Thayer Magazine

With Al Gore’s “Live Earth” festival of enviro-scolding rock stars now scheduled for Giants Stadium in New Jersey (BRUCE!) to replace the hoped-for concert at the U.S. Capitol, it’s time to wish them all good luck. Especially now that the “Live Earth” headliner, the bigoted, hate-mongering, misogynistic, foul-mouthed convicted felon and thug rapper Snoop Dogg, will be dropped from the line-up. He will be dropped, won’t he? He does face four years in prison for drugs and weapons violations.

Anyway, since a spot is opening up — it is, isn’t it? — we offer this Top 10 list of alternative acts and songs for “Live Earth,” performances that could really bring Al Gore’s message to earth. Or at least enough to get the words “heat” or “sun” into the obligatory live concert recording.

To qualify, the bands must be alive (no Marvin Gaye, “Mercy, Mercy Me, the Ecology” alas) and still performing, or at least able to perform.

10. Three Dog Night, “Out in the Country.” A classic of the 70s sentimental-environmental-mental genre. “Before the breathin’air is gone/Before the sun is just a bright spot in the nighttime…” Three Dog Night could take a break from the oldies circuit to hit the “Live Earth” stage. Better Three Dog than Snoop Dogg, we always say.

9. INXS, “Melting in the Sun.” Inspirational lyrics: “I’m melting in the sun/And this is what they call the life.” You betcha!

8. Martha Reeves, “Heatwave.” Martha could throw together any old Vandellas and still rip the place up. She’s a Detroit city councilwoman these days. What politician could turn down a venue like “Live Earth?”

7. Graham Parker, “Heat Treatment.” “Heat treatment, baby/sweet treatment, baby/heat treatment/while the flames are burning…” Well, who can disagree with that? Barely edges out Parker’s other seminal odes to environmental consciousness, “Mercury Poisoning” and “Waiting for the UFOs.”

6. De La Soul, “3 Feet High and Rising.” Hip hop without the cursing and semi-automatic gunfire. Update the lyrics to reflect more extreme coastal flooding forecasts: “20 Feet High and Rising.”

5. Smash Mouth, “Walking on the Sun.” It’s been a while since we heard that song, over …and over …and over again.

4. The Thermals, “Our Power Doesn’t Run on Nothing”: “Our power doesn’t run on nothing/we need the land you’re standing on, so let’s go/move it…” Phew. Portland, Oregon’s great pop-punk band is off to tour Europe, where they are beloved for their dislike of extractive industries. Bring ‘em back, Al. (Although Gang of Four will do in a pinch.)

3. They Might Be Giants, “Why Does the Sun Shine? (The Sun Is a Mass of Incandescent Gas).” For a band on the Moveon.org side of things, They Might Be Giants sure have a good sense of humor. And science: “The sun is a mass of incandescent gas/a gigantic nuclear furnace/where hydrogen is built into helium/at temperatures of millions of degrees.”

2. Bad Religion (a tie), “Kyoto Now!” and “Los Angeles is Burning.” Socially conscious, didactic and polysyllabic. And somehow, they still rock. Lead singer Greg Graffin even has a Ph.D. in evolutionary paleontology from Cornell. You get two lectures in one!

And, No. 1, the best group, the best song, to perform at “Live Earth.” Not just a jingle for a Wendy’s hamburger commercial…

1. The Violent Femmes, “Blister in the Sun.”

Add it up, Mr. Vice President. With Snoop gone, daddy gone, here are 10 other great acts to choose from as a replacement, all guaranteed to burn down the house…metaphorically, that is.

Snoop IS gone, isn’t he?

TV Review: ‘Alive Day Memories’ draws out vets’ gripping stories {new window}

One of the most noticeable - and from a purely aesthetic standpoint, unfortunate - elements of the Damascus skyline is the absurd amount of satellite dishes. Television is ubiquitous in Syrian life. Every business seems to have a t.v. . . . either to keep the owner/employees entertained when things are slow, or as entertainment for the customers. Only uber-fancy and more traditional restaurants seem to be (thankfully) without television. What are Syrians watching? What are the choices for entertainment? What’s the deal with TV in Syria? Well, I’m going to break-down a few things that I’ve noticed in this SURVEY OF ARAB TV!

