My own personal complaint

My husband and I (well, mostly my husband) flip through station after station looking for something of interest. Two shows we had enjoyed, About a Boy and Battle Creek were both cancelled-another example of the networks not giving good shows a fighting chance. If you like reality tv I guess there's a lot to see. We don't, so largely if it's not on a premium channel or public tv, we're out of luck.   Yes, this is the second golden age of tv, but most of what is golden is not on the networks and we are already paying so much it's hard to justify paying more. Plus, we are not "cutting edge" viewers; more middle of the road types. So extremely violent or sexual content isn't for us and that does cut out a lot of shows that are considered well-done. Heavy sigh!

Post-e-me

I am so over the digital age. I'm tired to death of sound bites and name-calling. The internet has become what television became-a vast wasteland. Technology that held out so much hope is just a big disappointment. Not that there aren't worthwhile things online, just as there are on tv. But, percentage-wise, not as much as there ought to be. And as far as "social network" sites-you can have them. I'm a new-Luddite (or at least I aspire to be). I plan to write more letters, read even more books, take more walks, and spend much more time in the real world and less in the digital one. It's just more fun.

America's Energy Crisis

I am so frustrated right now. In the late '70's, when the US had the opportunity to break free of foreign oil, we completely blew the chance, paving the way to 9/11 and war in the mid-east. I just finished reading an article in the NY Times, comparing the current oil spill to Moby Dick. A very interesting story, great analogy. But at the end, the writer refers to the fact that this is the moment for us to move ahead with green energy initiatives, and then says "...but, do Americans really want to pay more for oil?" Or something like that. Well, of COURSE Americans would like to pay more for energy if it means green energy that won't destroy the environment, home-grown jobs that will give them the ability, once more, to live a middle-class life, and domestic production that will get our troops home from a win-less war. DUH!!! Just read the letters to the NY Daily News. I think News readers are probably pretty typical New Yorkers. Letter after letter saying what I just wrote-get us out of the oil business, out of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and stop purchasing our energy from foreign nations. Bring our initiatives to bear to fix the problem and move ahead on renewable, home-grown energy. I think Obama really missed the mark last night by not setting out a clear strategy for accomplishing that. We really can't afford this way of life any more. This is the moment. If we don't seize it, we probably deserve what we get.

Glee

And now I have a new guilty pleasure-Glee! It helps that I always loved musical theater. I think an entire generation-namely, my kids-missed musical theater. Too bad-it's an awful lot of fun. And apparently I'm NOT out of step on this one-can it be? Can I show I like a whole lot survive? Stay tuned (to Fox) to find out!

On second thought

Reading that last post, it did occur to me that it may just be the dearth of what I consider good programming that prevents me from watching more tv. After all, I watch the Lehrer News Hour when I have the time, and I pretty much never miss Masterpiece Mystery. So I find the time (usually) if it's something I am really interested in. I found the time for Pushing Daisies and Life on Mars. Putting you thoughts to paper (so to speak) can be very enlightening.

Me and Ali McGraw

I remember watching Ali McGraw being interviewed on some talk show when she had just been hired for Dallas (I think it was Dallas, it was one of those prime-time soaps). I have never forgotten her saying that she didn't watch TV, had never seen the show, and envied those who had time to watch tv, because she never seemed to. She went on to talk about her visit to China or some such far-away place, and I thought, yeah, sure, she's real jealous of all of us staying home watching our TV while she's traveling to far-off lands. But, as time went on and my life became busier, I began to see that perhaps she was not being disingenuous. And the other day I did a mental checklist of how much television I watch every week, and realized that it wasn't very much. Certainly not when compared to how much I watched when I was in my late teen and early twenties. At least I think I watched more then. And I certainly do wish I had more time-but to read books, not watch tv. There have been many letters to the NY Daily News from people complaining that since the switch to digital tv they do not get as many channels as they did prior to the switch. My response is, if they are still getting 7 channels, and can't find anything decent to watch, they probably should find something else to do. But that's just me. I think if I lived alone the tv would gather dust, in more ways than one. Whew-good thing nobody reads this blog.

