the point of "news"

So I was watching the morning TV "news" shows, and all over it was the newly released video of Michael Jackson's Pepsi commercial - you know the one where his hair caught on fire?

Why were we watching that? What was the point of it? What were we supposed to glean/learn/understand from watching him burn for 10 seconds *complete with a count down clock!!!*?? Yes, this might have been his undoing, by starting him on the road to addiction to pain killers. Must stop drinking Pepsi (oh wait, I don't drink soda) as it is all their fault! NOT.

It was pure sensationalism. Putting on the TV the video simply so we could watch him burn. It was disgusting.

So I leave and go to work. I tried to get on twitter and it was down, and so was another message board I frequent, and I wondered if something happened while I drove into work. So I went to MSNBC.com to see what was on the news. There was nothing worth Twitter going down, so I scanned the rest of the headlines. There on the front page was a horrific story about animal abuse by a teen (and no not the one in FL). I won't even repost it because it was so horrific to me that I simply wanted to vomit. I had to go interrupt a co worker and try to get my mind off it. Fortunately someone walked by outside with a puppy, and that was able to settle me a little.

But seriously, what is the point of posting that? I understand the one in FL, as it is a warning to other residence that this is occurring. But this teen was already convicted of the crime when they posted the article. If perchance this teen got an unconventional sentence, I could see that, but it was pretty ordinary - save for the horrific ending of the poor kitty.

I am really starting to hate "news" programs. If they had actual news, stuff that matters to life, that is one thing, but pure sensationalism belongs on infotainment shows..

I guess I have to realize that morning news programs and MSNBC are infotainment.

(kinda impressed that blogger can spell infotainment - since I can't)

Michael Jackson

I know it has been two weeks since MJ died. Oddly so many weird thoughts and emotions have visited me since then. I wanted to say something but didn't know what.

I'm currently at work watching the memorial. The stream is choppy and cuts out a lot. and that is ok.

MJ was one of my first ... what.. Idol? no. hero? no.. but he was one of the first people outside of my immediate world to matter to me. Sadly my mother thought that was just amusing and made fun of me to no end for liking him.

I remember taking his tape to sleep away camp, and listening on my walkman to fall asleep.

as someone who was "odd" with in her own world, I can understand MJ a little bit more than those who weren't. I'm not saying I understand him, nor the choices he made. But I do understand wanting to make them.

What I don't get are his brothers at this memorial. What on earth is with those fake gloves?? how pathetic. Couldn't they invest in real ones? I do like the matching outfits though :)

so MJ.. I pray for peace for you. May you be enjoying God's blessings and have moved beyond all the hurt this world gave you. Thank you for the memories and the good you did despite your naysayers.