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Television (TV) is a tool- it can be an evil distraction or used for learning, and creating good. Back in the 1970′s, I belonged to a world-wide fraternal organization that had representatives for each of the 50 United States, and several foreign countries. I remember being at a convention in Atlantic City, NJ, where a synopsis of each representative’s report was given by the leader of the organization, who prefaced her remarks with “I feel like I’ve traveled all over the world without leaving my chair.”. The person sitting next to me commented “See- she DOES smoke that funny stuff!”.

Advances in technology, especially in TV and computers, have enabled us to have contact with people from all over the globe. The World Wide Web gives us insights into the cultures and lifestyles of people from other countries. So do television programs from other countries.

As an American, I am amazed at how prudish we are when it comes to sex and nudity on television! When nudity is shown on television, 99 percent of the time, it is female nudity. Come on, we women like to look, too! Just watch any European TV show, especially the commercials. Watch one of those special “Uncensored Commercials” television shows that the networks have from time to time, and you will be amazed at the difference between the commercials shown here and abroad. Alas- the “Uncensored Commercials” show WILL censor the commercials to make them “suitable” for viewing in the US. Footballers Wives is one of my favorite British shows, and shows male and female nudity, unabashed and uncensored.

TV Censorship has become a huge problem since 2001, when the neocons took office. The standards are getting more and more restrictive, and the penalties more and more ridiculous. Janet Jackson’s infamous “wardrobe malfunction” during a Super Bowl halftime is a prime example. Federal Communications Commission chief Michael Powell promised an investigation into whether CBS violated decency laws, with potential fines of up to $27,500 PER AFFILIATE WHICH AIRED THE GAME!! . If applied to each CBS station, the fine could reach into the millions. The FCC in the United States is running rampant!! I can’t even enjoy watching South Park on TV anymore- half of the dialogue is “bleeped” out. Soon, there will be nothing left on American TV but Mother Goose nursery rhymes. I know that children should be protected, but ultimately, that’s the responsibility of the parents.

Another problem with getting objective and uncensored television is media conglomeration. Nine corporations, mostly US owned, dominate the media world : AOL-Time Warner, Disney, Bertelsmann, Viacom, News Corporation, TCI, General Electric (owner of NBC), Sony (owner of Columbia and TriStar Pictures and major recording interests), and Seagram (owner of Universal film and music interests). You might ask, “What is wrong with a few companies becoming so big? Isn’t that how business works?” Focusing on democracy-enhancing principles and the institutions needed for it such as the media and journalism, the concern that arises is that there are very few media owners in the mainstream that reach out to the masses. As a result, there is the risk of reducing the diversity of issues and perspectives and of political influence and interests from a few affecting the many. We have seen this happening since 2001, when the televison, radio and print media seemed to be under tighter and tighter government control. To illustrate: during the Vietnam War, the American public saw images of war on their TV screens, and of flag-draped coffins returning with the bodies of soldiers slain in battle. These images have been “scrubbed” from the TV media coverage of the Iraqi war, probably at the behest of the “powers that be” in government. Why?

The American media did cover the recent Tsunami, and the devastation that it wrought in Asia. We were told by the news anchors appearing on our TV sets that the tsunami was caused by an earthquake. What was NOT mentioned by the American media, but WAS mentioned by news sources in Greece, was that there had been some bomb tests off the coast of Thailand in the Indian Ocean just a few days before the giant waves crashed ashore!! Again, here is government censorship of our media tightening the noose around our necks, and cutting off the flow of information to our brains.

The only real solution for the thinking person who wants to be fully informed is to access TV news media from around the world, and compare notes on how news stories are presented by different broadcasters. Even if you just want to be entertained, having access to television shows from different countries enriches the quality of life.

http://www.ezniche.com/data/article.php?l=125

Author: Dottye Blake

The Monaco Grand Prix ranks among the top sporting events in the world, and for good reason.

The combination of Formula One cars street racing and the influx of celebrities to the playground of Europe make a heady mix for the annual event, and is viewed as part of the social calendar for the world’s top sports stars, actors, models and businessmen.

