TODAY.com: Matt Lauer, Ann Curry, Al Roker, Natalie Morales - TODAY show video, news, recipes, health, pets

Very smart to give a timeline of the day's show in order to return to something via the web.

At Angie’s List, the Reviews Are Real (So Is Angie) - NYTimes.com

Why would I trust a review from someone whose real name is not attached to what they say?

Facebook Urges Members to Add Organ Donor Status - NYTimes.com

I think there are huge opportunities to add all sorts of features to existing websites that help a lot of people, including the owners the websites. In fact, I don't think we have begun to explore what all those opporutnities might be.

James Murdoch Testifies Before Judicial Panel - NYTimes.com

Allowing newspapers to conduct themselves in unprofessional ways is dangerous for everyone; it's not a matter of nailing the MURDOCHs as much as it is making sure that no one else is allowing their organizations to be run so badly (in every sense).

Talking With Your Fingers - NYTimes.com

So much yet remains to be known about how technology is affecting the way we communicate with one another.

Editor & Publisher ®

How ironic to have Google buying up a plant that used to make the raw material of newspapers!

Mitt Romney and Benjamin Netanyahu Are Old Friends - NYTimes.com

Given the extent of US deference to Israel today, even under President OBAMA, it is extremely troubling to imagine more of a locked-step march into the future between the US and Israel under ROMNEY.We need to free ourselves of the Israel first-and-only approach and learn, once again, the value of treating all countries equally. I can see no other way to align historical US ideals of non-discrimination with the way we treat other nations.

Angry Customers and Constructive Responses - Career Couch - NYTimes.com

Search the 1940 Census - 1940 Census

Murdoch’s Sky News Channel Admits to E-Mail Hacking - NYTimes.com

I want to think long and hard about this one, starting from the belief that news organizations are subject to the same laws as the rest of us. An "in the public interest" defense is worth considering, and may be the only option, but I am not at all sure that I believe that this defense should prevail.

Trayvon Martin Shooting Prompts a Review of Ideals - NYTimes.com

This is one of those cases, like so many others, when we are so much better served by reserving judgment until we have as many of the facts as can be discerned. Only then can we react however strongly we choose but based on facts and not emotional reactions.

Is this where newspapers are headed?

I saw a headline today to the effect that the US and Israel agree that Iran is not developing a nuclear bomb.When I clicked, below is what I found. Well, maybe I know a little more about the headline, but I am far more confused about whether is the way a newspaper page is going to look in the future and horrified over the notion of the increased blending of US and Israeili interests as shown by the wrap-around banner. Israel is just another country and we should value the people there in precisely the same manner we value people in every other country. I'd much prefer to see our flag morphed into a composite of all of the flags in the region of which Israel is a part.

Disconnect Clear in U.S. Bafflement Over 2 Afghan Responses - NYTimes.com

After 244 Years, Encyclopaedia Britannica Stops the Presses - NYTimes.com

Why I Am Leaving Goldman Sachs - NYTimes.com

The Power to Kill - NYTimes.com

I agree.

BA flight to Nice

I am going to try to post some notes about various flights I have taken, asking quesitons, making observations, etc.
For this flight on 9 March, I was confused once again about a critical safety quesiton. The pictograms in the seat pockets are confusing about life rafts. Do most passengers understand that there is a difference between landing on land and on water? Was it clear when that plane went down in the Hudson River in New York? It seems each plane has the potential to be different and I do not think this is communicated well enough by airlines in general and certainly was not by BA for this flight. Were we to use the exits over the wings or not in the event of "water landing" as they say?
Note sameness of shops at LHR and answer to question about changing to earlier Nice flight. Shops all owned by chains - WHSmith, Dixon's - why not more competition from smaller?
Boardinfg pass from AA at RDU gives no infomration about terminal at LHR.
(Offered second cup of coffee on preceding AA flight to LHR. Warm croissant. Top Chef on the screen.)

Many Consumers Find It Hard to Step Away From Daily Deal Sites - NYTimes.com

Obama: Israel should sign nuclear non-proliferation treaty - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News

With all of the criticism of Iran, does non-signatory status for Israel mean that there are no IAEA inspections? Why is Israel better than Iran? I certainly don't see any reason to treat one country differently than the other. What's the rationale for doing so?

