aLOUD

Americans Mistake Overwork for Good Work

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5534285

SC / GGG

Ads challenge Germans to be less grumpy despite country's current challenges
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/06/international/europe/06germany.html

Stud circuses, nice phrase
http://www.nightcharm.com/?p=264#more-264

Mergers Mania!

i'd love to here some speculations and projection around these mergers...

In other community changes, the New York Blade www.nyblade.com  has merged forces with HX Magazine www.hx.com  as well as with CMI which produced the Gay Life and Gay Erotic Expos to create HX Media. Windows Media which owned the Blade is working with HX on these changes as well which should create a pretty big gay/lesbian publishing empire.
 
 
Another empire that's brewing is that will involve Planet Out and Specialty Publications which publishes the erotic magazines Unzipped, Freshmen, Men and 2 magazines. Since it's not been formally announced through a press release it's unclear to me how this (if at all) this will affect Unzipped Video.

Hollywood Madam (Heidi Fleiss) to open Nevada 'stud farm'
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20051118/people_nm/fleiss_dc

Mixy

This idea of building prisons (that are band-aiding vs. solving, curative) that cost more per person than K-12 (!) education is so crazee to me... So I peeped this site I learned about c/o Utne Reader

What does Mark Hughes' "BuzzMarketing" say about "the five most frequently written news stories..."? (Book review here.)

Irish Movie Screens Going All-Digital
Stat: Irish movie lovers have the second highest level of cinema attendance in Europe.
Stat: There are already hundreds of digital venues across Asia, specifically in China, Singapore, and India. (Utne, Jul/Aug '05, p. 21)

Bono rolls with W for lunch... good example (for me to see) of utilizing influence, power

Oooh... well, I don't think I'll be in place, or serious need, for a new Mac come next birthdday. So I guess for this 2nd to last for me gifts - i've thought the 2008 and beyond birthdays would be about charities. * Love the idea of receiving this tea of the month club for myself, maybe co-workers

*floor's monthly birthdays
*quarterly treats (?with dave ppl)
*snak spot

MultiClips 3

Sounds like Buenos Aries is very cool, if quite meat, potatoes & oil from Rex Wockner's writeup, and blogging

GCN May '05 says According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 8% of US high school seniors have tried the drug [crystal meth] at least once. Well, hooray for that :-( * In Europe, crystal meth use remains virtually unknown, but for a drug that is devouring America how long will we remain untouched. ** Um, why is Europe so in the clear on this? And how can we notate, if not learn + implement from this?

OK, why are we spending waaay more per prisoner than (K-12) student? Very uncool, people, VERY!

Why we hate HR - provocatively titled article that helped me think deeper about (my) partnering internally (and externally) to reach company-wide goals.

I liked this Hopi piece, My Fellow Swimmers, that spirit twin shared...

I think this 80 South St Tower (click on SALES; it pans DOWN the building) is amazing! Love the title: The Vertical Manhattan Townhouse

Ah, here again, a bit about the US army having an Internet cafe in Tikrit since 2003 in holland herald (KLM's in flight magazine).

MultiClips 2

This guy/company is all about humanizing retirement communities - bravo :-)

ILM Animation head talks about escaping your pigeonholes at work. His four tips: 1) think skills, not experience; 2) fight corporate inerita [here here!]; 3) become a startup master; 4) seek the edge

Mississippi Power demonstrates how preparation sometimes doesn't apply, yet the being ready with something, like, oh say a Katrina, does!

Delta comes out with new int'l routes (almost all Europe, thank you very much) to get back in the black that much quicker...

To better understand other folks' agendas (esp. at work), I can ask myself: What are their goals?

