“GOPers Threaten TV Stations With Lawsuits For Ads Tying Them To Trump”
Month: October 2016
New Frontiers in Journalism
The Chicago Cubs have finally made it to the World Series, 
dispatching the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series. Before accomplishing that, however, a writer for the Chicago Tribune felt compelled to publish an insult-filled column about the City of Angels.
“By the mid-1800s, buoyed by the California Gold Rush and a budding pornography industry, Los Angeles had become a densely populated haven for hooligans, bandits, prostitutes and executive producers.”
Of course, the Los Angeles Times had to respond.
“…on the day the L.A. put-down was written, there were fewer than a half-dozen public officials indicted and no blizzards in Chicago, so it was a slow news day.”
tronc, Inc., formerly known as Tribune Publishing Company, owns both newspapers. “tronc” – no capital letters – is an acronym for “Tribune On-Line Content.” In true corporate fashion, their “About Us” web page is mostly gibberish. The Tribune Company had owned the Chicago Cubs until 2009.
More importantly, having lost the bet on the National League outcome, the East L.A. band Los Lobos is to perform a cover of a song from the Chicago band Umphrey’s McGee. No word yet on what the song will be.
How to Create a Market for Your Product
Pendleton Woolen Mills opened in 1896 and was the first mill started specifically to make Indian trade blankets. Today the Pendleton brand is known for quality women’s and men’s clothing, home furnishings and blankets. They sell their products in company-owned stores and through high-end retailers in the U.S. and other countries. Blankets originally made for the “Indian Trade” have become “Native American Inspired.”
A Sign Evolves… Yet Doesn’t Change
The Great Barrier Reef Is Dead… or is it?
Outside magazine has declared Australia’s Great Barrier Reef dead at the age of 25 million years.
“For most of its life, the reef was the world’s largest living structure, and the only one visible from space. It was 1,400 miles long, with 2,900 individual reefs and 1,050 islands. In total area, it was larger than the United Kingdom, and it contained more biodiversity than all of Europe combined. It harbored 1,625 species of fish, 3,000 species of mollusk, 450 species of coral, 220 species of birds, and 30 species of whales and dolphins.”
Cause of death was climate change and ocean acidification.
Reports of its death are greatly exaggerated, to paraphrase Mark Twain. The Conde Nast Traveler says it’s just some coral bleaching and the reef will eventually recover.
“In reality, the tragic state of the Great Barrier Reef should be a wake-up call… large sections escaped from the 2016 bleaching, and are in reasonable shape. The message should be that it isn’t too late for Australia to lift its game and better protect the GBR, not we should all give up because the GBR is supposedly dead.”
We report. You decide.
Politics and Free Press
For the first time ever, the Arizona Republic newspaper endorsed a Democrat for president. Reaction from supporters of the Republican candidate was as you would expect.