Viewpoints Soapbox

Viewpoints On...The Inauguration

2009-01-19T15:58:00.000-08:00

Join Viewpoints for a live blog during President Obama's Inauguration on Jan. 20 beginning at 8 a.m.

We will be commenting on all the activities of the day including the President's highly anticipated inauguration speech.

Just follow this link coveritlive.com and search for Viewpoints On...The Inauguration to join us for this historic day.

Journalists, stop asking this question!

2008-11-28T20:45:00.001-08:00

OK, it was cute on Election Night when Barack Obama told his children that they were getting a dog. It was kind of funny when, the next day, people were guessing or making fun of what kind of dog it would be.

Three plus weeks after the election and a bunch of interviews later... it's not at all cute or funny anymore.

It is flat-out annoying.

Obama must be sick of any stupid questions regarding a potential dog by now. But, yet, journalists are still asking it and even some are "spending" time debating what kind of dog the family should get.

This has nothing to do with me liking dogs or not, this has more to do with me being sick of people asking the same stupid question over and over and over and over and over.

You are not the first journalist to ask the question and come on you are interviewing the next President... ask a meaningful question.

A day for my parents

2008-11-05T08:52:00.000-08:00

This morning when I woke up I thought about the times my brother and I were stopped by the police because we happened to live in a nice neighborhood. Or showing up for the first day of school as the only black kid in the entire school.

Those are the moments when you think the country will never be able to get past racism. Those are the times when the idea of a black pesident seems unfathomable.

My parents grew up in a time when blacks were literally second class citizens. My father drank out of colored fountains and my mother entered through colored entrances at restaurants.

Even though they always told my brother and I that we could do anything, they feel like now we can really see it.

This moment is overwhelming in so many ways that it may not even become real until Jan. 20. Maybe that day will go down in history with days like Juneteenth or Dr. King's birthday as a day that our country truly began healing from centuries of pain.

Proposition 8 comment

2008-11-04T23:37:00.000-08:00

Editors note: Opinion of author only.

According to CNN, 53 percent of people that voted "Yes on Prop 8" made up their mind within the last three days.

Do you know what that means?

That means that this was not a condemnation of homosexuality in California, this means that what happened was the result of one of the most highly funded disinformation campaigns in the name of Jesus and bigotry in history.

Did you hear the rumors?

Gays will be able to sue churches for churches denying them marriage ceremonies?

Not true.

Gay marriage will be taught in schools to pre-preschoolers.

Why not teach children the law?

This means that next time this comes around, DONATE MONEY. Maybe that sounds weird, but it is true. The reason eight will probably pass is because Republicans had more money than Democrats were willing to give, and the GOP and church machines were capable of spreading rumors better than we were at diffusing them.

DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN AGAIN. In two years, fight. Don't just hold a sign on a street corner and/or print fliers. Call people. Talk to people on the street.

These are YOUR rights and if you aren't going to actually fight for them next time, then the churches are going to fight again to take them away from you.

My condolences,
Jason Lillard

Summary

2008-11-04T20:50:00.000-08:00

As of 8:25 p.m. PST, Obama is declared the next President of the United States.

McCain conceded.

The two-year long election is at last over.

The future begins today.

Wow

2008-11-04T20:10:00.001-08:00

Even Fox News has called it for Obama.

Never thought I'd see it.

Iowa

2008-11-04T19:20:00.000-08:00

As a personal note, I would have never guessed that in my lifetime Iowa would vote for Obama. Having lived there, my memories, though few, pegged the state as being red beyond the ability to change.

A night of historic change, indeed.

Be sure you vote

2008-11-04T18:17:00.000-08:00

by Jason Lillard

There is almost no line to vote at the polling place next to Riverside City College on Terracina in California.

If you haven't voted yet, make sure you do. Don't be one to sit this out! Don't take it for granted that your side will win, make sure you're voting.

Arizona update

2008-11-04T18:02:00.001-08:00

MSNBC says Arizona is too close to call at this point.

