Monday, August 29, 2016

Hard to Take

There are far too many days left in this Presidential election and the nasty rhetoric is making voters weary.  He said, she said.  Now, the Republican's are rabidly hanging on to the pay for play of the Clinton Foundation.  Wow, seriously?  You batsh*t crazy people!  Seriously??  How ridiculously hypocritical.  The Clinton Foundation has done so much good for people all over the world to help fight Aids, Ebola, and many other fatal epidemics.  Has anyone shown any proof that any leader, Country, or anyone else got special favors from the then Secretary of State Clinton from donations made to this non-profit organization?  Not a lick.  Not one shred of evidence.  

Let's take a look at the lobbyists.  Isn't it the same thing?  There is massive proof that lobbyists have had a huge impact on our elected officials.  Does the NRA ring a bell?  There are reams of paper linking donations to campaign coffers and votes in Congress.  The evidence is clear.  What about SuperPacs?  There is so much money influencing our government and laws, so why the hell is anyone giving any airtime and credence to the Clinton Foundation accusations?  What a waste of time.  There are so many clear violations of money corrupting our laws and regulations that we, the People, should be far more concerned with lobbyists.  Isn't that the whole problem with campaign finance reform? Nothing can get passed because there are too many special interests paying off the Senators and Congresspeople?  Look at any blocked vote or ill-fated bill getting passed or not getting passed, there's a money trail for sure.  

Isn't that what Woodward and Bernstein would've been investigating if this was 40 years ago?  Where are the intrepid investigative reporters?  They are fewer and farther away from any investigations we need today.  Did you see the movie, Spotlight?  I think that may have been the last fully researched and vetted investigative reporting.  What the hell has happened to journalism?  Are they just bloggers only shooting from the hip and taking people down now?  Is it just ratings and not quality?  Les Moonves basically let us in on the dark side of network news when he admitted Tr**p is great for ratings and shareholders.  Should there be more than that?  By the time the talking heads started to take Tr**p seriously, he couldn't be stopped and he took down possibly more prepared and "intelligent" candidates.  I mourn the loss of journalism.  Investigative reporting has come down to snippets and edits.  No one wants to read a long expose.  We are 140 characters and out.  

People, don't believe the tweets.  Take the time in this election season to find out truth, not truthiness.  This election is by far the most important election in my life.  I will keep harping on everyone to take the time to vote.  Don't get turned off of all the bickering and nastiness that highlights the internet and news everyday.  Take the time to read, watch, and listen for yourself.  Dig deeper than they do.

                                                                         *******

Okay, well for those of us that have lived with, admired, rooted for, was disappointed in, disgusted by, rooted for again, and then just completely done...Anthony Weiner is the greatest disgrace to all of us.  WTF?!?!  He sexted his dick to a woman, disgraced his family, apologized, resigned from Congress, hid away from the public for awhile, ran for Mayor, got caught again, stopped running for Mayor, retreated from view again, and then every so often popped up on talking shows about politics.  Most recently he was on The Bill Maher Show.  He was good, but of course, made me feel what a waste.  He could've been a contender if he could've kept his pecker private.  Most recently, the New York Post has caught him again. Now, to be fair, the NY Post is so right wing Republican that tearing down Democrats is an Olympic sport, but today's front page makes Anthony Weiner dead to me.  Children's Services should be paying him a visit!  He tweeted a photo of his hard penis to a woman with his little baby boy next to him!!!  Who does that??  What is wrong with him?  It sickens me and makes my head just keep shaking.  Clearly, the worst thing that happened to Anthony Weiner was a cellphone.  Made it all too accessible.  This latest photo is beyond the beyond.  He is done.  Breaking news here: his wife is leaving him.  I appreciate she gave him multiple chances, but she has to get her son and be done, too.  

Sidebars:  Watched the VMA's, which in years past have had some very memorable, talked about moments.  Not this one.  It was all Rihanna and Beyonce.  Poor Britney Spears, whom I don't get at all, seemed to be lip-syncing again.  Beyonce was the Queen Bee but I felt too old to thoroughly appreciate her.  For me, not a great show. Too many, stellar, I'm sure.  Sweet moment when Drake publicly pronounced his love for Rihanna since he was 22 years old. A letdown show for this older woman.  --  The Night Of concluded last night.  I have had love/hate feelings for this 8 part series on HBO.  Lots of good and lots of hard to believe conversations and events.  AND I have to find out the truth about Rikers Island so if there is anyone that knows anything, I need to know.  --
Monday night it's Bachelor in Paradise and American Ninja Warrior.  Both aren't for the entire family, but both have something to offer.  -- Kids are back again at college.  Another adjustment period for the parents and the dog.  We will get there. -- There's a lot of possible severe weather all over the country.  Be careful out there. 
Happy Monday wherever you are.

