Sometimes there is so much going on that it's hard to keep up. Instead of writing lengthy posts about each of these issues, I'll just offer a quick overview of my thoughts:
The Fort Hood Shootings: This actually came as a bit of a shock for me. Back in my college days, we travelled fairly regularly to Killeen, it was less than an hour away from campus. Someone was always dating someone on post, that guy always had friends and those friends always bought beer and wine for pretty college girls. No brainer. So a place that I remembered with fondness has turned into a killing field. Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, a psychiatrist specializing in traumatic stress (let's pause a moment for that one), is responsible for the worst mass killing on a U.S. military base. Beyond the shock of the story, what really disturbed me was how quickly some people (read right wing) wanted to tie this to some super-cell Jordanian Al Qaeda plot before we knew fact one. Based on a man's name, the conspiracy theorists went wild. I watched with no little dismay as a correspondent tried to tie this tragedy to Obama's Afghan policy. As the days and weeks unfold, I'm sure we'll hear more than we want or need to about what really happened. In the meantime, it would be nice if reporters could keep their opinions to themselves. I know… wishful thinking.
Rihanna breaks her silence: I watched highlights of Rihanna's GMA (and 20/20) interview today and for the first time I thought more of Rihanna than why doesn't she like to wear pants? I don't know whether I necessarily believe all that she said or agree with the way the entire "issue" was handled but one thing came very clear to me… this is a 21-year old girl whose life is on display for all to see. Seriously, I was a grounded, sensible 21 yet I wouldn't have wanted to see my exploits splashed across the pages of People Magazine. I wouldn't have wanted to sit down with the news anchor of the day and talk about love. How many of us knew da-da about love and what was right for us at 21? I could write my memoirs today and pick and choose which choice, savory tidbits to share. I actually feel badly that because of her chosen profession, every story ever written about her from now on will include the idiot she dated at 21. Can you imagine being 45 still answering questions about the loser you went out with 24 years ago? The thought gave me a whole new perspective. Here's a clip of her interview:
The remaining Jacksons (sort of) go the reality route: Sooo… the Jackson Brothers (minus Randy) are kicking off a reality show on A&E. As the kids say: this makes me feel some kinda way. On the one hand, I don't begrudge them their hustle. On the other hand, are they profiting from the death of their far more famous and talented brother? Would any of us have cared to see a Jacksons reality show without Michael or Janet in it? Or would we have watched week after week hoping for a MJ cameo? And now that there is no chance that MJ will be any guest appearances, what's the likelihood that this stays on the air? Or maybe the residual interest in all things Michael will carry them for a while. I don't know, is it just me or does it seem a little ghoulish to reinvigorate your career at the grave of your sibling? It just seems like though the entire family was talented, Michael carried them all while he was alive. Does he have to do it in death too? Let a brother rest in peace.
The floor is yours. Thoughts? Comments? Criticisms? All welcome…
26 comments:
Amen...we are of very similar mind. Television news is an oxymoron.
Reading over the comments. So ya'll got the Pant-Less Wonder and the Bow-Tie Boy Wonder - can I say hot mess?
You can say hot mess. My readers are special... sorry, I mean "wonder"ful
Excellent questions
Seriously, if you see C-Breezy in the jumpsuit picking up trash, you must twit-pic me immediately.
Slight side=eye for Rebbie. Can you say One Hit Wonder?
Truth, great analogy and truth.
Cable TV no longer fits in my budget so I heard about the Ft. Hood shooting from a NYT news alert sent to my email account. I find it easier to deal with the news by reading it on various news pages. It removes most of the hysteria and the minutes filled with endless speculations after the facts have run out. My thought after every one of these mass shooting events is how is it that nobody saw it coming?
Last weekend was a 'chick flick' weekend because I wasn't feeling well and instead of inflicting my crabbiness on others, I told myself to shut up and watch movies. One of the movies was 'Notting Hill.' If you've seen it, you might remember the line where Julia Robert's character says something about every time she gets her heart broken, it gets splashed all over the news. I don't pay any attention to celebrity news, but I do feel sorry for people when their person lives are involuntarily put on public display.
