Monday 7 December 2009

must see t.v. or proud as a peacock


An article highlighted a rather disturbing coincidence concerning the aquisition of the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) by cable conglomerate Comcast.  The merger still needs Congressional approval before proceding, and given Obama's professed stance on the laxity of others in enforcing the break up of monopolies and cartels, one might expect that the deal would fall through--especially considering such a large stake of US media outlets is covered by a single umbrella.  NBC reporting, however, has just come out in favour of the Democrats' health care platform.  Is policy determined that way?  Do law makers consider how to get in on this or that action before giving this giant buffer to freedom of the press their blessings?  Would the new mouthpiece that the government pwn'd, state-owned media, be effective in blathering only what's favourable about their health care plans?

wonderful, wonderful Copenhagen

To greet delegates as they arrive at the airport for the climate summit, which gets underway Monday, Greenpeace has hung a series of posters of world leaders, electronically aged eleven years, apologizing for not affecting real change to protect and preserve the environment when they had the chance.  Old Meta-Obama looks wizened and sad.  Some 140 private jets will be decending on the capital's airport (though unable to park on the tarmac during the conference due to lack of space, will wait to pick up their charges at Finnish run-ways) and a fleet of 1200 limousines will clog the streets.  I can't believe the wake of bureaucracy and minding that conferences such as these pull.

Friday 4 December 2009

did we drink the kool-aid?


I hope have not grown overly cynical, but I have to wonder if Obama has delivered or if it's too soon to judge, obstacles of the old guard still in place.  But the new boss is looking a lot like the old boss, in terms of policy and promises.  Especially after seeing the hollow performance from the other night on sending more US troops to Afghanistan and bullying the European Bloc into committing more, I feel sorely disappointed.  I wonder if it was not all a cruel hoax, and that the media darling isn't just another tool of the international banking conspiracy.  I feel cheated.  I don't want to be duped, nor do I want his supporters, hopeful and weary, to feel that their confidence was misplaced.  Scarier things are brewing too.  I think the world is more comfortable with the idea of a New World Order, a world super government, since the launch of the European Union.  It's still quaint and Old World after all, and the French are still the French and the Germans are still the Germans, and there's even room for quirks like the Holy See or princely Lichtenstein.  Maybe people think that's what the corporate overlords have planned for them. 

Thursday 3 December 2009

frenzy

I am terrible when it comes to shopping, absolutely incorrigible, and in the end never feel satisfied with the whole gift giving process.  It's completely out of bounds, but I feel a bit resentful when it seems to come so easily for some people.  I think I am more creative when I feel pressed for time, but instead, I'll nurse some guilt over not pacing myself and going about things methodically.  I like this poster for a local holiday bazaar--it looks like a virus on a Fruitopia calidescope.  Meanwhile, I have a meeting to attend on how to have (effective) meetings...

Wednesday 2 December 2009

iconoclasts


These pilfered emails and documents that supposedly throw the ideas of anthropologic climate change and global warming out with the bath water really incite strong argument, especially ahead of the Copenhagen summit.  It seems to me to have heavy religious overtones, like Martin Luther nailing his ninety-five theses to the cathedral door, like a split between Catholicism and the Evangelics.  The climate-sceptics would underestimate and belittle the hand of man when it comes to screwing things up.  The adherents would cast aspersions on any pall of doubt in that regard.  Regardless of the truthiness to either side, I cannot see the harm in wanting to preserve habitat and fossil fuels for coming generations.  I'd no more want to have to visit a museum to see trees than to see Republicans or pandas.

Tuesday 1 December 2009

hadj-podge and Swiss Miss

Sunday, against the advice of its government and the governments of the European Union, Swiss voters lent their support for a ban on the building of new minarets.  Now there are four mosques to compete with church steeples, but apparently no more.  I don't know what this move says about the constituency, but I understand that the intent of the passage was not to promote religious discrimination but to counter it, since some would argue that Islam has institutionalized gender inequalities, which go against Swiss law.  Elsewhere, there is controversy over head scarves in France and plans to build Europe's largest mosque in Koln, next to one of the largest cathedrals.  What I think is most interesting about this vote, however, is the attention given to the fact that Switzerland is bucking the recommendations of others.  I remember the fact that before 1918, not so long ago, the only democracies in Europe were France, Switzerland and tiny San Marino.  Every place else was a monarchy.