Rush Limbaugh is a Fat Dope

A few months ago Rush Limbaugh dominated cable news with his provocative statement, “I hope the President fails.” He explained himself by saying he didn’t want America to fail; just President Obama’s left wing agenda. It disgusted me how much coverage he received for this statement. The big three cable news network’s were treating this like it was a real news story.

Who cares what Rush Limbaugh says. Honestly, who is he? He’s a radio personality. He’s never served in public office. He has no real credential to speak of. Why do we pay any attention to what the Jon Stewarts and Rush Limbaughs of the world have to say? They’re entertainers who have somehow become something bigger; they’ve succeeded at becoming important, and yet, they’re still nobodies. They’re devoid of legitimacy. They’ve done nothing. Rush and Jon: If you’re so smart, so sure of how this country should be run, go out and run for office and do something.

Stern

Howard Stern revolutionized the medium of radio, creating his own brand of ‘reality radio’. He changed the format of nearly every station he came to, taking his local NYC radio program to #1 and syndicating it across the country to millions and millions of listeners. He had his own #1 rated cable television show. He had the #1 movie in the country. And yet for all of his successes, all of these accomplishments, Howard Stern’s name is still dirt.

There are very few people in history whose name alone can elicit such anger and hostility out of people. Mention ‘Howard Stern’ to somebody and they will probably describe him with words like ‘racist’ and ‘pig’ and ‘disgusting’. Most of these people will have probably never heard his show. Howard isn’t great because he’s gross or sexist or whatever else. He’s great because he’s funny. He’s a good interviewer. He’s interesting. My favorite part of the show is the news, where I can hear his take on recent social and political issues. I think he’s an intelligent guy and very often I find myself agreeing with him.

But the storms of publicity he stirred early in his career to help promote his show have done irrevocable damage to his image later among non-listeners. I don't think he cares, but it's unfortunate to know Howard Stern will never be properly recognized for his accomplishments, talents, and his contributions to radio and other media.

Op-Ed Review

Allan Meltzer wrote an Op-Ed piece for the New York Times titled ‘Inflation Nation’. In it he argues that the Federal Reserve needs to be more careful in avoiding potential inflation of the U.S. Dollar. He maintains that increases in money supply coupled with the devaluation of the dollar could lead to a sharp rise in prices.

I don’t necessarily agree or disagree with him because I’m not smart enough to know whether he’s right or wrong. That’s what’s particularly troubling about this economic crisis; we realize just how helpless we are, how little we understand. These economic problems are beyond our understanding, forcing us to rely on experts to tell us what to do. Which experts do we listen to? Didn't they get us into this mess? Why can’t there just be a consensus solution? It's a lot to deal with.

It bothers me when the average citizen has an opinion on a topic like this. Everyone feels this recession, and they feel they deserve an opinion on how to address it. Fixing our economy however, should be left to the experts. Any idiot can debate moral issues, or political ideology, but having a real opinion on how the Fed should be controlling the money supply, that’s a debate best had by specialists.

Instareview

I read Instapundit, a blog featuring a collection of links to a number of different political stories. I was surprised by the amount of content in the blog. Almost every fifteen minutes a new link would appear to a news story or blog, usually accompanied by a sentence or two of description. The stories covered a wide range of topics, from Swine Flu to the Chrysler bankruptcy, but all featured a political spin.

Instapundit’s value is not in its quality but its quantity. There are a lot of stories. I would imagine a person following Instapundit would be better informed than someone following CNN.com, but the process is time consuming. There are some stories that I would not have linked to (one was about Barrack and Michelle holding hands), but like I said, what makes Instapundit a valuable tool is that makes all of these stories available from one source.

The Hagiography of Jon Stewart

I don’t like comparing Jon Stewart to the legitimate news because it suggests they're in the same business. But for some reason people love Jon Stewart. I don't think I've ever read a bad thing about him. The guy is golden. The truth is Stewart is just another entertainer, the Rush Limbaugh of the left, an arrogant blowhard who should be ignored. Jon Stewart’s opinions regarding politics and the media should mean as much to you as Adam Sandler’s or Carrot Top’s. He is not a viable substitute for mainstream network news, and should not be treated as such.

