Archive for April, 2008

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Media Responsibility

Wednesday, April 30th, 2008

How the Media and 24 Hour News Programming is Dumbing Us Down…

What do you see when you turn on CNN at any given point in time (aside from Lou Dobbs crying and whining without actually doing anything)? How about Fox News? If there is breaking news, which channel do you go to first? Why? These are all good questions and I want to go over some of those questions briefly, but my main concern is the responsibility the media has to provide actual news coverage over real issues and not just looped reports discussing which actress got into trouble over the weekend. We have gossip shows, websites, and magazines if we need celebrity news and propaganda.

I believe the media has a responsibility to report “real” news even if they do not get the highest ratings (topics such as world events and issues, local events and issues). I would like to see a 24 hour news channel take the initiative and say… “From this day forward, we here at [fill in the blank] will no longer be reporting any issue regarding a celebrity.”

Can you imagine the buzz that statement would create?

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Posted in Social Issues | 4 Comments »

Do Celebrities and Politics Mix?

Monday, April 28th, 2008

Do Celebrities and Politics Mix?

Like watermelon and gravy…

Why do some celebrities feel the need to publicly support a candidate? Why do some candidates feel it’s necessary to be publicly supported by a celebrity? These are questions that mainstream reporters have ignored and the general public has pondered since the first symbiotic relationship between the two groups was formed. I believe that this relationship is unnecessary, unproductive, alienating, illegal, and ultimately, just the wrong way to gain support. I have three main arguments that support my opinion.

1. Celebrities are “normal” people… that are famous!

Celebrities to not need the support of a candidate in order to further their career. Yes, they are just people, but they’re famous people. So why are they publicly supporting a candidate? I think it’s because they truly want to make a difference, and that’s great. The only problem with that way of thinking is that they will make a difference, and it will be a noticeable difference that may on the surface look positive for the candidate. But what about the effect that is occurring that you can’t see?

What about the candidates current supporters that may not like a certain celebrity or do not like when candidates are publicly supported by celebrities? Candidates may slowly lose those supporters. What about those people that are on the fence, and when they see that Oprah is supporting Obama, they cringe? You can make the argument that others that are on the fence, may jump on board when Oprah publicly supports Obama, but aren’t we really just pouring out one glass to fill the other?

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Posted in Politics, Social Issues | 4 Comments »

Bathroom Door Handles

Monday, April 28th, 2008

Why do bathroom doors have handles on the inside??

Here’s something that doesn’t make any sense. Why would you install a bathroom door so that the handle is on the INSIDE?? Everyone knows that not everyone washes their hands after “taking the Browns to the Super Bowl”… so I don’t want to be pulling on the same door handle as them after they just patted the quarterback on the butt.

Here are some options for those of us that don’t like to wash our hands only to cover them with feces while leaving the bathroom:

1. The “Harlem Globetrotter”: This only works if there is a paper towel dispenser in the bathroom. After you finish washing your hands, dry them with the paper towels but use an extra paper towel when drying so when you’re leaving the bathroom, you have enough dry towel to pull on the door handle with your balled up paper towels. When exiting the bathroom, pull a fade-away jumper with your balled up paper towels… you may have to bank off a wall or throw around a corner (trick shot) in order to get the paper towels in the basket.

2. The “Handicapper”: When all you have to use is a blow dryer, you will have to pull “The Handicapper”. What you do here is balance yourself on one leg and slide the toes of your raised foot into the door handle. Open the door with your foot and then use your free arm to prop the door open. This can be dangerous and I do not recommend women doing this maneuver if they are wearing high heals… you will want to use the last resort coming up next.

3. The “Lazy Bum”: Well, there’s not much too this one and it really is the last resort. Use only if you are wearing high heals, the door has a nob or isn’t big enough to get your toes behind, or there aren’t any paper towels. After you wash and dry your hands with the blow dryer, just stand there like a lazy bum until someone else opens the door for you. You may have to wait a minute or two, but you won’t be eating poop for dinner!

I really wish I knew what was going on in the minds of the people installing the doors that you have to pull open from the inside. I’m assuming they are the same people that don’t wash their hands after using the restroom so it never crosses their minds. If you ever speak with someone that installs bathroom doors, I would suggest you bow when greeting them.