As we mentioned yesterday, and as you would expect, even while a record winter storm sweeps across the U.S., we've been keeping our eyes on the unfolding drama in Egypt.
A whole host of questions still remain, for both people outside of Egypt, as well as those within the country.
Definitive leadership has yet to emerge, contrary to what might be heard in much of the generic media coverage. Volunteers of all kinds seem to be doing everything they can to help out, including protecting a children's hospital.
There are reports that claim Egyptians have a growing hatred for Americans, but more accurate polling statistics show Americans now are viewed more favorably in that region than they have been in several years.
To say information coming out of Egypt is confusing is an understatement.
After speaking with several experts on Egypt and the Middle East yesterday, there are a few things we've learned from those who are more knowledgeable than we are about Egypt. They all seemed to have some solid - albeit vague - answers, and seemed to have a generally similar forecast about Egypt's immediate future.
Egypt's recent ruling regime has been oppressive for most of its existence. Technically, the country has lived under martial law for most of the last 30 years. According to experts we queried, that situation is likely at an end.
Over the last decade, Egyptians have been exposed to the internet, social networking, and to greater media freedoms. Those fundamental changes are likely to remain - especially after so many from around the world have worked so hard to help keep those lines of communication open.
Because America has given so much foreign aid to Egypt, and continues to do so now, we will be expected to continue rendering that support at current levels - almost regardless of who takes charge, or what kind of government Egyptians decide to choose for themselves. Like it or not, that seems to be the general consensus.
There is another consensus, however.
Even with all of the conflicting reports and stories, and somewhat vague certainties, the experts we spoke with seemed to have a generally positive attitude about what has been happening - and continues to go on - in Egypt. Many Egypt-watchers agree, as with any revolution, there is always the chance things could turn ugly. Most of those we spoke with, however, don't believe the revolt will turn permanently dark.
No one is saying things are easy in Egypt right now. They're not. The most pessimistic are still saying the political light that some are seeing at the end of the proverbial tunnel could prove to be a train wreck for a new regime. Our money is on the optimists.
It may be possible that Egyptians have finally unlocked the key to a more democratic future.
We hope that's the case - for them and for the rest of the world as well.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Monday, January 31, 2011
What You Missed About The Peacock Changing Its Feathers
There may be those who criticize us today for not exclusively focusing on Egypt and the turmoil occurring over there.
Our long-term readers are well aware that we have our eyes and ears on what's going on over there, and we continue to monitor any news coming out of that part of the world. Every media organization worth its salt is paying attention to the full depth of events there, and we're no exception. You'll find a full list of related stories in our news links section today that will give you a good look at what's happening in Egypt.
One of the more important things that has already occurred in that ancient nation on the Nile has a strange connection to an event that just finished happening in the U.S. over the weekend.
In case you missed our linked stories on Friday, the Egyptian government shut down internet access for most of its people at the end of last week. It was a display of government control over the internet that no other country in the world has exhibited - not even China, Iran, or North Korea. The Egyptian government of Hosni Mubarak used what's been termed an "internet kill switch" thanks in large part to its connection with a small number of media corporations, including some that control both Egyptian content AND delivery.
That's just like the new owners in the United States of NBC Universal, Comcast.
The idea that a small number of corporations - and even more accurately, a small number of executives in those corporations - could choke off access to some First Amendment rights for all Americans is a scary thing indeed, for both those on the right and left alike. Like some ever-hungry, multi-armed leviathan, large media consolidation in the United States has been swallowing up and silencing local voices in newspapers, radio, and television for nearly 15 years.
Until Comcast took over radio and TV giant NBC, and movie giant Universal, Americans have always been able to say that they could change the channel if they didn't like the fare that was delivered to them.
With this new breed of media conglomerate, if Comcast decides to only allow positive stories through its delivery pipes, technically, they can do that. If their chief executive decides he hates a specific college or pro sports team, they'll be able to create "accidental" technical difficulties any time they like. In the case of Comcast, if NBC is broadcasting a game, no matter who your internet or cable provider is, they may be able to hold you down and force you to pay them exorbitant rates if you want to view the programming to which they own the rights.
