Internet in a New York State of Mind…

Thursday, April, 10, 2008 by Mel Phillips.

There’s a new bill about to be submitted in full within a couple of weeks that has the Internet giants up in arms.  Westchester Democrat Richard Brodsky is sponsoring the bill which would impose “detailed notice requirements” on Web sites that collect user information for use in targeting ads.  Those Opposed?:  AOL, Comcast, eBay, Electronic Data Systems, Facebook, Monster Worldwide and Reed Elsevier (NV).  Those In Favor?:   Richard Brodsky…

The Wall Street Journal quotes Jim Halpert, general counsel for the Internet Coalition fighting the bill as saying, “the bill is unnecessary, most likely unconstitutional and would have profound implications for the future of Internet advertising and the availability of free content on the Internet.”   I don’t think anyone truly believes that and why do Internet companies think this requirement would chase away users anyway?  You can use my demographic profile if you want but shouldn’t you ask me if you can?  As long as you don’t use my name or steal my identity I could care less…

I’m not a lawyer, thank the Lord but the coalition does raise one very strong point in saying that the bill is unconstitutional because states can’t regulate Internet commerce.  Whatever the bill’s outcome, this ballad  by Billy Joel will put everyone in the right state of mind…

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1841]  Staying East this time:  The New York Tribune begins publishing under Horace Greeley who will become famous for saying “Go West, young man.”…
2. 1912]  Find the exit sign first:  The Titanic  sets sail on its ill-fated maiden voyage from Southampton, England…
3. 1925]  Premiered on this date:  F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby” is published…1953]  Warner Brothers releases “House of Wax“, the first 3-D movie released by a major Hollywood studio…1957]  Ricky Nelson sings for the first time on “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet“.  His first song?  “I’m Walkin“…
4. 1947]  Breaking the color barrier:  28-year old Jackie Robinson becomes the first black player to be signed by a major league team when Dodger President Branch Rickey signs Jackie to a contract at the team’s Montague Street executive offices in Brooklyn.  All Jackie will do is guide the Dodgers to 7 pennants and a World Series victory (1955) in his 10 years as a player…
5. 1956]  A reason to break color barriers:  Nat “King” Cole is attacked and beaten while performing for an all-white audience in Birmingham (AL)…
6. 1963]  Tragedy near The Cape:  129 die as the nuclear powered submarine, USS Thresher, fails to surface off Cape Cod (MA)…
7. 1964]  Razing the Grounds:  Demolition begins on the Polo Grounds to clear way for a housing project.  The Mets had a new home as Shea Stadium had opened…
8. 1969]  The Agee bomb:  The Mets’ Tommie Agee reaches the upper deck in left field off of Expo pitcher Larry Jaster.  The area is still marked and is considered the longest home run ever hit at Shea Stadium…
9. 1992]  ‘Happy Trails’: Manically wacky comedian Sam Kinison, 38, is killed when his car is rear-ended between L.A. and Las Vegas.  This is Sam’s first appearance on “The David Letterman Show“…1998]  Edward O. Jackson a.k.a. Eddie O’Jay, one of the pioneering disc jockeys of R&B radio, passes away in the Bronx following complications of 2 heart attacks.  The O’Jays were named after Eddie when he was a jock in Cleveland.  Eddie was working for the city of New York when he passed away in his 70s…2003]   Eva Narcissus Boyd a.k.a. Little Eva who got her start as a babysitter for Carole King and Gerry Goffin, dies after a lengthy illness at 59.  Her number one hit, “The Loco-motion” was written by Goffin-King…
10. 2003]  House Rules:  The House passes the national “Amber Alert” system and also strengthens child pornography laws…

Music Memories: 

• 1958]  Recorded on this date:  “Splish Splash” - Bobby Darin…
• 1967]  Number One on this date:  “Somethin’ Stupid” - Frank & Nancy Sinatra…
• 1970]  Dead you know:  Paul McCartney makes it official at a press conference that he’s left the Beatles.  Ten days later McCartney releases his first solo, self-titled “McCartney” LP.  It’s not over though because Paul will file a lawsuit against the group on December 31, 1970.  Happy New Year Beatles…

Commentary: 

Bill Rock a.k.a. “Radio City Bill” when he was one of my jocks and production director at WNBC, reports that his Alma mater, WSOU, the Seton Hall University radio station, is celebrating its 60th anniversary with a dinner tomorrow night and on April 14th, the alums go on the air.  David Hinckley of the New York Daily News has the dayparts in his column.  Among the alums:  My friends Bill Rock and Steve Aprea, along with Joe Nolan, Bernie Wagenblast, Glenn Schuck, Pete Tauriello, Bob Ley and Donna Fiducia.  Notice how many gravitated toward weather, sports (Bob Ley) and traffic?  Have a blast SOU people…

“Happy Birthday…happy birthday”:

Haley Joel Osment (20), Mandy Moore (24), Brian Setzer (49), Kenneth (”Babyface“) Edmonds (50), Peter MacNicol (54), Steven Seagal (57), Don Meredith (71), John Madden (71), Bobbie (”Spinners”) Smith (72), Omar Sharif (76), Max von Sydow (79) and Harry (”Dragnet” & “M*A*S*H“) Morgan (93)…

Timeline Countdown:  Today is the opening round of the Masters Tournament, 9 days until Passover, 23 days until the Kentucky Derby and 30 days until Mother’s Day… 

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