I.B.M. Takes ‘Smarter Cities’ Concept to Rio de Janeiro - NYTimes.com

How many newspapers approach their local coverage in the same way?

Sunday Dialogue - Uniting America Through National Service? - NYTimes.com

President Obama Speaks On Promoting American Manufacturing and Exports | The White House

What, exactly, does North Carolina now export to France, for example, and what could it export? Is there a matrix with details that shows exactly where in the world NC is sending products and services in the rest of the world?

Vivian Maier's Muse - NYTimes.com

I sure can identify with her interest in photographing newspapers!

The Chieftains’ Paddy Maloney Prepares Group’s Golden Jubilee - NYTimes.com

My Debt to Ireland - NYTimes.com

My Dinner With Clay Shirky, and What It Means to 'Friend' Someone - NYTimes.com

Amen!

Steal This Column - NYTimes.com

This is extremely well-stated, and I concur in all that KELLER has said.

Ramapo Rescue Dog Association honored for decades of service - NorthJersey.com

Always happy to see any "Terry Maguire" doing good things!

"It Is Safe to Resume Ignoring the Prophets of Doom ... Right?" - NYTimes.com

I find this piece to be extremely compelling. It should be a cause for concentration, not despair.

The Herald-Sun - No one hurt in Chapel Hill house fire

I wonder why it is that newspapers still think that their only job is to get a story out the door and on paper and then their job ends. In this case, others may be interested, as I am, in the "rest" of the story. What are the chances that we will see it here or anywhere? In other words, why are we not offered the option of leaving an e-mail address with a request to send an update on the story if the newspaper chooses to add something when the fire marshal completes the investigation?

Doctor-Patient Communication in Today's Digital Age | The Diane Rehm Show from WAMU and NPR

In Antipiracy Debate, Media Worlds (and Generations) Clash - NYTimes.com

Hard Truths About Disclosure - NYTimes.com

My flights on American

We flew out to San Jose, CA on 18 January, via Chicago's O'Hare. The first flight from RDU was a surprise in that it turned out to be a Embraer regional jet. That meant that we came close to having to check our carry-on bags at planeside. Why did American not make this clear in the booking? The second flight was a more positive surprise in that we found we were on a large enough plane to be able to watch a movie. It was not announced, but turned out to be Moneyball - as promised in the American magazine. We were struck on both flights not by the absence of any food but by the absence of any snack whatsoever. Ah, times have changed.

Cash-strapped Ireland tests limits of austerity

Web Site Will Shut Down to Protest Antipiracy Bills - NYTimes.com

This is such a poorly informed discussion. Extremism on both sides is leading to an unfortunate missed opportunity to reaffirm a core principle - if you steal something from someone else, you are obliged to pay for it and to pay a penalty. The zealots in opposition to the legislation do not believe this principle, no matter what they say. And the people protecting legitimate copyright interests have failed to keep the discussion at the level it merits - if you steal, you pay. That's more important than all of the ethereal discussion about the opportunities for people to "use" the work of others to make a better world. And it is a more fundamental policy issues demanding fresh articulation.

Top 1% of Mobile Users Use Half of World’s Wireless Bandwidth - NYTimes.com

This will look right when the top 1% pay the fully allocated costs of using their 50% which should be about 50% of the total charges recouped by the phone companies.

W.H.O. Reports 25 Percent Drop in Malaria Deaths in a Decade - NYTimes.com

Some really good news for a change!

Tugboats - NYTimes.com

Ireland’s Diaspora, Yet Again - NYTimes.com

Congress Restricts Aid to Egypt, Pakistan - NYTimes.com

How about a little budget cutting and spending saving when it comes to Israel, too?

Hobbling the Fight Against Terrorism - NYTimes.com

Veto.

Why, Mr. President?

Why have you taken such an un-American position on this matter? I simply do not understand why or what has changed.

Ireland’s Austerity Hailed as Example of Financial Survival - NYTimes.com

The causes of cancer you can control : Cancer Research UK - Cancer Research UK - Science Update blog

How do we put this to use in NC?

Romney vows to visit Israel first if elected to White House - Yahoo! News

Well, he could pick any place to imagine visiting as President. What I'd like to know is why he picked Israel over China, Ireland, France, Germany, Libya, Israel, Burundi, Kazahkstan, etc. If I were in a position to ask him, I'd press him to say why shouldn't any other country be first?