Massive Change, Bruce Mao's wonderful design initiative, visits Chicago this time next year

How to Act Like a Designer - thanks Daniel Pink :-)

I love this example of reframing:
When he came to Ogilvy, he says, its security guards were dressed like zoo attendants: maroon jackets with piping, ill-fitting polyester pants. Collins commissioned outfits that looked like something a concierge might wear at a W Hotel: black jackets, gray crew-neck sweaters, tailored pants. Soon after, one of the guards stopped him in the lobby. "I can take my daughter out for a cup of coffee at Starbucks now and not look like a security guard," he said. "It looks like I work at Ogilvy & Mather." The next day, Collins says, you could even see the difference in the way they stood. Something had happened. "That's how design can change people."

Liz Sanders, a 2005 Fast Company Master of Design is now working to help design hospitals that make patients, not doctors and administrators, the top priority. HOORAY!! 5 times Band, hit me.

Wired interviews a few of the prominent blogger-soliders... reminds me to consider unshelving my outlined piece Homrades...

MultiClips 1

I enjoyed this FC article about why it can be so hard to change our way

Love this line from Marshall Goldsmith (FC May '05 p 98): Listen hard to what you don't want to hear

Another line from same issue p. 82: To become aware of the possibility of the search is to be onto something. Not to be onto something is to be in despair.

Glad to hear Jennifer Hudson is working on an album in Orlando... and hinting there is more to dish about than just Corey and Paula ;-)

I love the ingenuius simplicity of this sunflower solar concentrator as we (need to!) move forward in alternate (and eco-safe) energy sources

Amused and imagining the AdMen getting hold of 'roadcasting'. Sort of like how they detect Tom Cruise's character in Minority Report, but car-based. Could share radios and other broadcasts from neighboring/nearby vehicles...

It's curious that I read this downloading media article before the video iPod was released. Particularly since Steve (Jobs) needs H'wood to make this happen and they'll steer it with(out) him + co.

Wired asks: Will the Internet put public libraries out of business? Answers seem to be more about reshaping their offerings, as is alreayd happening...

I enjoyed learning about how artist Ingo Gunther is creating themed globes from various political implications. Globe #175 asteroid impacts struck me immediately as a scifi story's visual seed. (yes, i know we've had quite a few books, movies, etc. on this sort of thing. that's why this realtime seed could be a curious touchstone to work from... maybe it isn't really involved, just inspiring.)

Would love this portable/pocket XM Satellite radio to be combined with iPod :-) - wait, that's a neoWalkman!

I smiled wide reading about Banksy's witty 'grafitti', and bringing art to the people vs. the elite. The two cops kissing didn't hurt either ;-)

Funny to see EA still making (hit!) games 20+ years later

Tastings o' Many

Martha Stewart Working on a Third TV Show
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051001/ap_en_tv/martha_stewart

ya, i should use the links thing from webpage - with safari, it's a whole different exercise - to save time and admin effort. the goal is to focus on the writing y'all :-) er, me!

*I should track down the cassette of The Gyrlz's album - song title escapes me at the moment - and dub it over that a way :-) This isn't paramount just right now.

Oh, a waking thought: keep growing, improving, resurging, and let clarity on a specific, big project emerge for a FULL week, then G O! (suspect this will come as winter begins, or is in progress).

I need four meals before I fly out; actually one to take wed eve would be 5, plus drink(s) & snack. (Twill be fun to do DVD playing going forward; loved Renato's description of DVRing things directly onto a hard drive! yeehaw, don't need it yet. just love this idea of flipping into a very digital world. I see, and sense, that's not quite yet though...)

If I can buy the 2, or 3, books at work, do we have a % somewhere? Really, I bet AMZN is the way to go, so I put 1,2 of the titles in my shopping cart. Really, I don't see reading one of these on vacation. In fact, that seems contrary to the whole point/vibe of a (and this) vacation. If I change my mind, I can buy the book in my travels. ** I think I want to read the Da Vinci Code - find/borrow paperback - en routes.