That there are also concerns being raised that some in the Congress and the White House are both looking to add an "internet kill switch" for the United States simply adds to our overall concern about our First Amendment protections.
While you're watching the chaos continue in Egypt today, remember that it was the government there that shut down access to the internet for its citizens.
As of today, in America, we could very well be on the edge of seeing a situation whereby a corporation (Comcast) has that same level of control over what what you see and hear - or don't see and hear. The idea that you could be receiving propaganda instead of unbiased, factual news is a frightening prospect. It is a lot more frightening and real than the crackbrained notion that the government might restrict the right of "sportsmen" to own weapons like the AK47 or the Uzi or Glock pistols with large-capacity magazines.
Our long-term readers are well aware that we have our eyes and ears on what's going on over there, and we continue to monitor any news coming out of that part of the world. Every media organization worth its salt is paying attention to the full depth of events there, and we're no exception. You'll find a full list of related stories in our news links section today that will give you a good look at what's happening in Egypt.
One of the more important things that has already occurred in that ancient nation on the Nile has a strange connection to an event that just finished happening in the U.S. over the weekend.
In case you missed our linked stories on Friday, the Egyptian government shut down internet access for most of its people at the end of last week. It was a display of government control over the internet that no other country in the world has exhibited - not even China, Iran, or North Korea. The Egyptian government of Hosni Mubarak used what's been termed an "internet kill switch" thanks in large part to its connection with a small number of media corporations, including some that control both Egyptian content AND delivery.
That's just like the new owners in the United States of NBC Universal, Comcast.
The idea that a small number of corporations - and even more accurately, a small number of executives in those corporations - could choke off access to some First Amendment rights for all Americans is a scary thing indeed, for both those on the right and left alike. Like some ever-hungry, multi-armed leviathan, large media consolidation in the United States has been swallowing up and silencing local voices in newspapers, radio, and television for nearly 15 years.
Until Comcast took over radio and TV giant NBC, and movie giant Universal, Americans have always been able to say that they could change the channel if they didn't like the fare that was delivered to them.
With this new breed of media conglomerate, if Comcast decides to only allow positive stories through its delivery pipes, technically, they can do that. If their chief executive decides he hates a specific college or pro sports team, they'll be able to create "accidental" technical difficulties any time they like. In the case of Comcast, if NBC is broadcasting a game, no matter who your internet or cable provider is, they may be able to hold you down and force you to pay them exorbitant rates if you want to view the programming to which they own the rights.
That there are also concerns being raised that some in the Congress and the White House are both looking to add an "internet kill switch" for the United States simply adds to our overall concern about our First Amendment protections.
While you're watching the chaos continue in Egypt today, remember that it was the government there that shut down access to the internet for its citizens.
As of today, in America, we could very well be on the edge of seeing a situation whereby a corporation (Comcast) has that same level of control over what what you see and hear - or don't see and hear. The idea that you could be receiving propaganda instead of unbiased, factual news is a frightening prospect. It is a lot more frightening and real than the crackbrained notion that the government might restrict the right of "sportsmen" to own weapons like the AK47 or the Uzi or Glock pistols with large-capacity magazines.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Friday Funday: Surprises.
It's been a week filled with interesting surprises for us at The Daily Felltoon.
It began at the end of last week, with the shocking end to Keith Olbermann's show on MSNBC. Before Friday night was over, we already knew what much of the media would be still talking about on Monday.
Friday gave way to a weekend filled with house hunting for one of us, a trip to Oklahoma and back for another. The rest of us were happy to have a couple of days to relax.
That didn't last for long. Monday began with preparations for Tuesday's State Of The Union speech, and for at least one of us, covering a political march in Washington, DC. As opposed to previous year's gatherings, the march didn't even make the front page of the Washington Post, in print or online. What surprised no one was that our editor Deb saw a new level of success for her personal blog, and a new sponsor, too. [Ok, she was surprised; the rest of us, not so much.]
