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May 05, 2012
West Africa: Liberia Soul-Searching.
In a multitude of ways, no African state is more closely tied to the U.S. than Liberia, the West Africa region colonized by freed American slaves beginning in the 1820s. See this gem in The Daily Beast we almost missed published April 28: "Liberia Rethinks Its Past in Wake of Charles Taylor War-Crimes Verdict". Excerpt:
Liberia’s fractured history was again in view last week when The Hague announced a guilty verdict in the trial of Charles Taylor, the warlord turned elected president. Taylor was convicted of aiding and abetting war crimes and crimes against humanity in neighboring Sierra Leone during that country’s brutal civil conflict. In Monrovia, the verdict was welcomed by some Liberians and condemned by others, particularly former child soldiers for whom Taylor is a father figure—a sign that the verdict marks only the beginning of soul-searching for the country.
For most of its history, Liberian society and political life were dominated by the Americo-Liberians, descendants of the freed slaves, who mimicked the lives and culture of their onetime owners in the U.S. Citizenship was denied to natives until 1946, when then-president William V.S. Tubman granted them the right to vote, and it wasn’t until the 1960s that tribesmen won legislative representation. For 102 years, Liberia was a one-party state, with the True Whig Party enjoying a monopoly.
Jane Hahn/NYT
Posted by JD Hull at 11:59 PM | Comments (0)
No Sleep till Brooklyn: Adam Yauch (1964-2012)
Real music for real kids in NYC. Non-wimpy with satiric flair. RIP, sir.
Posted by JD Hull at 12:59 AM | Comments (0)
May 02, 2012
In The Economist: Seriously, two (2) managers in each position makes a lot of sense.
You need one firm leader. But customers and clients need two folks on each project, no matter how small. Two people need to be available for both questions and a reserve of fresh ideas. But just two. Two project managers, and perhaps one with a "veto power". See The Economist: "In one's company, two's a crowd". And see our post "The Wonderful Twos".
Posted by JD Hull at 11:59 PM | Comments (0)
April 30, 2012
Is much of the digital technology we buy simply not ready for market?
In the beginning, Thought Itself suffered. The Tools became the Main Event. And then The Tools worked inconsistently. Ever feel like you are (1) paying for and relying on digital infrastructure and products, AND (2) simultaneously serving the vendors you pay, and doubling, as New Tech Lab Rats? When my parents first bought a TV over 60 years ago, I'm sure it did not take seconds some days and 15 to 25 minutes on others to access the airwaves and turn the bloody thing on to watch Meet The Press or Pinky Lee. Products and services should not be rolled out until they work 99.9% of the time. Have we created a demand for things that do not really "work"?
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H.G. Wells & Devo: Are We Not Men?
Posted by JD Hull at 11:00 PM | Comments (0)
April 29, 2012
Liberia: Reaction to Charles Taylor's conviction at The Hague is mixed.
The Charles Taylor verdict is the "first of its kind" against a world leader at The Hague. See this NPR report. Lead-in to the interview:
In an historic judgment, the UN-backed court at The Hague found Liberia's former president, Charles Taylor, guilty of war crimes. He was convicted of abetting murder, rape, and the forced enlistment of child soldiers during Sierra Leone's civil war.
Taylor had been on trial at The Hague for almost five years. He was accused of backing rebels in neighboring Sierra Leone during that country's civil war by selling them weapons in exchange for diamonds.
It was a dramatic trial. There was graphic testimony about gruesome atrocities, mass rapes, amputations, cannibalism and information about the tens of thousands of people killed during the decade-long war.
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Taylor in court 3 days ago.
Posted by JD Hull at 02:16 PM | Comments (0)