The first time I saw Alye Pollack's video, I cried. I'm not talking 'choked up' crying -- there were full-on tears. I'm not ashamed to admit that.
The video made me sad -- made me cry -- because it made me feel for Alye. No one should be called some of the things she says people have called her.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Friday, March 25, 2011
Who Needs Sleep
At the grocery store, at my kids' schools, at charity events... I get one question more than any other:
Friday, March 18, 2011
Mean
It's Friday. And I don't just know that because Rebecca Black is trending on twitter today. But thanks to twitter, I now know who Rebecca Black is. And I feel bad for her.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Another Day
Watching the news has been pretty tough recently hasn't it? I know. There's the unimaginable horror in Japan, the terrible tour bus crash in New York and economic instability in the form of rising gas and grocery prices everywhere. Here in Connecticut we've had a few deadly fires, another soldier killed in Afghanistan and jury selection in the second Cheshire home invasion trial is about to get underway. (I blogged today about that and the amazing costs associated with it at wtnh.com.)
Friday, March 11, 2011
Natural Disaster
I was all set to write something about the Big East Tournament today... about UConn playing my alma mater, Syracuse. But writing a blog post about that, just doesn't feel right, right now.
I walked into the newsroom at 3:30 this morning, and the televisions were tuned to CNN, ABC and other the networks, as usual. But instead of their usual overnight, "laid back" approach to the news of the day, they were all in "breaking news" mode -- covering the developing story of the earthquake in Japan. The pictures are both heartbreaking and hard to understand. The latter, because the images just don't look real.
We are only just beginning to get a sense of the scope of the devastation in Japan. It's frightening to think about how significant it will be.
Life goes on, of course. They'll play basketball tonight at Madison Square Garden -- and I'll be watching, and rooting on the Orange. Someone will do another dumb story about Charlie Sheen. But the least we can do today is keep all those many people affected by that natural disaster in our thoughts...
I walked into the newsroom at 3:30 this morning, and the televisions were tuned to CNN, ABC and other the networks, as usual. But instead of their usual overnight, "laid back" approach to the news of the day, they were all in "breaking news" mode -- covering the developing story of the earthquake in Japan. The pictures are both heartbreaking and hard to understand. The latter, because the images just don't look real.
We are only just beginning to get a sense of the scope of the devastation in Japan. It's frightening to think about how significant it will be.
Life goes on, of course. They'll play basketball tonight at Madison Square Garden -- and I'll be watching, and rooting on the Orange. Someone will do another dumb story about Charlie Sheen. But the least we can do today is keep all those many people affected by that natural disaster in our thoughts...
Today's Title: A pensive, peaceful tune
Thursday, March 10, 2011
(More than) One Missed Call
As yesterday's St. John's - Rutgers game was getting underway at the Big East Tournament in New York, I saw a tweet from a current Syracuse student: "Wait, (Tim) Higgins and (Jim) Burr are reffing the same game? Is the apocalypse coming?"
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Set Adrift on Memory Bliss
Last weekend, I took my annual trip down memory lane. It's my yearly visit to Syracuse University. Let's face it -- would you rather be anywhere other than Central New York, the first weekend in March?
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Crazy
He's trending on twitter, he's one of the most popular searches on google, and his story is one of the "top clicks" on the ABC News website. Charlie Sheen has lost his job and -- at least for the moment -- his kids. But he's never been bigger.
Why?
I'm not asking, "Is this news?" It's not news in the "capital J" journalism sense, though as long as it's on television, it seems to fit Merriam Webster's definition (see #2a). It's happening and people are talking about it. See the examples above or check your facebook newsfeed. Heck, just say "How about that Charlie Sheen?" when you're in line at the grocery store - you'll get a reaction.
What I want to know is why many people love stories like this so much. Do we like to see famous people fail spectacularly? The Lindsay Lohan saga has been a well-publicized and popular mess. How big has the Tiger Woods story been? We love when a star is born, but we seem to love it more when a star flames out. I guess there's always the possibility of a heart-warming comeback story. America loves a good comeback.