Q: What are the options ? What are people watching?

A: While I’m far from the Syrian branch of Nielsen, I’d put things into four major groups of entertainment/genres that seem to be often watched in both the public places and private homes: News, Music Videos, American Films, Arabic Soaps. This post will deal with ‘News’!

1. NEWS OPTIONS:
Two major news channels seem to dominate here (and for local politics, people tune into Syrian Television): Al-Jazeera and Al-Arabia. Sadly and for reasons unknown, I don’t get Al-Arabia on my satellite system. While people like Donald Rumsfeld have gone on record attacking Al-Jazeera for being an anti-American propaganda machine, I’m quite skeptical of such assertions as well as doubtful that Mr. Rumsfeld has actually seen much Al-Jazeera. Granted, Al-Jazeera is very critical of American Foreign policy - I see this as more of a reflection of viewer demographics and less as some deep-rooted attempt to turn the Arab viewing audience against the United States. I mean, one has to sell advertising, don’t they? As with American media and the division between left-right oriented news outlets, I have a sense that people gravitate toward news channels that reinforce already held beliefs. God forbid that anyone should hear facts or arguments that are inconvenient to their political bent
The award for most unwatched channel appears to be the American-government run/supported channel “Al-Hura” which has two channels: one openly broadcasted from Iraq and appears to cover her exclusively. The other has a something vaguely appearing to be ‘programming’. The title itself is a bit over the top. The Bush administration, never shy about engaging in “Politics and the English Language” and seemingly incapable of nuance, evidently settled upon the name Al-Hura: meaning ‘Freedom’ . . . . . This is so tacky and pathetically obvious, in title alone, that I wonder how this idea passed early ’screening’ stages. According to my Syrian friends, no one watches this channel, and if they do they don’t tune in for news. In fact, Syrians are fond of saying that if what they are seeing in Iraq is democracy: they don’t want it.
Anyway, back to Al-Hura. Now, I don’t know much about creating viewer pleasing programming; however, an hour-long documentary on Geisha Culture in Japan followed by News that seems to have some NON-Arabic Speaking representative from the American Government just doesn’t sound like a recipe for success.
The picture here is of Secretary of State Condi Rice giving a speech at Georgetown University concerning a call for an increase and re-deployment of American diplomats. Al-Hura is covering this - this is fine in and of itself, many Arabic News organizations spend quite a bit of time covering the words and deeds of the US government. Where, however, Al-Hura differs from other networks, is that they cover these speeches LIVE and in their entirety - including, in this case, questions from Georgetown undergrads praying that one insightful (yet) softball question on C-SPAN and Al-Hura will secure them a dream job at the State Department.
I’d be shocked if American news networks covered this entire speech, especially if a high-speed and potentially violent car chase is in progress on the highways of Southern California. Sure, the Bush crew wants to bring democracy to the Middle East - I don’t want to touch that issue on this blog - however, is it necessary to bring the really really really boring part of democracy to the Middle East? Winning hearts and minds is easier when it doesn’t produce sleep. However, one saving grace is that Al-Hura re-broadcasts NBA games with Arabic sportscasters: and those guys do a pretty great job, actually. It’s a shame that this program is only on weekends.

NOTE: Propaganda is most effective when:
1. Actually watched by the target audience.
2. Features exposed or partially exposed breasts.
3. Is accompanied by direct force.

I’ve also found - and perhaps I’m wrong on this and I don’t have the data to back this up - but in watching a fair amount of Al-Jazeera, I find that they aren’t covering the ‘War in Iraq’ nearly as much as they cover Palestine. In fact, I’ve been surprised at how relatively small the coverage the Iraqi war receives on Al-Jazeera. Part of this, I imagine, is related to the fact that it just isn’t safe for them to send reporters into Iraq and unlike, perhaps, American news organizations, they may not be granted as much access and protection from American Forces. Granted, this is merely speculation on my part, which is itself part and parcel of having a blog: irresponsible and sanctimonious speculation.

