Cox Crow

Trendy Planners, or, French Words Not in the English Language

I just received notice that the Town of Beekman, New York, is holding an open space planning charrette tomorrow morning. We might go, but the Big Sister has gymnastics class then, and we all know which is more important, right?

I doubt many citizens know what a charrette is. Sounds like a charade. If you need a parenthetical statement to clarify what you mean, maybe you should revise what you wrote in the first place. The process sounds like a certain software development process, which is not surprising given their common heritage.

1:55:02 PM # Google It!
categories: Language, Place

Germinal

France's last coal mine closed today.

Since coal was first discovered in France in 1720, the mineral has been a driving force behind Europe's transformation from a continent of peasant farmers to a land of smokestacks and factories. And coal miners were among the first to push for worker's rights.

But with France now getting more than 80 percent of its power from nuclear reactors, the last mine is closing.

....

Only a dozen working mines are left in Britain, and three are due to close later this year.

Emile Zola's Germinal is the story of a coal-mining town.

12:28:25 PM # Google It!

Media Ownership in the Media

Watching last night's West Wing on TiVo. Topics: media ownership, and trade. CJ gives media ownership story to reporting hounds, and they don't take the bait. Because they're owned. Because the Internet makes broadcast ownership rules history. Nice creative solution in the briefing room though: give each owner one seat. :-D

On jobs, the creative destruction of the markets runs into the CWA.

Meanwhile, I tried to find a copy of the current issue of Harper's at the newstands around here, but I can't find it or The Atlantic. Lots of beauty, house, and sports magazines though.

12:17:25 AM # Google It!
categories: Media