As I write this, CNN is announcing that the U.S. Military is now posting “unfiltered” videos on YouTube, to show what it’s really like on the ground in Iraq.
In the five minutes I watched the segment, every one of the videos showed uniformed servicemen playing with kids, shooting hoops, and giving presents to grateful families. [...]
How often do we fall into treating the symptom, rather than the cause? Our politicians have certainly done so.
I’ve received 10 fund-raising calls this week for various candidates. “It takes about $100MM to run a campaign, these days.”
A very important message for our politicans: this $100MM campaign crap is going to drain likely half [...]
Ok. I can’t keep quiet about this any longer. It’s driving me nuts. I just read a story titled $2 million US settlement in Boston TV ad bomb hoax. This is a fine example of how the wrong words can do damage, even when intending to inform.
“Bomb hoax” implies intent to deceive people into believing [...]
We’re approaching our state primary for Governor here in Massachusetts. All the commercials I’ve seen simply tell how each candidate will cut taxes taxes taxes. “I’ll cut the gas tax.” “I’ll push to roll back the income tax.” “I’ll cut all taxes.”
I can’t help feeling rather discouraged by all the talk, mainly because it’s all [...]
Being betrayed by those around you is just no fun.
I was watching the finale of Bravo’s reality-based TV show, “Top Chef” the other night. The finalists were Tiffany and Harold. Tiffany lost. Her food was good. She took some risks, and some of her dishes paid off. But the other Chefs unanimously said she ran [...]
Ever notice how people don’t change their minds? Even when confronted with compelling evidence against their position, they cling to their position and emotionally shred the evidence rather than face the notion that their beliefs are wrong. As one high-ranking political player told me, “the world is too complicated to worry about whether policies produce [...]
On “The Daily Show” the other night, John Stewart hosted an oil industry expert talking a bit about current oil prices. She was a very happy woman, and her engaging, bubbly personality was just charming enough that she could repeatedly evade John’s questions without being too obvious. I thought I’d step in and answer her [...]
Last night (April 7, 2006) we were watching Scott McClellan in the White House press room responding to an onslaught of questions from reporters about leaks, classified information, and whether President Bush has declassified information for his party’s political gain (versus for the good and safety of the country).
Scott was a masterpiece of composure and [...]
