Local Fox station WNYW took a good, hard, humorous look at itself - and the local news industry, as a whole - last night during their 10 p.m. broadcast when reporter Joel Waldman covered the story we've been waiting forever to see: What's annoying about local news?
I could personally write a list a mile long about the things that annoy me about local news, but that would be just like having a 3 minute stand-up for a 30 second story, so I'm just going to get to the point and post Joel's video ... and let you take a look for yourself.
(Ugh ... for some reason the embed code is not working with me ... See the video here until I figure this out).
So, there you have it, folks. The secret is out. The people who work in local news actually know that some of the things they do are gratuitous and annoying ... and simply for ratings ... But, when it comes down to it, who doesn't like to see puppies cuddling with babies and reporters in the rain (Oh Jimmy).
Time's gonna make you a man someday and you won't want to go out and play with your friends, you'll just sit at home and watch the news at ten and the pubs will be closed and you won't have been with your friends ... (News At Ten, The Vapors)
Exactly one year ago today, Superstorm Sandy pounded the tri-state area, as well as the entire coastline, with what turned out to be the second most expensive storm in US history. The only storm to cost the US more was Hurricane Katrina back in 2005.
Photo c/o http://www.telegraph.co.uk
Today, some people affected by the tragedy are remembering, while others are still recovering. Certain especially hard-hit areas are still in need of basic services ... Residents have still not received grant money promised to them ... and some people are still living in makeshift houses and shelters.
Despite all this, over the past year, we have seen some boardwalks rebuilt, volunteers come together to build houses for their neighbors, and vigils held in honor of those lost to the storm.
Superstorm Sandy dealt our area a hard blow but even so we have begun to rebuild and progress towards what will surely be a greater coastline.
From the tip of Cape May County to Sandy Hook and straight on through and every town along the way, we'll remember you. We're gonna build it back. We'll right the wrong. We're Jersey Strong. (Jersey Strong, After the Reign)
... Unless you're Mariano Rivera, then you can shed as many man tears as you want! Because you've earned it. 19 seasons with the Yankees. Five World Series titles. And countless mentions of you as my baby ...
So, yes, you can go ahead and fall into the arms of Andy Pettitte and Derek Jeter and cry as much as you want because those are the tears of a champion. If I had anything to do with it, I would bottle up those tears and place them in a museum.
While fans everywhere are heartbroken at the thought of you leaving the Yankees, you will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the greatest closers of all time.
'Til the Sandman he comes. Sleep with one eye open, gripping your pillow tight. Exit light, enter night, take my hand, we're off to Never-never-land. (Enter Sandman, Metallica)
This one goes out to besties J&J (no, not Johnson & Johnson, different J's) - two lovely people I work with - who offhandedly inspired what I will be calling Random Ramblings. If you have been following this blog for some time now, you know that most of time the entries stem from some current event or some celebrity gossip or whatnot ... But occasionally, it may be nice to just write about whatevaaaa I darn well please.
So, on that note, I'd like to explain why, while I love love love New York City ... I also adore getting off NJ Transit at the end of the day and coming home to the suburbs.
Yes, I like being close to my friends and family and I like having a lawn and all that good, fun stuff ... But what I really love about pulling on to my driveway after a long day of work is that when you live in the middle of nowhere, on a clear night, you are able to look up and see stars. LOTS AND LOTS OF THEM!
I know it sounds simple ... but I love stargazing. I always have and always will. There have been nights where I just lie on my driveway and stare at the night sky in all its magnificence. Ever since I was a kid, I've been looking up and wishing on stars - some have been granted and others are still on the back burner. Part of me probably thought I was a Disney princess back in the day wishing on those stars, but it doesn't matter. Until this very day, I still wish on the first star I see at night ...
And, I hope I never lose that little bit of my childhood that I have brought with me into adulthood.
Like a bolt out of the blue, Fate steps in and sees you through. When you wish upon a star, your dreams come true. (When You Wish Upon A Star, Cliff Edwards)
HOLY HECK ... It's been forever since I've blogged! Sorry for the non-bloggi-ness but thesis-ness is in full-bloomi-ness! It's due in less than SIX weeks. AHHHH. Can you believe it?!