Viewing ‘The Daily Show’ and NBC’s ‘Nightly News with Brian Williams’ back to back only confirms my previous opinions. 'The Daily Show' covered Swine Flu and Obama’s first 100 days in its opening segment. The stories included little information compared to the nightly news, and were interspersed with hit or miss jokes that slowed down the show. Following a commercial break ‘The Daily Show’ aired a pre-taped piece on the European Particle Accelerator reminiscent of a Saturday Night Live sketch. The show’s final segment was an interview with Wolverine star Hugh Jackman. Believe it or not I don’t care about Hugh Jackman’s thoughts.
The NBC News was straightforward and professional. What it lacked in jokes it made up for in information.

Stewart is often celebrated for his critiques of the mainstream media, but his show doesn't stand anything. He can attack Jim Cramer and Crossfire for ignoring their obligations as members of the media, and then do a fluff filled show in which he wastes half his time pausing for audience applause before wrapping it all up with a hard hitting interview of Wolverine. If you want to be a media critic, be a media critic. If you want to be a comedian hosting a comedy show, go for it, but you can’t have it both ways Jon Stewart.

Don't Call Me Sweetheart: The Frightening World of Feminist Blogs

It was difficult finding a feminist blog entry to respond to. After Googling ‘feminist blog’ I clicked on the first link and was directed to a page titled femenisting.com. The most recent post was a collection of letters to one Professor Foxy titled “Ask Professor Foxy: Masturbation, Threesomes, and Lube Oh My!” This wasn’t quite what I was looking for, and seeing as there was no information detailing Professor Foxy’s credentials, I sought to find a more academic blog.

The next google link brought me to feministblogs.org. The title page had a video link to a 1988 live performance of Metallica’s ‘For Whom the Bell Tolls’ with the caption '20 years ago…when I was young and drunk.’ Tough to respond to that. At http://finallyfeminism101.blogspot.com/ the first post was titled, “How is asking the question ‘Why are there no fat elves in Dungeons and Dragons’ offensive to feminists?” There was also a link to website promising ‘Hot Guys in Flu Masks’. Redneck Femenist: A Free Market Femenist Blog had a subheading stating, "If you don't get the title of this blog, you probably shouldn't read it." I didn't understand the title, and, heeding her advice, moved on.

After traversing the frightening world of feminist blogging, I've come to the conclusion that feminism needs something to rally behind. I’m not saying that the feminist movement is dead, but if these blogs are any indication, the movement is somewhat scattered. What does the modern day feminist represent? I don’t know. What are the causes that feminists around the world are fighting for? I’m not sure. Equal pay maybe? The objectification of women? Having a link to hot guys in flu masks would certainly put a few holes in that argument.

I don’t even know if sexism still exists. It certainly doesn’t in my world, and if it does, I’m not aware of it. So if there are real problems out there concerning sexism and feminism, feminists need to make people aware of them. I tried to become aware, to educate myself, and all I found was a hodge podge of links, each one more point less than the next.

Good Night and Good Luck

Good Night and Good Luck works on a few different levels. As a period piece it is consistently interesting. Real footage of Joe McCarthy and his Senate hearings are injected seamlessly within to the film. Shot entirely in black and white, the film feels authentic. Good Night and Good Lucks also succeeds as an allegory to the potential perils of fear and hysteria, and it doesn’t take a genius to understand how these themes relate to our world today. Finally, the film also succeeds as an entertaining drama. Credit director George Clooney for turning a dialogue driven script about politics, journalism, and ethics into an intriguing, suspenseful film where the stakes actually feel high.

The movie is probably a little too preachy, but its message is pure: we should not abandon our principles and morals due to fear. It also touches on journalists and their ethical responsibilities, as well as the public’s duty to stay active in being informed. Watching the film I felt sorry for Murrow, preaching ethics and responsibility at the expense of profits, advertisers, and ratings. He reminded me of a young child, naively explaining how the world should work, oblivious to how it actually does.