McCain's own state? That's embarrassing.

Provisional ballots

2008-11-04T17:28:00.000-08:00

The biggest problem Democratic volunteers are facing today is provisional ballots.

For those who don't know provisonal ballots are what you fill out when they can't find your name on the roster.

According to the Democratic office in Riverside, apparently, today people who have lived in districts there entire lives are being told that their names aren't on the list.

Several districts are reporting provisional ballots in the 50s and 60s.

The concern us that if Obama wins California by a landslide they won't count provisionals and that will impact congressional races and propositions.

We will continue to keep track of this developing story.

Results as of 5 p.m.

2008-11-04T17:05:00.000-08:00

Obama:
Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, District of Columbia, Illinois.
77 Electoral votes

McCain:
Oklahoma, Kentucky, Tenessee, South Carolina
34 Electoral votes

-source CNN

The nine funniest campaign ads

2008-11-04T16:59:00.000-08:00

The nine funniest campaign ads

Honorable Mention:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mopkn0lPzM8&feature=user

A- is for "almost funny." Nice try McCain... stop casting Moses for your ads.

9) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJRecRfcLqc
Satan for President...Yep that’s what is it’s all about America. Remember how this tactic worked out for us in 2000/2004?

8) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fgq1ooPguSo
Bloody McCain!

7) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKsoXHYICqU
Obama Girl -- just because you’re an original election classic.

6) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJGCeA19UW4
Let’s slander our opponent by offending his supporters. Homosexuals dressed as the village people? That will get you somewhere!

5) http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/10/13/12058/101
You got my vote, little piggy!

4) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhEm2V-VJ8o
Big business hoses angry, average Americans.

3) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LM5FZawCEvw
No she was a great choice...I swear.

2) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qq8Uc5BFogE
Change is "Wassup."

1) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adc3MSS5Ydc
This ad sums up the craziness of this election process. It is time for the American people to get some peace from campaigning and the drab lives of our politicians. What happened to Britney?

And there you have it, the nine funniest campaign ads for the 2008 election season.

The 10 Most Monumental Moments of 2008

2008-11-04T16:57:00.000-08:00

The 10 Most Monumental Moments of 2008

As the election comes to its final moments, I believe we must pay homage to the most prized recorded moments of our vice presidents and presidents. As we trickle our way down, don't get nostalgic... just remember how monumentally ridiculous this race has been.

10) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFduMuP7v-k
Biden brags, "My state was a slave state."

9) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcj98zxun8M&feature=related
The question isn't whether Barack Obama is fit to be President, but rather, is he too fit?

8) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsWpvkLCvu4&feature=related
Barack is "gettin-jiggy-wit-it" on Ellen

7) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhZEJiu03MU&feature=related
McCain is no Tiger Woods, but Obama's black... does that count?

6) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBBl39LPzcA&feature=related
Having footage of a Candidate on the Job! Oh wait... sleeping on the job. Yeah, I will to vote for you...NOT!

5) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9joCqOOWn-Q&feature=related
Paris gets political, using some Obama flavor.

4) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88V3F6_iUus&feature=related
Larry Sinclair says Barack thinks guys are hot! Don't forget that Obama's a homosexual crack fiend.

3) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DWoUhw9hCs&feature=related
Why can't I have an action figure?! Palin as a school girl and Lara Croft? What demographic are they aiming for...?

2) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ral-zByaSU4&feature=related
I am seeing double. Palin is that you?

1) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbEwKcs-7Hc
Oui! Oui! Palin gets punked! With Palin being the whipped cream, sprinkles, and cherry that topped our 2008 sundae, we want to thank you, Sarah, for being a great sport and the highlight of our year.

Ken Calvert vs Bill Hedrick

2008-11-04T16:40:00.001-08:00

Although a lot of fuss has been made, and rightly so, about the presidential race, there is another important race to Riversiders this election cycle. Ken Calvert is running for the House of Representatives in the 44th district.

