Another Day at the Coliseum Author: BobRDate:2011-06-17 10:11:00
It's been said that we get the government we deserve. Perhaps that's true as well for the pathetic excuse that is our media. The anal-retentive single-focus ADD OMG-we-have-24-hrs-to-fill cable news channels are feeding their customers what they want. Any number of important stories have been ignored this week in favor of the purient adolescent giggling over Anthony Weiner. It was a perfect storm of a firebrand politician with an unfortunate name and some icky pictures.
One would think that nothing of import occurred this past week. One would think that these scandals have never occurred before. David Vitter? John Ensign? Larry Craig? Where they driven to resignation within a week of their respective stories breaking? David Vitter actually got promoted to Senator. Where's the balance?
Think about how these scandals played out. Larry Craig was arrested for soliciting gay sex in an airport bathroom stall. We know this because we can read the police report. We know John Ensign bribed his married lover's family, because we've read the reports, and we've seen the cancelled checks. We know David Vitter paid hookers while wearing a diaper. We know this because we've read the testimony.
Anthony Weiner? We didn't need to read about it because a picture is worth a thousand words - and that made all the difference.
In our smartphone, flatscreen, 3-D glasses-wearing world, we are driven by the visual. We may believe what we read, but it's the visceral visual impact of a photo that really makes it real for us. Imagine that Mr. Weiner's text messages were made public, that his emails were revealed, but there were no photos. Would the controversy have been as severe? I say no.
Imagine, now, there were photos of David Vitter wearing a diaper with a hooker, a photo of John Ensign naked in bed with his aide, a photo of Larry Craig with the back of a man's head in his lap... Would any of this change what they did? No - all it would change is the perception of what they did. That's exactly what it did for former Congressman Weiner. It changed a minor scandal about text messages into literal porn. What he did was far less aggregious than the transgressions of the Republican lawmakers previously named. The extremely personal photos, however - that fed the ravenous maw of vouyerism in a public jaded by technology.
The messages, but especially the photos - they were all tailor-made for a lazy media. Rather than have to read and describe and report, they only had to show the photo and make snickering jokes. This is what we get instead of in-depth investigations into important issues that matter. They know what makes us tune in, and feed it to us whether it's good for us or not. It's getting to the point where the only difference between "news" and the tabloids is the paper.
I am fairly disgusted at this point. I'm disgusted with a Democratic party more interested in appearances than in protecting one of their most driven members, disgusted with a media that seems to be able to only focus on one story at a time (the more salacious the better), and in a viewing public that eats it all up like it's Saturday night WWF. It's schadenfreud disguised as Important News.
This is how great empires die. The masses are distracted with bread and circuses while the powerful clean out the vaults and steal away in the night. I hope it was all worth it.
good morning! Excellent point, this morning, Bobber.
A friend was wondering if the recipients of the sexting have resigned from Thier jobs, yet.
In other news, Traffic sucks this morning. I love living here, it seems more people are pissed about the commute than what is happening at the pentagon. I know I shouldn't laugh, but it is kinda funny.
Comment byRaine on 06/17/2011 13:09:04
Quote by wickedpam: Morning
Hey MAla. how was the drive in for you today?
Comment bywickedpam on 06/17/2011 13:13:12
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam: Morning
Hey MAla. how was the drive in for you today?
pretty empty on the road - got in early enough to stop and get breakfast
Comment byTriSec on 06/17/2011 13:20:05
Greetings, comrades!
Traffic? Don't drive in Boston tomorrow. Red Sox, Bruins, and bridges, oh my!
Comment byRaine on 06/17/2011 13:28:33
too early to tell with full confidence, but it appears as tho this could have been much worse this morning. THANK YOU national PArk police for doing a great job.
Comment bywickedpam on 06/17/2011 13:40:07
Quote by Raine: too early to tell with full confidence, but it appears as tho this could have been much worse this morning. THANK YOU national PArk police for doing a great job.
where are you at?
Comment byTriSec on 06/17/2011 13:49:46
hrm? What's happening down there today?
