Thursday, September 23, 2010

The Somehat Lighter Side of Cell Phones


New World Notes News
Vol. 3, No. 39 -- September 25, 2010

This week in New World Notes, radio program #134, September 28 & October 2:

The Somewhat Lighter Side
of Cell Phones

Senator Chuck (formerly Charles) Schumer has co-sponsored a bill
requiring all purchases of prepaid cell phones to be registered--
to keep them out of the hands of drug dealers and terrorists.

Most photos: click to enlarge.

In brief

Our third look at cell phones and related equipment is less gloomy and more amusing than the first two (NWN #127 & 133).

We'll see grandstanding U.S. Senators denouncing prepaid cell phones as tools of drug dealers, gang members, and (of course) terrorists--and calling for purchases to be registered.

In the second part of "Wireless Mind, Gullible Mind," Chellis Glendinning wittily catalogues the psychological defense mechanisms people employ to avoid recognizing that electromagnetic radiation from cells, Wi-Fi, and WiMAX is harmful to health. She also catalogues instances of citizens' (sometimes successful) resistance to cell towers, Wi-Fi hotspots, and WiMAX in their environment.

Spoken-word artist Jello Biafra comically satirizes the inadequacies of much of the new communications technologies in solving problems and in fostering human relationships (though he's in favor of making phone calls).

Finally, a selection of amusing items from this year's Beloit College Mindset List--designed to remind professors of how different entering freshmen's memories and cultural references are from their own. Some items involve communications devices. Other items don't--such as the reminder that, to students, "Fergie" is a pop singer, not a princess.

His music is an acquired taste, but Jello Biafra's political
and cultural commentary is astute and funny.

Notes, credits, & links

This week's incidental music: Glenn Miller Orchestra, Pennsylvania 6-5000.

The complete text of Chellis Glendinning's "Wireless Mind, Gullible Mind" is here.

The complete Beloit College Mindset List for the entering Class of 2014 is here.

New World Notes is produced under the auspices (Latin for "Boardwalk") of WWUH-FM, a community service of that beacon of light in darkest Connecticut, the University of Hartford.

Feedback to kdowst at hotmail period com.
Free weekly NWN email newsletter on request.

You can listen to any installment of New World Notes online or else download it (as an mp3 audio file) for later listening. New World Notes' main audio archive is at radio4all.net. Installments beginning with #90 are archived also at The Internet Archive, in a variety of file formats. Either link should get you a reverse-chrono listing of available installments. Or browse the show's Web site: Each installment has a page, and each page has links to the recorded audio.

Series overview: Political and social commentary in a variety of genres. Exploring the gap between what we want ... and what they're trying to make us settle for.

Bottom: Typical Beloit College undergraduate. The college's annual
Mindset List reminds professors how different freshmen are from
themselves. For one, most freshmen don't wear wristwatches;
instead, they consult the clock on their cell phone.

Coming soon (Tuesday air debut date shown)

  • October 5 -- Gulf Oil.
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Saturday, September 18, 2010

The OTHER Problem with Cell Phones



New World Notes News
Vol. 3, No. 38 -- September 18, 2010

This week in New World Notes, radio program #133, September 21 & 25:

The Other Problem with Cell Phones

In brief

Our previous program on cell phones (NWN #127) focused on the mineral wars in the Congo to supply the metals the phones (& other gadgets) need.

Today we focus on the bad health effects of the electromagnetic radiation (EMR) from cell phones--and from cell towers, Wi-Fi hotspots, and (worse yet) WiMAX hot spots. We'll hear from psychotherapist Chellis Glendinning and the late New Zealand scientist Dr. Neil Cherry. And we'll hear about Project Pandora: the CIA's EMR studies on the unwitting staff of the US Embassy in Moscow.

Top: Chellis Glendinning. Bottom: Dr. Neil Cherry.
Most photos: Click to enlarge.

Notes, credits, & links

The complete text of Chellis Glendinning's "Wireless Mind, Gullible Mind" is here.

Neil Cherry's remarks courtesy of Maria Gilardin and TUCradio.org.

The uncut article on "Project Pandora" is here.

New World Notes is produced under the auspices (Latin for "nihil obstat") of WWUH-FM, a community service of that beacon of light in darkest Connecticut, the University of Hartford.

Feedback to kdowst at hotmail period com.
Free weekly NWN email newsletter on request.

You can listen to any installment of New World Notes online or else download it (as an mp3 audio file) for later listening. New World Notes' main audio archive is at radio4all.net. Installments beginning with #90 are archived also at The Internet Archive, in a variety of file formats. Either link should get you a reverse-chrono listing of available installments. Or browse the show's Web site: Each installment has a page, and each page has links to the recorded audio.

Series overview: Political and social commentary in a variety of genres. Exploring the gap between what we want ... and what they're trying to make us settle for.

Top: The former U.S. Embassy, Moscow, 1959. The Soviets began beaming electromagnetic radiation at the building in the 1950s. The CIA discovered the irradiation in 1962, studied the bad health effects on Embassy staff (and monkeys the CIA brought in!) for more than a decade, then notified the Embassy staff of their peril in 1976.
Bottom: This and the first illustration are by David Dees.

