Fat Cat

Meant to post this yesterday...

The day after news breaks about the Republican Alaskan Senator being
indicted, the New York Post runs a fat cat on the front cover. Most
news junkies would be really appalled. But it's a different story for
me. I do have some problems with it, but I'm not as upset as most hard
core journalist.

Reasons being:

1. Obvious. Put a cute fat animal on the cover = sell more papers. Now
most people would say, that's not what the business is all about. I
agree, however, at a time when the economy is in the pits, especially
the news business, putting paper sales ahead might be looked down
upon, but it also might be necessary and smart.

2. People are sick of bad news. That's what papers like the post and
the Daily News are for. They are for entertainment and news. Honestly
a fat cat is pretty entertaining and it makes for a good cover vs. a
man who most people wouldnt recognize.

3. It's a regional paper, not a national. The New York Times sometimes
forgets that it covers New York, but that's OK because they are now
accepted as a National paper. (That and the Times now has specific
blogs and sections and New York emails to keep up with the scene.) All
that being said, papers like the Post rely on the nationals to cover
such serious and complicated matters and not to cover the humorous
silly real life stories that happen in New York.

4. My only beef would be that the Post ran the story as a small blurb,
placed at the bottom corner of page 17. Ironcially right next to an
add for CNN. Also the blurb is from the AP. They didn't even have a
stringer attempt to write it. All that being said, the Post did devote
a large spread on page 8 to Gov. Paterson's announcement to call an
"emergency session of the state Legislaturse" because the state is
approaching an "economic calamity."

Again, regional newspaper, regional news. People will probably
disagree with me, and I already know a former student of mine who was
appalled that the Times number one story the other week was about
chocolate chip cookes, but people need something that's news without
the bite. Call me weak, call me whatever, but it's true. Look deep
down and even those crazy news junkies will glance at a fun photo in a
feature story- even if they don't read it.

People need a break, and that's why my favorite story and quote of the
day come from "Fat Cat, No weigh! Proky kitty is 44 lbs."

http://www.nypost.com/seven/07302008/news/regionalnews/fat_cat_122221.htm

By the way, even the Times ran this story... WITH A HUGE PIC.

Campaign Finance

Politicians really need to be careful. They say one thing and do another, but who can blame them?

We throw candidates up on a pedestal and expect them to play their part. The problem is: my pedestal is different than yours. No, Obama should not have so vigorously raised his hand during the primaries stating that he was in total support of government funding, but the situation is different. He did so well raising money in the primaries that to accept the money would be a huge limitation. Also, McCain didn't accept it, so why should Obama?

It was a "damned if you do damned if you don't situation." He chose to damn himself less, raise more money, and thus have a better chance of winning in November. Or so that at least appears to be the thinking.

The politics of being a young lady

What about etiquette?

On my way to and from the bus every morning I inevitably get hit on. Fine. But does it really have to happen before 7 am. Guys, must you make a pass at 6:50 in the morning? I don't have the energy or the mental capacity to deal with it.

So where do politics come into this discussion? To be nice, they talk to you more. To be a bitch, they might go away or yell at you. How do you strike the correct balance? There's no real answer because it's a question of politics. You've got to play both sides. Ignore them, be passive. If they agress you agress. If they go away, you let them go. Pick your battles. It's just like politics. Some things are better left without a fight, and some things are worth fighting for.

Dems Need to call for Recovery

So the roar has settled. Sort of. Finally a Democratic nominee has been selected, but the party is torn. Clinton voters are upset, and this year, it seems as though both sides aren't so willing to forget. What's supposed to happen is Clinton voters should say "oh well" and throw their support behind Obama. The problem: this isn't so easy. With such a long primary, how can the Blue party expect this? Or rather, how could they have ever expected this?

The northeast will continue to sit in its bubble and they dream election is made. But friends, let me tell you- it's not over. Having grown up in the South, and having family in the MidWest and West, I can tell you the battle is about to start. The biggest problem is there is no unity with the Dems right now. The power that Obama had with his supporters does not necessarily sway all of Clinton's supporters. Without both, they can't win. The Dems need to unite, but well written speeches by Obama are not enough. More than likely McCain is going to grab some of the moderate chunk that Clinton was holding. The Dems need to hold on to some of that population if they want a prayer of winning. I don't have the answers, but I do know that the real war starts now. The Dems just spread friendly fire all about for the last several months. First aid is required.

Trivia Answer

Actually Andrew Johnson is the correct answer.

From 1865-1869 Johnson served as the 17th president of the United States. He came into office after Lincoln's assassination.

Johnson was a member of the House of Representatives and the Senate during the 1840's and 50's. After his presidency in 1875, Johnson returned to the Senate to represent Tennessee.

So who did throw the most opening day baseballs?

Drum roll please....

Franklin Delano Roosevelt. That's right FDR.
Out of the 9 people who voted only 2 were correct. One of my colleagues said, "Well, isn't the answer obvious because FDR was president the longest?" Apparently not. Most people told me they didn't vote for FDR because they knew he was handicapped. I guess they better brush up on their history of presidential baseball.

Check out the website below for fun facts about FDR and baseball, including the games he opened.
http://www.baseball-almanac.com/prz_cfr.shtml

Coming soon: more trivia. Get ready!

Interesting Pre-President Statements

While doing research for a paper I stumbled across some statements from party nomination acceptance speeches that I find particularly interesting. I’d like to share them.


George W. Bush, accepting the Republican nomination at the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia, August 3, 2000.


On defense:


“A generation shaped by Vietnam must remember the lessons of Vietnam. When America uses force in the world, the cause must be just, the goal must be clear, and the victory must be overwhelming. I will work to reduce nuclear weapons and nuclear tension in the world -- to turn these years of influence into decades of peace.”


On Democratic Party presidential nominee Al Gore:


“And if he'd been there when the Internet was invented well ... I understand he actually was there for that."



Bill Clinton, accepting the Democratic Nomination at the Democratic National Convention in New York, July 16, 1992.


“He won't take the lead in protecting the environment and creating new jobs in environmental technologies for the 21st century, but I will. And you what else? He doesn't have Al Gore, and I do. Just in case you didn't notice, that's Gore with an E on the end."



Richard Nixon, accepting the Republican nomination at the Republican National Convention in Miami Florida, August 8, 1968.


“And let us begin by committing ourselves to the truth -- to see it like it is, and tell it like it is -- to find the truth, to speak the truth, and to live the truth -- that's what we will do. We've had enough of big promises and little action. The time has come for honest government in the United States of America."





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