The circuit takes in Casino Square and passes by the renowned Hotel de Paris in Monte Carlo, making it one of the most recognisable hotels in the world.

The race started in 1929, organised by Monte Carlo resident and founding president of the Automobile Club de Monaco, Anthony Noghes, and the Grand Prix has made the world’s second smallest country a destination of choice for many.

While Monaco enjoys the attention of the world’s media for one weekend every May, she also attracts many people long term to become residents due to her tax haven status, and residents enjoy a zero rated income tax.

In recent years Monaco has attracted the wealthy for another visit. The annual Monaco Yacht Show in September has the most exclusive yachts in the world moor at the harbour in Fontvieille, and the hotels in Monte Carlo and Monaco are booked full nearly a year in advance.

For both events, the Monaco Grand Prix and the Yacht Show many visitors stay in nearby Nice and travel in, and the hotels in Monaco enjoy full occupancy at premium rates.

Monaco Real Estate

Once a European backwater, Prince Rainier turned Monaco into one of Europe’s best known locations, combining glamour with an income tax free policy that has attracted millionaires and billionaires to the principality for the last forty years.

Real estate prices reflect the prestige and tax advantages of living in Monaco. One local Monaco estate agency report that currently they have a one bedroom apartment, with no sea views, available at 880,000 Euros. And by the time closing costs are taken into account this rises to around a million Euros.

A two bedroom two bathroom apartment in Monte Carlo is available for 1,900,000 Euros.

And a five bedroom four bathroom apartment, recently featured on the BBC’s Money Programme ‘No tax please – we’re rich’, in Fontveille, the same area of Monaco where the Hotel Columbus, part owned by Grand Prix driver David Coulthard, is situated with Mediterranean views is available for ten million Euros.

With demand from clients worldwide the prices of real estate in Monaco is likely to be among the highest in the world for the forseeable future.

Commenting on the local property market, several estate agents have reported good sales for Monte Carlo real estate and for Monaco generally in the first quarter of 2006, with the top end of properties in Monaco doing particularly well compared to the same quarter last year.

And there are rumours among the owners of the hotels in Monaco and Monaco Real Estate industry that two islands could be built with bridges to connect them to Monte Carlo which would allow some 5000 new low rise properties and a hotel to be built.

If the rumours become true of more availability of properties and a new hotel in Monaco the possibility also exists of an extended or changed circuit for the Monaco Grand Prix in years to come.

Author: Roger Munns

Canadians are encouraged to register today for the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup, presented by Loblaw Companies Limited, at www.shorelinecleanup.ca . The event takes place at hundreds of sites across Canada from September 18 to 26. Registration for new sites closes September 10, and for participants on September 18.

The Great Canadian Shoreline cleanup is a grassroots direct action conservation program started by the Vancouver Aquarium. The program inspires Canadians to become environmental citizens by bringing communities together to achieve real measurable impacts on the environment. The Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup is the largest cleanup in Canada and one of the largest cleanups in the world contributing to the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup. Since inception of the program, nearly one million kilograms of shoreline litter has been removed from our fragile ecosystem.

About the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup

The Great Canadian Shoreline cleanup is a grassroots direct action conservation program started by the Vancouver Aquarium. The program inspires Canadians to become environmental citizens by bringing communities together to achieve real measurable impacts on the environment. The 2010 annual Great Canadian Shoreline cleanup takes place September 18-26. Register at www.shorelinecleanup.ca . The Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup is the largest cleanup in Canada and one of the largest cleanups in the world contributing to the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup. Since inception of the program, nearly one million kilograms of shoreline litter has been removed from our fragile ecosystem.

About the Vancouver Aquarium

The Vancouver Aquarium is a global leader in connecting people to our natural world, and a self- supporting, non-profit association dedicated to effecting the conservation of aquatic life through display and interpretation, conservation practices, education, research, and direct action. Learn more at www.vanaqua.org .

