The Frenzy on Fox will be glorious...

dejah420 — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 19:51:59 -0800

Al Jazeera has purchased Al Gore's Current TV, giving them a much wider American audience. However, the deal suffered an immediate casualty when Time Warner Cable Inc., the nation's second-largest cable TV operator, announced it is dropping Current TV due to the deal. "Our agreement with Current has been terminated and we will no longer be carrying the service. We are removing the service as quickly as possible," the company said in a statement.

Vanguard of American Journalism

Blasdelb — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 16:31:06 -0800

Current TV previously & previously, the media company founded by Al Gore after the 2000 election, has picked up the kinds of in depth long form journalism being rapidly dropped by major networks, but has been tantalizingly unavailable for those without cable; until now. They have been putting their Vanguard episodes up on their website and on YouTube. Season One, Episode 1, A Day With the Tribe (10:59) Laura Ling visits a native tribe in Brazil's Amazon forest, also chases some dudes holding a vagina. Episode 2, The Meth Trail (12:25) Exploring the role of crystal meth in the gay community Episode 3, Diving Too Deep (19:31) As lobster stocks in Nicaragua become increasingly depleted, local divers are forced to take more risks Episode 4, Death Train (11:18) Central Americans have a lot further to go to get to America, many take a notorious train. Episode 5, Rebels in the Pipeline (26:09) Exploring the causes behind the increasing levels of oil-related violence in the Niger River Delta Episode 6, From Russia With Hate (19:35) An investigation into Russia's anti-immigrant and neo-nazi groups Episode 7, Elixir of the Toxic Frog (25:13) In search for the Kambo frog, one of many organisms that could hold secrets for modern medicine Episode 8, Prison Power Play (43:29) Laura Ling reports on the complex power plays taking place at Corcoran, one of the country's most notorious prisons Episode 9, Saving Madagascar (24:26) Adam Yamaguchi investigates the unique environmental situation in Madagascar. Episode 10, Blood Roses and Deadly Diamonds (26:16) Vanguard heads to Colombia and Sierra Leone to explore the unromantic stories behind two symbols of love. Episode 11, Scarf Wars (24:43) A view of Turkey with its current identity crisis, mixing democracy and Islam Episode 12, Lost in Democracy (18:04) An exploration of Bhutan's struggle to preserve its culture in the modern world Episode 13, City on Steroids (28:21) A view of China's new megacities through an exploration of Chongqing, population 12 million and counting Episode 14, End of the Road (25:24) An investigation into why the Pan-American Highway, which runs from Alaska to Argentina, stops for 60 miles; at the Darién Gap. Episode 15, Lagos la Vida Loca (14:46) An exploration of the world's fastest growing megacity Episode 16, Destination Anywhere (24:58) An view of the Philippines number 1 export, people Episode 17, World's Sugar Daddy (12:50) An exploration of Brazil's bio-fuels program, the Saudi Arabia of ethanol Episode 18, Pollution to Protest (24:13) An investigation into the destination of much of the West's e-waste, southern China. Episode 19, World Without Water (28:23) A look at three places--Florida, China, and Nevada, as the 21st Century begins with the Age of Drought Season 2, Episode 1, America's Secret War With Iran (24:57) Vanguard asks if America is already at war with Iran, previously Episode 2, The Great American Detour (48:33) Vanguard zigzags from Los Angeles to New York by bus, stopping to talk to young Americans about national issues affecting them in the lead up to the election. Episode 3, Modern Day Pirates (25:32) Kaj Larsen goes on a search for modern day pirates in the straits of Malacca, talking to trackers and sailors before visiting the pirate dens themselves. Episode 4, I Heart Global Warming (22:57) An exploration of Greenlanders surprising reactions to global warming Episode 5, Maxed Out (23:42) An investigation into the troubles of young Americans trying to get by in the new economy Episode 6, Chinatown, Africa (24:29) An investigation into China's rapidly growing presence in Africa Episode 7, Getting Out of Prison (49:32) Vanguard follows several young inmates out of prison and into the often losing battle to keep from going back in. Episode 8, Japan: Robot Nation (25:05) Outlining Japan's unique solution to its unique demographic problems Episode 9, Fully Automatic America (50:55) An exploration of the vastly different gun cultures in Knob Creek, Kentucky and Camden, New Jersey. Episode 10, The Most Controversial Jail in the World (24:18) An investigation into Maximum Security Detainee Camp #5 in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Episode 12, Battle of Saipan (25:12) A view of Saipan's dramatic rise and crash in the global economy Episode 13, Narco War Next Door (51:37) A groundbreaking investigation into the massive amount of violence in Juarez, Mexico caused by drug cartels Episode 14, Beach of Death (23:54) Christof Putzel and Kaj Larsen travel to Somalia to investigate the worlds most failed state Episode 15, Lost Vegas (24:28) During the boom years, no place in America boomed more than Las Vegas. But when the economy collapsed, Vegas fell hard. Episode 16, Outsourcing Unemployment (25:08) An investigation into the effect America's recession has had on China Episode 17, Thank You, Recession (23:56) In light of the current recession, vanguard explores how Argentinians handled their recent one. Season 3, Episode 1, The Oxycontin Express (47:09) An investigation into prescription drug abuse in America, winner of 2009 Peabody Award. Episode 2, Cuba: Waiting for a Revolution (22:16) Adrian Baschuk travels to the last remaining Communist state in the western hemisphere to investigate whether or not there exists any possibility of regime change. Episode 3, Forest of Ecstasy (22:05) An investigation into the source of the raw ingredient for much of the world's supply of illegal ecstasy, rural Cambodia. Episode 4, Notes from a War on Terror (22:33) Mariana van Zeller travels to Sri Lanka to see how the Tamil Tigers, one of the world's most lethal and influential terrorist organizations, were finally defeated. Episode 5, Porn 2.0 (22:14) Christof Putzel takes a behind the scenes look at the adult entertainment industry, examining its history and impact on the ever-changing face of new media. Episode 6, Prison Contraband (45:31) Janet Choi goes inside a California state prison to investigate contraband smuggled inside the cells, and how cellphones are the new security threat. Episode 7, Remote Control War (20:44) Vanguard looks at the rapid rise of remote controlled weapons and their future Episode 8, Cocaine Mafia (20:58) Christof Putzel investigates how Europe's growing appetite for cocaine is funding the growth of West African crime syndicates and fueling a turf war with the Camorra. Season 4, In a special episode Vanguard interviews its former VP and correspondent Laura Ling who was arrested by North Korean authorities and used as a pawn global politics. Episode 1, Missionaries of Hate (44:47) Vanguard travels to Uganda to look at the roots of the recent crisis surrounding a potential new law. previously previouslier previouslierer previousliest Episode 3, The World's Toilet Crisis (44:25) Adam Yamaguchi travels to India, Singapore and Indonesia to understand why people don't use toilets and what's being done to end the practice of open defecation. Female Genital Cutting (7:43) A look at the practice of Female Genital Mutilation in Sierra Leone And you thought you were going to get work done this weekend