Comment byBobR on 06/17/2011 14:07:49
Quote by TriSec: hrm? What's happening down there today?
Damnit.. I told my guy to deliver that to MY HOUSE, not the WHITE HOUSE..
Comment byWill in Chicago on 06/17/2011 15:03:37
Good morning, bloggers!!
BobR, I fear that we are being distracted with bread and circuses while our economy and infrastructure crumble and our rights diminish. Perhaps the solution is for us to be vigilant and support serious people to do the public's business on all levels of government.
No summer school subbing today, so I will run some errands and do some job hunting. I have some good news in that my grandniece is home from the hospital. They could not figure out why her blood sugar was all over the map, but she will get more feeding through her stomach tube. (Maybe she is not digesting everything fully.)
Quote by Raine: I can't wait to see Scoop and Mala tomorrow!!
It's not too late for the rest you 4F'rs...
Me too
Comment byclintster on 06/17/2011 16:23:24
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine: I can't wait to see Scoop and Mala tomorrow!!
It's not too late for the rest you 4F'rs...
Me too
Wish I could be there, but we kinda used up our headin' North trip last weekend. BTW, did you get my voicemail, Raine?
Comment byRaine on 06/17/2011 16:34:57
Quote by clintster:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine: I can't wait to see Scoop and Mala tomorrow!!
It's not too late for the rest you 4F'rs...
Me too
Wish I could be there, but we kinda used up our headin' North trip last weekend. BTW, did you get my voicemail, Raine?
I did Clint, I haven't had a chance to call you back. Hopefully we can talk after this weekend. Maybe a little Skype time??
I'm sorry we weren't able to make it up to see you guys.
How was Philly?
Comment byTriSec on 06/17/2011 16:37:36
Bah, I'm on the pond tomorrow.
(BTW, you might want to check out the walk-on adventures down at Tyson's corner. Fun things to do, and not much money.)
Comment byclintster on 06/17/2011 16:41:28
Quote by Raine:
Quote by clintster:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine: I can't wait to see Scoop and Mala tomorrow!!
It's not too late for the rest you 4F'rs...
Me too
Wish I could be there, but we kinda used up our headin' North trip last weekend. BTW, did you get my voicemail, Raine?
I did Clint, I haven't had a chance to call you back. Hopefully we can talk after this weekend. Maybe a little Skype time??
I'm sorry we weren't able to make it up to see you guys.
How was Philly?
It was good. I've decided that if we ever move INTO a city instead around one, I could think of worse cities to move to than Philadelphia. Beautiful city, nice greenspaces, and the people are mostly friendly.
Independence Hall was under renovation, and I didn't get time to run the Rocky Steps like I had hoped to, but the buddy and I did go to the Franklin Institute, stand under William Penn's feet, see the Liberty Bell, and view the Polish-American Museum. I should mention that there was cheesesteak to be had and I had it!
Anyhoo, that was my Philly trip. I'll see if I can post some pics on here this weekend. I put a few on Facecrack, but I'll try to put up some others as well.
Comment bywickedpam on 06/17/2011 16:49:37
Quote by TriSec: Bah, I'm on the pond tomorrow.
(BTW, you might want to check out the walk-on adventures down at Tyson's corner. Fun things to do, and not much money.)
adventures at Tyson's Corner? Live Action Frogger?
Comment bywickedpam on 06/17/2011 16:52:24
I remember the Franklin Institute That place was fun.
Don't know if its still there but any chance you saw an old Wanamaker's department store? Every Christmas they used to do a a light show I think at an indoor court. It was very cutting edge for the 70's
Comment bylivingonli on 06/17/2011 17:02:36
Good day everyone. Another morning I just slept through. Too bad I can't come down to DC this weekend but I have bills to pay but at least I have a car again.
Comment bywickedpam on 06/17/2011 17:04:48
Quote by livingonli: Good day everyone. Another morning I just slept through. Too bad I can't come down to DC this weekend but I have bills to pay but at least I have a car again.
yay car, boo bills
Maybe another weekend, you just never know
Comment byRaine on 06/17/2011 17:16:37
I love philadelphia-- Such a beautiful city.
