Great analysis of the General Motors "rebound" from The New York Times. Repaying the taxpayers with more taxpayer money - what a great idea!
David
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RefBan
Sunday, May 2, 2010
"How Deep is the Ocean:" A Playlist for the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill
Great article by David Wild (no, not me with a typo, but the great Rolling Stone writer!)
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost
Let's have some "Smoke on the Water" to burn off as much oil as we can before the muck hits the shores and marshes and let's send some experts down in a "Yellow Submarine" to fix the darn broken well-head that's causing all of this "T-R-O-U-B-L-E!" After this all settles, though, let's hope the birds and the sea-life will be "Born Free" and that the BP Execs will be singing a little "Jailhouse Rock!"
David http://wyl
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Gulf Coast Oil Spill: Amazing Satellite Imagery from LSU's Earth Scan Lab
Kudos to the hard working researchers at LSU's Earth Scan Lab! They have put together an amazing montage of satellite imagery from the initial fire and explosion on the Deepwater Horizon through the unfortunate spread of the oil slick in the Gulf of Mexico. WWL-TV in New Orelans has put together a great slideshow of the Lab's work - view it below:
LSU Satellite Photos of the Oil Spill
For updates as the Earth Scan Lab continues to monitor the situation, go to - and bookmark - their website at:
LSU Earth Scan Lab
Unfortunately, they look like they're going to be very busy on this for weeks to come!
David
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Oil Spills 101: A Chronology of Famous - or Infamous - Oil Spills
Well, time has a way of making us forget all but the biggest events. So, to provide some context for the current Gulf of Mexico oil spill, here's a handy site that has been put together by the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Office of Response and Restoration. The Deepwater Horizon incident may well end-up being the worst of the lot (lets pray not and get those dispersant agents dropped in the water and the well capped ASAP). However, when you review this list - many in the U.S. - its does make you want to rethink moving to solar, wind, nuclear, etc.
http://www.incidentnews.gov/famous
David
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Controversial Arkansas 2010 Senate Election Ad - Outsourcing Jobs to India
I must say, it's a clever ad. I think where they "jumped the shark" was hiring the Indian-appearing actors and having them portray characters with exaggerated Indian accents. Had this been done as a typical "scary voice over ad" presenting the facts about the company (set to equally scary, horror-movie quality music, of course) I don't think there would have been the outcry over the ad in Arkansas and in the wider political press.
First, watch the ad:
and then
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost
David
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Ken Salazar Calls Gulf Coast Disaster A 'Grave Scenario' And 'Very Catastrophic'
When we have a Cabinet Secretary saying that the federal government's role is that "Our job is to keep the boot on the neck of BP" - THAT'S SCARY. Maybe it's time to hit the full-scale panic button and say to BP "Move over boys, we'll take care of it." The military has more expertise in such matters (already, analogies have been drawn to when Saddam Hussein set the Kuwaiti oil-fields on fire in the first Gulf War).
This is not to say that the private sector can't be useful (remember Red Adair's role in solving the problems in Kuwait), they have a role. Please though - stepping on their neck. The oil spill has went beyond that level of intimidation. I'd say remember the immortal advice that Charles Colson gave to President Nixon in Watergate: "If you've got them by the balls, their hearts and minds will follow" (not that it worked out so well for Nixon, but it made Chuck Colson "Googalable" forever!).
Let's hope for the best, but it is, as Secretary Salazar put it bluntly, "a very grave scenario."
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost
David http://wyl
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New Batman Sequel: Movie Coming In 2012
With 3-D likely to be essential by 2012 (with higher prices accompanying it), this could be the first $2 billion movie! My teens will be lining-up soon!
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost
Get ready and in the mood by remembering "The Dark Knight":
The real version....
and of course, the Lego version
David http://wyl
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Tony Kornheiser Rants on Human Resources
OK, HR departments sometimes take unwarranted flack. However, no one can rant about something they don't like quite like "Mr. Tony." For those who have never heard Tony Kornheiser on the radio, here's evidence of why you should subscribe to his podcast (as I do):
Watch and enjoy (unless you are in the corporate HR department):
David
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Apocalypse Again: Great Commentary on the 2010 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill by David Helvarg
This is a great commentary on the size and scope of the human, economic, and ecological tragedy unfolding before us. He provides the historical context (both in terms of prior disasters befalling both Louisiana and the oil industry) that no commentator has linked so well to date.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost
and watch a great analysis below:
David http://wyl
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Principal Asks Parents To Ban Facebook, Social Networking
As a parent of kiddos in this age range, I see how much tech is indeed changing their lives - for bad, yes, but also for good. Balance is the key, and yes, it is absolutely critical for parents to REALLY talk to their kids - not just text them back! Remember the old management advice for the workplace (which parents, don't forget at home), "hi tech also means hi touch!"
Watch a good overview of the story and an interview with Principal Tony Orsini below:
and the article below also contains the principal's letter to the school's parents:
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost
David http://wyl
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Conan On '60 Minutes': 'I Wouldn't Have Done That' To Leno (VIDEO)
Kudos to Conan for having some principles (tens of millions does help one though in taking a principled stand on the job)!
Watch:
David
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost
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The Language of the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill 2010: No End In Sight For Eco-Disaster
This is a "spot-on" (no pun intended here, of course, with a third of the Gulf of Mexico covered with an oil slick) commentary. Yes, language and framing matter! If one can convey the idea that we're not dealing with a finite amount of oil (as the Exxon Valdez incident was) with this accident, but more an infinite amount of oil gushing from beneath the surface of the ocean, that raises folks' levels of understanding and concern about the incident. Kudos to Time for capturing this one! Hope the rest of the media will follow with terms like "gusher"!
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost
David http://wyl
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Off the Menu: Fastfood Meals for Failures
OK, this article from our friends at that noted business magazine, Cracked, puts the KFC "Double Down" in context - and send you either on your way to McDonald's or straight to vegan-land!
Read
Fastfood Meals for Failures | Cracked.com
Think this is all "off the menu" - some innovative companies actually capitalize on such things. Take
In-N-Out Burger's "Secret Menu" discussed in either hunger building (or pain-staking - depending on your perspective) detail:
David
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Read
Fastfood Meals for Failures | Cracked.com
Think this is all "off the menu" - some innovative companies actually capitalize on such things. Take
In-N-Out Burger's "Secret Menu" discussed in either hunger building (or pain-staking - depending on your perspective) detail:
David
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Bill Maher Slams Obama, Oil Companies After Gulf Coast Oil Spill (VIDEO)
Leave it to Bill Maher to have one of the best discussions on the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill in the context of the larger policy discussions and economic/e
Well worth watching the whole clip at the Huffington Post by clicking on the link below:
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Jimmy Kimmel's Oil Spill Solution - ABC News
OK, while there's impending doom from the oil spill, we might as well have one laugh out of this. Best one I've seen so far comes from Jimmy Kimmel. Watch below:
Originally posted: Jimmy Kimmel's Oil Spill Solution - ABC News
David
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Originally posted: Jimmy Kimmel's Oil Spill Solution - ABC News
David
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Oil Spills 101: How to Fight the Problem
This is a great overview article from the BBC on the various methods that can be employed to both clean-up oil spills and to attack the source of the problem (that f$&^ing gushing, broken well-head). For now and going forward in time (unfortunately), this will be a great resource article on the options for authorities and oh yes, those BP execs (picture below having a briefing on the matter):
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Ok, here's the BBC article to bookmark:
And kiddos, I'll be flattered if you cite me (along with Wikipedia) for your current event or your research paper. If so, drop me an email or comment!
David
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