Very nice look, with a historical perspective, at the public image of Big Business. It's a British perspective, meaning close enough to understand US thinking, yet far enough to have some objectivity. I especially liked the insight about our love-hate realtionship with W**Mart.
America's most-hated companies The very bottom line Economist.com
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
A different take on gender issues in Japan
If you'll recall, we touched on gender roles in Japan.
For example, it's only just now that the Japanese are considering changing the rules to allow a female heir to inherit the throne. Japanese women are less likely than women in the US to be part of the paid labor force.
It does seem as though these traditional gender roles are undergioing some change. More and more Japanese women are delaying or foregoing marriage. Japanese women control the household finances. On the other hand, these developments may well mean that women have different expectations, but that men still hold to traditional values. Why marry, if all that means is being a second class citizen. And, if you do marry, have some securtiy that you control.
I'd really like some comments on this one; press the little envelope button below to comment.
For example, it's only just now that the Japanese are considering changing the rules to allow a female heir to inherit the throne. Japanese women are less likely than women in the US to be part of the paid labor force.
It does seem as though these traditional gender roles are undergioing some change. More and more Japanese women are delaying or foregoing marriage. Japanese women control the household finances. On the other hand, these developments may well mean that women have different expectations, but that men still hold to traditional values. Why marry, if all that means is being a second class citizen. And, if you do marry, have some securtiy that you control.
I'd really like some comments on this one; press the little envelope button below to comment.
Monday, February 20, 2006
IB Exam, February 22
Do you know what language is spoken in Brazil ??? You should.
Did you look over the Fortune Global 500 slides ?? You should.
Did you look over the Fortune Global 500 slides ?? You should.
New Book on Vanderbilt Women
This may be of some interest to the leadership class from fall 2005 (who are you kidding, Kristin ?) -- this recently published book is a detailed study of the 2 Vanderbilt women we saw for just a few minutes in the video.
'Consuelo and Alva Vanderbilt,' by Amanda Mackenzie Stuart - The New York Times Book Review - New York Times
'Consuelo and Alva Vanderbilt,' by Amanda Mackenzie Stuart - The New York Times Book Review - New York Times
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Saturday, February 11, 2006
Geographic Name Changes
One minor source of confusion can be when a country, region, or city changes its name or goes by more then one name.
From "Turin" to "Torino": Olympics Put New Name on the Map
As in this case, lots of differences stem from translation to English.
In other instances, it's political. For example, St. Petersburg (Russia) went to Petrograd (anti-German feeling in WWI), then to Leningrad (after the Russian Revolution), and now back to St. Petersburg.
For these -- 1 homework point for each that you can explain ("This is the old name, this is the new name"). Find one or two more that I didn't, for 1 or 2 more points.
From "Turin" to "Torino": Olympics Put New Name on the Map
As in this case, lots of differences stem from translation to English.
In other instances, it's political. For example, St. Petersburg (Russia) went to Petrograd (anti-German feeling in WWI), then to Leningrad (after the Russian Revolution), and now back to St. Petersburg.
For these -- 1 homework point for each that you can explain ("This is the old name, this is the new name"). Find one or two more that I didn't, for 1 or 2 more points.
Other examples of "old" and "new" names -- Volgograd, Persia, Myanmar, Zaire, Beijing, East Pakistan.
Defunct names -- countries that no longer exist -- Yugoslavia,
Czechoslovakia
For other examples, look at internet suffixes -- .ch, .de, .za, .es, .kh. And the really really strange internet domain -- .cat (which is not yet actually in use).
Thursday, February 02, 2006
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
Technology Update: Western Union Stops Sending Telegrams
The age of the telegram is over. When I think "telegram", I think old black-and-white tv and movies. Perry Mason sent telegrams, as did Sam Spade. Ah, well, the telegram has gone the way of the rotary dial phone, the manual typewriter, and the Manhattan......
Nostalia aside, I'm surprised that it took this long.
LiveScience.com - Era Ends: Western Union Stops Sending Telegrams
Nostalia aside, I'm surprised that it took this long.
LiveScience.com - Era Ends: Western Union Stops Sending Telegrams
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