The Little Bits 3.19.12
To get rid of some cash, Apple will pay a dividend. Huffington Post
Like A Virgin, Like A Prayer, and now ladies and gentlemen, Like A Bitch. Drowned Madonna
Gay marriage proposal at a hockey game. No, it’s not dudes, I said hockey game. Towleroad
The dark side of Facebook memes. Buzzfeed
Lies from Mike Daisey do not mean everything is a-okay at Apple factory. Reuters
Damien Hirst says he pervertedly likes his own work. The Daily Beast
The Catholic church castrated a boy to cure him of the gay. Dutch News
The Godfather as told in 3 GIFs. Slate
Charlize Theron says she is available to work with Michael Fassbender’s penis. Gawker
If you don’t know why she would say that, then you haven’t seen this (nsfw).
Personal photographs of Audrey Hepburn in new book. Hollywood Reporter
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‘This American Life’ Retracts ‘Mr Daisey And The Apple Factory’
Today, the radio program, ‘This American Life’ retracted its recent story about Mike Daisey and his visits to Foxconn, a factory in China that makes some products for Apple including the iPhone and iPad. Mike Daisey talked about poor working conditions at the factory, which he has visited. It’s something he’s been doing in his live theater piece, ‘The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs’ since 2010. We posted about Mr. Daisey, the program in question, and his appearance on Bill Maher here.
Earlier today, the radio program’s host and co-producer, Ira Glass, wrote a post on the show’s blog explaining the reason for the retraction. He wrote:
“I have difficult news. We’ve learned that Mike Daisey’s story about Apple in China—which we broadcast in January—contained significant fabrications. We’re retracting the story because we can’t vouch for its truth.”
“Daisey lied to me and to ‘This American Life’ producer Brian Reed during the fact checking we did on the story, before it was broadcast. That doesn’t excuse the fact that we never should’ve put this on the air. In the end, this was our mistake.”
A response from Mr. Daisey and tonight’s TAL show information, after the jump.
[more]Mike Daisey on Bill Maher: People are Dying to make your iPhones
THIS STORY HAS BEEN UPDATED HERE.
So Basically, the machine that I am using to type this post was basically made in China by some 12 year old girl who has probably already killed herself, right? Well, basically, yes. Or, wants to anyway. And so is the machine you are using to read it. It’s a story that’s been bubbling up for awhile now (how all of our shit really gets made), but you’ve gotta listen to Mike Daisey tell it. No one does it better. He’s a professional talker. A monologist. He currently has a one-man show in New York City called, ‘The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs’. Where he sits on the stage and talks about the things that he is passionate about. Some of those things are Apple, Steve Jobs and gadgets.
I didn’t know about Mr. Daisey until I saw him on Bill Maher. It’s a great little bit to get your feet wet, but the real goods are after the jump. Mike with Ira Glass on ‘This American Life’. Mike on C-Span with some dude who’s fine, I guess, but is at times a little too comfortable playing the part of the country bumpkin, “you’re on stage by yourself?” Now, I don’t mean to throw shade on the art of playing dumb. It sometimes has its charms. Like, say when you’ve had a couple of cocktails and are trying to pick up a cute boy at a bar. No need to act smart there. I just don’t know if I’m looking for that in my interviewers. He also doesn’t really push Mike on such things as speaking out publicly on the horrid conditions of electronics factories, all while using plenty of Apple (and other) products. I mean, I do too, but I learned a longtime ago how to ignore the things I don’t really want to deal with. I just bury them deep down inside myself until I’m bitter and my anger comes out at the little old Russian lady who hemmed my pants with a one inch cuff. A one inch cuff? Are you out of your fucking mind?
To listen to more of Mr. Daisey and hear about Steve Jobs’ response to his show, check out the clips after the jump.
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