Okay, readers, next post will be about ‘fun TV’ . . . . . . . . . . so break out the party-hats

Pellet Technologies LLC - Pellet ProgramPellets are pharmaceutical devices inserted under the skin that gradually release a medication Pellet Program. A pure narcotic antagonist (naltrexone) is inserted under the skin of the patient.Source: www.pellettechnologies.comBerkshire Hearth & Home - PelletPellet Stoves by Country, St. Croix & Lenox. Wood pellets, made from sawdust and pellet stove other timber byproducts, are Source: www.berkshirehearthandhome.com

This morning I woke up at 6 o

Women’s Wear Daily knows a thing or two about gay men, dahling, so it gaily reported on a story in Out that alluded to a “gay mafia” at the NY Times:
Does a scattershot list of gay Timesmen a mafia make? According to Out magazine’s media-heavy Power 50 list, which ranked several New York Times reporters a collective seventh on the list, it does, even if many of its made men don’t actually know each other. “Yes, there really is a queer cabal in the Eastern elite media, and it works on West 43rd Street in New York City,” reads the accompanying textThose outed (I won’t use their names) include the editor of T magazine, an assistant managing editor, a national correspondent, the advertising columnist, a style reporter a theater critic and a restaurant critic.

A theater or restaurant critic doesn’t have much influence over how the gay agenda is presented, but a national reporter, an assistant managing editor and a magazine editor certainly do. Out certainly thinks so:
As for the use of the ‘M’ word related to the assorted journalists, Aaron Hicklin, editor of Out, told WWD: “The Times still has an old-fashioned power that I think the Web has tried to replace but been less successful at. It’s still a cultural arbiter….Should we have used the word mafia? Only inasmuch as mafia is shorthand for people whose combined weight is fearsome.” And according to Out, these Timesmen are “one group you don’t want to run into in a dark alley.”Agreed on that last point, for sure. Fortunately, Elliot suggests a defense:
“What are we going to do?” wondered Elliot. “Beat them with the Sunday Times?” So much has been written over the years about gay teachers and their ability to influence (or, more sinisterly, corrupt or even abuse) the next generation, but little has been made of gays in the media, and the potential they have to position the gay agenda as mainstream.

Perhaps we should. Look at who’s who in the top ten of Out’s Power 50. People who worry about Jewish control of the media are whacked; people who ponder gay influence and control have reasons to be concerned. (All copy below is from Out except for my comments in brackets.)
1 David Geffen
What does $4 billion-plus buy for a Hollywood entertainment powerhouse? Your name on UCLA’s medical school; great American art (Pollock, de Kooning, Johns); and headline-making influence over Democratic presidential politics: When Geffen supported and later dissed Hillary earlier this year, the fur flew between the candidates’ camps. “If you’re his enemy, you might as well kill yourself,

Today I had breakfast with blogger and Tech PR expert Alan Weinkrantz at the Olmos Soda Fountain. Alan blogs at 3 Screens, PR Weblog and SATechBlog, and who once even used a blog to help sell his house. According to Alan, that blog continued to get media coverage, long after the house was sold.

I interviewed him using my new toy, the 60-minute Pure Digital video recorder, which I have been putting through the paces, as I mentioned last week.

Alan has used social media, and particularly blogs to:

1. Become more findable in search engines
2. To dive new business development

He also gives some recommendations for companies thinking about launching a blog. The most interesting was to devote 30 minutes a day for 3 months to see some results. Watch the video for more.

Online Videos by Veoh.com

Alan has some well-known clients such as Jeff Pulver’s Network 2 TV, Alsbridge, Secure Logix, and others.

As an aside, he also recommended Veoh, a cool video sharing site that allows you to syndicate your videos to YouTube, Google video and MySpace, automatically. There are many other features that Veoh offers, but I especially like the interface. Let me know what you think. I will post more on Veoh later as I use it more extensively.