Ireland’s Austerity Hailed as Example of Financial Survival - NYTimes.com

Around the World in One Movie - Film Financing’s Global Future - NYTimes.com

What's the newspaper reporting equivalent of this? Surely, it could be much more than very good AP reporters spread about the globe.

"Many Online Book Buyers First Shop Around in Stores" - NYTimes.com

How about those who first read a newspaper and then go buy something based on an ad, story, review, or other content in a printed or digital newspaper?

"Facebook tells Ann Marie to ‘Effin off’" - Irish Examiner

As an Irishman, the Facebook action is obnoxious.

"Invitation to a Dialogue - Nameless on the Web?" - NYTimes.com

The only responsible thing for the owner of a website or online offering to do is to insist on real names, grant highly limited exceptions, police abuse and discourage, aggressively, the idea that "public performances" by anonymous "players" ought to bring public dientificaiton as well.

"For European Union and the Euro, a Moment of Truth" - NYTimes.com

There seems to be such a disconnect between a story like this and the lives of most people in Europe, at least in France. As I watch US and French news in various media from here, I sense almost a reluctance to cover this story of the economy the way it should be covered. Why? Because people's eyes glaze over so quickly when the subject is raised or simply start thinking the worst. How do we put in this in better personal perspective - not just how it affects pocketbooks but how a democratic society (ies) can work together with all their citizens to solve the problem. Surely, this is doable.
For example, here in Nice, what are 10 things that each of us might do in the week ahead to help address the problem? Is it a question of saving, spending, sending a message to someone, coming up with an idea, doing something differently? What is it? In a democratic society, we ought to be able to help out everyone and ourselves if we just get ourselves more knowledgeably organized.

"With Flixster, Studios Bet Consumers Will Buy Movies Again" - NYTimes.com

What an interesting idea.
If going to the movies costs 10-15 USD for two people, how much would I pay, when, to be able to watch it live in a theater and then later. 20?
Hmmm.

"Are Apps Making Cookbooks Obsolete?" - NYTimes.com

The answer to this question will tell us a lot about the future of newspapers, believe it or not!

"National Security and America’s Unnecessary Secrets" - NYTimes.com

Agreed.

Times Events

The New York Times does these very well.
What I keep thinking, however, is that every newspaper has their own set of internal stars and people whom they can attract to an event. Why are more newspapers not doing this on their own scale in their own markets and making it all part of the service those newspapers offer to their customers, present, past, and future?

Finding e-mail addresses

I don't know why it remains so hard to find an e-mail address for someone. Why don't the same rules apply as for phone numbers. They are so much easier to find.

Someone needs to come up with a way to do this. There are such simple ways to do it so that people don't get bombarded with spam if that is what worries many.

But if you are at a company or in business in some way and you don't at least allow me to click on your name and send through a form to YOU, there is something wrong with how you look at the world beyond yourself. Sometimes someone might just have something to offer and you may miss it if you frustrate their good faith effort to reach you in such a gentle way by e-mail.

We both lose when this happens!

"Citizen Journalism And The Need To Verify" - WUNC

It does not sound as though they are verifying anything other than that the video has not been doctored. That hardly constitutes verification, and the assertion of the need to allow anonymous posting of these things is ludicrous except in rare exceptional situations. Put your name on it if you want anyone to believe you, and even that is only a starting point, or at least should be!

"His Libraries, 12,000 So Far, Change Lives" - NYTimes.com

Sounds pretty exciting, and I don't recall reading much about this project. Need to read more, so to speak!

Times Wire - Sunday morning photos

This is what the photo section of Times Wire looks like right now at about 2:30 AM EST. Lots of happy couples, no? Look closely.

"Can Politicians Really Create Jobs?" - NYTimes.com

Finally, something on this subject makes sense however discouraging this is.

KARDASHIAN v. What's His Name?

I just saw a headline about something to do with the KARDASHIANs which I take it are reality television stars of some sort who hold a mysterious fascination for millions of people. So far, at least, I am not one of them, and can honeslty say I have never watched them in anything anywhere to my knowledge.
But here is my point. I remember the name and how, I think, to spell it.
The other day, I was writing something about the Greek crisis and for a moment I could not remember Prime Minister PAPANDREOU's name. Yes, I recalled it and miraculously seem to have spelled it one of the accepted ways.
What does it say that someone with no interest in the former and huge interest in the latter, remembers the first but not the second?
It says embarrassing to me, but what about everyone else?

