and appeared in dozens of TV shows.

Glenn Shadix (SHA-dix), the actor best remembered for his portrayal of a portly, pretentious designer in the comedy "Beetlejuice," has died. He was 58.
Personal manager Juliet Green told The Associated Press that the Alabama native died in his Birmingham home Tuesday morning.
Green did not immediately know the cause of death. The actor's sister, Susan Gagne, told The Birmingham News he had been using a wheelchair to get around and he appeared to have fallen in his kitchen and hit his head.
The actor's website says a memorial will be held Saturday in Birmingham.
Shadix starred in the popular 1988 Tim Burton film as a droll interior designer who dabbled in voodoo. He also was a voice actor in "The Nightmare Before Christmas" and appeared in dozens of TV shows.

Idaho Performing Arts brings Glenn Miller music to Idaho
When the Glenn Miller Orchestra hits Idaho next week, it will bring more than just the classic jazz swing style that Miller created with hits such as "In the Mood," "Moonlight Serenade" and "Pennsylvania 6-5000."

It brings the idea of a new arts center. The performance is presented by Idaho Performing Arts, a new organization based in Eagle, where a movement is happening to build a multi-use theater and mixed-use performance space.

"Eagle has a huge void," said Bill Stephans, who is the president of the new non-profit group. "There isn't a single performing arts venue, nowhere you can rent to put on a show. Eagle Performing Arts and Studio C, they have to go out of the area to perform."

Two years ago, the Eagle Arts Commission did a survey and found that 82 percent of the community was in favor of building a facility. The commission followed with a feasibility study that also supported the idea.

Times obviously have changed a bit economically, but the desire is still there, said Susan Roghani, owner of Camille Beckman and a supporter of the idea.

"If a community wants something, they will figure out a way to do it," she said. "I think there is enough interest. It's important to keep our town wealthy in the arts. It builds community, and the more well rounded it becomes, the stronger it becomes."

The Sept. 21 performance by the Miller orchestra will begin the campaign to raise awareness for the project, Stephans said.

"We felt the best way to get started was to start a separate organization and start contributing to what's offered in the Treasure Valley and build an audience," Stephans said.

The group that began with the Eagle Arts Commission set its mission to connect people of the Treasure Valley with the power of the arts, in order to transform lives and build community.

Another goal is to inspire the area arts community, Stephans said.

He used the Nampa Civic Center, which he managed for several years, as an example.

"When it was built in 1990, there were maybe two arts groups in Nampa and barely an audience," he said. "Once it was open, more groups started using it, and the audience came."

The 600-seat theater was busy much of the time. That would be the hope for Eagle, which already has a growing number of arts groups.

It also could be a venue for the Valley's existing arts groups from dance to chamber music, Roghani said.

There is a need for a mid-sized 800- to 1,200-seat theater in the Valley.

But right now it is just a twinkle in the eye. Idaho Performing Arts has identified a possible location on land next to Roghani's Camille Beckman factory along Eagle Road.

In the meantime, it will present work where it's possible. This first concert is at Swayne Auditorium at Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa. Look for future presentations large and small, indoors and outdoors.

"At this point anything is possible. The important thing is to keep the dream alive," Stephans said.

Idaho Performing Arts brings Glenn Miller music to Idaho
When the Glenn Miller Orchestra hits Idaho next week, it will bring more than just the classic jazz swing style that Miller created with hits such as "In the Mood," "Moonlight Serenade" and "Pennsylvania 6-5000."

It brings the idea of a new arts center. The performance is presented by Idaho Performing Arts, a new organization based in Eagle, where a movement is happening to build a multi-use theater and mixed-use performance space.

"Eagle has a huge void," said Bill Stephans, who is the president of the new non-profit group. "There isn't a single performing arts venue, nowhere you can rent to put on a show. Eagle Performing Arts and Studio C, they have to go out of the area to perform."

Two years ago, the Eagle Arts Commission did a survey and found that 82 percent of the community was in favor of building a facility. The commission followed with a feasibility study that also supported the idea.

Times obviously have changed a bit economically, but the desire is still there, said Susan Roghani, owner of Camille Beckman and a supporter of the idea.

"If a community wants something, they will figure out a way to do it," she said. "I think there is enough interest. It's important to keep our town wealthy in the arts. It builds community, and the more well rounded it becomes, the stronger it becomes."

The Sept. 21 performance by the Miller orchestra will begin the campaign to raise awareness for the project, Stephans said.

"We felt the best way to get started was to start a separate organization and start contributing to what's offered in the Treasure Valley and build an audience," Stephans said.

The group that began with the Eagle Arts Commission set its mission to connect people of the Treasure Valley with the power of the arts, in order to transform lives and build community.

Another goal is to inspire the area arts community, Stephans said.

He used the Nampa Civic Center, which he managed for several years, as an example.

"When it was built in 1990, there were maybe two arts groups in Nampa and barely an audience," he said. "Once it was open, more groups started using it, and the audience came."

The 600-seat theater was busy much of the time. That would be the hope for Eagle, which already has a growing number of arts groups.

It also could be a venue for the Valley's existing arts groups from dance to chamber music, Roghani said.

There is a need for a mid-sized 800- to 1,200-seat theater in the Valley.

But right now it is just a twinkle in the eye. Idaho Performing Arts has identified a possible location on land next to Roghani's Camille Beckman factory along Eagle Road.

In the meantime, it will present work where it's possible. This first concert is at Swayne Auditorium at Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa. Look for future presentations large and small, indoors and outdoors.

"At this point anything is possible. The important thing is to keep the dream alive," Stephans said.