Civilization exists precisely so that there may be no masses but rather men alert enough never to constitute masses.
— Georges Bernanos, born in 1888
I can never remember the Roman Numerals for 1, 1000, 51, 6 and 500...
IM LIVID
Millennial tries fancy thing (Sweetgreen salads, puffer jackets, Goop), is surprised to find life unchanged. Such “late capitalism” essays are everywhere — and are pointless Millennials
Bilingual people may make different choices based on the language they’re thinking in. Here’s why. Washington Post
The AP built a tool to help newsrooms in New York share news with each other
Rose, Amanda M., Classaction.gov (February 10, 2020). Vanderbilt Law Research Paper No. 20-05. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3534317 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3534317
“This Essay proposes the creation of a federally-run class action website and supporting administration (collectively, Classaction.gov) that would both operate a comprehensive research database on class actions and assume many of the notice and claims processing functions performed by class action claims administrators today. Classaction.gov would bring long-demanded transparency to class actions and, through forces of legitimization and coordination, would substantially increase the rate of consumer participation in class action settlements. It also holds the key to mitigating other problems in class action practice, such as the inefficiencies and potential abuses associated with multi-forum litigation, the limited success of CAFA’s notice requirement in spurring effective pubic oversight of class actions, and the potential for abuse inherent in cy pres settlement awards.”
“This Essay proposes the creation of a federally-run class action website and supporting administration (collectively, Classaction.gov) that would both operate a comprehensive research database on class actions and assume many of the notice and claims processing functions performed by class action claims administrators today. Classaction.gov would bring long-demanded transparency to class actions and, through forces of legitimization and coordination, would substantially increase the rate of consumer participation in class action settlements. It also holds the key to mitigating other problems in class action practice, such as the inefficiencies and potential abuses associated with multi-forum litigation, the limited success of CAFA’s notice requirement in spurring effective pubic oversight of class actions, and the potential for abuse inherent in cy pres settlement awards.”
Why “Move Fast and Break Things” Doesn’t Work Anymore
Phil Haney Former DHS Whistleblower Found Dead. But Was It Suicide?
HOW THE ‘INTERPRETER’ SCAM BROUGHT 75,000 IRAQIS AND AFGHANS TO AMERICA.
“I managed to walk to the North Pole, but I didn’t manage to walk to the airport from Boston.”
Why 'Think before speaking' is a broadcasting golden rule
MSNBC commentator Chris Matthews in the spin room during the 2020 Democratic Party presidential debates in June. (Photo: mpi04/MediaPunch)
Another political commentator said something that was, at most,
really tasteless and completely inappropriate or, at the very least, just
flat-out dumb.
This time, it was MSNBC’s Chris Matthews. The veteran
commentator is getting widely criticized for comparing
Bernie Sanders’ victory in the Nevada caucuses to the 1940 Nazi invasion of
France. While giving his take on Sanders’ victory Saturday night, Matthews
said on air, “I was reading last night about the fall of France in the summer
of 1940. And the general, (Paul) Reynaud, calls up Churchill and says, ‘It’s
over.’ And Churchill says, ‘How can that be? You’ve got the greatest army in
Europe. How can it be over?’ He said, ‘It’s over.’”
Sanders’ campaign manager Mike
Casca tweeted, “never thought part of my job would be pleading with a
national news network to stop likening the campaign of a jewish presidential candidate
whose family was wiped out by the nazis to the third reich. but here we are.”
There were other calls for Matthews to be fired or resign.
Perhaps Matthews was merely trying to convey the inevitability
of Sanders winning the nomination, and was not actually comparing Sanders to
Nazis. But using an analogy about Nazis when you’re talking about anything
other than Nazis is always a bad idea. Matthews has been around long enough to
know that.
This isn’t a fireable offense, but it’s worth a good talking to
and an apology.
And it’s a cautionary tale, for sure.
These are dangerous times for commentators after debates and
primaries and caucuses. Commentators are trying to stand out. The networks are
trying to draw eyeballs. The country is wickedly divided. It’s Republicans vs.
Democrats and even Democrats vs. Democrats. As networks try to draw audiences,
commentators are pushing the envelope with their coverage.
But there’s a fine
line between provocative, thoughtful and intelligent commentary and completely
irresponsible remarks that often come out in an attempt to either be funny or
interesting. Heck, there’s a fine line between a hot take and stupid one. In
trying to sound educated, Matthews came off not only as haughty, but as
tone deaf. Clearly, he didn’t think far enough ahead to realize how his comments
might be interpreted, thus breaking one of broadcasting’s golden rules of
speaking before thinking.Foreign postings
Todd Mercer has been appointed ambassador to Chile. He will also be accredited to Ecuador. Mercer has previously served overseas as high commissioner to Brunei Darussalam and as deputy head of mission at the Australian Embassy in Chile. He replaces Robert Fergusson.
Jo Cowley is Australia’s next ambassador to the Federated States of Micronesia, and will also be accredited to the Republic of the Marshall Islands. She replaces George Fraser. Cowley was most recently assistant secretary in the scholarships and alumni branch at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. She has previously served overseas in New Zealand and Italy, and in Canberra.
Remo Moretta has been named ambassador to Mexico. He will also be accredited to Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama. Moretta was most recently DFAT’s assistant secretary in the Europe trade, UK and Ireland branch. He has previously served overseas as deputy head of mission, Australian High Commission, Wellington; counsellor, Australian Embassy, Washington; and first secretary, Australian Permanent Mission to the World Trade Organization, Geneva. He takes over from Dr David Engel, who has advanced Australia’s interests in Mexico since 2015.
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