Tuesday was the State of the Union Address, which we all paid attention to - but it also included a surprise interview for one of us before the address with Deputy White House Press Secretary Bill Burton. Then, Tuesday evening, our web guru was doing prep work for Wednesday, and noticed an issue with WhiteHouse.gov. He immediately contacted the White House - and they listened to him, and fixed the site right away.
Wednesday was going great - until one of our editors had a nail go through her tire. And then our DC staff got dumped on by eight inches of heavy, wet, snow. It also included a bout of gratitude that the falling tree in front of the home of one of our editors missed the cars and power lines. Unfortunately, another tree got some nearby power lines - so our editor made the most of her electrical outage, and spent some quality time at home with a nice fire in the fireplace.
Thursday saw all of us back to the grind - and our electricity-deprived editor was pleasantly surprised by the power coming back on, enabling her to rejoin the twenty-first century.
As you can see from just a week in our lives, the unpredictable twists and turns have been both good and bad, common and unusual.
We keep hearing people surprised at the positive news they're hearing about more jobs coming back to the U.S. economy, or the success America has already had in the first two years of the current administration. Then they shift to being shocked and amazed at some of the laws being proposed in their state legislatures, or events happening around the world.
There really shouldn't be a reason to be so stunned by the latest breaking news.
After all, we're not like kids looking through the window of a toy store, fixated on one item, at the exclusion of all else.
Life keeps happening, and surprises happen all around us.
We hope you survive the less pleasant ones - and enjoy those of a happier persuasion.
For example, having a couple of days off work.
It began at the end of last week, with the shocking end to Keith Olbermann's show on MSNBC. Before Friday night was over, we already knew what much of the media would be still talking about on Monday.
Friday gave way to a weekend filled with house hunting for one of us, a trip to Oklahoma and back for another. The rest of us were happy to have a couple of days to relax.
That didn't last for long. Monday began with preparations for Tuesday's State Of The Union speech, and for at least one of us, covering a political march in Washington, DC. As opposed to previous year's gatherings, the march didn't even make the front page of the Washington Post, in print or online. What surprised no one was that our editor Deb saw a new level of success for her personal blog, and a new sponsor, too. [Ok, she was surprised; the rest of us, not so much.]
Tuesday was the State of the Union Address, which we all paid attention to - but it also included a surprise interview for one of us before the address with Deputy White House Press Secretary Bill Burton. Then, Tuesday evening, our web guru was doing prep work for Wednesday, and noticed an issue with WhiteHouse.gov. He immediately contacted the White House - and they listened to him, and fixed the site right away.
Wednesday was going great - until one of our editors had a nail go through her tire. And then our DC staff got dumped on by eight inches of heavy, wet, snow. It also included a bout of gratitude that the falling tree in front of the home of one of our editors missed the cars and power lines. Unfortunately, another tree got some nearby power lines - so our editor made the most of her electrical outage, and spent some quality time at home with a nice fire in the fireplace.
Thursday saw all of us back to the grind - and our electricity-deprived editor was pleasantly surprised by the power coming back on, enabling her to rejoin the twenty-first century.
As you can see from just a week in our lives, the unpredictable twists and turns have been both good and bad, common and unusual.
We keep hearing people surprised at the positive news they're hearing about more jobs coming back to the U.S. economy, or the success America has already had in the first two years of the current administration. Then they shift to being shocked and amazed at some of the laws being proposed in their state legislatures, or events happening around the world.
There really shouldn't be a reason to be so stunned by the latest breaking news.
After all, we're not like kids looking through the window of a toy store, fixated on one item, at the exclusion of all else.
Life keeps happening, and surprises happen all around us.
We hope you survive the less pleasant ones - and enjoy those of a happier persuasion.
For example, having a couple of days off work.
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