The Annoyed Librarian Blog

I just came across this blog, and liked it so much I have to post it on my blog, even though nobody actually reads my blog. It's weird how the blogosphere works-you think you're writing for an audience, even if you don't actually have one.

I recently read Life, Inc., and am currently reading Cheap. These books are capable of completely depressing any American-actually, I suppose, with globalization, pretty much anyone. I've been feeling more and more lately that the financial deck is stacked against the average American, and these books don't help. Years ago, when credit cards became widely available, the conventional wisdom was that you bought today, instead of saving as people did before they had easy credit, and paid off with inflated dollars. You were being financially savvy. The problem was that in so many cases, people didn't pay the bill on the first go-round, so then they were paying interest on the loan. Instead of being smart, they were just saps. The de-regulation of the banking industry, the outsourcing of jobs-the list of contributing factors is just too long. In Cheap the author asserts that a retiring CEO of Walmart made more in his bi-weekly paycheck than his average employee made in their entire career working for Walmart. That is injustice on such a scale it makes my head want to explode. You can blame people for shopping at Walmart, but for many people that's the affordable place to shop. For myself, I am re-dedicated to attempting to shop locally and buy American. I know it can't be done all the time, but I am going to make a sincere effort. The results will, I hope, be fodder for future posts.

Lone wolf

Well, I realized the other night, during a conversation over the dinner table, that most of my swimming against the cultural tide has to do with television shows. It's not music, or plays, or even books, to a large extent, that has me at odds with most of the American population-it's just TV. Can I really sustain a blog on such a small platform? I don't think so.
So, farewell blogosphere. At least until I find myself really howling out there, alone, in the wilderness.

Memorial Day

I don't know if I am in the minority on this or not. I think on Memorial Day everyone should take some time to think about Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice in our country's name. And then I think people should go and do very American things-like barbeques. But, and I know this is curmudgeonly, I don't think people should go shopping on Memorial Day. There are many reasons, but ultimately, I guess I don't want to think that the best we can do to remember those who died in our country's wars is to go and spend money on, generally, things we don't need all that much. Ooh-too curmudgeonly, even for me.

American Idol

Ha, and you thought I wouldn't know about American Idol. But, see, I do. I am not, however, sure who won this time; I know it was between this and one other fellow, and I think the other guy won. But if I were picking, this would have been my choice.

Britain's Got Talent

I have to admit, I never GOT American Idol. I watched part of one episode, and the entire concept didn't appeal to me. I didn't want to see people who weren't really that talented getting up to try and being knocked down.
But when I saw Susan Boyle's performance on Britain's Got Talent, I got it. It was like seeing a five minute version of Rocky. I still remember walking out of the movie theater when I saw Rocky, the sense of euphoria. Seeing Ms. Boyle triumph was like that-only better, because it was not a Hollywood film, it was a real person. Great stuff.

Bo, and other dogs

I actually don't feel out of the mainstream so much on this issue, yet I haven't heard anyone worry out loud about what the Obama's choice of a purebred dog is likely to do to the breed. Portuguese Water Dogs have not been a particularly popular breed-up to now; in 2008 they were ranked #62 in popularity, as determined by AKC registrations. This is up from #82 in 1998. The problem is that there is no doubt that puppy mills are already devoting more cages to Portuguese Water Dogs as I blog. I totally sympathize with the Obama's need to get a dog that they knew would be unlikely to provoke their daughter's allergies. It's just too bad that there is currently no legislation to protect the dogs who will now be relegated to producing litter after litter of puppies to sell to people who do not know enough to go to a reputable breeder or a shelter for their pet.
Sorry to be such a bummer. I'm happy for the girls-I'm just impatient to get legislation passed that will end puppy mills.

Life on Mars

Will there ever be an end to the cancellation of TV shows I like? I'm really not that picky. I admit, I never saw a single episode of ER or Dallas, but I saw more than my fair share of silly sitcoms and ho-hum dramas. But why, oh why, do the big three networks put in the time and energy and cash to produce a worth-while show, and then cancel it before it has even had a full year to build an audience?
My son says I should be happy; Pushing Daisies and Life on Mars vand Sports Night will never jump the shark. I take comfort in that.