Coming soon (Tuesday air debut date shown)

  • September 28 -- The (Somewhat) Lighter Side of Cell Phones.
Catch New World Notes (all times Eastern):




A-Infos Radio Project http://www.radio4all.net


Friday, September 10, 2010

Food (2): The Big Boys Muscle In



New World Notes News
Vol. 3, No. 37 -- September 11, 2010

This week in New World Notes, radio program #132, September 14 & 18:

Food (2):
The Big Boys Muscle In

In brief

Wall Street titans shaped global agriculture to their own liking and have been making a killing on it--too often literally. In an interview, historian William Engdahl explains how (and why) the Rockefeller brothers created today's centralized, vertically integrated, petroleum-intensive, corporate-controlled global agribusiness. He also discusses why the Rockefeller empire is pushing so hard for genetically-modified foods. No, "to better feed the world's hungry" is not the answer to either "why" question.

Global grain prices went through the roof in 2008--greatly increasing hunger and triggering riots worldwide. Alan Maass (read aloud) shows that this price spike was an artificial bubble inflated mostly by Goldman Sachs--just like the recent high-tech and housing bubbles. Mumia Abu-Jamal, recorded in April 2008, astutely analyzes the then-ongoing price surge.

2008 saw "food riots" in the Philippines (top); Port-au-Prince,
Haiti
(bottom); and many other places, worldwide.
Most photos: Click to enlarge.

Notes, credits, & links

This week's music: Monty Python, "Money."

I've condensed both the Maass and the Engdahl pieces for radio. Maass's complete article, "Banking on Hunger," is here. Thanks to Susan Rosenthal for sending it to me.

The Engdahl interview is by Ken MacDermotRoe, from his radio show, History Counts. The uncut installment is here.

New World Notes is produced under the auspices (Latin for "gun") of WWUH-FM, a community service of that beacon of light in darkest Connecticut, the University of Hartford.

Feedback to kdowst at hotmail period com.
Free weekly NWN email newsletter on request.

You can listen to any installment of New World Notes online or else download it (as an mp3 audio file) for later listening. New World Notes' main audio archive is at radio4all.net. Installments beginning with #90 are archived also at The Internet Archive, in a variety of file formats. Either link should get you a reverse-chrono listing of available installments. Or browse the show's Web site: Each installment has a page, and each page has links to the recorded audio.

Series overview: Political and social commentary in a variety of genres. Exploring the gap between what we want ... and what they're trying to make us settle for.

Top: The Rockefeller Brothers in 1960. Standing: David. Seated, l to r:
Laurance, Winthrop, John D. 3rd, Nelson.

Bottom: Goldman Sachs CEO & Chairman Lloyd Blankfein


Coming soon (Tuesday air debut date shown)

  • September 21 -- The Other Problem With Cell Phones
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Food-price protest in Mexico, 2008



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Friday, September 3, 2010

Labor Day Musical Special (R)

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New World Notes News
Volume 3, Number 36 -- September 3, 2009

This week in New World Notes, radio program #131, September 7:


Labor Day Musical Special

A re-run of last year's show, with updated preface. I'm taking the day off. Featuring (in order of appearance)

David Rovics, The Day the Minimum Wage Workers Went on Strike. A classic celebration of the working class and of strength in solidarity . . . with some very nice banjo picking.

Mad Agnes, Katie. A witty and sharp critique of bourgeois life from the perspective of the long-suffering--and admirable--cleaning lady.

The Foremen, Workin' on an MBA. Comic satire of the cushy life, & boundless self-pity, of the men in the gray flannel suits--set to a tune that recalls a Mississippi chain gang.

Utah Phillips, Moose Turd Pie. Spoken, w/ a little guitar. Utah recalls (with only the slightest hint of exaggeration) the worst job he ever held.

Anne Feeney, Business News / Hallelujah, I'm a Bum! A beautiful rendition of an 1890's song about unemployment (yep: that "18" is correct!); a fine homage to Simon & Garfunkel's 1965 classic, "Silent Night / 6 o'Clock News"; and a good song on its own terms.

John McCutcheon, Doing Our Job. McCutcheon applies Cal Ripken Jr.'s modest remarks upon breaking a major-league record to America's working people generally. A long-overdue celebration of the best of American working-class values.

Base (Workers & Farmers): We Work for all. . . . We feed all.
Level 2 (Corporate fatcats): We eat for you.
Level 3 (Soldiers): We shoot at you.
Level 4 (Clergy): We fool you.
Level 5 (Kings, Presidents, etc.): We Rule you.
Top (Moneybag): Capitalism. Click to enlarge.

Coming soon (dates of WWUH Tuesday broadcast shown):

  • September 14--Food (2): The Big Boys Muscle In

Catch New World Notes (all times Eastern):

Lunch: Rockefeller Center (Photo by Charles C. Ebbetts, 1932)