According to CREW, an independent watchdog organization, Ken Calvert is one of the most corrupt members of congress.

“His ethics issues stem from his use of earmarks for personal gain and his connections to a lobbying firm under investigation,” according to CREW.

Calvert’s party fliers contrast him from Bill Hedrick, his opponent, by stating that Hedrick is endorsed by over 25 labor unions.

Why is this a bad thing? Since when was American anti-union? Collective bargaining is what gives workers influence over employers to get health insurance, fair wages and fair hours. If you’re fighting for the middle class, shouldn’t you want the middle-class worker endorsement?

Ken Calvert is also one of the last people in America that thinks that “victory” is achievable in Iraq. Victory against whom? Define “victory.” Calvert attacks Hedrick for wanting to bring the troops home, and Hedrick has two children serving in the military.

Calvert certainly doesn’t seem to want to keep his seat in congress, and you shouldn’t want him to either.

Exit polls: First call

2008-11-04T16:03:00.000-08:00

According to MSNBC News, Kentucky has been called for John McCain. Barack Obama is projected winner of Vermont.

Why you shouldn't vote!

2008-11-04T14:07:00.000-08:00

Every election cycle there are hundreds of articles, blogs and commercials all stressing the importance of voting. The message is often the same: you have the right to vote, don’t waste it. In the push to get more voters to polls they neglect the most important aspect of voting-getting informed on the issues.

It isn’t enough to just show up and vote, you’ve got to do your homework. I know, how dare you be expected to research a candidate’s political decisions, or read the FULL text of a proposition.

A recent Field poll (source) showed that although 47 percent of likely voters said they intended to vote yes, less than a fifth of likely voters have even heard of it. According to the poll, “Awareness of the initiative among likely voters is low. Just 18 percent report having seen or heard anything about the initiative prior to participating in the survey.”

Let’s get something straight voting is a right but more importantly it is a duty. Every year politicians make decisions that can affect our lives for years to come. And with California’s latest trend of using bonds to pay for every new construction plan, the proposition you vote yes on may cost the state money for the next 30 years.

Poll after poll show that voter awareness of the issues is usually limited. If the extent of your political knowledge comes from the political commercials that spin, and twist the issue with misinformation and even outright lies to influence your votes. Or if you are willing to vote a certain way because of people holding signs on Alessandro then do us all a favor and stay home.

It’d be great to see voter turnout in the high 90 percentile but the political process is better served by informed voters. So open up that voter guide and actually read the text of the amendments. Use your Internet to research the issues rather than looking at poor or playing mobster. It only takes few hours or your time to get informed and once you have, go vote and make your informed voice heard.

Don't be Disenfranchised!

2008-11-04T13:58:00.000-08:00

by Jason Lillard

With every election comes the concern of voter fraud. Given the highly contested debacle in Florida during the 2000 election, and the less discussed Ohio 2004 problems, people are worried about disenfranchisement.

People have resorted to any lie possible to keep people from voicing their opinions. Many people have reported receiving calls or seeing flyers stating that certain parties will be voting Wednesday Nov. 5, or that people with parking tickets won’t be allowed to vote.

Don’t believe the lies! Everyone votes on Nov. 4, and nobody will be arrested on site for trying to vote.

Many concerns have also been raised about electronic voting machines. Machines can be programmed to count the votes in any way they want, and with no paper trail there would be no way to perform a recount.

Vote Nov. 4, vote on paper, and don’t be intimidated against exercising your rights.

Well if that's who Diddy's voting for...

2008-11-04T13:35:00.000-08:00

This election has been one of the most emotionally charged contests in years. With a competition this fierce it makes sense that the candidates would court celebrity endorsements, but let's be honest do I really care who Sean Combs aka Diddy is voting for?

Obama, like most democratic candidates has received a lot of celebrity endorsements, including the biggest one of all, Oprah Winfrey.

Winfrey has never publicly endorsed a candidate before so many were questioning what the impact of her support would be. However, as usual when Winfrey speaks people listen.

