Hard News

Here's the latest news on the Arts & Media . At the end of each article ask yourself this "Should the mainstream media cover this story?" We think they should. Articles collected here and elsewhere by Alden Scott Crow (Musea reporter-at-large) and Musea

SEARS CHEATS CUSTOMERS. After a 22 month FBI investigation, a Sears subsidiary agreed to plead guilty to a criminal charge of bankruptcy fraud and to pay the gov. $60 million, the largest such fine in U.S. history. It's complicated so read carefully: Sears would make side deals with customers with money problems. Sears would say 'you pay us so much a month and we're happy'.
What Sears did NOT do is tell the bankruptcy courts about these side deals which judges often dismiss with the person's other debts in bankruptcy. A judge found out about this neglect and hell broke out. Seems Sears had done this not once, but 2,733 times in the state of Massachusetts alone. Boston Judge Carol Kenner, who discovered it all, says "The worst thing about what Sears has done is that they're kicking the little guy when he's down- 2,733 times." By 1997, one third of all personal bankruptcies in the U.S. included Sears as a creditor. Since the crackdown, Federated Dept. Stores (Macy's, Bloomingdales etc.), May (Filene's), G.E. Capital (Montgomery Ward), and Discover card have all settled with debtors. (Newsweek)

CORPORATE ART RAIDS AGAIN: A deal is in the making that would combine Reader's Digest with Time Warner (see Corp. Art 10 list) in Time Warner's quest to control EVERYTHING ON THE PLANET (Mediaweek)

EVEN SCARIER CONTROL Dept.: Direct TV, the largest U.S. satellite TV broadcaster plans to buy Primestar for $1.82 billion. This will give them 64% control of the TV satellite industry. To normal people like you & me that's a monopoly. To the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) that's 'just beginning!'

PAKISTAN PRESS PROBLEMS AS AN EX.: The Pakistani government is attacking the largest country newspaper chain, The Jang Group, on tax evasion. The real reason seems to be to shut up journalists that are criticizing the gov. But this dictatorial bullying is now facing 2 threats worldwide: 1) satellite TV that shows stations not under state control, and 2) the Internet. Granted both are reserved for the rich right now, yet their impact should not be underestimated. Freedom of the press is for everyone in every country (as is freedom FROM the mainstream press.) (Economist)

FOR DISCUSSION: Art is often used in religion to illustrate religious beliefs, but never science. Why?

IF HILLARY IS SUCH A STRONG WOMAN WHERE'S MY HEALTH CARE dept: Celebrated financial columnist Jane Bryant Quinn reminds us that the U.S. is the only developed country without universal health care. It's an issue that should be a top priority with our media, but then again that would be news that actually mattered to someone . (Newsweek)

CHUMP OF THE MONTH: Award goes to ZapMe! Corp. of San Ramon, CA. They offered Clayton Valley High School near Oakland, 15 free computers (ok so far) with one catch: in return for the equipment, services, and tech support, the school would agree to accept ads in a corner of the screen. Tech coordinator (and our CAMP CHAMP of the month) Tom Wilson, said NO to the ad madness. But not all schools have. ZapMe! has computers in 70 schools and plans for a total of 200 by 2000. We think schools should be commercial free zones (they're bad enough as they are) and ZapMe! should Zap Out! (Newsweek).

CROSSING THE RUBICON. We've crossed the line in our TV watching folks. As of last year we now watch cable TV more than we watch ABC, NBC, CBS, & Fox combined.

AND FINALLY. Struggling actress Danielle Kwatinetz says this about living the artist's life: " We're painting, or composing, or directing - or doing some other nontraditional thing. And granted, we're waitressing, or temping, or tutoring when our bank accounts get dangerously low. We're every parent's greatest fear; overeducated and perennially unemployed, but we're taking a crack at following our hearts." (Newsweek).