Tuesday, May 30, 2006

News Flash ... ?

The holiday has put me behind and my creative well is still dry ... So for today I'm sharing just a wry observation. Enjoy and feel free to discuss!

This Sunday, my pastor was saying how he’d signed up for a news paging service, and had set the alert level on only the most important, extreme, pressing news issues. A level he’d expect to be reserved for war news, assassinations, major disasters, things of that nature. True items of national and international concern. He said that he had not received an alert in months, until the previous evening. He checked the alert with great interest, only to be informed that Angelina Jolie had given birth to Brad Pitt’s baby in Africa.

A subordinate point to his sermon … but seriously, this observation of irony is a great one. I'm not opposed to pop culture diversion, but - Let's examine the context. Is this really a Red Alert situation? Is this really earth shattering, culture changing news? Is this the height of our concern as a mass conscience? I mean, yay for them, that’s wonderful – But who really cares? This affects me and my life … how?

I'm beginning to realize why I've stopped watching the news lately.

Speaking of diversions, check out my new Miscellany link, Stuff on My Cat. You'll have to scroll down - I'm too lazy busy to link it. You'll be sure to get a grin from it. :)

22 comments:

Nelly said...

OMG! That is so funny! I'm sure he really needed to know that! Sheesh! Who the frick cares!!!

Alli's Mom said...

I had the same "Red Alert" from CNN in my inbox. I didn't think that Brangelina's baby was such earth shattering news. At least now maybe we can all move on....

As far as the lake I went to, it's Lake Martin in East Alabama. I love it! It is HUGE! We had a blast and I'm getting around to a post. I took some pictures but left the dang camera at home today....which I think is Tuesday, but my mind keeps saying Monday Monday Monday! We're heading back this weekend, with some friends and minus the ladybug!

We were meant to be friends!

Happy TUESDAY!

Michelle said...

Yeah that is a little ridiculous isn't it. It also indicates that nothing as important as Brad and Angie's birth has happened in the last four months. I mean, if that is going to be an important alert, you'd think other things (even if not world related) would make the alert mode. *shrug

Rebecca said...

What.... Shiloh Nevelle Jolie-Pitt's arrival ISNT earth shattering????? Stop. ;)

It's ridiculous.

On the other hand.... I suppose it's not such a bad thing to have a red alert be so fluffy as opposed to solemn?

Anonymous said...

Ridiculous is one way to describe it. What bothers me is how our culture has lost important values. Since this news of Brad & Jolie's baby stuff has come out all I've heard about is how good looking the baby will be. Give me a break, you know. I could care less what the baby looks like.

It is like the media turns celebrities into heroes. Instead of reading or hearing about Brad & Jolie, I would rather hear or read about a real heroes like the American solider in Iraq defending freedom on a salary that is most likely less than $35,000 a year. Or, a story about an average Joe or Jane who is volunteering their time for a good cause.

Anonymous said...

Brad Pitt? Angelina Jolie? Was she on a safari when she delivered? So, is it an African baby? I am so out of touch!

Well, that can be a good thing. :o)

God bless you, Clew.

chesneygirl said...

Good Grief!!

I hadn't even heard until just now reading your post....so obviously it didn't change my life in anyway!

I don't watch the news as much either for the same reason.

...but...was it a boy or girl? What'd they name it? just wonderin' ;)

bigwhitehat said...

Your not missing much. There are much better sources of news.

i used to be me said...

at the risk of sounding blasphemous

maybe it was a red alert that the anti-christ has been born, in which case, how apropo that a paster should be informed.

sorry

uncalled for

clew said...

UG - Uncalled for? LOL, maybe so, but you did make me laugh! :P

Itchy said...

I got tired of the news when they started "reporting" on American Idol...I want news on my news...not updates on what star is knocked up by what other star this week. Grrr...

Lainey said...

Right on, Clew!

Saur♥Kraut said...

What? It's not important? Yeah, it's pretty amazing how we are focusing on the wrong things as a culture. We have terrorism, war, earthquakes and other natural disasters, and we are worried about Brangelina?

Martie said...

My "red alert" is much better than that....my 14th grandchild, a boy, was born yesterday. Now, that's much more important news....at least to me!!

*** said...

Oh my gosh, I love the stuff on my cat site. My son loved it too...got a laugh out of him!

Cheryl said...

The cat stuff gave me quite the fit of giggles. Funniest thing I ever put on my cat was one of those cone things when he got injured once. It was funny because he kept walking around backwards trying to back out of it.

I know. I'm mean.

Joy said...

Clew, I so hear ya. I think we all have better things to do with our time rather than to ooh and ahh over Brangelina and their affairs.

Bougie Black Boy said...

..and to beat it. Jolie's baby is officially an African. LOL

Lisa M. said...

I just watch the local stuff, and by the by, I love irony. Great view.

Tiggerlane said...

Clew - gotta say, "stuff on my cat" is an all-time fav of mine!

So...will the Brangelina offspring be an illegal immigrant?

(BTW, thanks for surfing my blog!)

Ruth Dynamite said...

And China and most of the rest of the world just keeps on laughing at us.

Cheetarah1980 said...

that's why it's better if you don't even bother with the news at all. i know all i need to know about the world from watching abc daytime dramas.

Did you know that mob violence is on the rise in Port Charles, NY? Now that's real news.