Turning BiT, I think I'm turning BiT

[mrkelley23]

I really think so.

I was at the gym last night (yay, me!) and watching CNN. Actually, I was scanning four channels while listening to Steve Earle and Billy Joe Shaver music, but that's beside the point. CNN did a story about all the airports that "failed" their double-secret security check from the TSA.

OK, I thought. Legit news story. Shame on the airport security staffs, but again, they're expecting some of the lowest-paid workers in government jobs to do highly discriminating, difficult duty under poor conditions and lots of hostility from the public. (That's not the BiT part, in case you couldn't tell.)

Then they started talking, in great detail, about exactly what the covert tests entailed, including bullet points ON THE SCREEN (I wasn't listening, remember?) about the types of bomb materials they carried, how they were easily purchaseable at hardware stores, instructions for assembling are easily available on the internet, and were "capable of causing significant damage to an airplane."

I'm usually an apologist for the news media, but this infuriated me. I felt like yelling at the screen "OK, now even the stupid psycopaths can threaten all our safeties." Those bullet points added nothing to the newsworthiness of the story, added no human interest, and AFAICS, added nothing but fear-inducement.

In retrospect, I guess it's usually Flock making this kind of critique of the media, but his screen name didn't scan with The Vapours. So I'm leaving it.

I feel better now.

[CharlesFoxSingers]

I've got your picture
Of me and you
You wrote "I love you"
I love you too
I sit there staring and there's nothing else to do

Oh it's in color
Your hair is brown
Your eyes are hazel
And soft as clouds
I often kiss you when there's no one else around

I've got your picture, I've got your picture
I'd like a million of you over myself
I asked the doctor to take your picture
So I can look at you from inside as well
You've got me turning up and turning down and turning in and
turning 'round

I'm turning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese I really think
so
Turning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese I really think so
I'm turning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese I really think
so
Turning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese I really think so

I've got your picture, I've got your picture
I'd like a million of them over myself
I want the doctor to take your picture
So I can look at you from inside as well
You've got me turning up and turning down and turning in and
turning 'round

I'm turning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese I really think
so
Turning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese I really think so
I'm turning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese I really think
so
Turning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese I really think so

No sex, no drugs, no wine, no women
No fun, no sin, no you, no wonder it's dark
Everyone around me is a total stranger
Everyone avoids me like a cyclone ranger
Everyone

That's why I'm turning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese I
really think so
Turning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese I really think so
I'm turning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese I really think
so
Turning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese I really think so

Turning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese I really think so
Turning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese I really think so
Turning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese I really think so
(think so think so think so)
Turning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese I really think so

[gsabc]

Scare-mongering sells. The success of Fox News has engendered mimickry of their style. Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but in the case of broadcast news, it's the sincerest form of insult to the public regarding the broadcaster's opinion of the public's intelligence.

It's evidence that Mencken was right OTOH. Not only will you never go broke, you can become obscenely wealthy.

[earendel]

I really think so.

NTTAWWT