"In the Loop" Episode 1 summary

Whew! First show is done!

Not let's see what was covered....

"O' Sailor"
Fiona Apple Extraordinary Machine
"Why Does this Always Happen?"
Weird Al and Ben Folds Poodle Hat

TOP NEWS

7.7 Earthquake 60 miles north of Pakistan's capital kills between 15,000-30,000 last Saturday. People are still being pulled out of the rubble alive. 5-6 days is the estimate for survivors to last. The cold at night is bitter, but not harsh enough to freeze. The earthquake broke buildings but did not crush them, creating dust that would suffocate survivors trapped beneath debris.

NYC Terror Alert was raised last weekend for the subway system. Reports of a terrorist plot involving explosives and baby carriages, suitcases, etc. was reported from a detainee in Iraq who had previously reported accurate information. The announcement by Mayor Bloomberg happened the day of the first NYC mayoral debate at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. The threat is now considered to have been a hoax or just plain lie.

In a Reutuers video, Robert Davis was shown being beaten by three New Orleans police officers. Davis was accused of public intoxication in the French Quarter of New Orleans (shocked gasp inserted...here). The officers have been put on probabtion and charged with assault. Davis remarked on CNN that he was in the area to check on property of his and additionally has not had a drink in over 20 years. Though the actions of the officers have been universally condemned, the stress put on the New Orleans Police Department since Hurricane Katrina has been highlighted. Officers have been reported to have left their posts, commited suicide, participated in looting, etc.

IRAQ ROUND-UP

According to The Guardian, at least 1,960 members of the US military have been killed since operations began in March of 2003.

After moves meant to further exclude the Sunni population from the Iraq constitution process, an agreement was reached. The Sunnis, who are a present minority with little oil opposed to their position during Saddam Hussein's rein where their party was in control, will have a more active role in a panel to propose revisions in the CURRENTLY proposed constitution for the NEXT constitution. In exchange, the Sunnis will/would not protest against the current constitution in this weekend's vote. The U.S. agenda is that involving the Sunnis will lessen the violence taking place in Iraq and go further to ease the chances of a civil war to erupt.

PODCASTS
- NPR Story of the Day 9/21: William Thompson's story of creating music using an Apple G4 while on duty in Iraq. His story and music can be found on his website: WATIV.com
-Parody Presidential Address: Iraq. Found on iTunes and also WEEKLYRADIOADDRESS.COM.

THE SOUND OF DEMOCRACY BEING SMOTHERED BY A PILLOW

An energy bill meant to ease a consumer crisis was passed in the House of Representatives under controversial conditions. The video and audio used in the show was from "THE REVOLUTION WILL BE TELEVISED" found on iTunes podcasts. The original video is from CSPAN.

APPLE ANNOUNCEMENT

New improved iMacs, iPods, and iTunes 6.0. Video is available on the new iPods (which will come in the pretty black everyone wants for the nanos) and available for download on iTunes. Music videos, short Pixar films, and Disney/ABC television shows are available on the website for purchase and download including ABC's hits "LOST" and "DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES" and the new show "NIGHT STALKER" which was an inspiration for "The X-Files." New episodes are uploaded the day after their original broadcast. Quality is pretty good but DVDs are still the best bet for past seasons.

MUSIC

Imagine GWBush remix; Rx: OURMEDIA.ORG
Extraordinary Machine; Fiona Apple: EXTRAORDINARY MACHINE
Freedom Isn't Free; America, Fuck Yeah!; Team America Soundtrack
You Haven't Done Nothin'; Stevie Wonder: The Definitive Collection

LISTEN EVERY WEEK! WEDNESDAYS 6-7 PM ON FREERADIOSAIC.ORG.