The Changing Perspective of Americans on News

In an age of instantaneous widely available electronic media, the American public is becoming desensitized to the value of news reported by mainstream media organizations. With competition among various outlets, each organization attempts to scoop the next, sometimes to the point of creating a story when the story might not be there yet. Sometimes the story comes to fruition, sometimes it fizzles.

Not only have we come to accept this, we almost expect it. The lines are blurred between the truth and the speculation from sports talk radio, blogs, podcasts, columnists, Fox and MSNBC TV 24 hour newscasts. Much speculation is based on anonymous sources, currently a subject of much controversy.

These days we don't seem to care if the first go-'round of a report is inaccurate, because we know if there are any developments in the story we'll hear about them as soon as they happen. It's almost as if we thrive on rumor, speculation and conjecture, knowing that when it's time for the story to play out we'll find out the truth. In the meantime, keep us entertained with something!

There is a commercial on TV for B of A where an older married couple is playing a little song on the banjo or guitar or something like that. I didn't even see the whole thing. But at the end, the woman says "we forgot the middle..." She is a little sheepish about the omission, but he acts oblivious, to the point of playing dumb about the whole thing. When she reiterates that they forgot a portion of the song, he responds "nobody is going to know the difference anyway." It is clear that forgetting the middle is the absolute last thing on his mind, or at least that's what he wants to portray.

This is a snapshot of two different mindsets that I don't even believe the producers of the spot realize they have captured. On the one hand, the woman is very aware of the public perception of her performance. I think this is normal and prevalent among most people. On the other hand, the man exudes a confidence, whether real or feigned, that paints him as oblivious to anyone else on this earth. His acceptance of himself and his realization that not only is it likely that no one noticed the minor musical slip-up, but even if they did, it's no skin off of his back. In fact, he'd probably consider it to be their problem.

Ray

Saw the movie Ray last night. Jamie Foxx must be related in some way... amazing the resemblance.

So Medora went out to rent something, which traditionally doesn't bode well for my viewing prospects (not that it happens with enough frequency to establish tradition). Delightfully, she returned with this gem.

Watching Ray Charles Robinson work his musical genius was inspiring. In fact we've got him dialed in to Rhapsody as I patter this out right now. Unfortunately some of the hallmarks aren't available... "Georgia," "Hit the Road, Jack" and "Unchain my Heart." I tried substituting Louis Armstrong for Georgia, but it's just not the same. Surprisingly, Buster Poindexter has a great rendition of "Jack." New favs are "What'd I say" and "Mess Around."

Music in the 50's and 60's (and the 70's for that matter) simply blows away the crap we are subjected to now. The movie works these numbers into the story to demonstrate early on how troubled his life truly was. Gotta search out a biography. [found one here: Brother Ray: Ray Charles' Own Story].

Watching the movie and listening to these tunes makes me want to play music, be in a band, karaoke etc. That's one thing I think about every once in a while that I miss. Maybe when I retire. I think making music and performing it live has to be one of the ultimate rushes... kind of like winning a golf tournament or making a kick-ass speech in front of a huge crowd.

Future posts

That damn word for 'restore' when you're not restoring at all
Why computers suck
What would a WiFi world really look like
NeuroControl

BlogMania

I'm not really a blogger, I just play one on the Internet. This is my second blog and I don't even know what I want it to be about. I just know that I think I should have another one in addition to my first one, which is really a family blog.

This blog will realize its own destiny in time. Its lot in life will spring from the tippety tappy of the gunmetal gray keys of my Dell, wherever it happens to be. Right now it's on the kitchen table in our breakfast nook. Maybe that's why this isn't going anywhere.

Sure as the orb will rise too soon yet again, this blog will stumble into whiteout conditions thanks to the blogs blizzard of midst in which we are (or something like that).


I'd rather be mowing the lawn than reading this blog, Daddy.