Warning: Politics!!

[havenne]

Actually, I just want to save some article references, goodies found while doing my Sunday morning surfing.  I really do not mean to offend and realize that other people are passionate about their issues, whatever they may be, just as much as I am.  Gee, aren't I willing to offer up placatory qualifying statements, today.  Usually I say something

Comments

[havenne]

Now I understand a bit better - you gave me an example. There are a lot of stories where I read what is offered and then have to wonder: what's missing here? If it is a story where readers can post comments (like on Syracuse.com and on some of the NY Times stories) I have to further wonder what these other people read that I didn't - other people's holes in the story are different than mine. That is assuming that I get very far in scrolling through comments; people are incredibly vicious these days and that is apart from what is in the 'news.' People are nasty.

It is sad to think that the information released to the public is 'spun' for some governmental purpose but, then again, my cynicism sends me surfing to a lot of different places for tidbits. There are all sorts of alternative sources out there with every sort of point of view imaginable, from the totally bizarre to incredibly alien to just plain head-scratching. The worst 'news', though, masquerades as fact while it attempts to sway your opinion on various issues and, yes, the sensational gets attention and sells ad space on the internet - you did hear that print is dead? You see, I have to make a joke so I won't beat my head against the wall.

If I could make a portion of the media just disappear overnight it would be every last 'sensational' or 'celebrity'-based outlet: People magazine, Entertainment Tonight, many of Oprah's segments, all of Jerry Springer and so on and so on. There is just too much dribble and it's a distraction even as it makes us think 'image' is everything.

[dragonmyass]

Chris and I popped into Nichols grocery store in Liverpool yesterday. It's one of the last mom & pop stores around here. They still have their own butcher shop and make their own Italian sausage as well as having employees who actually help you. I need to shop there more often. Watch for their meat sales, they can be good. They have them about twice a year. Anyway, I was surprised and relieved to see no weekly rags. They had the monthly magazines, but none of the trash. It was akin to not being assaulted at gun point.