Dez Reads. The Value of Dog Walks, Billy Joel's AI Innovation, a Historic Moon Landing, Netflix's Boxing Bet, and much more.
Dez Reads. The Value of Dog Walks, Billy Joel's AI Innovation, a Historic Moon Landing, Netflix's Boxing Bet, and much more.
Welcome to this week's edition of Dez Reads, where we delve into the subtleties of everyday life, from the joy and duty of dog ownership to the pioneering junction of technology and music and the significant strides in space exploration. But there's more – discover Dublin, Ohio's ingenious marketing charm, the pressing environmental and political conversations about the Colorado River, and Netflix's audacious venture into live sports with a unique spin.
Each story represents some of today's most compelling developments, ranging from the simple acts of kindness in our daily routines to the sophisticated breakthroughs opening new frontiers. Join us as we unpack these stories, illuminating the less obvious yet deeply influential elements of our world.
Here we go.
Culture.
WaPo. Why skipping your dog’s walk is a bigger deal than you think
Many millennials aren’t buying houses to start families, but rather because they want yards for their dogs. I may or may not be a part of this demographic. Dogs have always been a part of my life, and as an adult dog owner, I do my best to be a top-tier pet pawrent. However, I’m 100% guilty of occasionally letting my dogs out back to play in the yard in lieu of going for a walk.
According to a veterinarian at Tufts, that makes me the worst dog mom ever. Walks provide our pets not only exercise but companionship, mental stimulation from seeing and smelling new things, stress relief, and improved health and immunity. Conversely, hanging out in their own backyard is essentially the dog equivalent of reading the same book over and over again.
As U2 said, walk on.
– Anne Marie Malecha
Columbus Dispatch. Billboards in Dublin, Ireland offer free beer to residents who visit Ohio's 'other Dublin'
Dublin, OH, will give you FREE beer if you hail from the “other Dublin” this month. This marketing ploy hopes to attract up to 25 folks who will receive a $200 gift card to pay for the bar tab and get to say they flew to America to drink beer and enjoy the Midwestern nice! The marketing department either has a great hook or a scandal; let’s see how it goes. Slaintѐ.
– Jen Hirshon
Tech.
Billy Joel released his first new song in 17 years, titled “Turn the Lights Back On.” As is the case with many of Billy’s songs, his latest one seems to be largely focused on his relationship with his family and with music. Aside from the great music, his music video is really what is driving the headlines.
The video transitions between AI-generated versions of Billy over the decades, sitting at a piano and singing the song. While AI rightfully has many in the music industry worried about what this means for song creation, production rights, and potential fraud, one of the co-writers and co-producers of the music video, Freddy Wexler, struck a more optimistic tone, telling CNN that due to the need for a body double and additional production staff to work with the AI technology, there were more people working on this video than traditional ones. Time will tell if that remains as the adoption of this technology grows and production companies become more efficient, but the result was great.
As a native New Yorker and someone who has seen Billy perform at Madison Square Garden many times, I hope this kicks off a new chapter of collaboration and performances.
– Mike Bova
Science.
LA Times: Western states divided over long-term plans for Colorado River water
My colleague Fred Brown has educated me over the past few years about the importance of water in America. Growing up in the Great Lakes region, I have taken water for granted my entire life. But due to some mix of population growth, mismanagement, climate change, and other factors, the scarcity of water in the American West will be a key driver of public policymaking, as well as a potentially massive economic and demographic rebalancing toward water-rich parts of the country.
To stabilize the Colorado River Basin, seven states out west are currently negotiating cuts in water usage and how they are distributed amongst upper basin and lower basin states. A compromise will be difficult, but it is a crucial step toward protecting this source of water relied upon by 40 million Americans. If Western leaders aren’t able to hammer out a deal, I would recommend buying land in any of the Great Lakes states.
– Josh Culling
Reuters: Moon landing: US clinches first touchdown in 50 years
Nearly 50 years later, we landed on the moon – once again. The Texas-based company Intuitive Machines successfully executed a historic, uncrewed lunar landing near the moon’s south pole - a private industry first in space flight. The lunar lander Odysseus braved the unknown and touched down on the moon’s surface, marking a new chapter in space exploration and hinting at a future where astronauts tread the lunar south and beyond.
The world held its breath when Odysseus had a lopsided landing and temporarily went silent. However, the faint signal that followed was a testament to human tenacity and ingenuity.
The initial triumph was soon shadowed. Only a week into its mission, Odysseus entered an unforeseen hibernation as it faced the cold lunar night, bringing an abrupt pause to its data transmission. The sudden twist after the lander's precarious touchdown adds an additional layer to the mission, with hopes pinned on a revival with the next lunar dawn. Despite the hiccups, the mission will be solidified as a monumental space exploration achievement.
This leap in innovation redefines what is possible for uncrewed missions in lunar and interplanetary exploration while showcasing the private sector’s pivotal role in our cosmic pursuits. So, as we gear up for future lunar adventures and beyond, can we confirm that space may be the final frontier and that it isn’t made in a Hollywood basement?
– Mark Emerson
Entertainment.
WSJ: Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul: Netflix Bets Big on Live Boxing
Netflix is taking a different approach to streaming live sports. Rather than bargain for the expensive rights to broadcast existing sports leagues, the company appears to be focused on buzzy novelties of their own creation. Netflix’s latest event is a gimmick in which social media star Logan Paul will fight 58-year-old Mike Tyson. There is an age gap of over 30 years between the two “boxers.”
This is part of a trend in which broadcasters, athletes, and leagues are attempting to create new fans with novel concepts built for social media amplification. We see it in the college football bowl system, which has become a naked advertising vehicle for consumer goods brands. It is also happening in golf, where pay-per-view “matches” between celebrities have become a standard, boring offering.
The common thread that runs through this ongoing gimmickry in sports is that it tends to leave the core audience – actual sports fans – dissatisfied while providing a short-term sugar rush of advertising revenue to networks and platforms. I won’t be watching a YouTuber punch a 58-year-old man in the head, just like I wasn’t interested in watching a giant Pop-Tart be cooked alive during a college football game. I predict that Netflix’s foray into live sports streaming will fail, as the company keeps generating fad sports content but nothing sustainable or interesting to the core audience.
– Josh Culling
Dezenhall Resources is a leading consultancy specializing in high-stakes crisis management and strategic communication. With decades of experience, our firm is adept at navigating complex, controversial issues for a diverse clientele, including Fortune 500 companies, high-profile individuals, and non-profit organizations.
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