When Winfrey made appearances with Obama during the primary season, the events often had to be moved to larger venues to accommodate the crowds.

During the general campaign Obama has appeared with Bruce Springsteen and Stevie Wonder. He has also received endorsements from the biggest names in hip-hop including, Jay-Z, Beyonce and Diddy.

John McCain has his own all-star list of endorsements from Big and Rich, Kelsey Grammer and of course, Chuck Norris.

Apparently if you don't vote for McCain, Norris hunts you down "Walker: Texas Ranger" style.

The point is that while Americans are influenced by their favorite celebrities, am I going to vote for someone just because Winfrey tells me to?

Well I will, because I do whatever Winfrey says, but no one else should.

Election Night Playlists

2008-11-04T13:27:00.000-08:00

Blender magazine recently polled both John McCain and Barack Obama to see what their favorite songs of all time were. The results are VERY interesting and may say a lot about each candidate. Especially McCain's No. 3 favorite song.

Obama's Favorite Songs

10) "Yes We Can"-will.i.am

9) "City of Blinding Lights"-U2

8) "Think"-Aretha Franklin

7) "You'd be so Easy to Love"-Frank Sinatra

6) "Touch the Sky"-Kanye West

5) "Sinnerman"-Nina Simone

4) "Gimmie Shelter"-The Rolling Stones

3) "I'm on Fire"-Bruce Springsteen

2) "What's Going On"-Marvin Gaye

1) "Ready or Not"-The Fugees

McCain's Favorite Songs

10) "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes"-The Platters

9) "Sweet Caroline"-Neil Diamond

8) "I've Got You Under My Skin"-Frank Sinatra

7) "What A Wonderful World"-Louis Armstrong

6) "Good Vibrations"-The Beach Boys

5) "As Time Goes By"-Dooley Wilson

4) "If We Make It Through December"-Merle Haggard

3) "Take A Chance On Me"-Abba

2) "Blue Bayou"-Roy Orbison

1) "Dancing Queen"-Abba

http://www.blender.com/WhiteHouseDJBattleWatchandListen/articles/1/40610.aspx

Palin vs Journalism

2008-11-04T13:16:00.000-08:00

Although she doesn't seem to demonstrate it, Gov. Sarah Palin actually has a Bachelor of Science degree in communication-journalism. According to the Associated Press:

Then she returned to Idaho (for college), for spring 1986, fall 1986 and spring 1987, when she graduated. Despite her journalism degree, she does not appear to have worked for the college newspaper or campus television station, school officials said. She worked briefly as a sportscaster for KTUU in Anchorage after she graduated college.

Since she didn’t ever write for a newspaper or report as a real journalist, Palin isn’t technically a member of the "gotcha" media. This being the case, it may be easier to understand some of her major gaffes regarding journalism on the election trail.

When asked by CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric which magazines she reads, Palin responded "most of them...any of them that have been in front of me." When asked which ones specifically, Palin responded "all of them."

Although one might chalk this as-vague-as-possible answer to Palin not wanting to reveal a biased world-view, Palin couldn’t even name an objective source of news such as the Associated Press, or balance two biased sources such as The Los Angeles Times and The New York Post. The most logical answer would be that she reads the major Alaskan newspapers, and she didn’t venture as far as to say that.

A much more scathing misunderstanding of journalism would have to be Palin's comments on the First Amendment. According to ABC News.

"If [the media] convince enough voters that that is negative campaigning, for me to call Barack Obama out on his associations," Palin told host Chris Plante, "then I don't know what the future of our country would be in terms of First Amendment rights and our ability to ask questions without fear of attacks by the mainstream media."

Somewhere between journalism class and swearing an oath to uphold the constitution, one would think that someone would have taken the time to explain to Sarah Palin the purpose of the First Amendment. The First Amendment was not established to protect politicians from the media; in fact, the exact opposite is true. The ability for the press to question the practices of politicians is a fundamental part of democracy and transparent government.

