I've been reading all over the place how badly things are going for US President Bush - disaster after disaster that now threaten to make his administration ineffectual for the next 3 years.
Along comes Michael Barone with a different take on last week's events.
"George W. Bush's administration has come through what many have been saying would be its worst week, and it has turned out to be -- well, if not one of the best, then one that is far more encouraging than most of the mainstream media expected."
Yes, he actually means that good things happened last week that lay the foundation for the Bush administration to make advances in its agenda.
What a difference in perspective from most of the accounts I've read. Which points out how the overwhelming majority of news reposting is really analysis/opinion pieces, not just factual reporting of events. I suppose it's a part of contemporary society, that we want reporting on the "feeling" of things, how people react to news, and not just the events themselves.
Monday, October 31, 2005
Tuesday, October 11, 2005
Under Rice, Powell's Policies Are Reborn
What is the difference between Rice's success and Powell's failure pushing the same agenda?
In one word: travel.
Colin Powell was a great leader, but had a major weakness as Secretary of State - he didn't like to travel.
Condoleeza Rice seems like she is visiting with a different head of state every other day. What a globetrotter!
Her tireless rounds with world leaders gains her major credibility as the spokesperson for American foreign policy, both inside Washington, in foreign capitols, and in press pages around the world.
In one word: travel.
Colin Powell was a great leader, but had a major weakness as Secretary of State - he didn't like to travel.
Condoleeza Rice seems like she is visiting with a different head of state every other day. What a globetrotter!
Her tireless rounds with world leaders gains her major credibility as the spokesperson for American foreign policy, both inside Washington, in foreign capitols, and in press pages around the world.
Monday, October 10, 2005
Just the Facts, Ma'am by John Leo
Turns out that much of what was reported in New Orleans after the Hurricane was rumor and exaggeration. Is this a postmodern subjectivizing of news - trying to communicate the feeling more than the content?
"Personally, I don’t need reporters to supply righteous indignation. I can handle that on my own. What I need is reporters who separate rumor from fact and just tell me what they know for sure actually happened."
"Personally, I don’t need reporters to supply righteous indignation. I can handle that on my own. What I need is reporters who separate rumor from fact and just tell me what they know for sure actually happened."
Sunday, October 09, 2005
Daggers Drawn Over DVDs
Yes, all the competition over technology formats, like the next generation DVD, make it kind of confusing for the average consumer. What to buy so that my stuff doesn't become obsolete?
But it is kind of fun to watch all the tech and media heavyweights battling it out
And in the end, won't it ALL become obsolete? Something better will definitely come along.
In the meantime, everybody will probably produce everything in multiple formats, and there will probably be price wars that make buying the things more attractive. Can you believe I can buy a 21" TV and a DVD player together for about $120?
The most interesting part of this all to me is how global the technology and media businesses have become. These companies do not represent US vs. Japan vs. Germany or any alignments like that. They are much more multinational.
However, China is still pretty much of an outsider in the global tech arena, and trying hard to catch up to get a slice of the pie as a designer and owner as well as a contractor of technology.
But it is kind of fun to watch all the tech and media heavyweights battling it out
And in the end, won't it ALL become obsolete? Something better will definitely come along.
In the meantime, everybody will probably produce everything in multiple formats, and there will probably be price wars that make buying the things more attractive. Can you believe I can buy a 21" TV and a DVD player together for about $120?
The most interesting part of this all to me is how global the technology and media businesses have become. These companies do not represent US vs. Japan vs. Germany or any alignments like that. They are much more multinational.
However, China is still pretty much of an outsider in the global tech arena, and trying hard to catch up to get a slice of the pie as a designer and owner as well as a contractor of technology.
Thursday, October 06, 2005
The 400 Richest Americans
Now look at this list. 4 of the top 5 are technology fortunes, and 5 of the top 10 are from one family.
How things change and yet stay the same.
1 William H. Gates
2 Warren E. Buffett
3 Paul G. Allen
4 Michael Dell
5 Lawrence Ellison
6 Christy Walton
7 Jim C. Walton
8 S. Robson Walton
9 Alice L. Walton
10 Helen R. Walton
How things change and yet stay the same.
1 William H. Gates
2 Warren E. Buffett
3 Paul G. Allen
4 Michael Dell
5 Lawrence Ellison
6 Christy Walton
7 Jim C. Walton
8 S. Robson Walton
9 Alice L. Walton
10 Helen R. Walton
Another way the internet has changed the world
Adverstising.
The internet is the first real worldwide medium. Now advertisers are putting more and more of their money on reaching web-surfers eyeballs.
Chrysler's internet advertising budget will grow from $200 million in 2004 to $400 in 2006. Wow!
Just a reminder of how rapidly and fundamentally the internet has changed the world.
"Google effectively reinvented online advertising with the targeted, classified-like text links that you now see everywhere. Soaring profits from selling those ads have helped drive Google's stock market capitalization to some $85 billion, making Google the most highly prized media company in the world. But while the old guard is keeping a watchful eye on Google, the company they really fear—and the one advertisers increasingly love—is Yahoo."
The internet is the first real worldwide medium. Now advertisers are putting more and more of their money on reaching web-surfers eyeballs.
Chrysler's internet advertising budget will grow from $200 million in 2004 to $400 in 2006. Wow!
Just a reminder of how rapidly and fundamentally the internet has changed the world.
"Google effectively reinvented online advertising with the targeted, classified-like text links that you now see everywhere. Soaring profits from selling those ads have helped drive Google's stock market capitalization to some $85 billion, making Google the most highly prized media company in the world. But while the old guard is keeping a watchful eye on Google, the company they really fear—and the one advertisers increasingly love—is Yahoo."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)