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Life Through an Inside-Out Looking Glass

Do you ever feel like you're on the outside looking in? And, for the most part, you like it that way?

The (Phony) War on Christmas

I'm going to make a bold statement. Are you ready? Just this: there is no war on Christmas. I can think of no single non-story in recent years that's been more hyped, propped up, blown out of proportion -- and generally driven by a handful of individuals with agendas -- than the claims of widespread grinchery [sic] currently making the rounds on cable news, to wit: Fox News.

Have there been some instances of school districts making questionable judgment calls in their well-meaning efforts to be inclusive? No doubt. But the likes of Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity and John Gibson are taking relatively isolated incidents and portraying them as part of a nefarious, widespread, coordinated campaign.

Naturally, Mr. Gibson has a book to promote on the subject. And Hannity and O'Reilly? I suppose it can be difficult filling all those hours on radio on television. The question is: where will they aim their demagoguery after the New Year? We'll just have to wait and see.

Happy holidays, everyone!

"Imagine"

Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one

- John Lennon (1971)

Modernly Artistic Ad Campaign at CNN

What's the deal with the new CNN commercials, in which we see Wolf Blitzer or Anderson Cooper fruitlessly attempting to pitch story ideas to disinterested colleagues? The campaign is very ... strange.

The War on Grass Stains

Coming up on Fox News: how one Midwestern soccer mom won a major victory over a meddling yoga mom in the ongoing war on soiled slacks! [FoxNews.com]

Sometimes, 'The Folks' Are Simply Wrong

A wise person once said that we must be vigilant in protecting the minority from the tyranny of the majority. I think a lot of the people who make a practice of constantly railing against 'judicial activists' overruling the 'will of the people' are not familiar with the concept. Or they simply don't care.

Pat Robertson At It Again

"I'd like to say to the good citizens of Dover: If there is a disaster in your area, don't turn to God. You just rejected him from your city," Robertson said Thursday on his Christian Broadcasting Network's 700 Club.

Later in the day yesterday, Robertson released a statement in which he said he was merely attempting to point out that "our spiritual actions have consequences."

"God is tolerant and loving," Robertson said. "But we can't keep sticking our finger in his eye forever."

Robertson: "If they have future problems in Dover, I recommend they call on Charles Darwin. Maybe he can help them."
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I used to wonder whether Pat Robertson was mentally unstable, or merely an asshole. I also used to wonder whether he actually believed all of the hateful shit he regularly spews, or whether he's merely an opportunist, simply out to make money.

A friend of mine once smartly remarked that he must actually believe it, as there are lots of far easier ways to earn a living. I tend to agree.

Now I just wonder whether anyone takes him seriously? I certainly don't consider him a minister of grace.

The More Things Change ...

Am I the only person who sees parallels between the Red Scare and the current attitude, among some, towards Islam?

Of course, it's entirely possible that I listen to way too much right-wing talk radio.

Study: More Sexual Content on TV

This study seems fundamentally flawed.

Firstly, it defined 'sexual content' as "anything from discussions about sex to scenes involving everything from kissing to intercourse."

Secondly, the authors "examined a sample of a week's worth of programming on ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, WB, PBS, Lifetime, TNT, USA Network and HBO."

Among other things, I wonder whether they made any kind of separate delineation for cable only, or at least for pay cable (i.e., HBO) -- or even for each of the respective aforementioned networks -- comparing the individual numbers to the results as a whole. If not, I don't see how this study provides any real insight.
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Study Says There Is More Sex on TV [AP]

Jiminy Glick: From Showbiz to Big Oil

Am I the only one who thinks the following oil company executive bears a striking resemblance to Jiminy Glick?

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Oil Company Executives Defend Huge Profits [AP]