If Palin doesn't think that she should be criticized for running a negative campaign, shouldn’t she defend her campaign instead of attacking the free press that are questioning her? This is the playground equivalent of telling the teacher, "I called Billy ugly because you’re ugly."

This raises two very important questions in this election. Firstly, is someone that doesn’t understand the constitution more fit to defend it than, say, a constitutional lawyer? Secondly, what was Sarah Palin doing in college during her journalism classes?

The first tenant of journalism is that you have the right to be a journalist.

An unexpected response

2008-11-04T13:10:00.001-08:00

As I checked the box marked Obama I had an unexpectantly emotional response. As an African-American, I never really thought the day would come when a black man had a legitimate chance at becoming president.

I also didn't think I would become emotional when the time came to actually cast my vote. I've known since day one that I would be voting for Obama, so I assumed I would just check a box and move on.

But when I was standing in the voting booth it suddenly hit me what a monumetous occasion this was.

I'm generally a cynical person, especially when ot comes to politics, but for one brief moment I was overcome with hope and faith for the future.

Early morning voting observations

2008-11-04T13:01:00.001-08:00

So I woke up early because I was afraid of long lines at my local polling place.

It was raining of course, a bad sign for sure I thought.

The first real thing I noticed was the house right next to the polling place had 10 "Yes on Prop. 8" signs all over the front yard. Nice way to get your point across to people voting.

My original expectation of long lines didn't happen. There were exactly two people ahead of me and it took less than 5 minutes to reach the front. It probably took less time than that to vote!

Another observation, for being 8 a.m. the poll workers were very friendly and organized. I think there was more trouble and waiting for the 2004 Presidential election.

The myth of church and state

2007-08-27T12:06:00.000-07:00

I was watching "Book TV" on C-SPAN and their speaker was this author named Stephen Mansfield who was giving a presentation on his newest book “Ten Tortured Words: How The Founding Fathers Tried to Protect Religion...and What’s Happened Since.”

The allegedly mangled 10 word phrase: “Congress shall pass no law respecting an establishment of religion.”

Basically, this moron spent close to an hour bashing the separation of church and state as a misunderstanding and a bad law.

His main argument is that, while we have the freedom to choose our religion, religion in and of itself is a necessity of a moral and successful society. Furthermore, the Founding Fathers knew this and would never have supported a complete separation of church and state.

Mansfield basically says that "Separation of church and state," is a silly made up phrase that Thomas Jefferson mentioned in passing, and that it has no bearing on the actual Amendment which says that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion."

That's like saying "separate, but not equal," is a silly made up phrase mentioned in passing that has nothing to do with the Amendment which says "No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."

Does the Amendment specifically say that separate cannot be equal? No. So, according to Mansfield’s logic we should basically go tell Thurgood Marshall to shove it. Sorry Brown V. The Board of Education, but your court ruling isn’t specifically addressed in the Constitution—we’re bringing segregation back!

He went so far as to accuse the American CIVIL LIBERTIES Union (ACLU), of suing the Boy Scouts of America as a means of making a profit. Not only that, but he says that it uses threats of lawsuits as a means of BLACKMAIL in order to basically spread the plague of secularism.

He claims that it was the intention of the Founding Fathers to protect religion, and that this petty and scrutinizing secularism is an abuse of the entire basis of the Constitution.

This guy is ridiculous, verging on hypocritical. He claims that by misinterpretation of the Constitution, these annoying activists have completely divorced the document from any significance it originally held.

But who is he to claim he knows, for sure, what the original intent of the Framers was? Was he there? No. And the malleability of the Constitution is probably the most significant feature of the incredible document.

I say, that by asserting that only one interpretation of the Constitution can be accepted, he is divorcing the document from any significance it originally held.

All in all, I don't see why this guy is complaining. America is basically a Judeo-Christian state anyway. I mean, look at our lawmakers’ justifications against gay marriage: “sanctity” this, “the Bible” that, “immoral, immoral, immoral.”

