I've finally done it. 

I'm starting to post on the Blogger site.  I still have some work to do on the new page, but it looks good to go.

Here's the link: http://dclies.blogspot.com/

I'm going to keep this page for archival purposes, but don't expect much new material here.

I live in a wold of news.  I wake up and turn on MSNBC, I go to work where the TV in my office is set to CNN, I spend most of my day reading various news sites to figure upcoming trends for work, I get home and inevitably turn on MSNBC while I'm doing other things around the house. 

 

I've realized something: News is dead.  I'm bombarded with fluff for 85% of my day; real news isn't "sexy" and the media outlets have sold their souls to the ratings god.  The perfect example occurred this afternoon; CNN interrupted a live report on the escalating protests in Palestine to let us know that the West Virginia mine collapse survivor was responding to stimuli.  They followed that with a story about an accident on the "All My Children" set, and then a clip from the Oprah show.  Fuck that.  What's wrong with these people?

 

Even when they attempt to tackle an important issue they usually throw in two idiots to scream at one another, rather than delve into a substantive discussion.  This shit belongs to Jerry Springer, not news.  Intelligent debate and nuanced analysis are dead.

 

I would like to propose two new networks:

A) A 24 hour network that devotes a mandatory 20 minutes + to each topic.  This way, we might get an intelligent discussion on the topic at hand.  No one would watch this you say; well you're wrong.  I've got more ideas: All guests would have electrodes hooked up to their genitals.  If someone started to interrupt - ZAP.  If someone raised their voice to drown out the moderator - ZAP ZAP.  If someone misrepresented the facts in order to bolster their point - ZAP ZAP ZAP <sizzle>.  If they just stuck to manufactured talking points, and loudly decreed any opposing viewpoint without merit - the moderator would be required to pull out a .45 revolver and shoot them in their fucking teeth.  I know I'd watch.

B) For the masses: I propose WNN - the White Noise Network.  The news equivalent of white noise.  Get rid of all those pesky facts and just show a visual barrage of explosions, water-skiing squirrels, apartment fires, celebrity mug shots, cute kittens stuck in trees, tsunami video, riots, Oprah, movie stars, serial killers, movie stars playing serial killers, etc.  Just throw a nu-metal guitar riff in the background and you're good to go.  Ratings gold.

 

I'm sick of this vapid infotainment that we're accepting as fact - I'm mad as hell and I won't take it anymore... If only we had a news channel as reliable and unbiased as the one from "Network" - I can dream.

 

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I thought it was impossible, but somehow MSN Spaces is sucking even harder now after their (up?)grade.  I'm sure there are typos galore in the preceding entry - the cursor kept jumping around. 

 

Oh, and if you like corn, dig this (from MSN's new help bar):

You don't have to be a novelist to keep a Space. Just add your holiday photos. Show off your friends on a friends list. Or your favorite music. There are so many ways to tell your story.

Your friends can always have your latest contact details. Simply create a active contact profile and tell your friends to add you to their list.

Show some love by leaving comments on other peoples Spaces. Tell people what you think about their blogs or Spaces. But be nice.

Download the MSN Toolbar and you can get to your Space or post an entry in one click form any website.

 

 

Yesterday was the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision and the Flanders types were out in force here in DC.  It just so happened that yesterday was the day that I had out-of-office meetings all day, thus necessitating heavy use of public transit.  Man, the god-crowd was EVERYWHERE.  The subway was crowded with fanatics holding placards and singing "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" - endlessly.

 

At first I thought that I'd traveled back in time, somehow, everyone was dressed like they just got back from a Chess King fire sale.  Then I figured that it was either "Nebraska tourist day", or that it was a flash mob of hipsters trying to dress ironically.  Then I saw the poster of the aborted fetus - oh shit; Christians.

 

After a full day of being crammed into confined spaces with these people I realized two things:

1) Christians are born (reborn?) without a sense of balance - every time the train slowed down or stopped they would tumble (into me) like flabby dominoes.  They probably just don't believe in Newton's three laws of motion - too "sciencey".

2) All pro-lifers smell like tomato-soup and farts... huh, go figure.

 

Well, that was my Monday.  I have to mark this date on my calendar so that  I'll remember to bring a Taser and a can of Glade with me to work on January 23rd, 2007.

 

Achtung Campers;

 

I realize that there hasn't been much activity up here as of late, but this last week has been a huge bite in the ass.

 

Within the last 7 days:

 

- I found out (from my accountant) that a mistake that an (ex)employer made in reporting my 2003 taxes is non-disputable, and will end up costing me $11,000.00.

 

- Several news organizations are planning pieces involving me - This happens every year or so.  With the Abramoff scandal, this was inevitable.  I don't have anything to hide, but expect to be smeared thoroughly and harangued endlessly (at work AND at home) for the next month or so.  The thing that really hurts is that due to the confidentially waiver with my firm and our clients, I can't even defend myself.  I just have to lay there and take it (like a British wife).

 

- I've been dealing with the mother of all head-colds.  I can't smell, taste, or hear anything - and have been told that I sound just like Rita Cosby.

 

- And worse of all; both the Bears and the Skins were eliminated from the playoffs last weekend.  Fuck.

 

Oddly enough, there's a certain euphoria in knowing that you're thoroughly boned. 

This tax thing has been driving me insane over the last three years - knowing that it's over, and that there's nothing I can do about it, is strangely comforting. 

Let the news outlets say what they want about me - I know that I've done nothing wrong, but they won't let the truth get in the way of a good story.  I've been overly-cautious in my dealings (and have passed up the big money in doing so), but by playing by the rules I'm whistle-clean.

Maybe it's just the industrial-strength cold medicine I'm on, but I just don't care... except for the football thing. <sigh>

 

I'm thinking about hibernating for the next month or so - sounds like a fine plan to me.  Keep an eye out here for the random post, but don't expect daily updates - I'm gonna be on the D&L for awhile.  And remember, don't take summons from strangers.

 

 

 

Yeah! - There's a slew 'o' new photos on the Drinky Joe website.  Plus, I just finished categorizing the site by batch, and threw in a few "classic" Joe shots (look for the pic of me filling in for Joe one evening).

 

For those of you not in the know; the Drinky Joe saga is kinda like "Leaving Las Vegas", except it plays out entirely on my couch, there's no love interest, and it's a comedy.  Enjoy.