Comment byBobR on 06/17/2011 17:21:28
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by TriSec: Bah, I'm on the pond tomorrow.
(BTW, you might want to check out the walk-on adventures down at Tyson's corner. Fun things to do, and not much money.)
adventures at Tyson's Corner? Live Action Frogger?
Comment byBobR on 06/17/2011 17:21:51
Quote by livingonli: Good day everyone. Another morning I just slept through. Too bad I can't come down to DC this weekend but I have bills to pay but at least I have a car again.
One step at a time.
Comment byBobR on 06/17/2011 17:22:20
Quote by wickedpam: I remember the Franklin Institute That place was fun.
Don't know if its still there but any chance you saw an old Wanamaker's department store? Every Christmas they used to do a a light show I think at an indoor court. It was very cutting edge for the 70's
Pink Floyd?
Comment byclintster on 06/17/2011 17:39:55
Quote by wickedpam: I remember the Franklin Institute That place was fun.
Don't know if its still there but any chance you saw an old Wanamaker's department store? Every Christmas they used to do a a light show I think at an indoor court. It was very cutting edge for the 70's
Didn't see Wanamaker's, but next time I am there, I will look. :)
Comment byTriSec on 06/17/2011 17:42:58
All the times I've been up and down the East Coast, I've been through Philadelphia exactly once. Didn't stop. I-95 goes there, but it's not the way back to Boston.
I'd like to get to Baltimore sometime.
Comment bywickedpam on 06/17/2011 17:43:13
Quote by BobR:
Quote by wickedpam: I remember the Franklin Institute That place was fun.
Don't know if its still there but any chance you saw an old Wanamaker's department store? Every Christmas they used to do a a light show I think at an indoor court. It was very cutting edge for the 70's
Pink Floyd?
Christmas music - Nutcracker Suite I think - I remember toy soliders and all.
Comment byTriSec on 06/17/2011 17:43:30
Franklin Institute has some aviation stuff in there, if I recall my museums correctly.
Comment bywickedpam on 06/17/2011 17:43:51
Quote by clintster:
Quote by wickedpam: I remember the Franklin Institute That place was fun.
Don't know if its still there but any chance you saw an old Wanamaker's department store? Every Christmas they used to do a a light show I think at an indoor court. It was very cutting edge for the 70's
Didn't see Wanamaker's, but next time I am there, I will look. :)
cool
Comment byTriSec on 06/17/2011 17:44:29
Quote by wickedpam:
adventures at Tyson's Corner? Live Action Frogger?
In other news, I REALLY appreciate that our Arlington/Iwo Jima/Pentagon incident didn't turn into the news cycle of the day.
I still have a deep feeling that it was quite malicious, but I really like that it was just another news day. (I hope that makes sense)
Comment byTriSec on 06/17/2011 20:06:19
Well, It's official. I have updated my lifelist of B-17s to reflect the loss of 44-85734, "Liberty Belle". I did indeed shed a wee tear; there are now just 13 airworthy examples left.
But....like the B-17s of yore, the Belle brought everyone home alive.
A 22-year-old man police detained in connection with a scare at the Pentagon Friday morning is a member of the military and was arrested last month for a rash of vehicle tamperings in Leesburg, WTOP has learned.
Fort Myer Police first found Yonathan Melaku, of Alexandria, Va., in Arlington National Cemetery when the facility was closed early Friday morning. He briefly fled police before being detained near the Pentagon.
Melaku claimed he had ammonium nitrate with him in his backpack and that he had left material at the Pentagon, sources tell WTOP. Ammonium nitrate is a chemical compound that is widely used in fertilizers and can be used in explosives with the correct concentration.
Police also found spent shell casings and a notebook containing the words "al Qaeda" and "Taliban rules," CBS reports.
Officials say the material in the backpack was not ammonium nitrate but there were "inert" suspicious items and products in the bag. The FBI says the backpack materials will be tested further at the FBI laboratory in Quantico,