OK, so I think this dessert buffet idea (Vegan EatUp) is a great idea. Need to sketch it out to be more contained, and not over doing it on the spending. Hearing under $200, likely more. I see Vegan Treats, Bethlehem as not an official event, small handpicked group to go - besides only 4-6 will fit in vehicle. Then we could/may offer to pick up items for folks that pre-pay in advance. The event itself would be later that day/evening or the next. I guess I'd do it later that same day:-) ** Now why wouldn't I simply attach on an order direct, or sub, through her Tuesday delivery? I guess because it's a fun roadtrip idea, though I'm not finding an efficiency in going - though wait wait I put it in front of Thanksgiving for people who could take something by Danielle for a holiday celebration to smack people's expectations around ;-)
Will revisit later. I do believe this is an event near Thanksgiving/before Christmas. January is much about the dieting; I'm seeing doing a vegan chocolates something for February's 2nd event. April's could be a pagan easter something - maybe the aforementioned potluck. June is a picnic, eh? August is something indoors and cool, oh so raw, eh? October is harvest themed. Next December is a cookie exchange... All sketches, nothing signed onto. (Yes yes, I know, I love event production.)

some ol' headlines

Displaced health care workers being courted

Very fun article about doin' up Chicago afterhours

A foodie moody over Thai

In Rochester, serendipty smiles

Manufactured home, travel trailer stocks rise

Dated if juicy-curious headline: Could Delta and Northwest merge?

World's impoverished living on less than US$2 day

tatu readies 2nd disc with help from <drum roll> Sting and Richard Carpenter

Martha dazzles on daytime return - heck y'all she's free and a Leo under spotlights doing her domesticity dominance. C'mon, dur

Why New Orleans Cell Phones Aren't Working - in short, the routers are under water
http://www.slate.com/id/2125761/?nav=tap3

I'm getting lots of thoughts about more weekend (only) trips.
*Was thinking D.C. Spring but that combo bounced back. Feels like I'm too entrenched in something to do that. Maybe Autumn we'll work it in.
*Philly is fine for winter, odd as that may sound.
*Iceland and London also could be cute ones. Esp. with EasyHotel for LON
*Moosewood restaurant/upstate NY
*Providence (could be a long overnight), perhaps spring or autumn yet...
**the other states east & above {Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut & more Massachusetts}
*NJ, which could easily be multiple trips Asbury Park, Atlantic City, Princeton...
***Montreal & Toronto continue to be eyeballed
?Baltimore

The Katrina Premium: Why the hurricane may hurt the economy more than 9/11
http://www.slate.com/default.aspx?id=2125474&nav=tap1

Want, and require myself, to better capture in blog some of the quite lucid thinking I have about myself, state of being, etc.

Twerps in turnaround - I really think I may refrain from this portion of the bigger topic. I almost feel like it needs to be punished, then flushed. Let that... person fade into oblivion. I want to talk about our actual leaders and working on educating, growing, improving the ones doing work with and for the people (nay cronies).
http://www.slate.com/default.aspx?id=2125744&nav/tap1/

LATEness

B(L)ACK
I'm back from Chicago, post tv catchup and a nice afternoon nap. Was angling to go into the city for TOUCH. Though I'm more curious to see more of PRISON BREAK, catch up on news/blogging, and otherwise have fun in my apartment. Not sure if i'm being too pragmatic in staying home, or going with the groove of goodness. Will keep with the productivity tip and see what's what. TOUCH goes each Monday eve from 6 to 2 so I could still go... Notting bet either way.

KATTIE CORNER
From an initial breeze-through, it would seem more energy emerges in the blame game, esp. among the agencies and offices themselves, rather than additional impactful solutions to further curb the severe lateness of fools, er, folks.

