The Dispatch employs some top notch folks, including Steven Nowers, a multimedia genius, and Craig Medred, one of the most experienced outdoor writers in the state. Is it too much, though, that Medred is advertising his upcoming book on the race in what might be considered editorial space on the Web site? Discuss among yourselves.
Speaking of the AK outdoors, I'm surprised this item, about a rare wolf attack on a human, hasn't gotten much traction outside the state. That's typical, however. Lots of dramatic turns occur on the Last Frontier that barely get a notice in the Lower 48, which is typically too transfixed by the latest LA freeway chase or political boondoggle to pay notice.
Disney Threat
As mentioned in a previous post, we recently completed a week-long class on international communication, in which a lively discussion erupted one afternoon on the question: Disney, Benevolent, Well-Run Corporation I'm Happy to Let Babysit My Children or Evil Transnational Corporation and Global Brainwasher? Those who see primarily the benign aspect tend to represent themselves as stock holders or busy folks happy to let their children watch lots of Disney movies and TV shows. They see the company as efficiently run, offering a steady return on their investments and providing a positive message in otherwise harmless entertainment.
As evidence to the contrary, exhibit A.
Disney is one of six transnational media corporations -- in 2006 the second largest after Time Warner -- that control nearly all the entertainment media, from book publishers to video games, in the world. In the world. In 2004, Disney had $2.3 billion in profits on $42.8 billion in revenue.
If you favor Disney, have a soft spot for the company, or whatever, fine. I needle my classmates above, and truth be told I was short on facts the day the debate raged. Just thought I'd pass on a little more food for thought.
If you disparage big government, for example, why is a corporation with this much control over the messages it brings to your home so good? Is the fact it makes a lot of money a justification for the power it wields in the marketplace? I'll leave it there. I've got nothing against Disney, or Time Warner or Bertelsmann or the others, per se. If you're an informed consumer, you have more opportunity to choose, that's all. Be informed.
New Terror Front -- Construction Sites
The wife called from Afghanistan today with a chilling update on what the Taliban is doing to turn the tables in Afghanistan. Provincial Reconstruction Teams like the one she serves with concern themselves primarily with building projects intended to give Afghans a better civil society, engender employment and show our good will. Unfortunately, much of the effort is undermined by graft. The money is often wasted, or funneled into the pockets of tribal bigshots, local pols and militia leaders. The result is shoddy construction in some cases, such as concrete that crumbles at the touch. This is well reported in the world media.
Or so we thought. Apparently, local Afghan authorities questioned by American military engineers report that Taliban insurgents have been sneaking into construction sites at night and secretly doing shoddy work on ongoing projects in an attempt to undermine the international aid effort. How nefarious is that? How dastardly? And who would have even guessed at the creative genius behind such a bold move?
We must redouble our efforts. Perhaps we can ship specially treated bags of concrete, such that when it's mixed with water it detonates. Or high-explosive 10-penny nails.
On another topic, MyCAA, the program I mentioned in earlier posts that started up last year and gives $6,000 to milspouses like me to help with tuition, is back in action. The DOD pulled the plug earlier this month, apparently because the program proved so popular it was running out of money.
E-mail notices were shipped out today that anyone who was already enrolled in the program would continue to receive benefits but no new applications would be accepted. Mine is a subjective view, to be sure, but nonetheless it seems education is one of those areas in which we can't spend too much, or rather, invest. Not when the economy is shifting so dramatically that jobs we once counted to work until retirement no longer exist, and the sheer notion of working one job until retirement is outdated in itself. Rather than constrain the program, it should be expanded into the general population in some form. My two cents.
No, Not that Redford. The Singing One.
Lisa Redford performed at the Norwich Arts Centre on Thursday. Her music is a variety of pop ballads about love lost and sometimes savored and not the same class of female songwriters I typically gravitate toward, Neko Case or Aimee Mann, for example, who sing about twisted interpersonal relationships. Redford's was satisfying to the point that I picked up her latest release, Clouds With Silver, with an autograph on the way out. She has a soaring voice when she wants it to reach the rafters, but a little girl whisper when it suits her. I put the downloaded CD into my alternative playlist and have been listening to it regularly on its own since Thursday. It's growing on me.