Corn & Molasses Bread

Just a quick thought today-one of my favorite things 20 years ago, when I lived near the Pepperidge Farm headquarters, where one of my best friends worked, was their Corn and Molasses Bread. I have never had anything like it-especially toasted, it was heavenly. As per usual, I was out of the mainstream, and apparently not enough people found it to be the ambrosia I did. It was discontinued, and forever mourned by me. Seems a silly thing to blog about, but it really was a very tasty bread.

Maureen the seer

A friend (you know who you are) sent me an article about a Harris poll on AOL about 10 books to read before you die. Now, of course, any such list is going to generate controvery. But The DaVinci Code? Come on! Of course, this from the woman who thought Cyndi Lauper's first album was the best thing she'd heard in ages, and Madonna's was pop pap, and she would rapidly fade from the scene! Oh, yeah, and I even remember watching promotional commercials for Charlie's Angels and predicting that the show wouldn't last past the first season. Yep, that's right, I have my finger on the pulse!

Oscar Night

This Sunday night much of America, so we are told, will be watching the Oscars. Not suprisingly, I will not. Oh, I might watch the "red carpet" coverage-just to see the clothes. But not the awards show itself (and, truth to tell, every year I say I'm going to watch the red carpet stuff, and I never do). Why not watch? Well, let's see. I used to watch the Oscars religiously. I was an avid movie-goer, and usually had seen every film nominated. Then, in 1969 I think it was, John Wayne as Rooster Cogburn in True Grit beat Dustin Hoffman as Ratso Rizzo in Midnight Cowboy. I was incensed, and I boycotted the show for years. As I matured I mellowed on the topic-Wayne was terrific in the role, and it was payback from Hollywood for all the moolah he'd raked in over the years. Hoffman had a great career ahead of him (though few roles as juicy), and I started to watch again.
But at some point, the over-the-top self congratulatory tone just began to annoy me so much that I couldn't do it anymore. I really can't pinpoint the moment. I know it has something to do with the acceptance speeches. The last good one was Louise Fletcher's for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Otherwise, even accepting that they are excited, you have to admit that it highlights how very badly these people need scripts! And I've never understood why people found it necessary to ridicule Sally Field after her speech when she won for Places in the Heart. That really seemed to be from the heart (pardon the repetition), and she was mocked for it. I'll never understand that-though I'm sure Jon Steward would.

Pushing Daisies

I find that it is often in the area of TV viewing that I am out-of-synch with the general public. Sometimes I have a lot of company, sometimes very little. My latest issue is the proposed cancellation of Pushing Daisies. The last time I like a show this much was Sports Night, and that didn't have a very long shelf life (fodder for another post). So here we are, in 2008, and there are very, very few shows that stand out, that have a different sensibility. So of course, ABC wants to cancel it. Do they listen to the rather forceful outcry from the show's fans? They do not. Once again, the vast wasteland extends it's dry border. Alas.

The Tammy Syndrome

I decided to start a blog because I realized that my personal tastes have, for much of my life, been just a little bit out of whack with the majority of the population. I had noticed this more and more often in recent years, but it was just the other day that I realized this problem began was I was merely 12 or so years old. Barbie was new; so was Tammy. Did I ask for Barbie for Christmas? No, I didn't want a doll that looked so, well, plastic. I wanted Tammy-a wholesome, friendly-looking teenager, who was quite a bit more anatomically realistic. So, I got Tammy for Christmas (the only time I remember successfully finding my Christmas present before-time), and I loved her. In time, I outgrew dolls, and my school had a drive to collect "gently-used" toys for less fortunate children for Christmas. I packed up my Tammy and her adorable outfits in a box, and sent her and her fluffy dog off to make some other little girl as happy as she had made me.

Here's the thing-as an adult I always seem to be out of the mainstream. And that is what I plan to blog about. Please feel free to comment and let me know when you, too, feel that the world is out of synch with you.

I admit, I am hopeful that the world may be turning my way, thanks to the recent election. Time will tell.