*Partial (radio chat) transcript of New Orleans Mayor from Friday 2nd
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/02/national/nationalspecial/02TEXT-NAGIN.html?pagewanted=all

*Mayor & police heads think outside the box to retain officers
http://nytimes.com/2005/09/05/national/nationalspecial/05vegas.html?hp&ex=1125979200&en=b7296264ca796265&ei=5094&partner=homepage

*Sounds like re-dunce-city to me
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/05/national/nationalspecial/05medical.html

*Getting youth into school somewhere by partnering with all major educational groups (!) and loosening up laws for homeless youth
http://nytimes.com/2005/09/03/national/nationalspecial/03school.html

*Rescuing the final few ain't easy as it would seems - some are reluctant to leave their property and few untouched belongings
http://nytimes.com/2005/09/05/national/nationalspecial/05scene.html?hp&ex=1125979200&en=70e09f5962b32775&ei=5094&partner=homepage

*Celine gets candid, and shares her gift/prayer of song, on CNN's Larry King Live (media clip)
http://www.cnn.com/video/player/player.html?url=/video/bestoftv/2005/09/03/lkl.celine.dion.cnn

*A Failure of Leadership - well stated and tempered memo to Mr. [sic] President
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/05/opinion/05herbert.html?incamp=article_popular

*Maureen Dowd: United States of Shame - wonderfully on point to skewer and! stay brief
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/03/opinion/03dowd.html?incamp=article_popular

*David Brooks: The Bursting Point - seems cut VERY short if wonderfully riled up
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/04/opinion/04brooks.html?incamp=article_popular

*Oh, I love Amanda's heart here! Starfish Project premise
http://amandaowen.com/starfish_project.htm

*Kanye gets loud about bushwuss & blacks in NewO/USA 2005
http://news.yahoo.com/s/eo/20050906/en_tv_eo/17294

HOW LATE DO U HAV 2B B4 UR ABSENT?
New George Michael, er, Clinton release isn't received well by NYT. I find the title particular ironic in light of Not so New Orleans.

I'm enjoying Fox's PRISON BREAK, and expect it will last the season. Alas, I won't necessarily watch every week. It's not as sharp as I feel it needs to be; it seems to miss the mark on being urgent, taut and intelligent like it's older brother 24. It is in fact more like that one show, not original FUGITIVE, but the other one with the spy. This is mixed with mafia, families, brothers, and more. (Also, is Lincoln truthful with his brother in that he doesn't know what happened around this murder? And why would a USA VP's brother need to be killed and/or get killed? The backstory (or front, if that's how it unfolds) intrigues me, yet it's too blobular, diluted... better described as a thin soup with very good flavor, that will succeed better thickened like a great split pea, or perhaps even over towards stew territoty.

DIRECTING AS SCRIPT + CAST IMPROVs + DIRECTORIAL EDITING
this Viewpoints nine-point method in this director's hands sounds like band jams and then orchestrating in ways from/with those jams' organic & germane moments
http://nytimes.com/2005/09/04/theater/newsandfeatures/04domi.html?pagewanted=all

Plant lighting: Turn on, turn off with intelligence
An intelligent system for modulating fluorescent lighting could slice
30 per cent off a food plant's energy bills.
By Ahmed ElAmin

VVoice, etc. ketchup

Really dug this professor's report of spending a year as an undergrad. It's funny what we think we know and what experience (aka reality in others' shoes) gives us.
http://www.villagevoice.com/arts/0531,education1,66450,12.html

"...the median age for new infections is around 40..."
WHOA! Find this very curious, though not totally surprising. The juxtaposition with gay retirement communities really comes to me looking back at this piece now. * As we (slowly) peek ahead, I wonder how american queers AND boomers may move us around age(ism). (Perhaps this is too embedded in the greater Western world though...?)
"I know that we are beyond the place where any traditional prevention campaign will be effective."
Glad someone else said it. Now, let's be a lil sassy, if not radical, and move on this!
"Albeit in all the wrong places and all the wrong ways, these guys are basically looking for love."
Sometimes, I wonder if we say this too generally, and often, overlooking how connection, community, open feelings, and sharing can curb this wave. As well, a number of prevention outfits seem to solidly prove this over and over again, not that this is an agenda item of the Right to support. Be curious to see smart arguments from elsewhere about why we need to address the easier ills and so of today's world, so we might collectively move on to the next items.
http://www.villagevoice.com/people/0525,qmoore,65112,24.html

