Fox News Strikes Again!

The other day, John Stewart aired a clip from Fox News' coverage of the "Superbowl of Freedom" Anti-healthcare rally. Ok two things, one - look at the title to that. Anti-healthcare? They hate healthcare? I know, I know...they hate a government option healthcare but couldn't they have specified? Anyways, to point two: This is what was aired on the Daily Show:

http://mediamatters.org/mmtv/200911100063

Interesting. So Fox News fabricated something, aired it on national television, and then commented on it. How many times have they done this? Seriously, I don't understand how they continuously shoot themselves in the foot and continuously refer to themselves using things like "No-spin zone," and "We report, you decide." Even more shocking...they actually apologized this time for the "error" - take a look at Fox's response:

http://mediamatters.org/mmtv/200911120003

Wow. That would have been impressive. If it wasn't so condescending and patronizing. An "Inadvertant" mistake? What a bunch of bullshit. How can you air footage like that from 2 months ago on a national network with a staff of editors, producers, and "reporters." It has to work it's way through at least a few people before getting to viewers, right? One would also think that their video archives are labeled with dates? Maybe have some folders on a computer that organize these videos? There's no way you're a major news organization working with hundreds or thousands of video files without a organizational system. With that in mind, how can someone accidentally get a video from a professional organizational video filing system, have it approved by producers, editors, and journalists (all "professionals" mind you), make it onto a national screen, then have active commentary on the faulty footage. That's a lot to have happen "inadvertantly."

More realistic? Someone was like "oh this clip is of the same place...different day but it looks like a lot of people so let's air it...no one will notice! And bonus - there's more people on this one!" Too bad they're even bad at falsification...and John Stewart (or his writers/producers) picked up on that. Fox News rarely holds iteself accountable for these falsifications and what's scary is that people frequently formulate opinions, make judgements, and take action based on what they see aired. They need to stop being irresponsible bags of suck and start acutally reporting news. That won't happen however until individuals start holding Fox accountable and stop swallowing the spoonfed crap they dish out.

Jeopardy

I love watching Jeopardy. It's filled with useless knowledge that really is never useful or applicable...unless you go on Jeopardy. I never can get all of the answers on regular Jeopardy and there are guys up there who rattle answers off like it's common knowledge. That's why, when Teen Jeopardy comes on, I get excited.

I was watching what I call "Confidence-boosting Jeopardy" last night with Angela while we were eating dinner and realized - man, Teen Jeopardy makes me feel like I'm a genius. Teen Jeopardy I find pretty entertaining and I begin thinking "I could totally kick ass on that show if I was on it"...kind of along the same lines as "man if I played Little League now, I'd be an All-Star." U.S. Presidents? Nailed it! Science? I know you're not going past what I learned in 12th grade so let's do this! Categories that have "text" in every answer (and was cleverly named "text" me) - come on, you're practically giving this away! I was feeling pretty good about myself until the 14 year old squeaky-voiced highschooler nailed a whole row and highlighted facts I had never heard of like he was naming the seven dwarfs. Damnit. Deflated. He is now my enemy.

I get so involved in Jeopardy, I start having conversations with the contestants, and either ridicule them when they don't get an answer that I know ("oh, come on - who doesn't know that Yoda lives in the Degaba system!") or ridicule them when they get an answer I don't know ("What is the Imama Reza shrine? pssht, nerd. I'll bet you have no friends" says the kid that knew specific Star Wars facts.) Jeopardy can be both exciting and humbling.

The point of this little rant? There was none...just like there is no point to Jeopardy but still, I find myself watching it and you find yourself reading my blog (and I am keeping this in the singular tense purposely as I know probably only one person is reading this).

Marriage is What Brings Us Together

Until this point, many of my blogs have been random thoughts or rants about food habits, signs on cars, and politics, that come up for me from time to time. Today, I am going to take a stand on something I've been unhappy with, which was triggered by some news last Tuesday. Recently, I saw that the state of Maine has "torpedoed" a law that would have made gay marriage legal. While reading about this, I felt disappointed and I have a problem with this. Not just with Maine specifically or, but with the idea that gay marriage isn't legal, and what that means.

It's so interesting to me that people seem to be all "oh I'm cool with gays...they're ok in my book! Look how tolerant I am!" but when it comes down to voting - enacting laws that would prove their "ok-ness," people fall short when it counts. I know, I know. Change takes time and patience and homosexual tolerance is in it's societal infancy but I'm frustrated knowing that some individuals have to continually put up with intolerance; who haven't been and won't be treated fairly in their lifetime.

What I have the biggest issue with is not the law itself; that's the byproduct. The real issue for me is the fact that the law reflects a fundamental devaluation of homosexuals - saying they are somehow worth less than heterosexual individuals. Devaluing some one because they are attracted to someone of the same gender? F that. We live in a country that was founded on the belief that all were created equal regardless of background, belief, or religion. I know that's not the way the country actually works today but it's ideally what we strive for. What our laws should reflect. Right? For those who are heterosexual, how would you feel if you weren't allowed to get married to someone you loved because society says your love isn't as "legal" as someone else's?

