Gongol.com Archives: 2014 Weekly Archives
Brian Gongol



Computers and the Internet College newspapers move to a digital-first model
The biggest problem will probably be whether the lack of a highly specific nightly deadline causes journalists (collegiate or otherwise) to take the foot off the gas. Conversely, by releasing journalists from form-dependent work (that is, laying out a physical newspaper), perhaps a digital-first model will encourage more meaningful storytelling.

Business and Finance Which Americans have been paying down credit-card debt?

Broadcasting Show notes: The Brian Gongol Show on WHO Radio - April 13, 2014
What is "news", and why does a serious definition matter?



Business and Finance "The corporate meritocrat has become a new class of aristocrat"
It's a problem for shareholders, who are basically getting extorted by executives. It's hard to imagine paying one person $13.9 million a year (per the "Equilar 100 CEO Pay Study" of the 100 highest-paid American CEOs of publicly-traded companies) and thinking you're getting more value than you would from the ideas and work of 70 people, each being paid a cool $200,000 each.

Computers and the Internet It's time to give serious thought to signing up for two-step verifications online


Aviation News How to super-pack: 10 days' worth into a carry-on
No surprise: A flight attendant knows best

Humor and Good News A statistical analysis of Bob Ross paintings
Totally unnecessary, but then there are those happy little clouds...

The United States of America That's not Omaha
Proving once again that we really are nothing more than "flyover country" to some people on the coasts, a CBS graphic shows Omaha where Kansas City...or Topeka, maybe?...should be



Science and Technology Toyota promises more than a dozen cars to use the Atkinson-cycle engine by 2015
It's expected to be 30% more fuel-efficient than conventional engine designs

News Are college adjunct instructors badly underpaid?
Students pay rapidly-rising prices for education. The instructors say they're wildly underpaid. There's a market failure at work here, and someone's going to get rich for resolving it. A consultant calls it "alarming" that 70% of faculty are adjuncts. The current tenure system looks like a serious roadblock to fixing the problem.

Science and Technology Transparent, conductive, flexible, and cheap: Graphene could be the wonder material


Science and Technology Early outreach to get girls into science and engineering
We're not doing ourselves any favors as a society if the culture discourages 50% from using their natural abilities

Business and Finance Which prices are inflated and which aren't
It's quite lumpy -- not evenly distributed

Business and Finance So far, Volvo hasn't fallen apart under Chinese ownership
One wonders whether that is more or less scary to many people than the prospect of a quick failure. If China manages not to squander the spoils of its successes, then it might really be "here to stay" on the top tier of economies



News NATO asks Russia to de-escalate the situation in Ukraine

Business and Finance Chinese GDP growth rate now 7.4%
Very high when compared to the rest of the world, but the slowest in 24 years

Iowa Waukee plans a 1500-acre development


Humor and Good News Amy Schumer nicks Aaron Sorkin's style in "The Foodroom"
(Video) Funny, as is the supercut of Aaron Sorkin's self-plagiarization

Business and Finance Put your money where your "green" attitudes are
Toyota is offering investors the opportunity to buy "green" bonds, funding those consumers who want to buy cars like the Prius using dealer financing



Business and Finance Labor shortages return


Computers and the Internet Microsoft moves Bing in the direction of Google Plus/Google Now


Computers and the Internet When a Facebook "like' signs away your right to a trial


Iowa No casino for Cedar Rapids


Computers and the Internet Police raid over Twitter account impersonating the mayor of Peoria
If you're a public figure and you don't want to risk being mocked or impersonated, get there first. Establish a presence that people will recognize and believe.



News Tamping down Omaha gang violence by sending in the voice of experience


Iowa Gallup survey finds Des Moines residents wildly enthusiastic about home


Computers and the Internet A reminder: Change your passwords to protect from Heartbleed


Science and Technology PicoBrew: Making beer like using a Mr. Coffee


News Devastating story about child tormented by her peers


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Broadcasting Show notes for the WHO Radio Wise Guys - April 19, 2014
Live on WHO Radio at 1:00 Central

Threats and Hazards Senate report says the CIA went way beyond the pale with use of torture, and that it didn't work
The report remains classified, so the fact we're hearing about it means there was a leak. And that outrages Senator Dianne Feinstein. Not the content of the still-classified report; the leak is what makes her angry.

Business and Finance April is Iowa's Financial Literacy Awareness Month


Computers and the Internet Crooks used Heartbleed to hack at least two big sites
A UK site called "Mumsnet" and the Canada Revenue Agency both got hit

Humor and Good News "Star Wars" posters in a vintage WWII style
Others have tried travel posters in the same vein, too.

The United States of America Domino's thinks you look a little gaunt
There's no other reason for launching a pizza with a "crust" made of breaded chicken

News State Department puts Keystone XL on ice until at least November
Whether the pipeline is ultimately approved or not, this has the distinct odor of a politically-corrupted process

Broadcasting Sign of the times: Television weather forecaster hasn't heard of Huey Lewis and the News
(Video)