Mansfield should just go screw Ann Coulter and leave the preaching in the pulpit.

Hell has frozen over

2007-06-09T20:02:00.000-07:00

As I type this blog entry I am watching a pig fly past my window. Why? Paris Hilton and I are actually in agreement... scary.

She released a statement today with the following:

"I must also say that I was shocked to see all of the attention devoted to the amount of time I would spend in jail for what I had done by the media, public and city officials. I would hope going forward that the public and the media will focus on more important things, like the men and women serving our country in Iraq, Afghanistan and other places around the world."

The amount of media attention she has gotten over the past 2 weeks is beyond stupid. Who cares about the problems with the missile defense system or the immigration bill? I even saw an AP story about fans upset about Paris' situation, only the writer didn't bother to check facts and interviewed someone from the Jimmy Kimmel show pretending to be upset.

Ouch.

So can we get back to real news... at least until she is released?

President's refusal to address gun control

2007-04-19T13:56:00.000-07:00

On April 16, 32 innocent students lost their lives in a senseless tragedy. The mass murder at Virginia Tech is the largest in U.S. history. Right now, the entire country is in a state of shock, outrage and mourning.

America’s gun culture is under fire from foreign governments. The White House has taken the official position that the tragedy is too fresh in the minds of the public to allow for discussion of U.S. policies on gun control. Still, at a time where gun violence is responsible for such a horrendous massacre, it seems like the perfect time.

Back in 2001, after the attacks on Sept. 11, the White House spoke up immediately. They fought hard for increasing security measures and the public rallied around the flag—even when those measures came into conflict with constitutional freedoms.

Now, after the massacre at Virginia Tech, if the President was to speak up and advocate gun control laws, the country would follow suit. It doesn’t make sense that the White House would want to ignore issues of gun safety at this moment in time—unless you think of the financial and political motives.

Even if it’s in the interest of society as a whole, creating stricter gun laws is not in the financial interest of the Republican Party.

The National Rifle Association has donated millions of dollars in soft money to the Republican Party to date. And it seems like the good old boys are out to protect each other, even in the face of an atrocity like the killings at Virginia Tech.

The National Rifle Association has argued for years that it is our constitutional freedom to own and carry guns. Any step by the government to regulate the gun industry is always met with opposition by this group.

Yes, we are constitutionally guaranteed the right to own firearms. In no way should we be forced to give up that right. But in the face of the shootings at Virginia Tech, it is time for this country to stand up and admit that it has a gun problem.

Dude, where's my pot?

2007-03-15T08:51:00.000-07:00

Dude, somebody must have been totally faded. I don’t know how else to explain why three tons, yeah THREE TONS of marijuana was abandoned along the freeway.

An abandoned rental truck was partially blocking the Milliken Avenue exit on the 10 freeway in Ontario. When San Bernardino County police arrived to investigate, they noticed that the whole area reeked of pot.

Police opened the truck to find three tons of marijuana just sitting there. That has to be the easiest drug bust in the history of the world—and one of the biggest.

According to the cops, the street value of the marijuana in that truck is about $20 million.

How did this happen? Did the driver get high and forget what he was doing?

I can’t imagine how anyone, especially a drug dealer, could leave THAT MUCH POT just lying on the side of the road.

Maybe the driver got so baked from inhaling all that pot, that he had to pull over and find the nearest Jack in the Box—never mind that he was in the middle of the freeway.

On the other hand, maybe the driver was stoned and got so paranoid that he bailed out mid off-ramp.

As far as suspects go, police are drawing a blank. Still, it’s not like the police are ever going to find the idiot who basically handed them this huge shipment of drugs. I’m sure the supplier has already had them...neutralized.

I’m sure soccer moms everywhere see this as a victory in the whole “war on drugs,” and teens are crying their bloodshot eyes out over this “travesty.”

But I’m still trying to figure out what happened.