Finally a Cause We Can All Get Behind

I really don’t understand why dog fighting is illegal. It makes no sense to me whatsoever. It bothers me that Michael Vick and others like him are spending time behind bars for participating in the brutal sport. It’s not that I condone or appreciate dog fighting. It’s just that it’s no different to me than stepping on a bug or hunting or eating a hamburger. I understand that it’s cruel, but if dog’s have rights, where do you draw the line? Should a person go to jail for verbally abusing their cat? What about if you go on vacation and starve your pet goldfish? Is that negligence?

It is just so random and hypocritical that it boggles my mind. I understand people are nuts about their dogs, but they’re still animals. In American law we value human life; not all life. To deprive someone of their freedom for mistreating an animal is to put the life of the animal above that of the person. Free the dog fighters!

Is 'I Don't Care' An Acceptable Answer?

I read multiple entry’s in The Environmental Blog, looking for one to respond to. There were entry’s regarding high mercury levels in fish, using coffee as a potential source of bio-fuel, how Denmark is sick at using renewable energy, and the benefits of buying recycled toilet paper. I kept reading, looking for something that I felt strongly enough about to write about. After ten minutes I realized I really don’t have an opinion on the environment. I just don’t really care. I saw “An Inconvenient Truth.” I was unmoved.

I just can’t look that far down the road. There are so many problems in the world right now that need fixing, addressing environmental problems just doesn’t seem that important to me. In my book it falls somewhere between curing childhood obesity and addressing poor officiating in NBA playoff games. I can’t get worked up about saving the planet when 6% of Africa has AIDS. Why waste resources recycling toilet paper when you could be providing contraception to help stop teenage pregnancy? Or feed the homeless? I’m not that I’m against the environmentalist movement, it’s just that I don’t really care.

What's Wrong With Comparing Yourself to a Model?

Reality television has taken America by storm. Its cheap production costs and high ratings have led to the production of a number of different themed reality shows, from Celebrity Rehab to American Idol, guaranteeing a type of reality show for every interest. One such show, America’s Next Top Model, follows the typical reality TV formula. Each episode features a competition, a judging process, and finally the elimination of a contestant. There’s nothing especially unique or entertaining about the program that would set the show apart from the myriad of other crappy reality TV shows out there.

The question I’m being asked to answer in this blog entry is whether the show has a positive, negative, or neutral impact on the socialization of girls. Because I’m being asked this question, I have to assume that there are some people who feel that the show negatively effects the socialization of girls. I would have to say that it doesn’t. It’s so boring and formulaic I can’t see it effecting anybody in any serious way, but it did get me thinking. American’s, and especially those that criticize the media for its effects on society, are positively frightened of discussing looks. America’s Next Top Model is no different from any other reality show, except that instead of Simon discussing how horrid somebody’s singing is, Tyra Banks is telling some wannabe model that she doesn’t have the looks to be a model. We can’t call somebody hot, or ugly. We can’t call an obese person fat. We have to pretend we all look the same.

Critics justify their criticisms by explaining that we want society’s girls healthy and happy, which they say is impossible if their daughters are comparing themselves to supermodels. Well you know what, Americans are fat. If this show was effecting girls it would be in a positive way. It wouldn’t kill a lot of girls (and guys) to lose some weight. It’s not healthy to be huge. Maybe it’s good if they’re comparing themselves to the contestants on America’s Next Top Model, who, by the way, are not that good looking. And I’m not saying they’re not good looking compared to models; they’re not even good looking compared to non-models. People need to understand that they are not perfect. People should want to improve themselves. What’s wrong with people wanting to look good?


Some notes from the episode I watched, titled “The Amazing Model Race”, and available here.

-The episode took place in Brazil, and the first challenge was to pose during Capoeira, which I can only describe as dance fighting. They were taught by Master Eddy Murphy.

-During the dance fighting, one model accidentally kicked another model, who responded by saying, “Everything’s cool, I know it was an accident…(Pause) If she does it again I’ll break her legs.”

-Virtually every male on the show was extravagantly, stereotypically gay. One guy had his hair dyed gray.

-One of the models names was Fo. Her last name was Sho. Fo Sho.

Hey Hippies! Back Off!