Either way, I thought I needed to post this video for your viewing pleasure, not in jest but in pure loving fun ... because I think Tim Tebow is, well, just so freakin' God Dang adorable and cute.
Yes, I searched for the cutest picture of Tebow I could find.
Yes, I love children.
Yes, Tebow with a child makes him even more adorable.
As you already know (unless you live under a rock ... or have the sports knowledge of said rock), Tim Tebow is now a J . E . T, Jet Jet Jet, and he is super excited ... and he just can't hide it!!!
Now, let's just hope Tebow doesn't get overwhelmed by his new team and his new city and have a Jesse-Spano-like freak-out on the field ... although, not going to lie, it would be kind of entertaining (and I wouldn't complain if Zack Morris showed up on the scene either because he didn't grow up so bad if you know what I'm sayinnn').
I want to love you, feel you, wrap myself around you. I want to squeeze you, please you. I just can't get enough and if you move real slow, I let it go. I'm so excited and I just can't hide it. I'm about to lose control and I think I like it. I'm so excited and I just can't hide it and I know, I know, I know, I know, I know I want you. (I'm So Excited, The Pointer Sisters)
If you ever partake in casual news-watching ... or news-browsing on the web ... (Or haven't been living under a rock) ... I'm sure at this point, you have heard of the NYPD's intrusive, (in my non-lawyer mind) highly likely illegal surveillance of Muslim students across the Northeast ... and, you know what, it's some ...
Maybe I'm mistaken but I always thought this was country was founded on the principles of life and liberty (and the pursuit of happiness), as well as some basic civil, human, God-given rights ... Like, for example, the fact that (in case you need a little Civics refresher course on the Bill of Rights):
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. (Amendment 1)
and, you know, maybe this one ...
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. (Amendment 4)
Both those amendments are straight up in the CONSTITUTION of the United States of America ... Basically, uh, the supreme law of the land.
So, when did it become okay to basically target a whole group of people - in this case, students! - pretty much labeling them as terrorists before anything connects them to acts of terrorism.
OH WAIT ... Some of them talk about Islam and pray four times a day while whitewater rafting. Totally makes sense now.
Ummmm, these are MUSLIM college students. Obviously some will pray while out and about ... Obviously some talk of religion will come about. It was an Muslim Student Association trip ... and, despite that, WHO CARES!? ... They have a right to do both of those things without being covertly spied on and then having a SECRET document sent back to the NYPD about their actions. This past Sunday, I attended an event sponsored by Muslims For Peace, Inc., which focused on the NYPD surveillance, as well as the human rights issues in Bahrain. In attendance were NJ Congressman Rush Holt, NJ Senator Linda Greenstein, and Councilman Stephen Dalina of Monroe Township, NJ, as well as close to 40 attendees. Speakers described the actions of the NYPD as "tragic and un-American," citing that Muslims deserve the same rights as all other Americans. One speaker stated that if the NYPD wants cooperation they should not be secretive and "come through the front door" as it is a "religious duty to obey the laws of the land." Holt started speaking by simply stating that, "It's troubling what fear will do to a people."
He went onto describe the actions of the NYPD as "intrusive, reprehensible, and pointless," as well as counterproductive.
"People should be as much troubled by the bad police procedures as they are by the intrusive actions," said Holt.
He said that the fear people demonstrate ultimately leads to an unraveling of our society.
And, if you ask me, that is one of the truest statements I have heard to date. It is fear that led to this surveillance of Muslim students. Fear that has grown after 9/11. And, while I know that there are threats everyday that need to be investigated and looked into, this was not the way to go about it. Yes, keeping this country safe and secure is important but infringing on the rights of an entire group of people because of their faith goes directly against the same rights and freedoms we are trying to protect.
Counterproductive, don't you think?
First they came for the communists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew.
Then they came for me,
and there was no one left to speak out for me.
