"Multi-Media" Rant

I have some complaints today...again. Most of the items on my list today though may seem relatively small compared to my earlier posts. But combined, they really add up to a large sum. And furthermore, it makes me feel as though I'm piecing together a conspiracy theory against the entire civilian public by the media and government. I think the easiest way to start this is to begin with a single small detail and expand outwards...my own little "Ripple of Evil", if you're familiar with the show "Root of All Evil" from Comedy Central with Lewis Black as the host.

I was watching several different news/entertainment news shows today, as usual. While watching Showbiz Tonight (airing in the daytime), I saw a brief news item about people, some of which I guess you could consider "anti-fans" of celebrities, splashing water on different public figures - like Tom Cruise. But, it made me think of paparazzi as well, that taunt celebrities. It bothers the crap out of me that they do this. When the celebrities seem to not be acting up enough for the paparazzis' job to be worthwhile, meaning that there is nothing "scandalous" going on, they try to piss them off enough to attack - verbally or physically.

It's like watching a fish in an aquarium if it's just sitting at the bottom. You try to position yourself to where you know the fish sees you through the glass. If it still doesn't move around, you tap on the glass. Once you've scared it, or pissed it off, enough to swim away in haste, you feel as though your job is done and leave it alone.

These paparazzi go to take pictures of celebrities to publish. But if the celebrity they've photographed isn't currently in the public eye, they try to create controversy to make them the focus of the media. A prime, current example that I can think of, other than all the water-throwing incidents is Brad Garett, from Everybody Loves Raymond. He was recently on a date. When leaving the restaurant, a group of photographers chased him. Let's face it, regardless of his acting skills, he's not currently a major public figure. So, one of the guys taunted Brad, calling him a "fag"...inciting him to physically attack. BAM! Brad is now a piece of news!

I've always thought that once a person becomes a celebrity, they've basically sold their personal lives to the public - that everything they do is fair game. But these paparazzi have taken this concept far past what anyone could possibly consider to be ethical.

Here comes a confession: I've never been a fan of Britney Spears. There, I said it publicly! Okay, not all that shocking...here's the real confession: I feel sorry for her after seeing everything the media has done to make her life hell. I really, really don't believe she was as mentally unstable as she has exhibited in the last couple of years...not until after the media had their way with her. Honestly, I think it's sad. But she's not the only one. How many celebrities every year are hounded like this....for the satisfaction of the few who read the tabloids for these "scandals".

Now, the tabloids and paparazzi are not the only ones to blame here. There are news anchors from every outlet who exploit celebrities on a daily basis. And worse, they exploit everyone that they report on or interview.

For the second day in a row, I'm going to use Rick Sanchez as an example...and my target - and it's not just because I dislike him so much.

I'd like to talk about the day there were divers searching a pond for remains of Caylee Anthony. There was supposedly a plastic bag found at the bottom of the pond. I knew immediately, and I was right, that Rick Sanchez would blow this completely out of proportion, prematurely - and that the rest of his time on the air would be a waste of time. I grant you the given information: someone who leaked this information had said there was, found in the plastic bag - a bunch of toys, a symbol of a shamrock (Caylee's favorite), and some small bones. This is not what I'm disputing.

The police report coming out at almost exactly the same time, was that the bag contained "nothing of evidential value". Well, that may not be verbatim, but it's as close as I can remember. My complaint is Rick immediately disputing the police statement, saying that the police didn't know what they were talking about and that it seemed like a pretty condemning piece of evidence.

The fact is, there were no toys, no shamrock symbol and no bones. The report was false. But the fact that Rick Sanchez is so quick to grandstand and sensationalize the report is the point to focus on. The fact is, right now, there is very little damning evidence at all in this case. And while I, like most people who have heard anything about the case, think she's guilty as hell, I cannot stand up and accuse her outright of the crime. But Sanchez apparently doesn't feel the restraint necessary. He's more than willing to destroy Casey Anthony's reputation with or without the evidence.

But, let's get caught up to today's issues. What Sanchez did today was downright cowardly and unfair. A blogger, expressing his opinions against Rick Sanchez, was mentioned on the CNN Newsroom by Rick. And while I don't think Rick is a Republican, he definitely showed that same pompous arrogance that I saw so many times from that party during the elections as he completely blew off this blogger's point of view as being unintelligent. Has anyone else noticed this attitude? If someone doesn't agree, he and they, just pass the person off as being "stupid" or that they "just don't understand". Condescending jerks, all of them!

And again today, Sanchez spent so much time focusing on this complete non-story of the graves of slaves to be moved in Georgia. Today, he brought it up saying that there were "so many more layers of the story appearing". What a load of crap. I'll repeat what I said yesterday:

Cemeteries are moved all the time. The only reason the media, especially Rick Sanchez, are focusing on this story is because of the graves being that of slaves. The NAACP is making it all about race and Sanchez is following right along in step. Here are some other facts that he doesn't focus so much on: the cemetery is in the middle of a landfill and it is completely inaccessible.

I am so sick of racism. I told one of my closest friends in college to get lost when he became increasingly racist over time. I want racism to go away. But the media and the NAACP just won't let it. Not every issue has roots in race!

Another media figure that completely bugged the crap out of me today was Jane Velez-Mitchell. It's annoying enough when she has her little bits, or tosses, from other hosts, when she says at the end of her bit "and that's my issue". My god...she sure has a lot of issues...that's not good.

Today, she was asking people to call in about the Victoria Secret fashion show, asking if people thought it was sexist or not. Asking people that question is leading. Let me ask you this: "Do you think this question she asked is stupid? or not?"

Here's the deal, lady: People who are interested in lingerie want to see this show. If you're not interested in lingerie, DON'T WATCH THE SHOW! It's that easy! Some women might want to buy lingerie to wear, and some men might want to buy lingerie for their significant others.

My god, what a prude! Seriously, why would you have such a problem with this? Do you really think that modelling is such a step back in feminism? Give me a break.

So, here's a question to you, if you happen to read the blogs, Jane Velez-Mitchell: Are you a prude, a feminist, or are you just trying to sensationalize this story to create controversy? Are you that desperate for a story? Do you really need to validate your job to your bosses that much as to suggest that the rest of the world is too loose?

Okay, so that's more than one question. But, I believe they're quite valid. Why does the rest of our society have to second-guess themselves just so she'll have a story?