The Illusionists

Part 1: New World Notes #569, 27:59  (January 29)
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Part 2: New World Notes #570, 28:57 (February 5)
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 A good documentary film by Elena Rossini (2015), newly adapted to radio by KD.

It's about the damage--social, physical, and psychological--wrought by the huge and profitable "beauty" industry.

One of this film's virtues is its international scope. Throughout the world, the bad effects of the beauty business are remarkably similar--but the regional variations are very interesting. The focus shifts among. Boston, Paris, Milan, Beirut, Mumbai, and Tokyo.

Another virtue: the film focuses on men--the industry's latest target--as well as women.

Part One explores how the industry promotes personal insecurity ... how people worldwide have been persuaded to desire European features ... and how Third-World people are encouraged to lighten their skin color. Introduction by KD (and a brief PS by W. Shakespeare).

Part Two explores the "skinny" ideal and the diet industry ...Photoshopping models to make them skinnier still ... warped images of men's beauty ... the sexualization of children, especially young girls ... the connections between the beauty business and the porn business ...  and how to fight back.

 Calvin Klein ad

www.theillusionists.org/

The People vs. "The Masters of Mankind"

New World Notes #568, 28:40 (January 22)
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All for ourselves, and nothing for other people, seems, in every age of the world, to have been the vile maxim of the masters of mankind. -- Adam Smith, The Wealth of Nations, Chapter 4

Three short, impromptu talks by Noam Chomsky on the state of America today.  Chomsky brilliantly discusses

• the 1%'s attack on public education--and why they are doing it
• financial crimes that get people arrested--and the more serious ones that don't
• whether the people can change the system

The surprising answer to the third question is, Yes--they've done it before.

Our title refers to a favorite quotation of Chomsky's--reprinted at the top of this page.

Chomsky's remarks are taken from a Q&A session following a talk he gave in Syracuse, NY, on November 11, 2011.  From the video recording by Wilton Vought (othervoicesotherchoices.blogspot.com).  Many thanks.

Previously broadcast, as NWN #337, in August 2014. Files downloaded from the links, above, are identified as #337.

The Corporations and the Economy

New World Notes #567, 28:23 (January 15)
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This installment--first broadcast in March 2013--is as timely and relevant now as then--alas!

Corporate profits and stock prices continue to go up, up, up. Yet unemployment remains disastrously high, layoffs are increasing, poverty and personal debt are increasing. How can this be?

Noam Chomsky, Jim Hightower, Dave Johnson, The New York Times, and singer Mike Stout provide some answers.

Hint: don't blame nature, the Internet, new technologies, or China. Changes in federal laws and regulations--which Big Business fought hard for--enabled and encouraged the current mess.

Two of the sources we hear from bring up our local contributor to the Dow Jones Industrial Average: United Technologies Corporation. Just before the show's initial broadcast, UTC reported record profits and reached a record high share price. The company celebrated by announcing it would lay off (that is, fire) 3,000 more workers--on top of the 4,000 it laid off the precious year.

Chuck U. Rosina recorded the Chomsky segment in Boston on February 25, 2013. (Thanks again.)

Music added: Mike Stout, from "Occupy"

Clutter

New World Notes #566, 27:31 (January 8)
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It's stressful; it's expensive; ir's bad for the environment; it's bad for the soul; and it's very hard to get rid of. No, not the Trump Administration (or bedbugs): I'm referring to clutter.

We explore the problem with true confessions by me, an article by Erica Layne, remarks by environmentalist Lloyd Alter, and music by Chumbawamba.

Alex Wise's interview with Lloyd Alter courtesy of Sea Change Radio (December 11, 2018). Erica Layne's "9 Hard Truths About Clutter You Need to Hear" courtesy of ericalayne.co.

Disabilities

New World Notes #565, 28:25 (January 1)
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Once again we "compare great things with small." First, Jess Wright tells the history of "disability" in America.  People with impairments are labelled "disabled" when the economic system doesn't need them to fill a job. When more workers are needed, many of the "disabled" become "able"--as in US factories during World War II.

Then KD reads & discusses a newspaper story about a tragic disability afflicting many women in America: gray hair. And about the awful consequences of failing to use hair dye.

Previously broadcast, as NWN #325, in May 2014. Files downloaded from the links, above, are identified as #325. Jess Wright talk courtesy of wearemany.org.  Thanks to Robin Upton, producer of "Unwelcome Guests" (unwelcomeguests.net), for acquainting me with this talk.