- Niemoller
Judge not before you judge yourself. Judge not, if you're not ready for judgement. The road of life is rocking and you may stumble too. So while you talk about me, someone else is judging you. (Judge Not, Bob Marley)
The New York Yankees are on the road to 28 World Championships ... But they could face elimination as early as tonight ... as they try to avoid getting knocked out of the playoffs.
As of right now, in the bottom of the forth, the score is 2-1 Yanks ... Let's just hope they can keep it up ... Because, as Lady Gaga would say, this is their last shot before they kiss the other side.
It's time to feel the rush, to push the dangerous. I'm gonna run back to, to the edge with you ... I'm on the edge of glory and I'm hanging on a moment with you. I'm on a edge with you. Another shot, before we kiss the other side, tonight, yeah babe. Tonight, yeah baby. I'm on the edge of something final we call tonight. (Edge of Glory, Lady Gaga)
10 years ago yesterday, the US saw the deadliest attack it has ever seen on her soil. It changed the way we see the world and it defined a generation. My generation.
Just like many people my age, I can remember exactly where I was when I heard/saw the news of that day ... It was an early Tuesday morning and I was in ninth grade biology class. We were in the middle of some random experiment dealing with dirt and bugs and other gross things that I did not want to deal with at that hour of the morning, when all of a sudden the TV in the classroom turned on (as did the rest in school as I would find out) and I saw smoke escaping the North Tower. At first, I think we all thought it was a movie ... but after a few minutes we realized the reality of it when teachers came rushing by asking for the TVs to be shut off ... But it was too late. We had already seen too much.
Growing up less than an hour from New York meant that many of our parents worked in and around the towers, including my father. He was actually heading into the city that day when he heard what had happened on the radio. He was turned around and sent back in the other direction when he got to a certain point. Many of my friends began to get calls from their parents checking in. A lot of students were picked up from school ... Some students had no idea what was going on.
Looking back on that day, I don't know if I could have predicted how the world would have changed in ten years. I think we have seen the best and the worst in people, in events, in everything.
Directly after the attacks, we saw people come out in droves to help with the recovery efforts but we also saw heinous hate crimes being committed against Muslims and Sikhs and Hindus (and Atheists and Christians and Jews who just looked like them). We have seen vigils held in honor of those killed in the attacks on our soil, but then we entered into wars with several countries and thousands of innocents lives - both American and foreign - have been lost in the process. Droughts and famine have taken the lives of hundreds of thousands of children in the Horn of Africa but people now know about the problems facing many of the regions in Africa, and are reaching out a helping hand.
Ten years later, the New York skyline may still look empty without the Towers hovering high in the sky but the world is still changing and will continue to change - I can only hope for the better.
You can take everything I have. You can break everything I am. Like I'm made of glass, like I'm made of paper. Go on and try to tear me down, I will be rising from the ground. Like a skyscraper. Like a skyscraper! (Skyscraper, Demi Lovato)
Seriously?! Seriously. Politicians are being PAID to show up at Ground Zero for the Tenth Anniversary Ceremony of 9/11 yet the first responders ... the police officers, the fire personnel, and the other rescue workers who RAN IN when others were RUNNING OUT ... are "not invited" because of lack of space? I find that to be a disgrace ... An absolute disgrace and a dishonor to them and their fallen brothers and sisters in uniform who died that day ... I cannot believe that city officials are actually using that as an excuse to get away with this.
Yes, I do believe that the victim's families have an absolute right to be there. Yes, I do believe that certain politicians need to be there [a total of 4 ... everyone else can stay home ... President Obama, Former President George W. Bush, Mayor Bloomberg (tsk tsk!!), and Former Mayor Giuliani], and, yes, clearly not every single responder can show up to the ceremony ... But telling emergency personnel that they are not invited and that there will be a separate ceremony for them on a different day. That is just disrespectful.
I don't even have anything else to say to this ... Besides, shame on you, New York, shame on you.
I want to wake up in that city that doesn't sleep and find I'm King of the Hill, Top of the List, Head of the Heap, King of the Hill ... These are little town blues. They have all melted away. I am about to make a brand new start of it, right there in old New York. (New York, New York, Frank Sinatra)