"Dismal Tale of Arrest for Tiniest of Crimes" - NYTimes.com

What an awful message this send to the rest of the world. This should not happen anywhere in the US, or anywhere else!

"Is the Web Amplifying Consumers' Voices?" - NYTimes.com

What an important question!

"Israel and the Apartheid Slander" - NYTimes.com

This eminent writer misses the point, I believe. If Israel were not determined to be a Jewish state, everyone would be equal and problems might even become manageable. But this Jewish state mentality means that you are either one of us, or not, and if you are not, then you will be treated differently at least in our minds if not in our laws and acts. That's the problem, and until Israel decides that it just wants to be another fully democratic country and let the chips fall where they may in terms of who governs and the role that religion plays, claims, slanderous or not, about Israel's treatment of Arabs will persist.

"Trial of Officers in Haitian Prison Massacre Is Test of System" - NYTimes.com

Why can't we come to the point where we treat our neighbors as ourselves in terms of news coverage. This story is super as far as it goes. But I have trouble remembering the last Haiti story I saw on the NYT home page. Not to mention the rest of the Caribbean and Canada. Yes, Mexico appears more often, but usually only on one subject, as incredibly important as violence there is -- it is not the whole story of Mexico. Nor is this trial the whole story of Haiti.

"Unesco Approves Full Membership for Palestinians" - NYTimes.com

I am delighted to be writing this from one of the countries that voted in favor of this, France. The US no vote is reflection mostly of special interests and a warped sense of fairness.

"As News Animations Go Mainstream, Taiwanese Pioneers Try Playing It Straight" - NYTimes.com

I sure think animation is going to be a more critical part of news reporting in the future. Which newspaper uses animation most often? Think hard!

"Far From a New Dawn in Europe" - NYTimes.com

Alas, he is right, I believe.

"Beyond Occupy" - NYTimes.com

Yet one more example of that "learn from other countries" idea noted below.

"Deutsche Post Reinvents Services in a Digital World" - NYTimes.com

What a great example of how we can learn from what others do.

Frustrations - Singapore Media Development event

I tried to see a list of all events for the next year and only get the first one to display.

Frustrations - NYTimes.com and FB

So I click the button that says "Log In With Facebook" and I get "error".

"Flat Taxes and Angry Voters" - NYTimes.com

I think we would make the debate so much better informed if we enabled people to better understand how different ideas play out in other countries. Consider taxes and France, for example. How about a profile of a manager in a retail business in France compared to one in the US. How much does each earn, but then how does it all work out in the family in terms of taxes and spending? With all of the time I have spent in France and with French people, I am still a little confused. In order to work, I think, this needs to be a year in the life sort of thing. But, of course, it has to be condensed into something that is animated, illustrated and clear.

World Association of Newspapers' Golden Pen of Freedom Award - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This needs an ongoing discussion and updating of all winners.

"On Hulu and YouTube, Commercials by Multiple Choice" - NYTimes.com

Smart.

"America’s Exploding Pipe Dream" - NYTimes.com

But look most at this link.

"New Show Steps Up Product Placement" - NYTimes.com

Will we ever see this in the "entertainment" pages of newspapers? If it arrives there, can news be far behind for many publications? Don't think The New York Times; rather, imagine a small, struggling local or regional newspaper that has lost its classifieds and other advertisers.

"Without Computer Security, Sources’ Secrets Aren’t Safe With Journalists" - NYTimes.com

What an important conversation this piece prompts.

"New Poll Finds a Deep Distrust of Government" - NYTimes.com

Fear and distrust are so much attracted to one another.

"Les Combattants de l'ombre, des résistants européens contre le nazisme" - ARTE

Looks like it will be worth watching!

The future of newspapers?

I signed up for a bunch of "deals" offers by various newspapers in a couple of countries and some number of cities. It's not something that I open regularly, but when I do I usually find something like this and wonder if this is the future of newspapers?

"Bonuses Worthy of Protest for Gannett and Tribune Executives" - NYTimes.com

These people are no longer worth a small fraction of what they are paid. There are brighter and better peopel who could do these jobs for 10% of the salaries and bonuses and maybe even achieve better results. Why don't they get the offers?

