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Learn as we go and a few other musings... posted on 01/29/2008

The death of Heath Ledger though tragic, recently brought something to light: what used to pass for media reporting has simply become a joke. 

Was it just me or were all the talking heads on all the network news simply spewing wikipedia'd facts about a celebrity with which they themselves knew virtually nothing about.  The seamless spew of misinformation revealed the weakness in what we now call American journalism.  People used to watch the news to learn something - not to be told information that we can process by simply watching what the news anchors are watching.  Even the prepared packages were laughable, filled with misinformation about Ledger's whereabouts, what his last moments were and so on.  Endless b-roll of Ledger at red carpet events looped with retired police officers, coroners, and anyone else with a voice had a mike thrown in their face and asked about how they felt that Mary-Kate Olsen was the first to call 911 - and whoops, actually it was the masseuse, oh, and breaking news, there was a $20 bill.  This isn't reporting, this is just telestrating what's on screen.

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And the Meek shall inherit the earth posted on 01/23/2008

America likes to pride itself on being an underdog society.  Worst to first, hard work, and you can acheive anything.  Unfotunately, the United States Government has at once, perpetuated and reversed this myth, by further by allowing the debt of millions of Americans to be essentially forgiven with an aggressive rate cut. (Article)

What this unfortunate decision does is allows millions of American to basically wake up with liquidity in their house, allowing them to go and refinance their mortages.  Didn't the constant refinancing of our poor mortages allow this mess to happen in the first place?

By forgiving a portion of the debt that Americans have aquired partially through their own accord, the Fed and the Government has told you and me that they will help us get out of our own way, and they will do so by just shaking their head and hoping we do better next time.

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The Fringes posted on 01/22/2008

If the things that are written the space that follows affect you in any way, then keep reading.  It's doing its job.  And thank you, for letting it.

I thank you because commentary, by nature doesn't survive on its own accord - it only lives and dies by the reactions to it.  If the reactions are strong, in either direction, then I believe the commentary serves its purpose.  If the commentary allows you to make your own opinion, then that's gravy.

This is not groundbreaking material I assure you, but hear me out.

What has happened with the growth of technology is the democratization of opinion - everyone has one, and everyone believes that they have a right to express it.  The birth of this very blog, for a prime example. 

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The Best and Worst of America(n Idol) posted on 01/16/2008

Last night America began its rampant love affair with a little talent television show called American Idol.  As predicted the ratings were high, as strike-weary viewers returned to their sets in droves to watch derelicts, clowns, and the occasional old guy sing their hearts out for reasons only known to them.  Now in its seventh incarnation, American Idol is stronger than ever and not showing any signs of slowing down.  While its clear the herd of talent is slimmer every year, the ratings for the show only skyrocket upwards, it seems, and what's even more astonishing is that it seems that the ratings actually climb as the weeks progress.  The show has truly become a cultural event, changing the zeitgeist evidenced by discussions the day after it airs.

'Oh, my God, did you see..."  or "I thought he or she was better..." or "I voted for him...", are just examples of the chatter that follows a normal Tuesday, and now Wednesday event.  The show is a juggernaut, and people can't get enough.  The way I see it, the show has become the perfect commentary for what this country has become.  Here's why.

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I so had the Chargers in the Office Pool posted on 01/14/2008

Today was another reason why the NFL playoffs, and the NFL overall is great theatre. 

I can't think of one person besides a few residents in Ocean Beach, or a spattering of communities north of Tijuana that had the Chargers winning today's game at Indianapolis.  "DVR-proof" I believe is the term that braodcasters use, and the NFL fits this to a Tee - you just cannot predict this stuff.  You have to see it live to belive it.  And thus,we are hooked.

Here's a scenario.  LT goes down in the first.  Ok, that's like spotting the Colts two twouchdowns - and seeing as how they were at home and already favored by a touchdown, the Chargers are already down 21-0 after LT goes down.  Wrong.  This is a false sense of reasoning.  The score was still 7-0, it was what it was, as they say.  Upsets are upsets because someone out in the mystical authoritarian world declared one team to have a "better chance of winning" than the other team.  These mystic forces guide the reasoning ofever sports fan and convince them that they have nailed the formula to proper prognostication.  It is this interaction between product and viewer that the NFL marketing gurus have mastered and what makes the NFL so entertaining, and ultimately, so successful - the Colts may have been favored, but by who?  A bunch of talking heads in suits?  I bet you watch everyone on sports television and think, "I know just as much as that idiot."  I know I do.  But I don't.  It's their job to know that stuff.  They can talk football for hours, I could probably only talk minutes.  But you still think it, and of course, you still watch it. 

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