I just have to laugh at the power of celebrity, particularly with The Clintons. Do what you will, Hillary, and make sure they come correct.
http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0531,lombardi,66389,6.html

Love the title; Hello on #1, READ! on #2 & Yes, lawd LOL on #4
http://www.villagevoice.com/people/0525,qhannaham,65115,24.html

The Cock changed locations, and history keeps on shifting before our/my eyes... [note to self: go to Europe!]
http://www.villagevoice.com/nyclife/0528,flylife,65774,15.html

Not the storyline I'm after, yet something in the grit, everydayness (plus the menz in uniform) has me thinking about this as something to go after in terms of 'lead cars' tv writing-wise. (Well, if i'm gonna do a daygig, plus the syndication money can be better than movies...)
http://www.villagevoice.com/screens/0525,tv1,65124,28.html

I feel you on Parade Fatigue, Mike!
http://www.villagevoice.com/people/0525,qalbo,65134,24.html

Sometimes, you just need to see yourself, or a part of, grrl. (I skipped the interview since I've yet to see ANY of Season 2 yet...)
http://villagevoice.com/people/0525,qconaway,65109,24.html

Heidi's filming 2nd season of Project Runway :-)

Restaurant Chains Find Low-Fat Means Lean Sales

081705

5,8 * Negativity * moon Cap; Venus -> Libra * I trust and move forward with the Universe *

Many incoming freshmen aren't prepared for college. No real surprise to me, esp. with math & science, or even the reading based on that NEA's top level summary findings. I have to laugh because we're not even giving the left brain its due, which could be fueled - easily - by offering more classes in art & music. oh-k.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2005-08-16-college-freshmen_x.htm

Capitialism with heart . Really bravo Jim.
How Costco Became the Anti-Wal-Mart
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/17/business/yourmoney/17costco.html?ei=5070&en=4cd5686772a804b6&ex=1122696000&incamp=article_popular&pagewanted=all

Mixxed

Students Say High Schools Let Them Down - great they already know the lame deal

Funny to pull this up last night because seeing the exhilirating, adorable MAD HOT BALLROOM reminded how much public education reform fires me up, and that I'd rather reform K-12 while doing face to face with adults. I think because it would be more reshaping, remixing, without self-pressure to be caring around influencing someone's future So Much.

(+) when am i making some of these library runs?

As I thought, another black/urban modest (in my mind) budget deal with LL (! Cube envy?) & Lions Gate (studio that released Perry's way successful DIARY). Congrats to them both. Not sure about the reworking of a blk Fatal Attraction, though I'm curious to know the primary differences in stories on paper, plus the trio casting.

I really am more and more admiring R. Kelly's musical invention. Some may say the new generation's Prince - eh, I wouldn't say that, though both clearly are prolific & inventive.

Hmmm, Ricky Martin's new single features Fat Joe & Amerie. Pretty good track - very open, indian-inflected, dancey

In Madonna's august Vogue interview, she says they don't do newspapers, mags or tv. eek, i hope no gemini asc. are in the building.

070705

3,7 * moon Can/Leo 15:11 est * Push Yourself Outward + Onward (3 card spread) * I remember

last dream was cafeteria closing at lunch time. pancake casserole (stacked in hot pan with fruit between some layers, maybe 4 cakes deep), scrambled eggs, sausage links & patties

Coming Soon - The Gay Genre! - good article tooting a move beyond coming out stories to more BOUNDs and stories featuring gay lead/character(s) within particular genre types
http://www.afterelton.com/columns/2005/7/biggaypicture.html

Rachel talks about sharing erotic tales on stage & page and her journey there
http://www.villagevoice.com/people/0526,bussel,65339,24.html

So maybe working in TV is more me gig anyhoo... The Vanishing Box Office - A terminal condition.
http://slate.msn.com/id/2122000/

Financier (!) John Singleton, producer Stephanie Allain & director Craig Brewer dish on their film deal and HUSTLE & FLOW. (What about Woodsman, John?!)
http://www.villagevoice.com/film/0527,brewerint,65573,20.html

Vegetarianism 'could help climate' says non-vegie scientist

Mix o' Media/new & old

London hosts 2012 Olympics - very cool

With Lucas(film) on the Presidio now, and Wayans looking at Oakland complex, SF Bay looks like a real contender for (?digital) filmmaking outside of Hollywood. Different grooves too with Aries for SF & Berkeley. WIll look up Oakland's sign...(I know a belated response.)

