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February 19, 2009
Mr. Virg Bernero
Wow . . .is something changing in the USA?
For decades, Wall Street and its ilk have been identified as the engine of the US economy. Identified as the folks who deserve riches and credit for the wonderful work they do. Never mind that bankers and investors don't actually do any work. (Unless you consider gambling to be work - which KIW absolutely does.)
But is gambling and moneylending really the top echelon of work? Is it the work that we want to encourage? Is it the "work" that deserves to take 95% of the pie? Leaving 5% for all the other workers?
Yesterday, Fox News hosted Virg Bernero, the mayor of Lansing, Michigan. KIW likes the mayor's perspective.
Fox News; 18 February, 2009Posted by williamfrick at 4:13 PM | Comments (0)
February 18, 2009
chilling the music
KIW's Music Department has now taken to worrying about our favorite source of music, San Francisco-based soma fm's Groove Salad - and all the other internet music streaming around the web.
According to a recent press report, internet radio stations will soon be paying $1.50 per 1,000 listeners, every time those stations play a song over the world wide web. By 2009 the payment will rise to $2.50 per 1,000 listeners.
Seattle Post-Intelligencer; 18 February, 2009; p C7; 'Accord reached on royalty rates for internet radio-station music - Deal reduces charges by about 16 percent.
Seattle PI 18 Feb 2009 p C7.pdf
Posted by williamfrick at 4:16 PM | Comments (0)
February 16, 2009
Outlier
In statistics, an outlier is an factor that is significantly distant from the rest of the data.
Some people can seem that way.
And it's those outlier folks who are often the ones the rest us find the most fascinating.
One of KIW's vast worldwide staff couldn't sleep and . . . lucky for us . . . ran into a Mr. Malcolm Gladwell holding forth on one of those obscure late-night channels.
Mr. Gladwell has got some great thoughts, and he really seems to be having a blast just thinking them.
We heartily recommend him . . .
(watch this in a pop-up window)
The Seattle Channel; American Podium: Malcolm Gladwell "Outliers"; 16 February, 2009
Posted by williamfrick at 8:44 PM | Comments (0)
February 13, 2009
second acts . . .
KIW's film critics all found The Wrestler mesmerizing, moving . . . even haunting. It's Mickey Rourke laying his soul bare.
We didn't know we liked the guy. But it's the idea of redemption that truly grabs us. The earnest seizing of life's second chances.
Mr. Rourke seems to know a thing or two about that . . .