It appears increasingly likely that we will see Marijuana legalized in the United States in the near future. As this Gallup Poll shows, support for legalizing marijuana has increased from 25% to 36% in the last ten years. More doctors are supporting its medicinal purposes, and marijuana shops are slowly growing in different parts of America. Obama won’t waste any of his political capital on legalizing marijuana during his first term, but there’s a chance that during his 2nd term, after accomplishing his health care and economic goals, he could make a push for it. And it would be the right thing to do. But for this to happen, the hippies have to do their part. Specifically, they need to keep quiet and stay out of the way.

The fight for marijuana’s legalization creates somewhat of a paradox, in that the most vocal proponents of its legalization are also the best example of why marijuana should remain illegal. How can you be swayed to think that marijuana is a harmless drug when the hippies protesting its illegality are unemployed, smelly, and have yellow teeth. Look at these pictures from ‘Hempfest’ in Seattle. Would you like to know any of these people? How would you like your child to turn out like that? If that’s what marijuana does to you, I don’t want any part of it.

But the truth is a lot of people smoke pot, and they're just fine. To them it is nothing more than a plant that makes them a little silly and hungry. But for a small group of American’s marijuana is not just a plant, but a lifestyle, and they have taken it upon themselves to lead the fight for its legality. It’s like if during prohibition you had every grimy alcoholic lobbying on behalf of the alcohol industry. If these hippies are serious about getting pot legalized, they should do themselves a favor and disappear for a little while while lawyers and libertarian groups poke holes in the ridiculousness of marijuana’s illegality. I even created a short list of activities to keep the hippies busy while there cause is pursued:

1.) Go on a really long nature walk

2.) Instead of having a hippy drum circle try out different shapes, like a drum trapezoid or a drum pentagon

3.) Do everything you would do normally, but do it on 2nd Life

4.) Protest against abortion with the pro-life crowd, so Roe v. Wade never gets over turned either

5.) Try synching your favorite albums to different movies. Dark Side of the Moon and the Wizard of Oz can’t be the only example. Maybe Rubber Soul and Psycho? Or what if the film American Beauty was synchronized with the Grateful Dead album American Beauty? The possibilities are endless, and believe me, you have the time.

Barack and Roll

President Obama’s election rhetoric was based around the idea of change. He would do away with partisanship and bureaucracy and replace them with rainbows and unicorns. People with knowledge of politics and history knew this was unlikely. Governments are historically much more adept at expanding rather than contracting, and Obama’s only real chance to change things would be to build on what was already in place. You see a government is like a layer cake. If the cake doesn't taste quite right, you can’t take out the layers that you think are ruining the cake. You can only add more on and hope that they make it better.

But although the country will not change in any great substantive way, his election represents change through its symbolism. It showed that the values of the American electorate are shifting. Could a half-black smoker who admitted to using marijuana and cocaine (or as he calls it in his book ‘blow’) been elected twenty years ago? Or even four years ago? The answer is no. The American government isn’t changing, but it’s citizens are, and while this won’t effect the structure or policies of our government any time soon, it will change the type of politicians we see in Washington. With the ubiquity of modern media we get to know our political candidates better than ever before, and a candidates likability, not their experience, policies, or background, will be the great decider of elections. Obama isn’t a catalyst for change, but the result of it.

Blame the Media

I don’t think I know one person who is satisfied with ‘the media’. I’m not talking about any specific media, but the abstract idea of ‘the media’. The media people are referring to when they say things like, “I can’t believe the media would exploit a story like that,” or “The media is so biased.” Americans have a difficult relationship with this media. Conservatives feel the liberals control it, and liberals think the conservatives own it. The media is blamed for most of society's ills, including, but not limited to eating disorders, school shootings, steroids in baseball, falling house prices, the economic crisis, and teenage pregnancy. Osama bin Laden hasn't done as much to ruin the country.

The problem is that people discuss the media as if it were some uncontrollable beast ravaging our perfect little nation. The truth is that society influences the media much more than the media influences society. If people didn't want to see skinny women, violence, home runs, and sex on television, it simply wouldn't be available. The problem is that people like all that stuff, but they won't admit it. They'd rather blame the media for exposing them to the content instead of themselves for consuming it. It's like blaming your drug dealer for your drug problem.