So, Google is in the news this week, and not in a good way. The company fired Timnit Gebru, co-leader of its Ethical Artificial Intelligence team, and her release to the marketplace was not amiable. Gebru announced her departure on Twitter after it happened, and immediately made it clear that it was hinky. She said … Continue reading There Are No Winners, Only Losers in the Timnit Gebru-Google Situation
So, earlier this week former President Obama called out cancel culture and so-called woke young people at his Obama Foundation summit in Chicago. I didn’t watch the entire hour-long speech, but I believe he was speaking particularly of the culture on college campuses. I see a ton of different applications for his thoughtfully delivered commentary though. The … Continue reading Former President Obama Makes a Great Point About Being “Woke”
With all this talk of whistleblowing and impeachment flowing around, I suppose it was only fitting that a story about questionable journalism ethics and poor social media skills caught my eye. CNN ran a piece today about Aaron Calvin, a Des Moines Register reporter who lost his job after writing a profile on someone with a … Continue reading Once a Racist, Always a Racist?
Silly nuggets like this week’s story about New York Times columnist Bret Stephens probably don’t deserve a blog. But I’m going to give some attention to what we can cheerfully call, “the bedbug incident,” as a cautionary tale for anyone who ends up as the butt of a public joke. It’s amazing that we still … Continue reading The Pitiful Tale of Bret Stephens, the Two-Line Tweet and Becoming This Week’s Media Bug-aboo
I worked a conference with one of my clients this week. It was a small show, not a ton of traffic, so I had an opportunity to chat with a few of our fellow vendors. As company representatives they were primarily in the sales and marketing field. One gentleman and I got into a detailed … Continue reading How Well Are You Marketing Yourself?
So, by now you’ve probably heard about Gucci and the case of the blackface sweater. The luxury brand has been taking a lot of heat, as I think it should. It’s paltry in the extreme that a storied fashion house like this would be so insensitive to a key segment of its customer base. Their … Continue reading 50 Cent: Making Waves, Making Change and Burning Gucci
Ordinarily I’m not one to congratulate anyone for doing what they’re supposed to do. I tend to make fun of people who orate at length about how great they are for behaving the right way. You know, because we’re adults, and that’s how we should roll? You know what I mean. Men who brag that … Continue reading Ellen Pompeo, Thank You for Speaking the Truth
They say everything happens when it’s supposed to. Timing is everything. You get information when you need it most. When you’re ready for the lesson, the teacher will appear, that sort of thing. I believe that, and never more so than today. I was talking to a friend. We’ve known each other for 20 years … Continue reading Can You Handle the Truth?
So, Bette Midler, a singer/actress I’ve enjoyed for many many years – who didn’t love Beaches? – sent out a few controversial tweets this week using the n-word. I’ve always liked Midler. She’s a great singer, for one, a true entertainer, and she made it big being different. She made herself a star by not fitting … Continue reading If You’re Not Black, Don’t Say the N-Word
A Life Not Grey 