About WWF-Canada

WWF-Canada is one of the world’s largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with more than 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the earth’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world’s biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption. Learn more at www.wwf.ca or www.facebook.com/wwfcanada .

About Loblaw Companies Limited

Loblaw Companies Limited, a subsidiary of George Weston Limited, is Canada’s largest food distributor and a leading provider of drugstore, general merchandise and financial products and services. Loblaw is one of the largest private sector employers in Canada. With more than 1,000 corporate and franchised stores from coast to coast, Loblaw and its franchisees employ over 138,000 full-time and part-time employees. Through its portfolio of store formats, Loblaw is committed to providing Canadians with a wide, growing and successful range of products and services to meet the everyday household demands of Canadian customers. Loblaw is known for the quality, innovation and value of its food offering. It offers Canada’s strongest control (private) label program, including the unique President’s Choice®, no name® and Joe Fresh Style® brands. In addition, the Company makes available to customers President’s Choice Financial® services and offers the PC® points loyalty program.

Contacts: MEDIA CONTACT Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup Jean Fong 1-800-375-8776 jean.fong@vanaqua.org WWF-Canada Riannon John 416-489-4567 ext. 7228 rjohn@wwfcanada.org

The chairman and founder of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Lab recently launched the $100 laptop to the world’s media. Is it necessary?

MIT rolled out a non-profit association, called One Laptop Per Child, to design, manufacture and distribute laptops that will be provided to various governments at cost price and issued to children by participating schools on a basis of one laptop per child. These machines will be rugged, Linux-based and so energy-efficient that hand cranking alone can generate sufficient power for operation.

The internet connectivity question is addressed in a few different ways, including the use of Wi-Fi, WiMax, 3G and satellites, as well as fibre, coaxial cable and plain old telephony. Competition, deregulation and the fact that the developing world is now the only new telecommunications market, will all perhaps contribute to wider reaching availability, greater bandwidth and, most importantly in these countries, lower connectivity costs.

The solution offered is a $100 laptop: a durable, versatile machine at a price the developing world can afford. The fact that this has been achieved is actually a remarkable achievement, the very notion of which until very recently was shunned by industry leaders as impossible.

The strongest argument in favour of this cheap laptop idea rests on the laurel that the greatest assets of a people are its children, and so the highest social priority is on the education of these children. Throughout disease, natural disasters, war and poverty, education features as the primary solution to the problem.

Most educators would argue that effective learning stems from a fundamental level of personal curiosity about a subject, and in a sense the ability to self-teach. The key point here is not so much what each child knows so far, it is rather the perspective that they can bring to bear on a problem. It is well known from case studies that network learning, augmented by technology, computers and Internet connectivity, bears heavy fruit in academic terms.

The economics of a $100 laptop base around the following: Around half the purchase price of a new laptop is taken up by the cost of sales, marketing, distribution, and of course the ever shameless profit-margin. By sidestepping the entire retail market and distributing directly to governments in the absence of profit-driven aims a huge chunk of the price per model is evaporated.

Physically the most expensive aspect would be the display. The use of an MIT technology called E-Ink that offers the potential to be as low as 10 cents per square inch and offer daylight readable clear resolution is promising. The processor, memory and power can be stripped down, as the functionality of the machine need not be so advanced beyond surfing, email and word processing all as open-source, slimmed down software that takes up little computing resources.

It’s now without doubt that the $100 laptop will happen. As to whether it’s a good idea? Everything about says yes, although the sociologists have yet to gather their argument on this one it seems.

Author: Alex Haakonsen

(ArticlesBase SC #428039)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ – Is the Media Afraid of Christine Lasala and the Wtc Insurance Fund?

A general theme that I’ve tried to make over the last several posts is that not only are Christine LaSala and the WTC Insurance Fund squandering the $1 Billion they were granted by Congress and negligently allowing the health of WTC rescue workers to deteriorate, but also that the media has hardly reported these events. Certainly the inner workings of complex tort litigation isn’t the first thing that people want to read in the morning paper, but with the memories of 9/11 so fresh in the minds of all Americans, but especially New Yorkers, you would think more attention would be paid to the plight of the rescue workers and of the WTC Insurance Fund and how Christine LaSala has run it.

