NPR's Ira Glass on Jill Abramson: Who's She?

Ira Glass
(Image: Wikipedia)

NPR's popular raconteur Ira Glass was recently asked his opinion about the firing of New York Times executive editor Jill Abramson. New York magazine provided a transcript of the conversation with Mr. Glass. What's fascinating is that Glass, a devoted Times reader by his own admission, professed complete indifference to l'affaire Abramson.  He even claimed he didn't know the name of the exec editor and didn't care about her ouster.

I've often believed NPR, as an entity as well as many of its media stars, lives in a world of smug arrogance. Mr. Glass, while dismissing the Abramson incident, made a point of talking about the importance of his role in and preparation for the upcoming Peabody Award ceremonies. All things considered, Ira Glass didn't have time to consider anybody other than himself.

Comcast Lobbyist Hints Firm May Resurrect Data Caps

David Cohen
(Image: corporate.comcast.com)

When we last left Comcast's superstar lobbyist David Cohen, he was defending the Comcast-Time Warner Cable merger to during a rubber stamp FCC public hearing. While Washington may offer low-hanging fruit, Comcast's front man knows Wall Street can occasionally offer stronger resistance to his smoothly presented advocacy. That assertion suggests Mr. Cohen may have to speak some truth, although only to big-time financial specialists and certainly not to the average cable rate payer.

According to a blog post in siliconvalley.com, Cohen spoke to an assortment of money men and women earlier this week at a New York business event. What he did not mention to the people's representatives he more candidly noted to the assembled, well-connected group. During his remarks, Cohen predicted that it would only take five years for Comcast to reinstate data usage caps on their millions of accounts.

As siliconvalley.com's personal technology writer Troy Wolverton observed, Comcast is a wolf among lambs in the world of data caps. Some years ago, Comcast instituted data caps on its customers and insisted everyone was treated equally. Well, that wasn't quite the case, and Comcast had to remove its data usage choke points. Currently, Mr. Cohen and Comcast would have the gullible believe their corporate intent is to "improve service," "foster innovation," and presumably any other shallow, palatable buzzword suitable for a 15-second sound bite. It's far more likely that data caps will be spun as another way decreased, more expensive service equals progress.

1970s US Radical and Convicted Murderer Fights To Retain Teaching Position

James Kilgore
(Image: chicagoreporter.com)

America circa 1970 incubated so-called "radical" groups that advocated a hostile stance toward established government and business. Among them was a small, violent group called the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA). Their most prominent caper was Patty Hearst's kidnapping and alleged brainwashing. Among the SLA's members was one James Kilgore.

According to today's online edition of the Chicago Tribune, Kilgore is in the midst of an academic hearing at the University of Illinois' Champaign-Urbana campus. It will be interesting to learn whether Kilgore, a convicted felon (second degree murder), will sway the university panel to just say yes to his desire to remain on the U's teaching staff. Ironically, a key trustee who will determine Kilgore's employment plea, Christopher Kennedy, is related to the late Bobby Kennedy, whose assassin Kilgore once publicly praised. (By the way, the Trib goes into some detail about Kilgore's curious life on the international lam, his American criminal record, and his strong teaching performance.)

The Mystery of the Dead Tree

My wife and I live in a moderately-sized garden apartment complex. The landlord provides two garbage dumpsters for tenant use. Some curious objects end up in these receptacles. Baby furniture, books, and obsolete electronics find their way to their green metal coffins for disposal. Today was unusual, in that someone left a young, and quite dead, tree next to one of the dumpsters.

The tree had no leaves, no buds, but some significant branch development. Had it remained in the earth, the tree would have been at least two heads taller than I am. That the tree still possessed its shallow root system surprised me. It's not easy to uproot a tree, even one with a precarious hold on the underworld. In my walks around the apartment complex, I had not noticed any trees perpendicular to the ground. The winds had not seemed especially severe; recent heavy rain might have softened the area where the tree grew, but I don't think it was swept away by watery forces.

A few weeks ago, landscapers tidied the complex's lawns and shrubs. They would certainly have disposed of a tree marked for elimination. OK, so for now, the dead tree's presence remains enigmatic.

Over the years in the complex, some tenants have used trees as expressive conduits for their emotions. One woman found some stray branches, put them together, and proceeded to indiscreetly pray over them. While no one quizzed her about the inspiration for her religious fervor, the complex's super firmly told her to move her shrine out of the parking lot's sole driveway.

I wonder what the woman would have done with today's dead tree. What spirit, what source of mystic revelation, would have been her reason to pray?

New Jersey's Spring Art Offensive

The art world, New Jersey division, is in the midst of its annual spring offensive. Galleries, museums, "spaces," and artists either big-time or obscure make it a point to be seen and to see each other. Since my wife is a fine art photographer, our shared spring calendar becomes filled with events that get our attention.

My wife and I attended a local opening last night and a highly publicized "come on down" at a former industrial building in Jersey City earlier today.

The former opening, held in a repurposed firehouse, had all the feel of a trade show in which everyone worked hard to promote something. The event thankfully lacked annoying personalities whose conversational time seemed metered; nonetheless, dialogue often swung into sales-style conversations. At least the participants were on good behavior.

