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The Bilderberg Group is convening for their annual conference in Switzerland over the weekend.  Conspiracy and speculation can be entertaining, and I feel that either the power-brokers from Europe and the Americas getting together for a informal brain-storming session without the ideas they throw out being beholden to their politicians, press or investors to promote trans-Atlantic cooperation and sustainability or reptillian overlords plotting the enslavement of all of humanity are both equally plausible--behind closed doors.  I do not think, however, that this body is deciding on the news and developments for the coming year or acts as the shadow, world government.  If that were the case, I think they would be better hidden, less tolerant of the unexpected, and their agendas maybe would have been betrayed by puppets' string long ago.

for a gin and for a snare

With all the negative publicity that the lowly cucumber has been unfairly the brunt of and all the vegetable kingdom round, one might take the time to appreciate the idea of the garnish. It is surely shunned and revialed now, like a dental-retainer on the dinner table or some old chewing gum underneath it with the E. Coli epidemic still unsettled. This old Scottish bootleg distiller, Hendricks' (for what self-respecting and storied blender of Scotch would own up to a gin-joint on the side), makes its gin in an atmosphere of old roses and cucumbers, with a lot recipes to boot.  Besides, the alcohol would kill any stray germs.    Their website--and a good drink is not something that can just be beamed over the Internets--has a host of clever animations--reminiscent, I think, of Monty Python or Jib Jab, trivia, and oddities perfect for roquefort cheese.

grading on the curve or chatham house rules

The excellent curators at BoingBoing point our attention to a piece in the UK Guardian about credibility, reliable sources, and appropriate disdain- and skepticism-response. Whether or not readers share the estimate of newsworthiness, ascribe to the same crypto-ideology, still inviting an open discussion about the nature of journalism and whatever it has atrophied into--propaganda, social engineering, decoy--elevates any subject. There are no easy answers for the role of media and where the divide is between duty to report, duty to educate and sensationalism and indoctrination. The completely objective does not raise armies but trawling and anonymity, though seductive, demand, too, that the reader consider the source. Self-promotion should be vetted in the same way and is mostly harmless, and ought to be afforded the same opportunity and protection as undisclosed tipsters, ventors and activists, just as long as it is not presented dishonestly. That last standard, however, is very challenging to enforce and apply.

Die hervorragenden Kustos von BoingBoing zeigen einen Artikel vom Guardian des UKs über die journalistische Integrität und angemessene Leser-Skepsis (Schadenfreude). Egal ob die Leser teilen dieselbe Meinung oder nicht , über die neuartige Natur des Journalismus sprechend, erhebt das Thema. Die Verantwortung der Medien ist schwierig zu bestimmen. Was trennt Berichtspflichten von der Sensationshascherei oder Indoktrinierung? Neutralen Berichterstattung keine Anhänger gewinnen, und verführerische Geschichten sollten mit Vorsicht anzuwenden sind. Selbstdarstellerdrang sollte auf gleiche Weise untersucht werden. Tippfreunde, Nörgler und Aktivisten wird mit dem Standardverfahren behandelt, sofern sie nicht als die Wahrheit getarnt. Diese letzte Voraussetzung ist für alle eine Herausforderung zu durchsetzen.

hate something, change something

The Huffington Post has put out a nice editorial piece that is a profile in account-ability and sobering recognition that it is us (all of us) that is plotting to murderlize the goose-that-laid-the-golden-egg. Desperate American and global economic reports are becoming undeniable and compel solutions--and perhaps inviting everyone to join the dialogue, instead of just those boxed into a corner already and the prophets of doom that will realize some revenue from the downfall itself. The article brings up the subject of sunk costs (spilt-milk) and the search for blame and cause in the housing crisis is a distraction. Joblessness is a much more immediate peril than diminishing resale value, projected and estimated worth--and more Americans are falling on tough times because of bleak employment opportunities. There is a lot of suffering and the government is not being a very good advocate by looking backwards. Ways to move forward would include regulatory reform, massive public-works projects, and equitable taxation. One other aspect, however, that is not being loudly discussed is amnesty and forgiveness. No business wants to sacrifice bad debt and defaults willing, but the drive to collect on everything owed, either predatorily or unwisely committed to, and lay claims to already saturated industries is putting too much pressure on the goose.

Das Huffington Post hat ein nettes Heraus-geberstück (auf englisch) ausgestellt, das ein Profil in der Verantwort-lichkeit und ernüchternder Anerkennung ist: uns selbst (wir alle) hatte, der die Huhn, die goldene Eier legt, geschlachtet. Verzweifelte amerikanische und globale Wirtschaftsberichte werden unleugbar und fordern Lösungen. Vielleicht lädt diese Aufmerksamkeit jeden ein sich anzuschließen. Vielleicht jetzt wird das Gespräch auf Profitmacher nicht eingeschränkt. Die Suche nach Schuld in der US-Immobilienkrise wird verlorene Aufwendungen. Wertvermehrung ist weniger wichtig als Erwerbsarbeit. Es gibt viel Leiden, und die Regierung ist unverantwortlich, indem sie immer nur zurückblicken. Reform-Dialog, öffentlichen Aufträgen, und Steuerreform kann wegweisend sein. Zusätzlich gibt es die Idee von der Amnestie und Schuldenerlasse. Keine Gesellschaft will einen Gewinn verpassen, aber Gier tötet das Huhn.