Instead, Christine LaSala has essentially gotten a pass from the mainstream media as she has siphoned $350,000 per year from the WTC Insurance Fund and paid countless millions to other attorneys to try to deny the claims of the WTC rescue workers that the WTC Insurance Fund was designed to assist. As I mentioned, thanks to the good work of the law firm of Napoli & Bern on behalf of the WTC rescue workers, on April 1 Congress will be holding hearings to inquire into how Christine LaSala has been managing the WTC Insurance Fund. Besides the publicity that Napoli & Bern have received for defending these American heroes, there have been a scant few reporters who have been investigating this story since the beginning. Susan Edelman of the New York Post has written a number of stories that paint a clear picture of how little the WTC rescue workers have received, especially in comparison to how much money Christine LaSala has “earned” from the WTC Insurance Fund. Her story from the fall of 2006 (http://www.nypost.com/seven/10152006/news/regionalnews/350g_paycheck_for_citys_9_11_scrooge_regionalnews_susan_edelman.htm) really illustrates the sham that Christine LaSala is perpetrating in the name of the WTC rescue workers. Besides Edelman who’s written a couple of stories, recently Napoli & Bern were featured in the New York Times coinciding with this week’s hearings in Washington D.C. It is my hope that the Times’ piece and these hearings raise some public consciousness of what Christine LaSala has been doing (or mostly not doing).

However, a few newspaper articles and a Congressional hearing won’t be at the forefront of the media’s attention with an upcoming election and a possible recession. Because of this, Christine LaSala can continue to earn well over a quarter-million dollars per year and fight against the WTC rescue workers unchecked. Beyond the inherent media issues, I think part of the problem is that many New Yorkers have been eager to put the awful memories of 9/11 out of their minds and presume that all the promises made by the likes of Giuliani, Bloomberg and those in the federal government were kept. Sure we hear stories on the news every night about individuals with serious health problems after working at Ground Zero, but the money that was designated for these victims has vanished under Christine LaSala’s watch and the average New Yorker is unaware of that. It’s a fraud so audacious that the media and public have basically ignored the story because it’s so hard to believe that after the tragedy of 9/11 that so many taxpayer dollars could be misspent.

Author: Kaplan

WHO: Doug Berg, Founder and Chief Recruiting Geek of Jobs2web , the leading provider of interactive recruiting solutions

WHAT: Will present an informative session titled “Social Media Metrics Madness!” during ERE’s fourth #socialrecruiting summit, an event that helps recruiters learn how to successfully implement social recruiting tactics.

WHEN: The fourth #socialrecruiting summit will take place Monday, September 13, 2010.

WHERE: Microsoft World Headquarters One Microsoft Way Redmond, Wash.

For more information about this event, please visit http://socialrecruitingsummit.com .

DETAILS: Jobs2web’s groundbreaking Recruitment Marketing platform helps employers to recruit better by enabling them to leverage new social channels to find better talent, engage talent through social channels, and know better what’s working (and not working) within their interactive recruiting strategy. Doug Berg founded Minneapolis-based Jobs2web and is the company’s “Chief Recruiting Geek.” During his interactive session, Berg will present aggregate data, trends, and metrics from millions of career site visitors to Jobs2web’s network of clients who are using social media to recruit talent. He also will share which social channels are driving the highest visitation and application rates by job category, industry and social source, as well as other interesting factoids such as what time of day or day of week generates the best results for job postings. Attendees also will have the opportunity to discuss results from their own social strategies.

In addition to founding Jobs2web, Berg has worked with hundreds of companies to leverage the internet for recruiting on the web and is a pioneer in the interactive recruiting industry. Prior to Jobs2web, Doug founded techies.com, a leading technology career site that had nearly 1 million IT professional members nationally and won PC Week’s number 1 career website in 1999. Berg holds an honorary doctorate degree from Capella University.

