A condensed video from Thom Friedman yesterday at PSU (would’ve gotten it up then but YouTube was being a little bitch). I skipped over most of the “causes” portion of the presentation, which you’ve likely heard before. If not, buy the book or start reading his column. The freshest meat is toward the end:
Friedman is indeed an interesting character. Critics—at least those on hand—seem to nitpick his policies, finding fault in relative minutia. But I’ll argue that Friedman’s holding one of the largest megaphones on earth and, by and large, pushing a generally solid, progressive message (sans promoting that Iraq debacle a few years back). Some people seem upset that, instead of chanting “fuck the man,” Friedman’s mantra is “become the man.” Not very punk, but who in a comparable position of power or influence is doing better? (Seriously, I’ll check them out…)
“Who in a comparable position of power or influence is doing better?”
He’s not even tops at his own paper – Paul Krugman, Frank Rich, Nicholas Kristof, Bob Herbert, even fucking Maureen Dowd is more palatable than the mustache.
James Fallows, Glenn Greenwald, Naomi Wolf, Nouriel Roubini, Josh Marshall, James Kunstler, Eric Boehlert, Naomi Klein, Sam Seder, Nate Silver, James Wolcott – all these people write books and columns. They are arguably not in comparable positions of power and influence, but then again they don’t spew the pablum Friedman does. The type of insipid tripe that can be easily branded as conventional wisdom by self-satisfied corporatism eager to perpetuate a status quo that is failing on every conceivable level. As we speak.
A line I meant to add: “He’s no Nic Kristof” (from Oregon, by the way)
But Dowd is fluff, Rich writes the same recap column every week (which I still enjoy) and the others cover very different issues, none of which are as prevalent as Green Tech I’d say, except for the Darfur and the current economic crisis, but there too you could make a case the solution is Green Tech.
Friedman’s Greatest Hits:
http://tinyurl.com/awx5b8
Relative minutia? Whatever Friedman is selling, it’s best to buy the complete polar opposite.
If I was a sports book in Vegas, I would simply stand in line behind Sir Mustache and bet against whatever team he bets for. And I would be rich.
A CAT/NOT A CAT IS RETIRING FROM BLOGTOWN.
Remember when blogtown was fun? I do. This was a frivolous place where we could have fairly intelligent discussions about the issue of the day while simultaneously celebrating cat friday/caturday and trolling Matt into various nervous breakdowns while he was changing his medications and calling everyone racist. It was fun!
Alas, the whole fucking Sam debacle brought in some sort of ideologue brigade that wanted nothing but SRS BSNS, but unfortunately had the debate skills of lesser apes. Sam-gate sort of wrapped up, but these dipshits just found new things to have completely incompetent show-downs about. It’s fucking boring, and I’m fucking bored.
I know that Rom and jake and all the other half-wits will count this as a win, to which I say “good on you”. You’ve made blogtown insufferably stupid, well done. I’m out.
Kiala, graham, Alison, other decent people: It’s been fun, and I’ll miss you guys.
Mercury arts interns: by and large you all suck. Up your game.
Matt: You’re a talentless hack, but you knew that. Good luck with the mental health issues.
KTHXBAI.
Good riddance to the lonely guy who hides behind the avatar of A CAT. I feel that I won something today. I no longer have to scroll over your insepid remarks or avoid this blog all together because of YOU. Please do us a favor and actually quit this blog. I hate to think this a dramatic post followed tomorrow by another dramatic post. Good luck…