In the Huffington Post today, Jeff Jarvis says argues that Sheen is different than those other celebs. He says Sheen is mentally ill and the media is exploiting him.
To be honest, I don't know who's exploiting who right now. But I don't disagree with Jarvis when he says Charlie Sheen needs help. Let's hope he gets it -- for himself and for his children. And let's not miss an opportunity to use this nearly inescapable story as a "teachable moment" for our own children. Have you been looking for a way to start the "drugs are bad" discussion?
Today's title: Mr. Heidi Klum's version
Why?
I'm not asking, "Is this news?" It's not news in the "capital J" journalism sense, though as long as it's on television, it seems to fit Merriam Webster's definition (see #2a). It's happening and people are talking about it. See the examples above or check your facebook newsfeed. Heck, just say "How about that Charlie Sheen?" when you're in line at the grocery store - you'll get a reaction.
What I want to know is why many people love stories like this so much. Do we like to see famous people fail spectacularly? The Lindsay Lohan saga has been a well-publicized and popular mess. How big has the Tiger Woods story been? We love when a star is born, but we seem to love it more when a star flames out. I guess there's always the possibility of a heart-warming comeback story. America loves a good comeback.
In the Huffington Post today, Jeff Jarvis says argues that Sheen is different than those other celebs. He says Sheen is mentally ill and the media is exploiting him.
To be honest, I don't know who's exploiting who right now. But I don't disagree with Jarvis when he says Charlie Sheen needs help. Let's hope he gets it -- for himself and for his children. And let's not miss an opportunity to use this nearly inescapable story as a "teachable moment" for our own children. Have you been looking for a way to start the "drugs are bad" discussion?
Today's title: Mr. Heidi Klum's version
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Ants Marching
March is here. And that makes me and, judging by the facebook and twitter posts I've seen, a lot of people happy. March is a "Top 3" month in my book.
This month is about all about anticipation. And it starts with the weather. Sure, it's cold today... and yeah, it can still snow - a lot - in March... and the calendar says Spring doesn't start until March, 20th. But to meteorologists, spring begins today... so we've turned the corner on the cold and snowy winter. The days are getting warmer... and the sun is setting later... and in less than two weeks, we'll be moving the clocks forward.
March is also about baseball. Spring training is underway in Florida and Arizona. Players are stretching, running, throwing and hitting again. It's the sports equivalent of flowers blooming. This is the time of year for optimism. Every team -- even mine -- has a chance. Although mine wants to know if you can spare a dime.
And, of course, there's "March Madness." No, not the type Moammar Gadahfi and Charlie Sheen are providing this year. I'm talking about the NCAA Tournament -- the first two days of which (the second round in this year's new 68 team format) are two of the greatest days in all of sports. College basketball from noon to midnight... office pools... and Gus Johnson calling buzzer beaters!
What do you think -- does March rank up there for you, too? Is it still too wintery for you? Or not wintery enough?
Today's title: My favorite DMB song
This month is about all about anticipation. And it starts with the weather. Sure, it's cold today... and yeah, it can still snow - a lot - in March... and the calendar says Spring doesn't start until March, 20th. But to meteorologists, spring begins today... so we've turned the corner on the cold and snowy winter. The days are getting warmer... and the sun is setting later... and in less than two weeks, we'll be moving the clocks forward.
March is also about baseball. Spring training is underway in Florida and Arizona. Players are stretching, running, throwing and hitting again. It's the sports equivalent of flowers blooming. This is the time of year for optimism. Every team -- even mine -- has a chance. Although mine wants to know if you can spare a dime.
And, of course, there's "March Madness." No, not the type Moammar Gadahfi and Charlie Sheen are providing this year. I'm talking about the NCAA Tournament -- the first two days of which (the second round in this year's new 68 team format) are two of the greatest days in all of sports. College basketball from noon to midnight... office pools... and Gus Johnson calling buzzer beaters!
What do you think -- does March rank up there for you, too? Is it still too wintery for you? Or not wintery enough?
Today's title: My favorite DMB song
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