About Jobs2web Jobs2web helps larger companies to Recruit Better™ using advanced technologies to find talent better, engage with talent better, and know better what online channels are providing them with the best results. Come see how at www.jobs2web.com .

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LIVE STREAM MATCH WORLD CUP 2010

Lets begin. Comedy Central’s USA vs England Preview June 11th, 2010 | by: Daryl | Comments Comments (0) colbert One of the more interesting aspects of the the American media’s coverage of the USA vs England game (and World Cup 2010 in general) is seeing outlets that don’t normally cover soccer suddenly pay attention to the beautiful game. I was half excited and half nervous to see how Comedy Central’s satirical sister shows The Daily Show and The Colbert Robert handled it. Both shows basically went with a stereotype, and amped it up to the max. Which I think still counts as satire. The Daily Show sent “correspondent” John Oliver to the USA’s pre World Cup training camp to play the faux-arrogant Englishman convinced that the USA is “the clown college of football”. Watch below: Following the The Daily Show, Stephen Colbert continued Comedy Central’s World Cup coverage on The Colbert Report, basically taking the role of the reactionary, soccer-hating American and amping it up to the max. Despite the (feigned?) ignorance, Colbert does come up with a workable plan for the USA to beat England. World Cup segment starts about 2 minutes and 45 seconds in: Good stuff. On the surface it’s massively insulting to both the US national team and the sport of soccer as a whole, but think on it a little and it’s just two satirical caricatures of two aspects of the two different teams. Plus it’s funny. For some far less entertaining, but arguably more useful information about tomorrow’s England vs USA game, have a read of our USA vs England preview and listen to our USA vs England podcast.
One of the most anticipated matches of the group stage is the USA vs. England. The whole world will be watching these historical rivals battle each other once again on June 12th.
The English don’t want to become the next soccer giant to be embarrassed by the US. And the US wants to prove that last summer’s Confederation’s Cup wasn’t a fluke. There are important match-ups that will be crucial in deciding the outcome of the game. We will examine each and try to figure out who has the advantage going into the game.

>>>>CLICK HERE TO WATCH FRANCE VS URUGUAY LIVE>>>>>

CLICK HERE
LIVE STREAM MATCH WORLD CUP 2010

Lets begin. Comedy Central’s USA vs England Preview June 11th, 2010 | by: Daryl | Comments Comments (0) colbert One of the more interesting aspects of the the American media’s coverage of the USA vs England game (and World Cup 2010 in general) is seeing outlets that don’t normally cover soccer suddenly pay attention to the beautiful game. I was half excited and half nervous to see how Comedy Central’s satirical sister shows The Daily Show and The Colbert Robert handled it. Both shows basically went with a stereotype, and amped it up to the max. Which I think still counts as satire. The Daily Show sent “correspondent” John Oliver to the USA’s pre World Cup training camp to play the faux-arrogant Englishman convinced that the USA is “the clown college of football”. Watch below: Following the The Daily Show, Stephen Colbert continued Comedy Central’s World Cup coverage on The Colbert Report, basically taking the role of the reactionary, soccer-hating American and amping it up to the max. Despite the (feigned?) ignorance, Colbert does come up with a workable plan for the USA to beat England. World Cup segment starts about 2 minutes and 45 seconds in: Good stuff. On the surface it’s massively insulting to both the US national team and the sport of soccer as a whole, but think on it a little and it’s just two satirical caricatures of two aspects of the two different teams. Plus it’s funny. For some far less entertaining, but arguably more useful information about tomorrow’s England vs USA game, have a read of our USA vs England preview and listen to our USA vs England podcast.

(ArticlesBase SC #2614875)

Author: crazy

BUNOL, Spain (AFP) — Tens of thousands of revellers from around the world pelted each other with tonnes of tomatoes Wednesday in a mushy festival in the eastern Spanish town of Bunol.