"Awayyyyy we go!"

billypilgrim — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 18:22:20 -0800

Current TV has been pretty low on the media radar since it's founding by a forward-thinking former Vice President. As a network based around documentary-style journalism and viewer-generated content, Current has struggled to find both an audience and a solid direction, with it's largest headlines generated by a run-in with North Korea. This may change with the announcement that former MSNBC anchor Keith Olbermann (previously) has been hired as Chief News Officer and host of a new prime-time news program.

The-what-would-have-been-if-what-is-hadn't-happened.

slumberfiend — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 23:30:51 -0800

Still hyped by his local press as a "neglected rock-and-roll genius" Ralph F. Gean is an old rockabilly guy who almost "made it" back in the early 1960s… but didn’t… and then sort of did after all. Along the way he became a Mormon, got into trouble with the Feds, and lived on the streets; all the while making weird music that nobody paid any attention to. Rediscovered in the ‘90s by the likes of Jello Biafra (Dead Kennedys), Boyd Rice (Non), Eric Allen (Apples In Stereo) and others, Ralph briefly made something of a forty-years-too-late comeback, and released a double-disc retrospective which garnered him enough attention to get him profiled and interviewed a few years ago on Canada's "Collective Voice Radio Programme," and then later onto Al Gore’s Current TV, crooning a tune about how Barack Obama will ruin the country. Now in his late sixties, Ralph is still playing live solo shows around Denver, Colorado, and occasionally guest-deejays with college kids on Boulder radio station 11.90, with surreally amusing results.

Bill Clinton to the rescue

CunningLinguist — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 13:08:34 -0800

Bill Clinton makes secret trip to North Korea, wins pardon and apparent release of two captive US journalists. Jailed reporters Laura Ling and Euna Lee, employees of Al Gore's Current TV, were arrested for spying in March and had recently been sentenced to 12 years in a labor camp. The remarkable development is likely to boost to Clinton's battered image. The surprisingly swift resolution of the secret mission made a monkey of some prominent Obama administration critics.

This is Vegas baby!

P.o.B. — Sun, 10 May 2009 18:42:06 -0800