The “Tea Party” movement is a loosely organised, libertarian political party in the USA that has garnered huge support from conversatives disillusioned with the Republican party. This podcast from NPR contains a fascinating interview with David Weigel, who covered the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), and is a great primer for anyone interested in learning why this right-wing organisation has gathered such momentum.
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Results tagged “usa”
The NBC rebrand, by Capacity, is fresh and vibrant. Here’s a great case study of the thinking behind the project. They only use this phrase:
We wanted to tap into the essence of the brand and leverage the qualities that are ownable
… once.
Via Motionworks.
In the United States, corporate bonuses are booming yet unemployment is way up. Robert Reich, writing in Salon, explains why:
How can the stock market hit new highs at the same time unemployment is hitting new highs? Simple. The market is up because corporate earnings are up. Corporate earnings are up because companies are cutting costs. And the biggest single cost they’re cutting is their payrolls. So they let people go and, presto, their balance sheets look better and their stock prices rise.
Reich was secretary of labour under the Clinton administration, so his credentials are unimpeachable. He’s also a very funny guy; I highly recommend this podcast from ABC’s Big Ideas programme. It’s a couple of years old now, but what’s not to love about someone who opens their lecture by saying:
I am an economist. And, as some of you may know, an economist is someone who did not have the personality to become an accountant.
Peggy Black won a competition to create a new character for The Simpsons:
In pondering her contest entry, Black decided there was a void on “The Simpsons” and that Springfield needed “something like a Casanova,” she said.
[Ricardo] Bomba, a handsome, smooth-talking South American nicknamed “La Bomba,” works at the town’s nuclear power plant by day and “by night, works Springfield’s singles scene,” as Fox describes him.
Not bad … though I was hoping it would be a little more out of left field. He sounds awfully similar to Alberto Tomba, the Italian playboy Olympic ski gold medalist who was also dubbed “la Bomba”.
Here’s a new show with an unlikely cast that I suspect will prove amusing. Premieres September 30 or whatever.
Jason Schwartzman high-fived me once. He’s a stand-up guy.
Comedian, broadcaster, author, and senator of Minnesota: Al Franken draws the United States of America. Impressive!
Via kottke.org.
Oh man would this be a fun project. Two self-described Arrested Development superfans – Neil and Jeff – undertook to create a documentary about the show. It looks as though they’ve interviewed a lot of the key players, including Mitch Hurwitz and Ron Howard. From their description:
The overall goal of the documentary is to provide awareness and education of this brilliant, witty and original comedy. We are looking to interview viewers, cast, crew and any other industry figures that are fans or critics of the show.
You can watch the trailer, and there’s more information on their website.
Via kottke.org.
Everyone’s favourite drama about a fictional advertising agency in the 1960s is set to return in August. There hasn’t been anywhere near enough on-screen smoking, womanising, and casual alcoholism since season two ended.
Via kottke.org.
Reminiscent of the popular trailer mashups (such a trailer for The Shining edited so it appears to be a sweet, heart-warming tale), this is the original opening of 80s sitcom Diff’rent Strokes set to a creepy score: Disturbin’ Strokes.
Get out of there Willis! He’s evil!
Via kottke.org.
Danish photographer Peter “There’s No Such Thing As A Free” Funch hangs out on street corners taking photos for a couple of weeks. He then picks a theme, and Photoshops the images together. Check out the beautiful, funny, results.
Via John Nack.
Over the weekend I found time to watch the widely-reported battle between Jon Stewart of The Daily Show and Jim Cramer of Mad Money. Stewart took issue – primarily with CNBC – over the way the networks were reporting the financial crisis. The series of clips escalate the “feud”, culminating in Cramer himself appearing as a guest on The Daily Show. The final clip makes for excruciating viewing as Cramer prostrates himself entirely, promising to try harder in the future.
Cramer vs Non-Cramer. Uncomfortable television at its finest.
And it goes to Free Doritos! According to the YouTube blog:
The ad was created by Joe and Dave Herbert, two unemployed brothers from Batesville, Indiana, with no prior experience in advertising. They earned the chance to produce the spot through an online contest last year.
Nice one, Joe and Dave.
Three of my favourites were in the top five.
Those good folks at YouTube have posted all the 2009 Superbowl ads for your viewing entertainment.
My favourites:
- Hulu’s ad is great (starring Alec Baldwin).
- Conan O’Brien for Bud Light (vroom vroom party starter).
- Pepsi Max — “I’m good” (it’s weird that men now have their own diet cola).
- E*TRADE Singing Baby. The only talking baby ad I’ve ever seen that’s bearable.
- Free Doritos. I just wish it finished after the first act.
I didn’t watch them all, but the worst ads for me were:
- Budweiser Clydesdale Circus. Horses fall in love, beer drinking ensues.
- LMAO Syndrome. A distinctly unfunny ad, considering what it’s for.
Don’t hurry back.
Did you know that the United States of America are about to have an election? It’s true. The candidates range from the maverickiest guy the world has ever seen — Arizona’s Republican senator John McCain — and a guy who Hopes America Will Change or Dreams About My Hope or thinks that, Yes, We Can Change Hope or some such. He’s the Democratic Senator of Illinois, and his name is Barack Obama.
I’m terribly sad that this campaign is coming to an end. The effervescent Alaskan Sarah Palin has been a gift, an endlessly entertaining series of goofs and endearingly nonsensical non sequiturs. We are all indebted to Senator McCain for his wisdom in providing us with light relief during a global financial meltdown. Of course — even if the Democrats do take the White House — this is far from the last we’ll see of Governor Palin; I suspect she might reverse the trend of movie stars becoming politicians (Reagan, Schwarzenegger) and begin wildly successful franchise of action/comedy flicks, the ass-kickin’ hockey mom with a cheeky wink, à la College Humor’s Head of Skate trailer.
For a final look at the contenders, you could do a lot worse than watch PBS Frontline’s intriguing documentary. It filled in a bunch of gaps in my knowledge (although, rest assured, there are no end of gaps remaining) and comes with enough additional interviews, articles, and timelines to slake the most politically-parched viewer.
What an interesting premise:
What if the current financial crisis in the U.S. becomes so severe that Americans start to flee the country?
A new series being developed on HBO. Via kottke.org.
Obama with actual ideas, McCain with empty rhetoric and ad hominems. The candidates’ response in the wake of the Lehman Brothers collapse provide a stark contrast.
Via John Gruber on Twitter.
The New Yorker beautifully sends up Sarah Palin’s disdain for élites.
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