Stuff YOU Should Know
Apple Nudges out AT&T on Dow
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA or, commonly known as the Dow) is a “stock market measure” made up of the 30 largest companies that are publically traded (offer stock) on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). These 30 companies collectively represent a snapshot of the economy at large. For investors, the performance of the DOW determines the performance of the entire stock market. Effective March 19, AT&T will be replaced with Apple on the index.
Apple has already been considered the largest publicly-traded company in the world, but had previously been excluded from the list because its stock price was too high. Visa (one of the Dow 30) announced a stock split, an action that increases the number of a corporation’s shares by dividing them. This allowed Apple to do the same, making them a more appropriate candidate for inclusion into the Dow. Representatives for the Dow said that change would not alter the overall nature of the index, but instead called it a “housekeeping maneuver.”
Dig Deeper Apple stock is represented on the Dow as AAPL and AT&T is T. Follow the stock activity on both companies and notice how the change on the Dow is affecting the performance of both.
Elephants to Leave the Circus
“The Greatest Show on Earth,” will have to find a new spokes-animal. Owners of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus recently announced that it will eliminate the use of elephants in its show by 2018. Elephants, which are not native to the United States, created a big draw when P.T. Barnum brought one over from Africa in 1882. The public’s fascination with Jumbo lead to inclusion of more animals into the act. Tigers, goats and dogs will continue to be part of Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey’s repertoire.
Art credit: McGraw-Hill Education
Many animal rights groups, including the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), consider the announcement of retiring the elephants a great victory. They are opposed to the use of training devices such as the bullhook. Some activists believe that forcing any animal to perform is “cruel and unnecessary.” Representatives from Feld Entertainment (who bought the circus in the 1980s) claim the change was not based on pressure from its critics. Instead, they credit the decision to a shift of opinion among the public. The thirteen elephants that are currently on tour with the circus will retire to the company’s Center for Elephant Conservation in Florida.
What Do You Think? Do you think there are any entertainment venues where it is appropriate to feature animals? If so, which ones and why?
SXSW 2015
Last year, btw gave you an overview of the South by Southwest Music and Media Conference SXSW. This year, we go a little deeper into what to expect from the three-part/ten-day event made up of showcases, screenings, panels, workshops and keynote addresses.
- Music – Showcases are the big thing at SXSW. Artists wishing to perform submit a “bid” through an online application. Last year, more than 2,300 acts were selected and performed at more than 100 venues located throughout Austin, Texas. Among the bands that received considerable attention were St. Paul and the Broken Bones, Charli XCX, and Schoolboy Q.
- Film – Launched in 1994, the film festival arm of SXSW features both new work as well as big-budget premieres. Many of the films screening this year include music biopics and documentaries, such as Breaking a Monster (about a metal trio of middle-schoolers). A restored version of The Breakfast Club will be screened in honor of the film’s 30th anniversary.
- Interactive – Living in a digital world makes an interactive tech conference an appealing draw. More than 800 educational sessions will be available for attendees. Some of the themes include branding, global impact, the issue of privacy, and innovation. Last year, the keynote speaker was NSA leaker Edward Snowdon, who spoke via teleconference.
What Do You Think? Do some research and find out if any bands from your hometown have played at SXSW. See if you can find any media coverage about their experience, or reach out to them through social media.
ISIS Commits “Cultural Vandalism”
Earlier this month, members of the Islamic State recently used heavy machinery to bulldoze through the city of Nimrud, an ancient city in Northern Iraq. Last month, the same group broke into the Mosul Museum and destroyed artifacts. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) called the acts war crimes. Some who are supportive of these actions say that the group is destroying what it considers to be false idols. Others, however, believe the destruction is a cover-up for a large money-making operation for the terrorist organization. It has been accused of selling certain artifacts on the black market for large profits.
This is not the first attempt by a terrorist group to destroy cultural artifacts. In 2001, the Taliban destroyed Bamiyan Buddha rock sculptures, calling them, “un-Islamic representations of the human form.” At the height of their reign, the Nazis in Germany famously confiscated art from those they sought to persecute. Some fear that the next target of ISIS could be the ruins of Hatra, an important religious center. UNESCO reported that they are currently working with various action houses to track and replace the stolen items.