"Seven Billion" - NYTimes.com

How do we get our collective arms around 7,000,000,000 people?

"Economists See More Jobs for Machines, Not People" - NYTimes.com

This sure looks like it is worth a scary read.

"New online Lowe's service is all about customer loyalty" - Local/State - NewsObserver.com

Why aren't newspapers offering this for much more of our lives?

"For Rhode Island, the Pension Crisis Is Now" - NYTimes.com

So, Rhode Island's population is a little over 1 million. How do we calculate - or where do we find its GDP? Why? Because it would be interesting to compare it with Greece with a population of nearly 11.5 million and a GDP of about (changing target for sure) 300 billion USD. How do they compare, being at the small and suffering end of their respective communities - the US and EU?

"Where Islam and democracy meet, uneasily" - David Rohde

A useful view of Turkey.

Catalogue du 26 au 31 Octobre 2011

What's the difference between this and a newspaper? It's not a trick question.

Europe

I posted this on Facebook earlier in response to a post from an old friend:
"Well, the crisis here in Europe may or may not be the result of Wall Street or other US actions, or even banks in both places. What it has become is more clear ant it is a Europe-wide self-analysis of all of the elements of the European Union. Everything about Europe is coming into question as the differences between north and south, for example or between west and the new members in the east become more important than ever. European versions of real estate crises, and market deflations combined with inflation, and the shock of sudden change forced by someone in Brussels or in some combination of France and Germany is just overwhelming millions of people in ways that are only suggested by what we see in the US. The Financial Times calculated that the Greek austerity plan – on average – is costing each household in Greece 14% of its income, double what the Irish are losing. Meanwhile there are dramatic differences between the French and German positions, and one hopes they get resolved before the G20 meeting near here in coming weeks. I think the chances of the EU staying together as it now is constituted are 50-50 at best. Leaders here are going to fall fast, I think, and what follows is anybody’s guess. President SARKOZY now (as of yesterday) polls 23% of the votes in next March’s presidential election, only 4% more than the extreme right candidate of the National Front. BERLUSCONI hangs on by a thin spaghetti strand, Ireland has already dumped its government, others are in flux, too. The only happy news here in a week has been the birth of a daughter – Julia - to SARKOZY and his wife, Carla BRUNI while he was trying to work out an agreement with MERKEL in Germany."

"Google+ va autoriser l'utilisation des pseudonymes" - Le Monde

If I understsand correctly what Google has said, it is one of the worst decisions that I think the company has ever made.

"Bus Segregation of Jewish Women Prompts Review" - NYTimes.com

This should not happen on public transportation in the US no matter what religion is involved. Period.

"Euro, Meant to Unite Europe, Seems to Be Dividing It" - NYTimes.com

Alas, if anything, I think this understates the crisis. It is so fundamental as to be possibly insurmountable. And if not resolvable, then what? I have no clear idea.

"Murdochs’ Infighting Clouds Future of News Corp" - NYTimes.com

This may be a good time to reflect a little on "modern management" v. "family control". That reflection ought to start with the realization that neither is better than the other, but that the media "family controled" firms are few and far between and so the future is likely to be much more of the former and little or none of the latter. That is to say - this is a story we may never see again.

"Five Point Snacks Takes a Stand" - NYTimes.com

I am surprised that more products did not start doing this sort of thing a long time ago for all sorts of causes.

"Limbaugh Defends Lord's Resistance Army" - NYTimes.com

To label Rush LIMBAUGH an ass is to lavish too much praise upon him.

"A Hostage-Taker Calls, and a French News Blog Begins Tweeting" - NYTimes.com

Most reporters are running huge risks in acting on anything that comes to them over a social network.

Recession interest

Compare these two - this from The Economist and this from Google.

"Bahraini Medics Seek Probe Of Prison Sentences" - NPR

I expect our President to speak out against this punishment. Where is his statement? What are his actions? If this is not a no-brainer - i.e., speak out - I don't know what is. Please, show us what we thought you were, Mr. President!

"With Deaths of Forests, a Loss of Crucial Climate Protectors" - NYTimes.com

I'd sure like to understand this from a North Carolina perspective, and then take that understanding more global. The world looks different depending on where you look at it.