"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?

Obama Cabinet & Media-Sponsored Racism

Here it is, the end of the day. That means it's time to start complaining almost endlessly again. I thought I'd try something new tonight though. Instead of putting several different posts up, I thought it best if I try to sum everything up into a single post for a single day. We'll have to see how well that works out. Okay, let's get started:

I've been listening to news anchors and various interviewees that they seem to have made deals with, as if they've said "I'll let you on my show to help sell your book if you back up my idiotic idea". One of my biggest complaints about what they've been saying today is the nomination of Bill Richardson to the post of Secretary of Commerce. I'm not even sure how many of this moronic anchors I've heard ask, or say "Isn't this nomination like a consolation prize to him for not getting Secretary of State" or "Bill Richardson's nomination to this post was an afterthought by President-Elect Obama because he realized that he didn't have any Latinos picked". Give me a break!

I am so sick of these jack offs trying to create controversy where there is none. It's unbelievable! I personally agree that Hilary Clinton would have been more well suited to Health and Human Services and Bill Richardson to Secretary of State and someone else for Secretary of Commerce. But, if anyone thinks Obama is just picking people at random for these positions or that he somehow felt compelled to nominate Richardson for Commerce because he'd forgotten or that he felt somehow required to appoint a Latino really needs to smack themselves for not thinking.

But, instead of simply reporting who Obama is choosing, so many in the media need to create controversy; to sensationalize everything. I will never understand where in our history reporting the news took such a turn. You know, the main source of where I see racism in our society today, and for nearly as long as I can remember, is from our media. Here's another example of what I mean from the news today:

There was a story about a cemetery getting moved. This is not anything new; cemeteries get moved all the time. But because this one has the graves of black slaves from long ago, it's a massively racist and offensive thing. I HATE racism. I wish it would go away...but our damn media won't let it! Every time our society takes a step forward, the media drudges up some controversy to stir up emotions between races. Seriously, can't we all just get a bong? er...get along.

Well, whichever.

But, back to the cabinet nominations: I want to also say how annoyed I am by all of this crap with people saying "Obama was running on a platform of change, but look how he's nominating people from the Clinton days! That's not change!" I think I know where they picked up that second sentence.

Come on Barack, you should know better. Go down and pick up some day workers, or people from the unemployment line to work for minimum wage. Or even better, get a cabinet full of Sarah Palins.

I don't know about everyone else, but I'm sick of having people in my government who has no idea what they're doing. I certainly have not enjoyed the last 8 years. I'm also sick of people in the government who don't know how to act with leaders and officials of other countries. Again, look to the last 8 years.

I know that to a certain extent, you must have people in the government with experience. It's the leadership at the top that provides the "change" that was promised. While not all of the players have changed, it's the man at the top who approves the moves. To suggest that every single person in appointed must have never been in government before is just ridiculous. It's quite obvious that these people are simply looking for any reason to complain... they are comprised of two groups -- Media and Republicans. Please, wise up.

Now, a completely unrelated topic, but one that really pisses me off -- A loser hockey player, Sean Avery, (again, LOSER) was referring to his very talented ex, Elisha Cuthbert when he said this: "I just want to comment on how it's become like a common thing in the NHL for guys to fall in love with my sloppy seconds." It was a best, a very crude comment. I hope she sues him. And again, this story wouldn't have been a story if the media would drop it. But, they have to repeat it...and repeat it...and repeat it.

The media knows no shame. They run stories like this over and over again only causing more trouble. Instead of reporting informational stories, they run smears. And, they do it all under the guise of spreading knowledge and shield themselves with the First Amendment. I think that the First Amendment should have been chisled into stone..and I think the media personalities should be pelted repeatedly with this stone when they keep spreading smear stories like this.