Norwich was the final stop on her first UK tour as a headliner, short though it was. She returns now to New York, where she's based. Catch her show if you find her playing within a reasonable driving distance.
Speaking of the AK outdoors, I'm surprised this item, about a rare wolf attack on a human, hasn't gotten much traction outside the state. That's typical, however. Lots of dramatic turns occur on the Last Frontier that barely get a notice in the Lower 48, which is typically too transfixed by the latest LA freeway chase or political boondoggle to pay notice.
Disney Threat
As mentioned in a previous post, we recently completed a week-long class on international communication, in which a lively discussion erupted one afternoon on the question: Disney, Benevolent, Well-Run Corporation I'm Happy to Let Babysit My Children or Evil Transnational Corporation and Global Brainwasher? Those who see primarily the benign aspect tend to represent themselves as stock holders or busy folks happy to let their children watch lots of Disney movies and TV shows. They see the company as efficiently run, offering a steady return on their investments and providing a positive message in otherwise harmless entertainment.
As evidence to the contrary, exhibit A.
Disney is one of six transnational media corporations -- in 2006 the second largest after Time Warner -- that control nearly all the entertainment media, from book publishers to video games, in the world. In the world. In 2004, Disney had $2.3 billion in profits on $42.8 billion in revenue.
If you favor Disney, have a soft spot for the company, or whatever, fine. I needle my classmates above, and truth be told I was short on facts the day the debate raged. Just thought I'd pass on a little more food for thought.
If you disparage big government, for example, why is a corporation with this much control over the messages it brings to your home so good? Is the fact it makes a lot of money a justification for the power it wields in the marketplace? I'll leave it there. I've got nothing against Disney, or Time Warner or Bertelsmann or the others, per se. If you're an informed consumer, you have more opportunity to choose, that's all. Be informed.
New Terror Front -- Construction Sites
The wife called from Afghanistan today with a chilling update on what the Taliban is doing to turn the tables in Afghanistan. Provincial Reconstruction Teams like the one she serves with concern themselves primarily with building projects intended to give Afghans a better civil society, engender employment and show our good will. Unfortunately, much of the effort is undermined by graft. The money is often wasted, or funneled into the pockets of tribal bigshots, local pols and militia leaders. The result is shoddy construction in some cases, such as concrete that crumbles at the touch. This is well reported in the world media.
Or so we thought. Apparently, local Afghan authorities questioned by American military engineers report that Taliban insurgents have been sneaking into construction sites at night and secretly doing shoddy work on ongoing projects in an attempt to undermine the international aid effort. How nefarious is that? How dastardly? And who would have even guessed at the creative genius behind such a bold move?
We must redouble our efforts. Perhaps we can ship specially treated bags of concrete, such that when it's mixed with water it detonates. Or high-explosive 10-penny nails.
On another topic, MyCAA, the program I mentioned in earlier posts that started up last year and gives $6,000 to milspouses like me to help with tuition, is back in action. The DOD pulled the plug earlier this month, apparently because the program proved so popular it was running out of money.
E-mail notices were shipped out today that anyone who was already enrolled in the program would continue to receive benefits but no new applications would be accepted. Mine is a subjective view, to be sure, but nonetheless it seems education is one of those areas in which we can't spend too much, or rather, invest. Not when the economy is shifting so dramatically that jobs we once counted to work until retirement no longer exist, and the sheer notion of working one job until retirement is outdated in itself. Rather than constrain the program, it should be expanded into the general population in some form. My two cents.
No, Not that Redford. The Singing One.
Norwich was the final stop on her first UK tour as a headliner, short though it was. She returns now to New York, where she's based. Catch her show if you find her playing within a reasonable driving distance.
No comments:
Post a Comment