Currently, Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, Vermont and New Hampshire allow same-sex couples to marry. I believe these states are correct in making a step towards bringing equal treatment to individuals but 5 states out of 50? We're scratching the surface. 10% of the states in our country have won hard-fought battles to allow same-sex marriage. That means 90% still reflect antiquated beliefs that homosexuality is less valuable.

I also find it interesting that some argue they need to protect marriage because they consider it to be a sacred institution between a man and a woman...considering that 1 our of every 2 heterosexual marriages currently end in divorce exactly how sacred is it? How nice that someone who is heterosexual has the luxury of getting married and remarried 3,4,5 times but in most states, someone who is homosexual can't get married...even once!

Baby on Board

Ok. So it's been a while. I've been busy! Which is the ultimate cop-out excuse but hey, people use it and people buy it (well, at least on the surface they do but underneath you know they're thinking "buuull shit.") Anyways, I just saw this sign on my way into work this morning and had been thinking about commenting on it - what a better way to do so than on my underused blog-site. (Thanks Tom) So here goes:

Ok, so you have this on your car. We've all thought the things I'm about to say but still, I see these signs and I continuously have a reaction. By putting this sign on your car, what exactly were you hoping would be accomplished? I mean, don't get me wrong, kids are totally great and everything...I have an almost 2 year old nephew I love more than pasta, golf, and beer put together (and for those who know me, you know I'm making a statement).

While kids are great, I don't see why you'd feel the need to slap one of these tacky signs in the ol' outback or mini-van. If I'm passing a car on the highway that says "Baby on Board" am I supposed to treat it any differently than any other car on the road? 2 things about that: 1.) If you drive like a normal civil human being (and I'm convinced that 90% of the people on the road are at least civil drivers but still aren't as good a driver as I am...you think the same thing, admit it.) and 2.) If you have to drive differently to not hit a car, why are you driving and I hope the state of Massachusetts takes your license away (ooo get some aloe Mass).

Still, I don't think these signs are nearly as infuriating as the "proud parent of ____ High school honor student" bumper stickers are. I'm actually more likely to rear-end that person because come on. That's obnoxious. If you're going to use your car to make a statement, make it one that people outside of your immediate family care about because honestly, most people outside of those people are going to be seeing the bumper of your car at a red light or on the highway as people drive as close as possible to you so as to read what's actually on the sticker. Just don't stop suddenly.

Tim Wise

I know it's been a while but I'll get to writing more than just a few sentences soon. For those of you who haven't seen or heard Tim Wise - he's incredible. I found this video and it really got me thinking - let me know what you think. Give it a few minutes and definitely listen to the whole thing; it's very worth it

http://www.mediaed.org/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=137&template=PDGCommTemplates/HTN/Item_Preview.html


(ignore the writing on the screen, you don't really even need to see him to get a lot out of this)

Just Like Lemmings

I'm sure many of you have seen it. The video from last summer showing a group of elementary school children singing a song about Barack Obama and the explosion on Fox News after it's release. They've characterized it as "Indoctrination" of our children who are "Captive audiences" making it seem like these 10 year old children are being held captive in a cave somewhere being brainwashed into thinking that Barack Obama is supreme overlord of the world, with aims at bringing Socialism to America (Equal work and equal pay?! That sounds dangerous!) They have even gone on to say that this video, "Reminiscent of 1930s Germany" and that it's "The most dangerous thing I have ever seen."

...Really. The most dangerous thing you've ever seen? Ever? Apparently you've never seen any James Bond or Jackie Chan movies or, you know, televised War footage. I don't see how that can be the most dangerous thing someone has ever seen. Fox News continually blows things out of proportion and I don't understand how they don't take a step back for a minute and realize how idiotic they sound or at least have someone tell them, "We are all now dumber for having listened to you."

Here's my favorite perspective - Mr. Glenn Beck: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdK8OFHT6Jw

Interesting how Fox blurr out the children; what, did they want to remain anonymous? - I haven't seen other clips with that...and then he goes on a very factual and intellectual discussion about worshiping Barack. Maybe it's just refreshing to like the person in office and the only way for to counter that must be to over-glorify Obama to be "The Anointed One.' Clever. So does that mean everything he does seems to fall short? They're really pushing this Obama as God initiative - it's so transparent that they're out of legitimate arguments that they have to rely on this crap to try to take him down a peg. Beck carries on to the ridiculous. And coming from a man with a high school education who somehow weaseled his way onto the air...such credibility. Is Fox News really the #1 news station in America?

Another perspective about some of this - John Stewart puts it well here: http://mediamatters.org/mmtv/200909290003

People are getting so angry! It seems like the parents were all ok with it until Fox started making a big deal about everything and then, these parents were suddenly enraged. Weird. Plus, the anger I'm seeing seems so dis-proportional to what actually went on and some people just continue to feed on this unproductive anger and it seems to keep snowballing. Perspective is seeming to get lost in all of the media hype and anger that it's absurd. And yes, I mean to point fingers and blame because I think a lot of this ridiculous outrage comes from Fox - if it haden't been for their "professional" news reporting...ugh. I think Fox News has little value outside of entertainment; so get out your popcorn, I'm sure there's more to come.

Mmm - Brief Justice.

It's Monday. I'm lazy. I saw this and it made me happy because he got what he deserved.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MP7dBuVYah4&feature=popm17us15


I'll be more interesting later.