Please re-post, re-tweet, or forward to a friend.
@DianaPodolsky

Tuesday, August 9, 2016

Back to Olympus, Please

I have the most fond memories of the Olympics.  Was it that I was young and idealistic or has it been compromised so much that it now is just annoying?  NBC has been the home of the games since 1988.  My most vivid memories are the ABC years.  Who can ever forget Howard Cosell's voice and the exquisitely painful coverage of the Munich games?  Not that NBC was the first not to broadcast events live, but they have taken it to ridiculous and annoying levels.  The manipulation is so apparent.  They show only what they deem worthy, edited and cut to the enth degree.  Tim Daggett, the male gymnastics analyst, almost single-handedly ruins the beauty and greatness of the athletes. I'm not even sure if his voiceover is in the actual moment or done in the studio after.  Swimming has been both great and has been deservedly criticized by much of its sexist comments by the NBC talking heads.  

What has really gotten my goat?  The USA men's and women's basketball teams.  Their ridiculous privileged accommodations is why people hate America.  Seriously?  You are all too great to stay in the Olympic village?  If you haven't read or heard, they commissioned the Silver Seas cruise ship for their stay.  Plush rooms, beds, food, air conditioning, spa, etc. If that doesn't give them an unfair edge, I don't know what does.  It's equal to me as taking steroids for athletes.  To be honest, I was pleasantly surprised that they included the women's team on the ship.  This illustrates exactly why it should only allow amateurs in the Olympics.  If these professional athletes can't be equal to all the other players, they shouldn't be allowed to compete.  I think it is a disgrace.  Seriously, why in the world should they have fist class accommodations while other NBA stars from around the world are living in too short of beds for their countries?  I heard someone on ESPN say that they'd be swarmed in the Village.  Well, then don't compete.  Only amateurs.  I never liked the influx of pros.  Feels very unfair and egotistical or jingoistic.  Think about this a bit, and hey, what a global humiliation if the teams don't bring home the Gold.  You set yourselves up.

The USA Women's Gymnastics team is stellar.  Some say the best ever.  The talent and precision of each of these "women's" routines are at such a height of perfection.  What I can't believe or get over is that only the top 24 women get to compete in the much coveted all-around, but no more than two from each team.  That is the dumbest thing I've ever heard.  It didn't used to be like that and I'm not sure when it changed, but it now really isn't the top 24. I understand that the IOC didn't want all the top spots by a couple of teams, but you can't call it top 24 anymore.  That Gabby Douglas didn't make it because she finished 3rd in our team's scoring is ridiculous.  So, time to re-think or re-name this supposed and not top 24.  The women's finals are tonight.  It should be spectacular.  Don't miss it and remember, it's not technically the top 24 competing. 

There have been a lot of decries of sexism by the announcers.  Particularly by the swimming announcers.  Al Trautwig had to apologize for making comments that Simone Biles parents aren't her "real" parents because she was adopted.  Wow, it's 2016.  Tim Daggett and the NBC producers should not speak during the gymnastics routine and allow us, the viewer, to have the experience.  Way too much talking.  NBC needs to put tiny little flags in the swimming lanes so we can keep track of who is in which lane during the races.  They do it in rowing, so it's possible.  

I can clearly state that I don't like beach volleyball as an Olympic sport.  It should have stayed a fantastically fun recreational activity.  I think the big draw for many is watching women in bikinis jumping up and down. It began as fun at the beach and has continued to be the same at the Olympics.  I am not saying that the athleticism isn't great, that's not what I'm saying at all, but they don't give the same air time to indoor volleyball.  The men's beach volleyball team are not half naked, either, shorts and tank top.  I have a lot of problems with the dress code for many of the women's sports.  Just keep it in mind while you're watching.  We continue to live in a very sexist world. It may not be obvious, but it's there.  Just keep it in mind. The men are fully dressed and the women at every opportunity are not. I know, sex sells, it just shouldn't be at the expense of the incredible athletes.  I think it demeans and diminishes their greatness.  Be aware and come to your own conclusions.

Sidebars:  I can't handle all the politics so the Olympics with all it's flaws and annoyances are a great diversion.  I will still torture myself with politics, I can't help it, but this is a much needed break. It is revelatory to see how many stations NBC owns.  It becomes clear during these two weeks when they take over MSNBC, CNBC, Bravo, USA, and I can't find a re-run of Law and Order.... -- It's that time of year again when the college kids are beginning to pack up and go to school.  My baby boy leaves this week and my baby girl in two.  Another adjustment period. To those of you first timers sending your kids to college, keep breathing.  It feels overwhelming but you'll get used to it.  When they transition, you can find satisfaction that you let them go.  Breathe.... -- Ah, those hot, muggy summer days.  We are definitely in August.  Stay cool, drink water, and don't over do it.  Enjoy!

Please re-post, re-tweet, and forward to a friend
@DianaPodolsky