On Campus - Wednesday, November 12, 2008 8:00 - 2 Comments
ABC Says Stupid Stuff About NYUAD Worker Abuse Without Evidence
The problem with dumb journalism is that it’s done by a lot of supposedly reputable sources, leading reader to believe that it’s not, well, dumb.
Such is the case with ABC.com’s “Abused Labor a Concern for NYU, Guggenheim Sites in UAE,” a ridiculously speculative piece of under-researched crap brought to you courtesy of Megan Chuchmach, a member of the Brian Ross “Investigative Team.” Although the title implies Middle Eastern slave children are toiling away in the desert right now, building our satellite campus for a dollar a day while simultaneously being molested by John Sexton himself, construction hasn’t even begun yet. Continue…
Entertainment - Monday, September 22, 2008 15:48 - 3 Comments
France to Twitter, “Get Over Yourself!”
The other night, at a bar in Paris, I whipped out my cell phone to check the time. “Oh, you want my number?” asked the sketchy guy who had just bought my drink. I giggled nervously. “Oh, no, I just wanted to see what time it is. Is it rude to check your phone in front of people?”
“In Paris, yes,” he replied, “But I will forgive you, because you’re American and Americans are always on their phones or on their computers.” He smiled and went to refill my glass. Continue…
Entertainment - Tuesday, September 16, 2008 1:53 - 4 Comments
Apparently Print Journalism Is Not Dead in Europe
This morning during my hour long commute I picked up a copy of France’s Metro paper, a counterpart to the Metro papers distributed in various US cities. The column on the left of the front page read, “La presse va mieux, merci!” Translation? Roughly, “The press is going better, thank you!” Continue…
Entertainment - Wednesday, September 10, 2008 10:24 - 5 Comments
‘New York Times’ Reporters Are Dinosaurs
When I was in Denver for the DNC, I got stuck on one of the convention shuttles with a couple of New York Times reporters. Immediately, something struck me about them: good God, they were all so old. Continue…
Entertainment - Monday, September 1, 2008 22:29 - 3 Comments
The Rachel Maddow Transformation
The mainstream media has a longstanding penchant for perpetuating male/female stereotypes in order to cater to specific demographics. If you’re a female political pundit for a major news network, you may be smart with a decidedly deeper voice and quick wit, but floral blouses and pounds of hairspray are worn lest we forget that it’s impossible to deliver the news without highlighting gender stereotypes. So what happens when a scarily intelligent, no bullshit lesbian begins to gain popularity on the mainstream networks for her sharp observations and endless charm? A lot of makeup, that’s what. Continue…
