Here’s the problem with “news”

ok, so i watch the news on TV in the morning to get traffic and weather. also, occasionally i like to hear what’s going on locally. but TV news, like most things, has lead me to become angry and frustrated. here’s the breakdown:

first, the teaser: Is There Danger Lurking In Your Water?
if there really was danger, shouldn’t you be telling everyone now? i mean, really?

then, the story: A Small Segment of the Population May Have Experienced Something. We’ll provide you some anecdotes from passer-by, but we won’t actually report on details or the full story.

this is driving me crazy. and it panders (IMO) to the segment of America (read, most of America) who believes whatever they hear, and doesn’t question it. OR they question it because it opposes their preconceived ideas that they hold onto like a petulant child or certain president, never admitting they could possibly be wrong, mistaken, or misinformed.

and then i read this in the Straight Dope today, which just furthers my rage and disappointment:

“What about the Prius and its allegedly grim environmental impact? The cause of the controversy seems to be a report called “Dust to Dust” by Oregon-based CNW Marketing Research. The report claims a Prius has a higher lifetime energy cost than a Hummer, an assertion cited by George Will in 2007 in his syndicated newspaper column. But the report is ludicrous. It evidently was self-published, lists no authors, quotes no technical literature, never explains its methodology, and contains numerous unsupported and often bizarre assertions. (Sample: a Prius will have a life span of only 109,000 miles whereas an H1 will last for 379,000 miles, apparently the basis for the contention that the Hummer’s per-mile costs are lower.) Only a fool or a commentator with an ax to grind would take such nonsense seriously.”

damn right, Cecil. because it doesn’t matter what the facts are, or how inconclusive a study may be, we have to cling to ideas unwaveringly once we find them acceptable. it’s subjective truth. it doesn’t matter which side you come down on in any debate, once you pick your side you stick with it to the death. even if more information comes out. even if your source for facts is clearly biased. believe what the TV and radio tell you and you can be self-righteous without the annoying task of informing yourself.

grumble.

Who eats these?

a well-meaning sales rep – uh, i mean, Account Executive – came around with caaahndy this afternoon. except that it was (brace yourself for an ageist remark) Old People Candy. who under 65 eats butterscotch & peppermint? seperately, i mean. i don't think anyone in their right mind would eat them together.

now that i'm thinking about it, though, i kind of want to try a peppermintbutterscotch. pepperbutterscotchmint? i bet they go together like bacon and ice cream.

upon further thought, i *like* bacon & ice cream separately, and would never want them together. HOWEVER, i *dislike* (ok, am apathetic toward) peppermint and butterscotch separately, so maybe, together, they're totally awesome. i mean, pepper and butter go together. and mint and scotch probably have a dynamic thing going on. so peppermint and butterscotch? putterscint? buppermotch? pettermotch? betpermintch?

so who wants to try it and let me know?

Qualities Necessary in an Employee and Boyfriend

as i have been informed:

Major Attributes:
• Dynamic leader and team builder, consistently motivating others toward success.
• Effective working alone or as a cooperative member.
• Reliable. Willing and able to show up on time.
• Honest and trustworthy.
• Good attitude around others, willing to help, patient with people, always willing to help

i'll take four out of five. for reals.

Me an' my home-skwhirl

Aw, these squirrels think they're peoples!

nerd!

She's Crafty!

ok, the jewelry making is going good. i'm almost ready, and by that i mean i think i'm on track for a May launch. been doing a lot of little magnets, too. next step is to design the website.

i've 'finished' one guitar strap -- that is, i f*ed up a lot but figured out what i needed to know. i'm kind of funny that way... on one hand, i go in prepared, taking in all the info i can about a project, possibly reading books, checking out comparable products, determining all materials available and which would be the best at the least expensive price to use (or utilize, haha). on the other hand, i go all out -- for the first strap i decided to use brocade, which, if you sew, you know is slippery and frays a LOT. also, i'm really stingy and impatient, so instead of just using what i really needed to make it easy and carefully measuring, i bought as small an amount as i thought safe and 'eyeballed' a lot.

so i blew it but got some important lessons out of it, lessons i only would have learned otherwise by having someone actually instruct me.

in other crafty news, i bought a 'knifty knitter' loom with my 50% off AC Moore coupon to see if the products it creates are a) easier than just knitting them and b) up to my standards. i just got it last night so i haven't tried it out yet.

also purchased yesterday: a Hula Hoop!!! last time i went to get one the Toys'R'Us was SOLD OUT. can you believe it? i couldn't. but my perseverance has paid off (that is, i made a whole nother trip) and i scored Hoopage. it's called a Wave Hoop, by the way.

and finally, last night i was driving home from practice, and the dude beside honks at me at a light. he's lucky i looked on his second honk cos usually it's some jackass and i pay no mind. turned out he needed help finding 495 -- and just as he asked the light turned green. i had the presence of mind to just say "follow me" and i managed to lead CHICHIE (the plates read) from New York to 495, as he desired. He pulled by me on the highway and waved as he passed, and i was pleased. Hooray for civility!

the cat's been getting sick a lot lately, but she's still pretty damn fat. i want to tell her "bulemia: ur doin it wrong." (it's probably just hairballs, no one worry).

Right now

sitting in my workroom, making little magnets, listening to Rolling Stones & Motown; the cat's asleep in a patch of sunlight.

it doesn't get much better.