Celebrity bumped

 Being retired and being at home a lot during covid times, I’ve been watching a great deal more TV news than in the past.  One of the things that I’ve appreciated is the shift away from so much focus on celebrity and the shift to the accomplishments of ordinary individuals, those I call “extraordinary ordinaries.”

The cult of celebrity in news, late night TV programming and social media leads us to believe that our models of behavior, success and enjoyment are through them. We don’t really question the nature of their accomplishments or why we are attracted to their lives and antics.

With covid affecting our lives, we now hear the heroic stories of first responders, medical professionals, service and charity workers. We could be them. Maybe we should be them. Effort, compassion, hard work and courage begin to bump celebrity as the stuff of news.

We look in the mirror of the accomplishments of “ordinary” folks, not in the mirror of celebrity.

Harry and Megan

 The upcoming Oprah interview with Harry and Megan is a prime example of what’s wrong with our media diet. How much money will this poor couple get from this interview to help maintain the royal lifestyle they don’t want? In a world of such inequality, poverty and brutality, why do we care about Megan complaining about her life difficulties? How could Harry--whose military accomplishments are admirable--get so sucked into the family squabbles? Is all this really any different from what happens in many contemporary families? Why 2 hours? Are we prepared for the empathy voices, the whining voices, the gossip voices and the fierce warrior voices.

The answers to these and other important questions will take up two hours of the lives of many of us. At the end, it will be one more feather in Oprah’s cap and one more experience of empty entertainment.

Viewer

 A viewer can fall in love at first sight with a work of art. But there’s no guarantee that this love will last.

The viewer owes the artist attention, an open mind  (and eye) and the willingness to be challenged.

The artist owes the viewer a work of art that challenges and doesn’t relent in asserting itself as art.

As a result of the engagement of viewer with art, the viewer finds things pulled out of themself they didn’t know were there and the artist finds their art has succeeded in its mission.

National Enquirer

 National Enquirer: Special Trump Family Edition

Headlines

Melania Promises Donald: If You Run Again in 2024, I’ll Go Back To Nude Modeling

Ivanka and Jared Agree To Mutual Sex Change Operations to Save Their Marriage

Rudy Says in Next Borat Movie He Will Go Full Monty

Don, Jr. and Eric Caught Wife Swapping, Say Why Not?

Donald Trump Says Ambulance Chasers Make Best Lawyers

Abortion

 This is just one man’s perspective, but it seems to me than any circumstance in which abortion is considered has to come with a nest of important questions about the health of the mother, the reliability and concern of the father, the moral compasses of mother and father, the psychological impact on both, the future of the child if taken to term, the nature of any support system and who knows what else I have forgotten.

There seems to be wiggle room in the law for tax dodgers, crooked CEOs, upper class white drug users and young white rapists. But abortion law, written mostly by white men, simply say, “Sorry, you can’t do this,” then puts roadblocks in the way, making any decisions that much harder.

I wish I were enough of a King Solomon to have an answer. But I don’t. The current system of laws doesn’t make sense to me for the mother, the father, the child or the society that often must deal with the consequences.

CPAC

 Now on sale at CPAC

Donald Trump Golden Idol Piggy Bank: start saving for 2024

Ted Cruz Talking Doll: talks and talks and says nothing, imported from Mexico

Q-tips: hints on how to channel the elusive Q in your life

Kevin McCarthy Puppet: your hand fits up his butt

Two-headed Mitch McConnell Doll: pull the string and he’ll have it both ways

Lindsay Graham Programmable Cupie Doll: make him say whatever you want

Proud Boys Toy Soldier Kit: plan your own assault on the Capitol

Dignity and freedom