Transcript
BOB GARFIELD: And now a few of your letters. Seventeen year old Steven Carroll [sp?] from Washington State had this response to our piece on the controversy over the commercial in-school TV service Channel One. "I watch Channel One every day," he writes, "and it is in my opinion one of the best news shows. It is educational and the commercials and a mere side-effect. These days most people my age won't take the time to watch the news at home. The woman in Texas says Channel One is targeting children as consumers -- well, they are consumers! We all are."
BROOKE GLADSTONE:Last week we discussed a recent decision to allow a libel case to go forward in Australia, even though the reporting that sparked the suit originated in New York and was accessed on the internet. Tom Betz [sp?] writes "Your guest from the Libel Defense Project expressed pessimism regarding the potential for a technical solution to prevent the delivery of information to countries with oppressive libel laws. In fact," he writes, "at least two companies already offer such a product. Quovis Gialocation [sp?] and Envoys Net Acuity [sp?]. The use of such a service could serve as a defense against a provincial libel suit."
BOB GARFIELD:And finally, William Blevins [sp?] of New York City sends us seasons's greetings -- thank you, William - right back at you - and this note referring to a sound effect we traced through several decades of movies -- a sound effect called "The Wilhelm." "Wilhelm has made the journey to Middle Earth," he writes. "During one of the sprawling battles in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers I was stunned when I heard an Ork being tossed through the air issue the familiar scream of The Wilhelm. Thanks to your show, I now find myself keeping my ears attuned for this cry."
BROOKE GLADSTONE:Just as our ears are attuned to all of yours. Please send your primal screams to us at onthemedia@wnyc.org and don't forget to tell us where you live and how to pronounce your name. To hear our piece on The Wilhelm, just go to our web site at onthemedia.org.