Segment 1
THE WAY TO AN IRAQI’S HEART IS THROUGH HIS STOMACH
Many Iraqis are developing a taste for American-brand products, which were banned under Saddam Hussein and are becoming increasingly popular. Rice, salt and canned goods are among the most popular American products at the Al-Ameer market, owner Mohammad Abbas said. "American items have a great reputation and quality," he said. "And people want them in our markets because they get bored of Syrian, Jordanian and Iranian items."
“Iraqis acquire a taste for American brand products”, USA Today
Could Frito-Lay, Procter & Gamble, Kellogg’s and Nabisco be just as critical to the rebuilding of Iraq as Halliburton? What is it about American made products that is so appealing to other countries? Especially countries who officially have a history of hating everything we stand for? Are American advertising executives really that effective in getting their message out?
MOTHERS FOR THE MOTHERLAND
There’s a disturbing trend among the youth of the former Soviet Union. State sponsored youth camps are gaining popularity among the young who were not alive during the Cold War and do not know first-hand the terrors of Communism. Many in the West are seeing disturbing similarities to the Hitler Youth Camps popular in the 30’s and the Soviet Youth Camps that flourished during the Cold War. They not only seem to be capturing the hearts and minds of these robust youths but their libidos as well. “Remember the mammoths,” say the clean-cut organizers at a recent youth camp's mass wedding. "They became extinct because they did not have enough sex. That must not happen to Russia".
“Sex for the Motherland”, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages
Is history destined to repeat itself in the Soviet Union? Is the mass brain washing of procreating youth going to bring about positive change or create a hoard of mindless drones devoted to carry out the wishes of a totalitarian regime?
IRANIAN OVERLOAD – IS IRAN KILLING FROM WITHIN AND WITHOUT
This week, Iranian police cracked down on a “satanic concert” and arrested hundreds of young adults men and women charged with the illegal activities such as (gasp) dancing with mixed genders of unrelated individuals, (double gasp) wearing clothing that accentuates one’s body (triple gasp) playing and selling “satanic music”….which basically amounts to Western music exported by The Great Satan and her minion demons with names like Virgin, SoSo Def, RCA and Capitol. Meanwhile, outside of the culture romp, the U.S. is stepping up supply chains of munitions to Middle Eastern countries with no love lost toward Iran to provide more checks and balances.
“Iran detains scores at satanic rock gig”, http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews, Sat, Aug 4th, 2007
“World Spotlight: Arming Iran’s Enemies”, Time Magazine, pp. 19, August 13, 2007
Are these types of cultural and geopolitical activities an indication of a perfect storm brewing against Iran or are they merely an indication that the Iranian government has poor musical taste and the U.S. would be shipping munitions supply support to countries like Israel and Saudi Arabia even if their only sworn enemy was some poe dunk Communist outfit in the Cayman Islands?
Segment 2
LIVE Talkback segment
Segment 3
WHAT ARE WE FIGHTING FOR?
There is a new form of competitive fighting that is grabbing the attention of Men 18-34 in a way no other sport is. It’s called Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) and a recent broadcast of the sport on the Spike channel drew a larger young male audience that the NBA playoff game that was airing at the same time. Fans of the sport claim there is more beauty in the fights than a Russian Ballet. Critics see it as a form of human cock fighting.
“Mixed Martial Arts” http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/12/08/60minutes/main2241525.shtml
What is it about this no holds barred fighting that has caught the attention of the18-34 year old men in our society? Has the over “PCifaction” of our culture destroyed all normal outlets for natural aggression? Where do men find their outlet today? Where do they unplug?
Are we just looking for a fight because we are not in one? Is this what happens when we are not involved in a larger fight? What do the “fights” look like for the 21st century man? What are examples of worthy fights verses the fights that are nothing more than distractions to a man? How do you identify the two? Do we have an unwillingness to identify an enemy or an evil today? How would that hold us back from understanding and engaging a personal mission that would be life size for the duration of our life? The pace of life is frenetic and patiently measured responses are fewer and fewer these days.
Faceoff Debate – Christopher Colandro verses ???
Segment 4
Live Talkback segment
Atlanta Singles Scene – What about men and fighting for relationships? – We naturally want to fight for, defend and support the women in our lives. More and more, when men engage that activity today (whether single or in some cases, newlywed), they are hearing, “I don’t need a man to fight for me!” or the woman who believes that “self-empowered, self sufficient woman” means any male pursuit is an effort to dominate her. What men meant for support is interpreted as ownership and thrown back in their face. Do you see this happening? What is it doing to men’s drive to fight for intimacy? What is it doing to women? Why do we need intimacy anyway? Is this all an unfair mischaracterization of the “new feminist” woman? Is The Hub sounding too much like Dr. Laura Schlessinger on this point?
Segment 5
HEADING FOR THE HOLLYWOOD HILLS!
There’s a storm coming in Hollywood and some of America’s top film/tv/media writer’s in the Writer’s Guild of America (WGA) have had enough. They want a piece of the digital re-broadcast pie – all those IPod, online video, DVD sales where greedy corporate media titans take the bulk of the percentage and rarely give the creative class what they want. What does this mean? If we don’t act now the writer’s are going to strike at the end of October (and possibly take the Screen Actor’s Guild guys with them) and our media saturated lives might be robbed of the fresh, wildly creative stories and show concepts like “How to Get Kicked off an Island”, “How to Get Kicked off a Karaoke Stage”, “How to Get Kicked off a Bachelor’s Dating List” or “How to Get Kicked off A Trump Project”.
“Hollywood’s Massive Re-write”, Wired Magazine, pp. 29, August 2007
Does the creative class, the class that designs and produces product and ideas, too often get the financial leftovers second to the executive/sales/dealmaker class? Do the writer’s in the WGA have a point or are they just getting greedy? Currently, all free online material is considered promotional – the stuff that writers do for free without residuals anyway. Should they be able to expect more from the relationship?