Steve Kelman on Politics, Culture, and Life, 6.6.2022
Steve Kelman, Harvard Kennedy School prof, moderate Dem, pro free speech/anti cancel culture, pro tax rich, pro-Israel. Research improving gov performance, China interest. Blog reprints Facebook posts
“Guys who like to shoot guns and go fast”
Fox discusses this morning why the new Tom Cruise movie has been so successful. They say it shows our desire for "unabashed masculinity" and for "guys who like to shoot guns and go fast."
Republican candidate withdraws after calling for assault weapon ban
A Republican Congressman from a district in Buffalo near where the mass shooting took place has abandoned his re election campaign after a Republican backlash against his call for a ban on assault weapons.
China so petty about Taiwan
A widely followed list of the 50 best restaurants in Asia Included two from Taiwan. 2 days later the list was revised to exclude the word Taiwan. China's pettiness knows no bounds.
Taiwanese flag in Top Gun Maverick
The Taiwanese flag is back on the bomber jacket in the new Tom Cruise sequel. It was eliminated in earlier 2019 trailers for the upcoming movie.. But it appears in the movie now.
Cake baked like tank for Tiananmen Square commemoration
Tiananmen square story from a friend in China. A man baked cake that took the shape of a tank and tried to sell it. He put a picture of of the cake online, and the picture was immediately deleted.
Africans watching BBC more than Chinese international TV station
In a survey reported by The Economist, 73% of Tanzanians reported watching BBC in the previous month, only 9% China's flagship international news channel. Soft power.
Chairman of Joint Chiefs in Stockholm
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs is visiting Stockholm in connection with Sweden's Nato application. A large American naval vessel has also come to the Stockholm archipelago, another one of those things that once would have been inconceivable.
Nail polish with Ukrainian colors
The Times reports that there have been prosecutions in Russia of people wearing nail Polish with Ukrainian flag colors.
Kim Kardashian and crypto
The Times notes that Kim Kardashian has emerged as a crypto promoter, making "millions of dollars endorsing specific and often dubious crypto investments."
On your point on the BBC - sadly this is not valued by the government. As a result of recent cuts, "the existing UK-focused BBC News channel will merge with BBC World to form a single global rolling TV news service."
I can only imagine it will end up too UK-focused for international viewers.
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2022/may/26/bbc-announces-raft-of-closures-cbbc-four-online-only