Category: ethics

the future of the NEWS

On By Rick McIn economics, education, ethics, Facebook, good news, internet, product endorsements, things getting worseLeave a comment

What will the most popular news sources of the future look like?

I’m hopeful for the soon to be launched Wikitribune.

Evidence-based journalism

People today mostly get their news from TV (not bad) and social media (terrible).

My favourite news source right now is Axios, just 6 months old.

Smart brevity.

Axios covers 7 areas: politics, tech, media trends, health, science, energy, and future of work (AI, robotics, etc.).

They want to deliver the cleanest, smartest, most efficient and trust-worthy experience for readers and advertisers alike.

It was founded by Mike Allen, former chief political reporter for Politico. I like Politico too, founded in 2007. And  Jim VandeHei.

John F. Harris and Jim VandeHei left The Washington Post to become The Politico‘s editor-in-chief and executive editor, respectively.

So … Washington Post begat Politico begat Axios.

If interested, start by signing up for any of the Axios email newsletters.

 

 

100,000 Banned Books To Build A Full-Size Parthenon

On By Rick McIn books, ethics, governmentLeave a comment

Heinrich Heine:

“Where they burn books, at the end they also burn people,”

Argentinian artist Marta Minujín, 74, has created a monumental replica of the Greek Parthenon from 100,000 copies of banned books. According to the artist, it symbolizes the resistance to political repression.

The Parthenon of Books in Kassel, Germany is part of the Documenta 14 art festival. With the help of students from Kassel University, Minujín identified over 170 titles that were or are banned in different countries around the world, and constructed the full-size replica of the iconic temple from those books, plastic sheeting, and steel. …

Bored Panda

Frantz (film)

On By Rick McIn ethics, governmentLeave a comment

Frantz is a 2016 drama directed by François Ozon. It is about a young German woman whose fiance was killed in World War I, and the remorse of the French soldier who killed him. …

Brian, Jane and I all enjoyed this one.

Excellent acting, especially the two leads Paula Beer as Anna and Pierre Niney as Adrien.

Click PLAY or watch a trailer on YouTube.

Peter Travers – ‘Frantz’ Review: French WWI-Era Mystery Takes on Modern Nationalism, Hate

Francois Ozon’s beguiling tale of a German widow and a Gallic stranger takes on xenophobic hatred that’s as timely as Trump

 

 

Immigrants (We Get The Job Done)

On By Rick McIn economics, ethics, government, musicLeave a comment

Immigration is good for the economy.

In Canada I trust immigrants more than I trust non-immigrants.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

That said … every nation needs immigration laws. Illegal immigrants should be quickly and ethically brought to trials. The Canadian legal system is too slow.

via NPR

whatever happened to racist Kellie Leitch?

On By Rick McIn ethics, government, human rights, humourLeave a comment

Recall the Canadian version of Donald Trump?

She got 6% in the recent Conservative leadership campaign. There’s not much of a market for hateful intolerance in the Great White North.

Click PLAY or watch a This Hour has 22 Minutes spoof on YouTube.

That bit is making fun of her eight-minute campaign video which, if anything, is even worse.

Kellie Leitch should leave politics and return to her medical practice.

I’m not celebrating the 4th of July

On By Rick McIn bad news, economics, ethics, government, things getting worseLeave a comment

His approach is not working. Five months into his first term, Mr Trump presides over a political culture that is even more poisonous than when he took office.  …

The Trump presidency has been plagued by poor judgment and missed opportunities. …

Economist

Unethical, immoral, illegal and unconstitutional. If you still support Trump I’d prefer we never speak again.

The Handmaid’s Tale

On By Rick McIn books, ethics, GOP USA, government, human rightsLeave a comment

Excellent.

A good example of how the great story telling in 2017 is on TV not on film.

If you want to muse on gender equality watch Handmaid’s Tale not Wonder Woman.

This show’s success is mostly Elisabeth Moss. She carries a high percentage of the scenes.

All the casting is superb.

Personally I feel the detailed cinematography and careful sound track are too precious. I wish filmmakers would concentrate on the story and stop showing off so much.

The pacing is too slow for me, as well.

Still … it’s must watch TV in 2017.

Click PLAY or watch a trailer on YouTube.

Gilead is a theocracy run by extremists from the American Religious right.

1. The parallels to Trump’s America are glaring and deliberate. …

2. It’s a parable about male privilege.

3. There will be changes from Atwood’s book.

4. The cinematography is both stunning and specific.

5. The Republic of Gilead parallels Puritanism. …

Why The Handmaid’s Tale Is Destined to Be 2017’s Dystopian Hit

related – 8 Questions We Really Want Answered in The Handmaid’s Tale’s Second Season