Booktender 2011: The January That Was

The New Year began with the usual revelry.  Other than that, I seem to be a nattering nabob of negativity today.

The State of the Union address sure brought out the nut-cases.  I mean, seriously, how does the "Tea Party" even merit any kind of media coverage of their response to the State of the Union address?  WTF?

And yet, there it was, in all its smug, self-righteous, insane, lying, glory.  All over the place.  Holy fan-tailed berry pecker.  In the first place, the "Tea Party" isn't even a political party.  In the second place, why did we not hear the response from the libertarians, green party, and communist party?  I say again, WTF?

And this is all carry-over from the 2008 elections?  Bull-crap. 

This a revenge fantasy created and perpetuated by pundits from media outlets that only care about ratings and fully intend to mislead, to induce fear, and spark anger that could lead to scary consequences. 

There is an agenda behind this.  Whose?  I don't know.  If I was completely wild in the mind, I'd suspect it was a group trying to overthrow the country.  Swear to goodness. 

So there.  I said it.  A conspiracy.  Never thought I'd believe in one. 

I don't think these nefarious evil-doers will succeed in the end.  Revenge is never a lasting solution to anything.  Attempting to break someone else's toys usually results in a heavy-duty time-out. 

How long before that time-out is anyone's guess.

While I see small glimmers of hope, the economy still sucks. 



Some, at this point would ramble on about the good old days.  Piffle.  While I do feel a tad paranoid, the good old days are never as good as we might remember them.   My mother reminded me the other night that she had to make-do with really, really cheap shoes during WWII.  Not good for the relentlessly growing child.

She spoke of how the country was willing to scrimp and sacrifice for the common good.  Cutting back on all but the necessities so true evil abroad could be annihilated.

And we both came to the same conclusion:  The country could do it again.  The only question is:  What media-worthy spark will inspire us to do the Right Thing? 

I'm thinking hard.  I'm just a lowly blogger out here talking to myself.  What we need is a Noticeable Counter-Media Event to create an urgent need for change.  No violence.  I mean it.  No violence.  Let us consider the early 60s television documentary Harvest of Shame.  What will it take to produce another such a call to arms?  

And which media outlet will have the courage to stand up and present such a piece?  What makes that difficult?

Meanwhile, back in the Good 'ol Days



And That's Just How This Old Crabby-Ass Was, January, 2011