The Jersey City venue felt like a costume ball, complete with female models who were trying to figure out how to pose (literally and figuratively). The building itself was the best part of the show. The light, airy, glass framed structure admirably fit large-scale works without suffocating small pieces. We walked around the exhibits with ease and a chance to view items in their proper perspective. A building next door housed artists' studios. We visited a couple of them and my wife became friendly with a woman who was something of an established painter. She was generous and honest with advice, somewhat rare commodities in the world of the fine arts.

The space's owners shrewdly offered bus service from their site back to the City. Many in the crowd did dress as if they were on the other side of the Hudson River. It was as if they were on a field trip. I couldn't help comparing it to suburban residents filling buses to go to Broadway matinees, but I was in a cranky mood and tried not to chase the thought.

I did experience one bright moment during the event. A woman thought she had recognized me and thought I was a Jersey City-based artist. That was an uncalculated encounter I thoroughly enjoyed.

Jet Magazine Takes Off Into All-Digital Format

Image: Wikipedia

Chicago-based Jet magazine used to be a familiar sight when New York had street and subway platform newsstands. It was therefore with some resigned sadness today that I read an Associated Press story (picked up by siliconvalley.com) reporting Jet's move from print to an all-digital format. A longer article in the Chicago Tribune explores Jet's migration in greater depth and personal touch.

The difference between reading a compact, print version of a magazine such as Jet and getting it on a device is a big one. I used to read Jet in laundromats, where the publication was something of a shared community resource. Try to do that on a device. Jet's print format and appearance was far from slick, which I rather enjoyed. And Jet had a certain legacy that digital just doesn't have, at least not yet.

I understand things change, and Jet's move to the device world does make business sense. But that doesn't mean I like it.

Five Players to Watch at the NFL 2014 Draft

I admit I'm a sucker for the NFL draft. I enjoy the guessing game and, after all, it's not my money that's invested in 300 pounds of fast, angry flesh.

With the exception of Johnny Manziel, this year's draft lacks pizzaz. However, there are five players whose NFL destiny interests me. Who are they? Glad you asked.
1. Carlos Hyde -- Ohio State running back whose size, power, and speed are what's wanted in today's NFL. He was somewhat in the shadow of Braxton Miller at Columbus, but Hyde looked prime time to me when I watched him play.
2. Darqueze Dennard -- Moo U's leader and shutdown corner. He's a player Bill Parcells would have picked. He can tackle, cover, and understands the privilege of being a pro football player.
3. Marcus Martin -- A USC center who just needs to picked by the right team, such as the Packers.
4. Justin Gilbert -- Doesn't get the ink because he played at Oklahoma State. If he's available at #7, hard to imagine Lovie Smith passing him up, unless the 49ers make Tampa an offer it can't refuse.
5. Jake Matthews -- A Day One starter for some fortunate team. Has ability to match his football pedigree.

Finally, it's likely some trades will impact who goes where. The 49ers have the picks to make a move. The team also has needs, especially cornerback and receiver. I think they'll make a play for Justin Gilbert with a pick-needy team such as the Raiders. If you think #5 (the Raiders' current pick) is too high for a tall, strong, shutdown corner, keep in mind San Francisco watched Seattle's Richard Sherman three times last year, up close and very, very personal.

Wanted: An Emergency Cosmetic/Accessory Kit

I know a woman who carries an emergency cosmetic and accessory kit in her handbag. This item, available 24/7/365, reduces any anxiety over managing her deshabille moments away from home.  Some of the "standard" features include a spare set of "everyday" clip-on earrings and a small vial of Chanel No. 5. Knowing her, I can't imagine the kit without some ChapStick, a nail file, and Band-Aids.

I have no practical wisdom to offer regarding cosmetics or accessories. However, the emergency kit struck me as one of those useful, yet unspoken items that fill handbags around the world. There's a marketing idea in this, such as selling a basic "kit" and making additional items available at variable cost. The notion would be akin to offering a basic pizza and ordering extra toppings to give the dish a personal touch.

The best part of the kit sale: you can get it to go, and has a very long shelf life.

Efrem Zimbalist Jr. -- RIP

Efrem Zimbalist Jr.
(Image: Wikipedia)

When I was a young boy, I grew up in a small town in central New York. TV consisted of two local affiliates of major networks; each station signed off at midnight. My family owned a black-and-white television set that occupied a corner of our small living room. One program I remember watching was 77 Sunset Strip. The show's star, Efrem Zimbalist Jr., didn't do anything memorable, but I can still imagine the show's third wheel, Kookie, combing his hair into what I supposed passed for style. (Keep in mind those were the days when beatniks were easily identified because they sported beards and wore black turtleneck sweaters.)

Producer Roy Huggins' story arcs and character nuances that propelled 77 Sunset Strip's typical narrative may seem tame by today's raunchy standards, or even those explored by contemporaries such as Samuel Fuller or Chester Himes. Yet Zimbalist Jr., who passed away recently at age 95, made this make-believe world a palatable one for millions of TV viewers. (The linked YouTube collection of 77 Sunset Strip opening credits, introduction, and theme song are great fun to watch.)

Ironically, Zimbalist Jr. was quoted in his LA Times obituary as disliking television acting. However, as his producer riposted, no one knew about Efrem Zimbalist Jr. until 77 Sunset Strip. What did Zimbalist enjoy? Well, he appreciated when his performances motivated people to make important career choices. His role in the hit television series The FBI accomplished this goal; a Federal Bureau of Investigation later awarded Zimbalist Jr. its highest civilian honor in gratitude for the people influenced by the actor and the positive shaping of the Bureau's image.