April 13, 2007

Politically Correctness.

The topic at most watercoolers this week undoubtedly has been the racist comments made by Don Imus, his suspension and subsequent firing from MSNBC and CBS. Countless bloggers are also chatting about the same subject, so I figured I might as well throw my two cents in as well.

Now, I don’t want to sound like an insensitive buffoon, but I believe that there are bigger fish to fry in the world right now than to focus on what this guy said. “Shock jocks” have been saying ridiculous things in all sorts of places for a long time. That’s what they do. That’s what they get paid to do. In many respects, it’s a sad reflection of the state of our society. But, like many others, I am why does everyone have their panties in such a knot over this? Are we surprised that he said what he said? I’m not. He has said idiotic things like this before. So have many others. That’s what he does. That’s one of the things that makes him famous.

Of course it’s all about the money. MSNBC and CBS play the “oh the morals” card but we’re not stupid. We all know that they lost big bucks from big sponsors so they had to take a stand. If no one had pulled their sponsorship this week, Don Imus would still be on the air and this would not be a “hot topic”.

I’ve never listened to Imus. I don’t care to. His show is not my cup of tea. I can’t listen to him just as I can’t listen to the current excuse of Top 40 radio, where many of the same things are said on an hourly basis!!! I’m not defending his comments. They were ridiculous and hurtful. But on the other hand, that’s what the guy does. Why are we all getting worked up over this when Donald Trump has been saying incredibly vicious things about Rosie O’Donnell, Isaiah  Washington continues to work (and wins awards!) after making incredibly stupid remarks about a gay co-workers and Mel Gibson continues to be a “big name” in Hollywood after his anti-semetic remarks. Why is the news industry picking on Imus? Are they distracting us from the real issues, including a failing war in Iraq and what is mounting to be a war with Iran?

I believe that this is absolutely the case.

Did Imus say rude, obnoxious, hurtful things? Yes he did. Was he wrong to say them? Depends on who you ask. I say he’s an idiot that gets paid to be an idiot. Should he have been fired for doing it? Absolutely not.

One thing that I find incredibly interesting is that Halle Barre is slated to appear in a movie to be released in 2008 entitled “Nappily Ever After”. Where is the outrage about this? 

Morning Workout.

I am working out as I type. Can you hear me panting and sweating and grunting? That’s what I’m doing, as the sweat falls and the calories burn. I’m sitting on the exercise bike and just pedaling and pedaling and pedaling.

I had to do something to make this interesting. Normally I’d be out on my road bike by this time of the year, enjoying the smell of the flowers and watching the grass turn green, as I ride along country roads with the sun in my eyes and the wind at my back. But you see, my road bike does not have skiis (I opted out of that accessory), and since the weather is whacked out and I don’t have a boat to pull me, I can’t water ski or snow ski on my bike so I’m stuck on the exercise bike in the cellar.

It’s not that I don’t like my exercise bike. I like it very much. The problem is, the only thing I have to look at while riding this bike is the clock. And painted cinder block walls. And that can be very boring. I sit there waiting for the clock to advance to the point where I can say, “I’m done!”.

I’ve tried listening to the iPod while working out, but the time thing still creeps into my head. I think, “This song is four minutes long. In five songs it’ll be 20 minutes. Perhaps that’s long enough.”

So here I am, trying to type and surf while working out. It’s not an easy thing to do, but at least it makes the ride more interesting.