NYU panel looks at challenge of accurately portraying African-American gays and lesbians

Federal court says prisoner’s request for Out and the Advocate not valid - inclined to agree given homophobic attitudes and dangers within such spaces

Excited & curious about Logo's "Momentum" (show); what is their "Wisecrack"?

Junior Vasquez is back & sober, hooray!

Talk about needing to beat the money drum... Let's go Team Rainbow!

Enjoyed reading about this striking ad campaign (in Instinct!)
http://www.maketradefair.org/en/index.php?file=dumpedphotos.htm&cat=1&subcat=7&select=3

Read Shane Allison's spiced, stick it to them poem "I'm A Black Homosexual" in Windy City Times. Alas, my Googling yields no link. Found this page of a bunch of his poems though, plus an email address.
http://www.unlikelystories.org/old/allison.html

Mix o' Media/ChiTown

Mathew St. Patrick reflects on SIX FEET UNDER
http://www.wctimes.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=8668

read this J.L. King interview during Chicago visit, which leaves him sounding sane & stable, if in the Media mixin'
http://www.wctimes.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=8617

Gorgeous piece: The Agony and the Ecstasy - Getting some outdoors action
http://www.newcitychicago.com/chicago/4458.html

When Pride Punched Me - another potent (Pride) piece from Chicago visit
http://www.newcitychicago.com/chicago/4463.html

Congrats to Scott Free on hos Outmusic Award and producing Queer IS Folk Festival http://www.scottfree.net/queerisfolkfest.html
Great to see comixxx "Sticky" getting more attention ;-)
http://www.newcitychicago.com/chicago/4443.html

070505

1,5 * moon Can * Change * I am now very well organized * Montell's "Once Upon a Time"

in the last week, i had several dreams including guns, some violence... yet they didn't seem threatening, if of course new to the palette.

Explaining Differences in Twins
http://nytimes.com/2005/07/05/health/05gene.html

Security for Harry Potter #6 discussed
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/05/books/05pott.html?8hpib=&pagewanted=all

Airlines bouncing back from overseas tix; prediction that low-fare will come in due time
http://nytimes.com/2005/07/05/business/worldbusiness/05atlantic.html?pagewanted=all

"Bisexuality Revisited" - I'd love to fund some studies on this, particularly looking at it culturally; some of the science here about the pronounced lean of physical arousal is curious though...
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/05/health/05sex.html?8hpib=&pagewanted=all

**Bring back the Daily Intents, man!

Mix o' Media

Forget the Bootleg, Just Download the Movie Legally - well, eventually, anyhoo. Not so sure this will roll as well as iTunes since it's bigger files, and different audience behaviors (somewhat so).
http://nytimes.com/2005/07/04/technology/04studio.html?pagewanted=all&position=

Portland as great case study for going greener
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/03/opinion/03kristof.html?incamp=article_popular_1

Hollywood Movie Studios See the Chinese Film Market as Their Next Rising Star
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/04/business/media/04film.html?8dpc=&pagewanted=all&position=

A very odd 'appreciation' of Luther (A Seducer in Song, No Lechery Required)
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/04/arts/music/04note.html

What if Google had its own version of PayPal without restrictions? Hmmm
http://www.sugarbank.com/sam_sugars_blog/2005/06/forget_paypal_g.html

070205

7,2 * moon Tau/Gem 16:26 * I am speaking with care, intelligence & insight * Change * Amel's "Get Up"

Enjoyed this article (Follow the Leapin' Leprechaun) imploring Germany & France to shift their economic model to 'offensive' and today
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/01/opinion/01friedman.html?incamp=article_popular

