If it bleeds, It leads...

Ahhh the wonderful month of November. Football, the crisp air, Thanksgiving, ski resorts opening, what a great month. But there is a dark side to November -- sweeps. For those of you who aren't down with the whole TV industry, let me explain. Sweeps are month-long periods during which the advertising rates are set for TV stations and networks. There are sweeps in February, May, July and November. For this reason, stations and networks roll out their best programming during this time, trying to get people to watch. The upside to this is all the great extra programming put on by the networks--like the cool "24 - redemption" that aired this week.

The downside is the ridiculous, fear-mongering, investigative reports put on by the local news stations. When you see stories like -- "20 ways your kitchen can kill you" and "Dangerous Energy drinks" (thanks Fox) you know it's sweeps-- especially with tag lines like "something every parent should see". I have actually heard about stories such as "Is your dog gay?" and "How every time you flush your toilet, your toothbrush is blasted with microscopic bits of poo" and "Mean Girls" (they're gonna beat you up and take your lunch $$! noooo!) in other markets. Or how about "Is your mattress killing you softly?" Oh, and don't forget the "dirty" stories -- dirty hotel rooms, dirty hospital rooms, dirty school cafeterias, anything to make you afraid--and to make you watch.

The one-up-manship and stupitidy of these reports is so annoying--does anyone else get irritated when they hear "part 79 of out series on the dangers of myspace"?

So whenever you see a story like one of these, my friends--just roll your eyes, and say "well duh" and change the channel. Maybe one day news directors will get it.

Just so you know....

Totally.

Dandelion Break

I'm not sure it it's me, but is the news much more depressing lately? I consider myself to be a pretty hardcore news junkie. In a given day, I skim 2 newspapers, usually catch some TV news, I read CNN.com, the Drudge Report, FARK, and a few others. I thought I was desensitized to the sensationalism and fear-mongering. But lately, the news seems to be depressing me a bit more. whether it's the protests outside LDS temples, the impending "Great Depression 2 -- Electric Boogaloo", soldiers dying, the never-ending-din of the bickering between the political right and the left, it's really been getting to me lately. Sometimes, I just want to shut it all out and hold my new daughter. I call it my dandelion break.

Anyone care to join me?

Reading is FUNdamental

Yesterday I was surprised and saddened to learn that Michael Crichton has died after a battle with cancer, since I didn't even know he was sick. Jurassic Park was one of the first "adult" (not that "adult", you sicko) novels that I ever read. Jurassic Park helped cement my love of novels. I think I read it three or four times, and then I proceeded to devour the rest of his books. Most of his books were made into films, most which did not do the books justice. But what A List! : The Terminal Man, Congo, Eaters of the Dead, Sphere, Rising Sun, Airframe, Timeline, the list goes on. Most of them had a science or medical premise, albeit a fantastical one, and they were always well researched. His imagination was incredible, and he wasn't scared of any subject. He wrote abouteverything from reverse sexual discrimination (Disclosure), to time travel (Timeline), to global warming (State of Fear), to nanotechnology (Prey) (especially creepy). I always looked forward to his next book. I will miss the new and frightening tales that he dreams up. If you're looking for an engrossing read, pick up one of one of his books.

Separating the wheat from the chaff (the chaff being me)

Sup peeps. I am resurrecting this blog once again. I have been posting a little on the Dibble family blog, but we mostly use that for updates about the kids and such (more like an online baby book). So it didn't seem like the place for my little rants and brilliant observations. :p So stay tuned and be sure to add it to your reader. In other words, standby for dibblazo!