Weekend Links No. 7
January 29th, 2010 by Robert Parker | Comment »
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1. “Beyond the Poverty” by Olivier Jarda with Taylor Marie Young | The Mark
The phrase “the poorest nation in the Western hemisphere” has been used more than any other to describe Haiti in the aftermath of the recent devastating earthquake. While this statement is factual, Jarda and Young argue that it implies a moral superiority on the part of media commentators, most graphically displayed by Pat Robertson’s “Haiti is cursed” rant.
2. “Canadian Reactor Division Is on the Block” by John Lorinc | Green Inc.
Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., the crown corporation in charge of Canada’s nuclear technology, is looking for investors to help sell its heavy water reactors around the globe. AECL has had its fair share of nuclear troubles recently (ex. the Chalk River/medical isotope debacle), but Ottawa is looking to expand the brand and return Canada to its leading position in nuclear power technology.
3. “Sperm donation drops sharply in UK” | Futurity
Apparently, the drop-off coincided with the passing of a 2006 law that removes donor anonymity. The problem has become so bad that women have resorted to buying fresh sperm on the internet and using DIY insemination kits. Looks like the market has never been better for Stephen Colbert’s Formula 401.
4. “5 Worst Reactions to the State of the Union” by Max Fisher | The Atlantic Wire
US President Barack Obama delivered his first State of the Union speech this week, and his country’s twenty-four-hour cable news channels were there to provide instant analysis — and verbal gaffes galore. Chris Matthews, what were you thinking?
5. “What’s Wrong with the Evening News?” by Morgan Clendaniel | GOOD Blog
Clendaniel finds a pitch-perfect takedown of television journalism, produced by Charlie Brooker of the BBC’s Newswipe.
6. “iPad: Sorry, Steve Jobs — MAD TV beat you to it” by Sarah Liss | Things That Go Pop!
A significant portion of my Wednesday afternoon was spent listening to a shaky audio stream of Steve Jobs’ iPad announcement while clicking through various live blogs of the event. When he announced that Apple’s long-awaited tablet computer would officially be called the iPad, I shuddered for precisely this reason.
7. “Is Apple’s iPad ‘underwhelming’ or ‘a game changer’?” by Regan Ray | J-Source
The iPad has not been met with universal acclaim. Nobody seems to be overly excited about it, while many seem downright angry (I’m looking at you, Gizmodo). Ray provides a good round-up of opinions from the journalism and publishing industries.
8. “Why Are Girl Journalists in Movies So Lame?” by Sara Libby | Double X
Focusing on Maggie Gyllenhaal’s character in the critically acclaimed Crazy Heart, Libby deconstructs how female journalists are portrayed in American cinema: more prone to compromise their journalistic ethics than their male counterparts; often falling for the male subjects of their stories.
9. “Community TV blamed for cable cash crunch” by Cathy Edwards | rabble.ca
Edwards, spokesperson for the Canadian Association of Community Television Users and Stations (CACTUS), laments the death of easily accessible community television. Because of a 1997 CRTC ruling, carriers are no longer obligated to carry public access stations. These stations are now in danger of dying off. Edwards suggests that if Canadians make noise about their demise, the CRTC will have to listen.
10. “Video Podcast #2: Free Hoder” by Jesse Brown | Search Engine
Hossein (“Hoder”) Derakhshan is a Canadian blogger who is being held without charges or trial in Iranian jail. Not so long ago, Hoder was celebrated for teaching Iranians how to use new media as a tool for freedom. Then his political allegiance shifted, and he began writing in support of Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Brown argues that in spite of Hoder’s newfound politics, he is a Canadian citizen, and it is the responsibility of our federal government to do everything it can to see him released.