Honestly, three tons of pot being abandoned is mind blowing. It’s the kind of thing that’s so far out there you can’t believe it actually happened. In the end—

—Dude, I forgot what I was saying. I’m going to go get, like, 30 tacos.

Scared skinny

2007-02-21T10:06:00.000-08:00

Forget pedophiles, kidnappers and babysitters with a tendency to shake things. There’s a new threat to humanity, and no child is safe.

Children are dropping like flies. Causes of death: a 2-liter of Coke, Oreos, Chicken McNuggets.

You don’t believe it?
Well good, because it sounds stupid to me too.

That hasn’t stopped a slew of cautionary commercials that are basically telling us just that.

I can’t even turn on the TV anymore without seeing at least one of those ridiculous, annoying ads. You know exactly what I’m talking about. “Mom, can I have a cup of sugar,” “some pwocessed junk food,” or “a showtah life span?”

First of all, get kids who can talk to do your commercials. Speech impediments aren’t cute. Second, STOP with the melodrama.

Too much junk food will definitely affect health in the long run. No one is arguing that.

Show me one parent, any one parent who didn’t know that feeding their kid 3 Happy Meals a day was a bad idea. Show me one parent who was actually enlightened by these commercials. You find me that one parent, and I’ll show you an idiot who should never have been allowed to procreate.

Letting your kid shovel in the fast food isn’t exactly going to help them. We know for damn certain that it isn’t healthy. But demonizing any and all junk food is a joke!

There are plenty of healthy adults who ate burgers as a kid. There are millions of kids who will drink soda and NOT develop type 2 diabetes. Sugar and grease aren’t good for you, but they aren’t exactly a death sentence.

The way these ads make it seem, nutrition facts might as well have another column. Right next to Percentage of Daily Value, there should be a column for Days Subtracted from Life Span.

Sugars: 36g, 25 percent of the daily value, 14 days subtracted from life span.

Instead of telling us what we already know, why don’t these commercials focus on something useful? They could promote fruits and vegetables, tell us what breads are best for kids, or talk about all natural juices.

What I don’t understand is why health’s number one enemy is junk food. Parents, if you really want to help your kid, kick them out of the house for a couple hours a day. Get them off of Myspace, World of Warcraft and Wii. Make them play outside; make them get some fresh air. That’ll do a hell of a lot more for their health than counting their carbs will.

As far as these commercials go, we get it already. There’s no need to keep force feeding the public stale information on how bad, bad food can be.

R.I.P.: Anna Nicole Smith or entertainment journalism?

2007-02-14T13:21:00.000-08:00

Since the death of her son Daniel a few months ago, all of the entertainment “news” shows and magazines have been hounding her. Now with her death, the onslaught of “news coverage” is in full gear. Every show is covering the topic and everyone seems to have an opinion regarding how she died or who’s the father of her newborn daughter.

As I sat flipping through the channels the other night trying to avoid all of the coverage something came to mind.

Is this as low as entertainment journalism can get?

With rumor/talk of “Entertainment Tonight” paying $1 million dollars for an exclusive interview with Anna’s partner Howard K. Stern, is this the final nail in the coffin that was once a groundbreaking part of journalism?

I already have a problem with shows like “Access Hollywood” for the types of stories they cover, but this makes me want to vomit. What happened to asking the stars of a particular movie a question ABOUT THE MOVIE?! Now it is all gossip, “what are you wearing” and reporters trying to befriend these stars on camera.

Now, people are making assumptions without any facts and just reporting anything without care of it being right. I even came across a story that talked about the rumor of Anna’s son being the father of her child and she killed herself because of that.

What the hell happened when one, people report things like this and two, when people WANT to have this reported on shows and in print.

These shows will say they are only giving the audience what they want. What does that say about us as viewers and readers?

So is the solution for people to stop watching and reading? We know that won’t happen anytime soon.

I, for one, will be finding something else to occupy my time between 7-8 p.m. and not watching these “entertainment” shows.