A Point To Ponder...
"Television won't last because people will get tired of staring at a plywood box every night."
-Darryl Zanuck, 20th Century
Fox co-founder, 1946
Things Everyone Should Be Watching
1/27/06: Thank You For Smoking
Thank You For Smoking is like that old joke, "What's the different between a catfish and a tobacco executive?" One's a scum-sucking, bottom-feeder and the other's a fish. In essence, this film is a biting satyre about the pro-tobacco lobby in America. Directed by Jason Reitman, a 30-something genius, this movie is so close to reality that it will have you laughing at one moment and staring in disbelief in another. Few can argue about the devastation and carnage that cigarette makers have created--with 450,000 deaths each year, tobacco will be the worst plague the history of mankind has ever known, far eclipsing things like influenza, bubonic plague, and even AIDS. In the end, this movie will reaffirm your disdain for big tobacco and all that it stands for.
12/15/06: The Coming Generational Storm
A word of advice to baby boomers: be very kind to your children. They will quite likely be paying a steep price for your happy golden years. Laurence Kotlikoff says the future is dark indeed for the Social Security system. The fiscal gap between what the federal government expects to take in and what it pays out is so big that the Treasury Department had to censor the number in the federal budget. Kotlikoff's current figure: $51 trillion. Today's payouts to retirees for Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid have already broken the bank, and future expenditures will take us right into an economic catastrophe, says Kotlikoff. Why? Because today there are 33 million people over 65 receiving an average annual Social Security payment of $23k -- but in four years there will be 77 million seniors collecting.
Grab your Prozac and get ready for a bleak, but important, lesson that is to come...unless radical change is adopted soon.
To watch the program, visit this link
12/03/06: Living Old
For the first time in American history, "the old old" -- those over 85 -- are now the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population. Medical advances have enabled an unprecedented number of Americans to live longer, healthier lives. But for millions of elderly, living longer can also mean a debilitating physical decline that often requires an immense amount of care. And just as more care is needed, fewer caregivers are available to provide it. In "Living Old," FRONTLINE investigates this national crisis and explores the new realities of aging in America.
To view the episode online, simply visit this link.
11/27/06: Anxious Times: Seeing Beyond A World of Perpetual Threats
On October 14, 2006, Stanford President John Hennessy, veteran journalist Ted Koppel, and a panel of leading figures in world affairs, health, technology, and industry joined an audience of more than 4,000 people in Maples Pavilion for the Roundtable at Stanford University. The wide-ranging discussion, entitled "Anxious Times: Seeing Beyond a World of Perpetual Threats," covered such global concerns as North Korea's nuclear ambitions, the looming threat of a global flu pandemic, threats to civil liberties, and the role of the Internet in our changing world. This rountable also aired on CSPAN which is where is saw it. What was especially remarkable about this panel discussion was the dialogue concerning the nation's preparedness and a potential flu pandemic--if you think America is prepared for something like this...think again.
You can download the audio and video of the rountable by accessing this link.
11/17/06: 30 Days...Surviving on Minimum Wage
Morgan Spurlock, the mastermind of the eye-opening documentary SuperSize Me, is at it again with a new series called "30 Days." The premise is simple, Spurlock spends 30 days fully and completely immersed in the most challenging of life's situations. The first episode in the series sees Spurlock and his wife working for minimum wage in Columbus, Ohio. Starting with one week's minimum wage (about $147), he and his wife must find and finance an apartment and obtain gainful employment in minimum wage jobs. I won't spoil it for you, but I can tell you that this is the human drama of life on the edge. After watching this marvelous documentary, you'll have a new appreciation for the resolve and ingenuity of people who work for minimum wage--and I'll bet you a buck that you'll support raising the minimum wage.
11/11/06: I Trust You To Kill Me
I ran across this jewel when I was channel surfing and discovered a commercial-free, black and white documentary (reminiscent of U2's Rattle and Hum) detailing actor Kiefer Sutherland's quest to introduce a new band (Rocco Deluca and the Burden) to the rest of the world. Not only is this documentary very well produced by Jude Cole (a great musician in his own rite) but it's an inspiring look inside the creative process of musicians. It's definitely worth watching and you can find it on (I'm ashamed to say it) Vh1. I'm sure many of you are wondering, "What's this got to do with work and health?" The answer to that question is, "Not a damn thing" but I felt compelled to list it for the artistic inspiration alone. Check it out, you won't be disappointed.
11/08/06: PBS Frontline: Can You Afford To Retire?
Baby boomers are heading for a shock as they hit retirement: vanishing pensions and inadequate 401(k) savings. In a brilliant (I'm not kidding) expose, PBS brings to light the fact that the average American has indeed been cut loose. Narrated and hosted by the enormously talented and qualified, Hedrick Smith, this production will evoke emotions ranging from disbelief, anger, rage (wait till you see the part about CEO pay), and helplessness. Every worker and executive in America should be required to watch this--if you are not a CEO of a major corporation with a compensation package that parallels most third world country's economies, be sure to grab a bottle of Jim Beam.
Check out the Frontline site at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/retirement/
