From AMERICAN NEWSPEAK at http://www.scn.org/news/newspeak/ Celebrating cutting edge advances beyond Orwell's 1984 Written by Wayne Grytting

New Improved Army Defenses

Israel has taken the lead in providing soldiers with immunity from pesky lawsuits by civilians. Legislation expected to be passed by the Israeli parliament will bar compensation claims by victims of soldiers and police on the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Soldiers are ordinarily granted immunity when engaged in "combatant activity." The new bill just extends the definition of that term to include actions "intended to combat or prevent terrorism," safeguard security, or, my personal favorite, "prevent hostile acts and insurrection." Uriel Procaccia, dean of the Hebrew University Law School, is quoted as saying, "the expanded definition would protect an Israeli soldier whose weapon misfired during a house search and blinded a child." If true, the bill should also help out on the nagging problem of accidental gun misfiring during interrogations. Imagine how American history might have played out if George Wallace and Bull Connors had had full legal, and not just de facto, immunity for their police in the 1960's. (Baltimore Sun 8/15)

Book Publishers Make New Friends

Book publishers have traditionally consulted with bookstores on what book ideas would sell. Now, with 26% of the market dominated by a few major chains, that process is being simplified. Instead of querying thousands of store managers on what will sell, publishers now need only confer with about two dozen book buyers for corporations like Barnes & Noble. The NY Times reports publishers and book chains are "sharing, listening, and communicating." Sounds somewhat like a Sesame Street episode. Not only are publishing decisions being made on the advice of the chains, but says Harold Evans, president of Random House, "We're much closer." This cozy relationship is delicately explained by Ira Silverberg, Grove Press editor-in-chief, in these words: "Barnes & Noble and Borders have an increasing presence, so we really must spend more time with them." Increasing presence? Sounds like the age old problem, what do you do with an 800 pound guerrilla? (NYT 8/12)

Little League Goes Prime Time

If eleven year old Little Leaguers did not have pressure to win before from parents, they may find things a little different with the announcement by ESPN2 that they will be broadcasting a slew of games next year. The Disney-owned channel will show regional finals from four cities, the Little League World Series, and the all-star game. All of this has been made possible because advertisers have become interested in the well-being of our youth. The Wall Street Journal gushes that "it's the very innocence of Little League games--kids playing simply because they love the sport-- that has drawn increasing notice from major advertisers." Like sharks drawn to fresh blood, less objective cynics might add. Don Hintze, sales manager for Major League Baseball Publications, says somewhat obscurely that "It's a very wholesome audience that advertisers want to reach." Wholesome audience? For the life of me, I couldn't figure out what he meant until learning that Little League is failing to draw kids from the inner city. (WSJ 8/12)

Gen X Ads Go Negative

Business Week reports that commercials aimed at twentysomethings are taking on an even harder edge. Ads increasingly are emphasizing the raw struggle for existence against a background of scarcity. Examples are recent ads by the soft-drink, Surge, depicting Gen X'ers racing up a muddy hill for one bottle of Surge. Or, there's the popular slogan for Twix candy bars, "Two for me, none for you." Advertisers say that kids who absorb some 20,000 commercials a year are immune to kinder and gentler appeals. But are advertisers sending a bad message to our youth? Answering this question is William Oberlander, creative director at Kirschenbaum Bond & Partners, who wins our award for honesty. "No one's really worrying about what it's teaching impressionable youth. Hey, I'm in the business of convincing people to buy things they don't need." That about says it all. Thanks, William. (BW 8/11)

Special thanks this week to Eddie Tews and to Maarten Ultee and "stern, just stern" (they tied). Newspeak has a mailing list that can be reached at wgrytt@blarg.net. Ask for the foot massage department.