Category Archives: YouTube
The Business of War (VICE News)
In the last couple of days I’ve watched three or four news documentaries produced by Vice. The one below is titled “The Business of War: SOFEX”
If you invest the 20 minutes to watch this you might conclude — as I did — the world is fucked. Not a little bit fucked. Not “It’s okay, I think we can un-fuck this.” We are Ving-Rhames-Pulp-Fiction fucked.
This documentary explains SO much of what is happening in the world. As you watch it, try to imagine Anderson Cooper or Brian Williams (and the corporations they work for) doing this kind of reporting.
As I watched these reports, I kept contrasting them to the network news formats of the past 20+ years. Half-hour summaries with forest fires and floods at the top, followed by fluffy pretend news at the bottom. With lots and lots of commercials mixed in.
In all fairness, you can sort of imagine a piece like the one below on 60 Minutes but only after the teeth have been extracted.
I spotted the link to this documentary in my Twitter stream. I can play these on my iPhone, any time, anywhere. Or, using AirPlay to stream them to my big screen, watch them at home via Apple TV.
I can only assume the gasping, lumbering news organzations of yore know they are irrelevant but just don’t know what to do about it.
There is nothing on CNN or Fox or XYZ for which I’d pay cash money. But yeah, I’d pay for reporting this good.
Old radio commercials on KBOA
I’ve shared most of this audio here previously now have most of it on YouTube and the player makes it a little easier listen. There’s a small icon at the top-right of the player below that brings up all 14 clips in the playlist. It’s right next to the “settings” gear icon, after you start playing.
Messenger Bag
10th Anniversary of smays.com
Flying people in NYC
Interview with William Gibson (2012)
From book tour promoting Gibson’s first book of non-fiction, Distrust That Particular Flavor
Why SOPA is a bad idea
What does a bill like PIPA/SOPA mean to our shareable world? Clay Shirky delivers a proper manifesto — a call to defend our freedom to create, discuss, link and share, rather than passively consume. The best explanation I’ve seen of this subject.
How the Internet Will Save the World
Dr. David Eagleman gives lecture titled How the Internet Will Save the World: Six Easy Steps to Avert the Collapse of Civilizations. Rome, the Mayans… lots of great civilizations assumed they would go on forever. Just as we do. Eagleman shows you this is not necessarily the case.
Robert Reich: The Truth About the Economy
Robert Reich describes what’s wrong with the economy in 2 minutes.
- The economy doubles since 1980, but wages flat. Where did the money go…
- All (or most) of the gains went to the super rich.
- With money comes political power.
- Taxes on super rich slashed, revenues evaporate.
You might disagree with his economics and/or his politics, but the guy can DRAW!