[Disclaimer: Alan paid for breakfast and I left the tip]

Tags: Interview|Alan Weinkrantz|Video|Viral Video|Public Relations|PR|San Antonio|Texas|MYPRPRO

Roger Friedman at FOX News writes:

Filmmaker Michael Moore’s brilliant and uplifting new documentary, “Sicko,” deals with the failings of the U.S. healthcare system, both real and perceived. But this time around, the controversial documentarian seems to be letting the subject matter do the talking, and in the process shows a new maturity.

Unlike many of his previous films (”Roger and Me,” “Bowling for Columbine,” “Fahrenheit 9-11″), “Sicko” works because in this one there are no confrontations. Moore smartly lets very articulate average Americans tell their personal horror stories at the hands of insurance companies. The film never talks down or baits the audience.

“This film is a call to action,” Moore said at a press conference on Saturday. “It’s also not a partisan film.”

Indeed, in “Sicko,” Moore criticizes both Democrats and Republicans for their inaction and in some cases their willingness to be bribed by pharmaceutical companies and insurance carriers.

In a key moment in the film, Moore takes a group of patients by boat to the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba because of its outstanding medical care. When they can’t get into the U.S. naval base, Moore proceeds onto Havana where the patients are treated well and cheaply.

This has caused a great deal of controversy, with the federal government launching an investigation into the trip, which officials say was in violation of the trade and commerce embargo against the Communist country.

Whoa there, little buddy.

Just because there’s a not-so-cool-looking Asthma inhaler in your hand, it doesn’t mean you have to cover it up by sliding under the table to use it.

Then again, some things just can’t lose their stigmas.

Enter Apod, the worlds first Asthma Pod. Created by a UK design team (initially thought up on a napkin at Cipriani’s), the Apod is a trendy new way to carry the dreaded inhaler. The design is formatted to put the puffer inside the case with hopes that the user will feel cool enough to use it in public. The case comes in several different colors like Pink Zing, Really Red, Pink Sparkle, and Ultra Blue. For the uber-cool daring kids, you can choose Night Glow or Day Glow Green. And, for those professionals (yes, you can be the hippest man at the office) there is Jet Black.

Can’t find what you like? For a few extra bucks, you can buy more than one and personalize your cover by mixing pieces.

We know how you love to put your mark on everything.

The best part: The medication can be taken while the inhaler is inside the Apod, so kids and teens (or even adults) can feel fashionable while keeping their asthma under control.

Now we can all breathe easier.

Following up on this morning’s post about today’s Capitol Hill news conference announcing the new coalition, Health IT Now!, Healthy Patients for Health Technology.

Here’s the website for the coalition, HealthITNow.org, with a statement of support from Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA), a letter to Congress from members of the coalition (.pdf format), and a welcoming statement from former Representative Nancy Johnson of Connecticut.

A story from Government Health IT covering the event. With a nifty phrase from former Senator John Breaux of Lousiana. Describing how he received a large box full of his medical records on paper when he left Congress, where he served 32 years, Breaux said, “That is archaic. It’s ancient history and no longer can be tolerated.”

And a good piece in Internetnews.com.

And, if you’ll click on the extended entry below, you can read NAM President John Engler’s opening statement at the news conference. Message: Manufacturers deal with information technology every day, we stand ready to help, and it’s time to get moving on legislation to encourage the adoption of interoperable Health IT platforms, technology and personal medical records.

Engler: “It’s just common sense in my mind. If you can save lives as well as save money, it’s too good to pass on.”

Remarks
John Engler, NAM President
Health IT News Conference
Tuesday, June 5, 2007

The National Association of Manufacturers is delighted to be able to join in the announcement of this new coalition, Health IT Now!, Healthy Patients for Health Technology.

We think the 110th Congress has an immediate opportunity to help with legislation to encourage the adoption of Health IT.

Senator Breaux has talked movingly about the objectives. The goals are reducing costs – certainly — achieving interoperability – absolutely increasing efficiency, and bottom line, saving lives. Saving lives. And it’s an opportunity our country cannot afford to let pass.