Glad to read a piece that questions if going from the belly button region to treasure trails to 'the crack' is appropriate. I suppose it's not all conversative these days, ay?
http://www.fleshbot.com/sex/gay/found/got-crack-110677.php

I love that Queer Cowboys author did an accompanying film piece with it
http://www.kcgayfilmfest.org/upyourstonto.html

Oprah no Hermes homie

yes, race will definitely be part of the popular discussion now... right?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050628/ap_en_tv/winfrey_black_shoppers;_ylt=Ar9P4pJfGXPw9cdqasMxwUYnHL8C;_ylu=X3oDMTA3YXYwNDRrBHNlYwM3NjI-

Terry McMillian gets more fodder from her 'groove' husband who turns out to be gay. (or is this staged for a setup to a megahit book and movie?!)
http://rodonline.typepad.com/rodonline/2005/06/stella_got_her_.html

well hello and welcome
The debate's over: Globe is warming
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2005-06-12-global-warming-cover_x.htm

Bloomberg in, eh?

Poll: Bloomberg Has Highest Approval Rating In Three Years hmmm, guess that stadium wasn't the best idea for him, eh? granted, it may (or may not) be for NYC.

In the News today

Snapple's 20-Ton Popsicle Melts in N.Y.  hehe

Krispy Kreme sees departure of 6 execs sad seeing a good stock/product tumble

AMC Plans to Acquire Loews Cineplex hmmm, more monopolizing?

Arab-American looks unveiled

SMILEY'S TOP TEN WAYS TO CHANGE EVENING NEWS

love this/Tavis :-)

AP asks talk show host to shed some light on the subject. *Seeking ways in which CBS boss Leslie Moonves can reinvent his last-place "CBS Evening News," Associated Press television writer Frazier Moore asked a number of journalists how to go about reinvigorating the telecasts. Among those interviewed was PBS and public radio talk show host Tavis Smiley, who offered the following remedies:

He wrote: I hesitate to compete with my fellow Hoosier David Letterman and his always brilliant top 10 list, but here are my top 10 suggestions for making network news better:

1. Expand political stories to include opinions not just from the tired old Democrat vs. Republican sides of the aisle, but to give voice to younger, diverse and out-of-the- mainstream political activists. And, include more women
2. Hire college and high school students to submit pieces for the program; you can't make news relevant to those of a new generation unless they're part of the operation
3. Close each newscast with a commentary from various op-ed writers around the country. And not just the usual suspects; there are fine journalists at small local publications and college newspapers
4. Do a weekly montage of the best monologue jokes from late-night comedians. Cable networks already do this effectively; it could be a nice way to close out the Friday evening news
5. Quit being so proprietary. If another network gets a great scoop, give credit and show a clip of it. The audience is sophisticated enough to know that not everything happens just on one channel. Air it before they hit the remote and find it on their own
6. Offer more how-to advice. Americans are overwhelmed with everything from shopping around for better health care to figuring out how their new multifeature cell phone works. Help them
7. Take ads for the evening news from something other than drug companies! You wonder why your audience is older? Check out all the spots for Viagra and Metamucil! This is a total turnoff for 25- ear-olds, which is why they're playing video games at 6:30 instead of watching the news
8. Young men like sports, so throw them a bone. Spend a minute or two on the big sports story of the day or week. Alex Rodriguez gets 10 RBIs in one game - show a few clips and do a quick interview. It'swhat young men are all talking about that day
9. The world is shrinking, yet Americans are often embarrassingly clueless about people and places around the globe. Take a cue from the BBC and show them events and issues beyond their own backyard
10. We live in the most multicultural, multiethnic, and multiracial America ever, but you wouldn't know it from watching the evening news. Pay more, much more, attention to issues of concern to the millions of black, brown, and yellow citizens in all the red and blue states ... hire more correspondents and commentators who look like them ... and watch your ratings soar. And, oh, did I mention include more women?