When it comes to being 21, young and inexperienced in life I can testify (even though it was only 5 years ago). I wish I wouldn't have done half of the things I did from ages 17-23, somewhere around 23 life begin to makes sense and I realized that I didn't know all that I thought I did. I would hate for my life to be broadcast nationwide or worldwide at any time, I feel empathatic to many celebs, they don't get the chance to be 'human', their mistakes are magnified and the world personal seems not to exist. I feel sorry for Rihanna, another young star tarnished by the constant click of Hollywoods lights and judgement.
I am on a self-imposed ban from television news. I get almost everything from the net and twitter and then form my own opinion from there.
I was so hoping you were joking about the Jackson show until I clicked the link. Wow, Tito hasn't changed and that's not good.
It might be me but all the little starlet/singers look alike to me - Rihanna Ciara Keri and dem, I get them confused. Where's the next great girl singer?
A friend of mine is at Fort Hood and thankfully is not one of the wounded/killed but said the atmosphere there is extremely (understandably) tense.
I'm sorry but Michael was the best and the brightest that the Jacksons had. Without him, it falls to Janet. Everyone else needs to GO. SIT. DOWN.
I'm leaving the Ft Hood thing alone until I get the facts. Having politicians comment on the event was reckless journalism. I lived in Abilene TX for a minute but I'm no authority on mass shootings. Leave the journalism to the professionals...matter of fact just let the bloggers do it.
Chris Brown is from my home state and I thought for sure he was on Interstate 64 picking up trash as part of his sentence. I guess all is forgiven and everyone will rush out and buy his album now. I would feel alot better if he acted like he understood the cause and effect of his actions. No remorse what so ever.
Michael, Janet and Rebbie Jackson (come on give Rebbie credit for Centipede) carried the Jackson Family. Why would you watch the rest of them on t.v.? Where is Randy anyway?? As Snoop Dog famously said "$&*%^, You without me is like Harold Melvin without the Blue Notes, You'll never go platinum." This is a family blog so we cover up the bad words.... : )
OMG - I thought it was just me. All the new little boy crooners are blurring together too, I started calling them Omarian Holiday and J. Songz - LOL!
I blame the media for all three of these. Too many reporters with too many microphones and too much time to fill equals all sorts of unsubstantiated speculation on the Ft Hood thing.
If the media wasn't all about the over-hype sensationalism I wouldn't know what went on in celebs life, and I'd be okay with that.
Damn A&E for selling out on their programming. They went from an interesting station with an array of cultural programs to what they are today. Because it's the Jackosns, people will watch but because there's no Michael, it will not last long. Go sit down with Hammer... please.
Rihanna's youth really shows in her interview. Let's hope both of them can pick up and move forward from here.
Ya'll sleeping on Rebbie!
Wow - I did not think of the Rihanna thing that way, I guess I forgot that she is so young. What a mess.
I too am waiting to see how the Ft Hood investigation pans out. Reckless journalism is right.
BOO to the Jacksons. No MJ, No Care.
Why are we required to care about 20 and 19 year old pop sensations' sex lives? I do not.
Why can't the Fort Hood guy be crazy all on his own?
Why won't the Jacksons leave good enough alone?
I thought the media was quick to jump on the conspiracy bandwagon, just irresponsible without all the facts being in.
Well now I feel back for Rihanna too. Because God knows I don't want to talk about my behavior from the whole first half of my twenties.
The Jacksons need to quit.
We'll just see about the Fort Hood guy, something about the whole situation seems off.
LOL at Rebbie. If that's the case, you giving LaToya love too? Co-sign that I need to see more shame out of the Bow-Tie Boy Wonder. Withholding thought on Fort Hood until more information becomes available.
I'm just saying no to crazy PTSD specialists who go off the deep end, Jacksons who aren't Michael or Janet and child singers with bad taste in men
BWAHAHA! All I can say to that is... cosign!
I'm not mad at the pant-less wonder, Rihanna is a cute girl but young, young, young. I don't want to held accountable for things I did last summer let alone 10 (ish) years ago. Jacksons without MJ are like Bulls with Jordan - no one cares. Ft Hood dude is a complete embarrassment to our military.
I can only shake my head at all of these.
I am amazed at the number of people making judgment calls on the shooter without knowing his story. Likewise with Rih-Rih. As you said, who of us wants to be judged by our thoughts words and deeds from 21. That Jacksons show is a bad call all the way around
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