Time and time again, the National Association of Manufacturers’ member companies tell us that soaring health care costs are a serious burden. They strain their ability to compete in the global marketplace.

Senator Breaux has already provided some pretty dramatic statistics about the cost of health care, and what’s at stake. …

When you put these into real numbers what does this all mean for manufacturers? We did a survey last year of small and medium-sized companies, the kind of companies we deal with almost every day of our lives.

Small and medium-sized members, mmost half said their health care costs have risen from 11 to 20 percent in the past year. And that’s a good year.

Health care costs are also a major, major problem for manufacturers of all sizes; the biggest of our manufacturers in this country struggle. The problems in the auto industry have been well documented.

The cure in question here isn’t Aspirin, it’s technology.

Business and manufacturers understand and use daily cutting-edge information technology. They use that each and every day, start in the morning and it’s the last thing they do at night.

Just-in-time inventories…personnel-record management…very sophisticated, high-tech production processes, manufacturers understand and work with information technology every day.

Manufacturers are really the appliers of technology, all of the creativity that comes out of Silicon Valley, the impressive technological base in this nation, the manufacturers put that technology to work.

Medicine does it too. In the operating room, America employs the most modern of technologies – lasers, nuclear medicine, nano-technology – incredible science, made real by U.S. manufacturers, and it also saves lives every day.

But in the physician’s office, we’re stuck on paper. Reams and reams and reams of paper – 17th century technology.

How often have anyone of us here of us had to sit in a doctor’s office and take that clipboard in hand, writing out our health information on yet another piece of paper that begins yet another set of files. …

I see those (files) in that wheelchair, and I have a sense of what we might hear a little later. I was envisioning that box, when we moved from Michigan to Virginia and we had a little technology employed on our daughter’s immunization records.

They were on computer in Michigan, but bringing them to Virginia, I recall the pediatrician’s office – actually Michelle did the follow-through on that one, I didn’t (laughter) – got our paper copies and for I think it was $28 they were happy to send all three files for all three daughters down here so we could deliver those to a Virginia pediatrician.

How many here have waited for lab results to be sent from one laboratory to the doctor or perhaps a second doctor? How many have hand carried X-rays from one office to another? And I’ll bet everyone has had the experience of hand carrying a nearly illegible piece of paper called a prescription for a sick child taking it to a pharmacy, waiting in line to hand it in and being told you’ll have to wait while it’s filled, returning, waiting in line to pick it up, and probably not realizing there was a wait probably behind the counter while they called the doctor’s office and asked, “What was it you wrote here? What was the dosage?”

Improving the health care system through technology is something everyone can agree on. It’s a bipartisan issue – it’s a non-partisan issue – it’s not partisan at all. It’s just common sense in my mind. If you can save lives as well as save money, it’s too good to pass on.

This is an issue whose only opposition, really, is progress. And I think the time to act is now. This new coalition is going to be active in pressing Congress to enact legislation to lift regulatory barriers – or in some cases, clarify regulatory barriers – that might prevent implementation, widespread implementation and interoperability to Health IT, provide incentives for adoption of interoperable information technology.

That’s one thing you hear, well, yes, it would make life easier, but I’ve got to change my system. Well, we think there are ways some of those savings will be in big federally funded systems like Medicare and Medicaid – that’s a state-federally funded system. , it’s a good investment, so direct government resources and attention to the issue will help.

Manufacturers in America are ready to provide input. We’re ready to share our hard-earned experience on what we’ve been able to make work. We’re willing to share some of the private initiatives that are under way, projects like Dossia.

This has to work, but we’ve got to have progress. We’ve got to get everybody joined up across America, we’ve got to have records for all Americans that are personal and portable and private, and that represents a progress. So I’m delighted and heartily endorse this effort.

The NAM’s members stand ready to provide input and the hard-earned experiences of our own members. And we’ll push … for progress…for Health IT now.

Congratulations..and thanks…The NAM heartily supports this effort.

-###-