The one-hour bloodless battle, known as the Tomatina, left the town awash in a sea of tomato pulp.

The town council brought in some 100 tonnes of ripe tomatoes on trucks for the estimated 40,000 tourists who descended on the town of just 9,000 inhabitants for the annual festival, which has taken place for more than 60 years.

Many of the participants were shirtless while others wore old clothes, hard hats or goggles.

Afterwards, workers hosed down the walls and streets to remove the tomato pulp.

As a kid who was selling lemonade at a lemonade stand, I knew I was going to be an entrepreneur. Setting up my stand, making my lemonade, and coming home with a pocket full of coins. This was the life. I began Internet marketing. So when social media came around, it intoxicated me. I had to see what it was all about. I had to take it to the next level. I know not every one is like me.

Some employees long to participate in social media at the work place. But some businesses have employees that are not comfortable with it. They might be scared of the new technology that’s coming around. They might just feel there are too many tools to keep up with. They even might be too busy to take on something new. As a business that wants to get into social media, find out the answers to see if they can be address so the business can move forward.

When you choose to get into social media, make sure your business has a policy in place that lets employees know what can and can’t be done. Employees will participate more if they are sure of things. Having a manager that is knowledgeable in it will be helpful to the other employees. This will make the employees feel like they can do it too.

In the end your employees must want to do social media for it to work. The business must be proactive as well.

James Hickey

Master Business Consultant

http://www.SDCCPRO.com
http://www.sd-entrepreneur.com
James Hickey is a top leader in the Internet Marketing industry. He provides his clients and students with a proven Internet Marketing system for retail, self-employed individuals and home-based businesses. He is skilled in all aspects of Internet Marketing.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_M._Hickey

imbee ( http://www.imbee.com ), pioneer in tween social media, today launched, “DREW,” ( http://drew.imbee.com ) the one-stop-shop for up-to-the-minute pop culture news for tweens. Through DREW, users will be the first in their peer group to know what’s happening in the world of entertainment and lifestyle. Story posts will include all sorts of events, like red carpet appearances, daily paparazzi roundups and much, much more.

” DREW ” stands for the Dopest , Realist , Epic , Wrap-up . DREW will be the place to be to find out what is happening entertainment, tech gadgets, sports, style — anything that is happening.

What makes DREW different? Instead of using pictures to make up stories as many bloggers do, DREW will leverage its relationships and give users first-hand accounts from celebrities themselves. DREW will position itself in the tween world as the credible source, a combination of Wired Magazine, People Magazine, Sports Illustrated and Rolling Stone of sorts. DREW will address the hot issues by getting the story straight from the horse’s mouth. DREW readers will become part of the inner circle; the privileged group of insiders with up to date and sometimes exclusive information.

“DREW is where the big news will drop first at imbee so it’s fitting that it’s launched first,” notes Greg Cham, imbee Chief Creative Officer. “We’re excited that DREW is giving users a sneak peek of the imbee social media experience. We are very excited about the imbee launch in September.”

All DREW posts will fall into one of the following categories: Music, Film & TV, Events, Style, Technology and Sports. DREW will always focus the majority of its posts on a gender-neutral content basis. DREW will have regular features that include:

“On the Spot” where DREW poses tough, silly, ridiculous or intriguing questions to readers and imbee correspondents to get people talking! “Average Joes” giving readers the daily paparazzi shots of their favorite celebs doing mundane everyday activities, like grabbing a frappuccino or going to the store. “Get Grown” is the news for advanced readers. Stories will include the news in politics, money and education. DREW is not just entertaining, but educating, as well.

DREW is the perfect vehicle to distribute news and information to users. DREW writers and editors will work hard to dispel rumors and give the real story behind the headlines or the photos from the paparazzi. DREW also encourages our users to post and submit stories for publication.

For more information, visit http://drew.imbee.com or watch the DREW video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-gHdTo1peM

Embedded Video Available

Youtube Video Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=1340477

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Media Contact: Rita Tennyson Tennyson Communications for imbee (310) 779-9747 Email Contact