Brian Gongol Show on WHO Radio - November 2, 2014

Brian Gongol


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Please note: These show notes may be in various stages of completion -- ranging from brainstormed notes through to well-polished monologues. Please excuse anything that may seem rough around the edges, as it may only be a first draft of a thought and not be fully representative of what was said on the air.

Negative campaign ads

People have been complaining a lot about negative campaign ads, but the alternative is to live in a system where you only hear good things about the incumbents -- and there are plenty of those. Try criticizing people like Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong-Un, the Saudi royal family, or the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. Campaign ads have been negative in America since the Revolutionary Era -- just search for the political ads from the election of 1800 to see what I mean. Attack ads are an essential part of free speech in a democracy.

Wallenda versus the Space Ship Two pilots

Just days after a test pilot was killed and another was injured in the crash of Virgin Galactic's Space Ship Two, Nik Wallenda is engaging in a pointless stunt to cross between Chicago high-rises by tightrope. The stunt is a high-risk, no-return event -- nothing is being learned or really dared in the sense of innovating or discovering new things. The test pilots may have been living for the adrenaline rush of trying dangerous new things just like Wallenda, but at least they were achieving something -- venturing out on the boundaries of what is known in order to advance the state of their art. The test pilots should be the ones getting the public commendation and applause, not the guy who endangers his own life just to land on TV.

In the news this week


Business and Finance America's business executives think their subordinates are slackers
A Deloitte Consulting survey basically reveals that half of executives (and companies) have zero interest in training and developing their people, including those who are in line to become higher-level executives. That's appalling. What is a company if not a group of people working together with a common base of knowledge to get things done? If managers at the highest levels aren't confident in their subordinates, that's the fault of the managers.

Science and Technology Lowe's is testing robots as customer-service delivery devices
If the robot can show you where to find that random bolt in Aisle 14, do you need a human to lead you there? More bad news for people who are at risk of being displaced by automation.

Threats and Hazards Only about 25% of Illinois students finish high school being ready for college work
College isn't the only goal, of course, but as an indicator, this is a troubling one. If they're not ready for college, are they ready for anything else about adult life?

Science and Technology Nestle brings in robots to sell coffee machines in Japan

In case you missed it