Talkin' Trash

Would love to see a solution that reduces this to actual trash being carted away, with ALL recyclable materials re-routed to such facilities.

Bag o' trix

Slate writers weigh in on the Michael Jackson verdict: In Jurisprudence, Emily Bazelon suggests http://www.slate.com/id/2120812/ reasons why the state failed to nab Jackson on his third round of molestation charges. "Maybe the problem is that any family crazy enough to get intimately entangled with Jackson--and intimate the relationships are, sex or no sex--is too crazy to be believed." Jacob Weisberg states http://www.slate.com/id/2120889/ that Jackson doesn't fit the profile of a pedophile in The Big Idea. He "seems too emotionally stunted to act in any grown-up way, including a deviant sexual one. Naive, juvenile, and terribly damaged, he seems pathetically incapable not just of criminal intent, but of adult consciousness." Also, Seth Stevenson, who covered the trial for Slate, banishes http://www.slate.com/id/2120845/ comparisons between Michael Jackson and O.J. "This was by no means a silly verdict," he writes. "The thing is, the prosecution just didn't prove much at all."

I knew I loved him

Mr. Michael pens a potent piece from across the pond
http://advocate.com:80/currentstory1_w.asp?id=17437

Reek & Rank

Something about this reeks I feel, or maybe my feelings around very public PDAs are showing again?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/cruise_dc;_ylt=AojU14mIepPJRl.1daHnQurK.nQA;_ylu=X3oDMTA4dDg2MG9mBHNlYwMxNjk3

Parsons to AOL: "You've Got Cash": Instead of booting the online unit, Time Warner's CEO says he'll give it the capital it needs to acquire its way to the top
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/jun2005/tc20050616_6278_tc024.htm?campaign_id=topStories_ssi_5

Rugby shirts hipper & hipper in fashion
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/16/fashion/thursdaystyles/16CODES.html?8hpib&oref=login

Wayans invading Oakland? And does this make SF Bay return more appealing?
http://imdb.com/news/wenn/2005-06-17/#3

Missing Minorities

Critics say news ignores missing minorities

This could make for a curious shift in CBS' Without a Trace, or even a feature film script

Viacom splits in two?

I love the energy around this headline. Seems Sumner wants CBS to break off and deal with itself, while MTV Networks continues to conquer, er, prosper and acquire. (more music videos PLEASE!)

Jacko

Ok, I held my tongue long enough... Congrats to MJJ for the 'not guilty' verdict. And yes to sleeping alone or one of your strange, er, yah, screw it, strange wife situations.

I say circle in the brothers for, at least, a few tracks, if not a special cd-tour-tv show, or something... definitely come back with a family fete AND please no kiddie songs, we need to dance all that Justice Junk off. And you are one of the world's best dancer, mister J.

Comments on the news

GM cutting 25K jobs? This worries me a tad. Is it because I think, or associate, car company layoffs with 1980s recession?

Why is Pink Panther delayed? Me is Very Worried about the product quality now, though it could be more onslaught of summer/latter 2005 pix… right!?

Sutyd shows one-quarter of Americans are mentally ill?! Oh dear, I’m not surprised with so much information, TV, lack of quality spiritual and other exercising. Too, diet wouldn’t be a little related… or would it? hmmm…

Milk linked to child obesity (very Cancerian headline btw) – hooray for vegans, this is just what i/we need to hear.

Um, what’s up with the body parts dropping out of the sky?!

Screw you Mike – NYC needs to get much else together before we host the world (olympics) or such huge things. Too, we don’t need to follow in Atlanta’s footsteps – that city is now horribly distorted, smoggy, and otherwise unappealing.

NY mishandled Sept. 11 funds, eh? Well, is that simply bureaucracy or… cuz 9/11 was no joke, yet we seem to be getting mucho Fed Govt comedy around it.

Bush, Blair make pledge to put end to African Debt, eh? Hmmm, proof’s in the pudding fellas. <grabs a spoon, and calendar>