MSNBCriously?

I’ve been keeping up on the news via msnbc.com and am just boggled by what’s been going on lately.  Moreover, readers are able to discuss certain news topics through NewsVine.com (via a direct link from many of the articles) where things often get nasty/nastier.

There was a recent story about a woman who was murdered in Puerto Rico that turned into a debate about travel to what some of the NewsVine users called “a third world country,” which elicited mixed reactions.  Some users even thought that the woman was a victim of some conspiracy theory involving her fiance.  Others spent most of the discussion either defending or defaming Puerto Ricans.  Having lived in Puerto Rico in the past, I had to jump in on a few occasions to share my own thoughts.  See if you can spot mine.

Another set of stories I was following involved our continuously weakening economy.  Joblessness is big news these days, with layoffs happening left and right.  No job– indeed, no company– is safe, it seems.  And the word “bailout” has quite possibly become the most used word in the English language in these trying times.  In fact, I entered the word on Google.com, and it yielded nearly 28 million results (which now includes this blog post).  Heck, I need a “Bailout” bailout.  What’s scary, though, is even the company I work for may not be safe.  It’s making me want to turn to alcohol.

And no one can possibly ignore the scandal involving Michael Phelps, whose latest mishap is being suspended by the USA Swimming, effectively preventing him from competing at a meet in March.  Plus, several of his major sponsors have dropped him, including Kellogg Co., on whose cereal boxes Phelps appears.  Some who are not complimentary of Phelps’ visage joke that this isn’t necessarily a bad thing.  Others chide that Kellogg Co. may have more things aligned with pot-smoking than they’re ready to acknowledge.  But Phelps still has many supporters.  It’s just funny how newsworthy this all seems.

The news about which I’m already tired of hearing involve the “miraculous” emergency landing on the Hudson River of US Airways Flight 1549– from the heroic crew to the interaction between the co-pilot and the air traffic controller to Capt. Sullenberger’s fuckin’ library late fees being waived.  They’re “heroes”, I get it.  Must we really rehash every little thing and explore every little angle?  Just do a Movie of the Week about it already and allow us to move on.  I mean, what’s next?  Will we next hear about the flight attendants efficiently locking their beverage carts in place mere seconds before impact?  Or a transcript of the prayers each one of the passengers may or may not have said while they awaited their fate?  What about the birds who are being blamed for the accident?  Will Connie Chung come out of retirement to interview the head honcho of the avian assassins?  Hmm, have I gotten so cynical that I am bothered by the incessant media coverage of this one thing?  Plus, did I just use a fuckin’ Connie Chung reference?

I must be tired…

Easter 2008 Weekend

I drove up north to spend some time with family during the Easter holiday weekend. After a leisurely brunch on Saturday– courtesy of my sister’s cooking– we headed to downtown Seattle to take in the sights and enjoy the unusually sunny day.

Our first stop was the Punk Rock Flea Market at the Underground Events Center, which the organizers perhaps named thusly to attract hipsters and hipster-wannabes (synonymous terms, in my opinion). Unfortunately, it also struck the fancy of curious onlookers (namely us) who were treated to a menagerie of junk– disguised as “arts and crafts”– for sale. Plus, you had to pay one dollar to peruse through rubbish. But, as the old adage goes– one man’s garbage is another man’s treasure– so I’m quite certain the entrepreneurs at the market made a sale or two before the end of the day. The next time I feel a hankering to wade through a collection of crafty knick-knacks of various levels of perceived value, I would sooner visit Portland’s Saturday Market where the quality is much better on any given day and admission is free.

We walked several blocks up to Pike Place Market which is always bustling. But because of Easter weekend and the uncharacteristically nice weather, the place seemed more abuzz than usual. We laughed at the drivers who attempted to traverse the cobblestone streets surrounding the market amid the hordes of pedestrians. Thankfully, none of us felt compelled to see any flying fish, which, although fun, is forever referenced with the Market and has enjoyed overexposure in movies, documentaries, and photography.

Prior to dinner, we meandered the Seattle Art Museum Olympic Sculpture Park where I snapped quite a few pictures, not the least of whom were of my totemo kawaii nieces.

Dinner on Saturday evening at the Old Spaghetti Factory near Pier 70 was tolerable at best. Remind me never to eat at Old Spaghetti Factory ever again.

Sunday was a wake-up-whenever-you-feel-like-it affair, replete with yet another tasty brunch and several hours of play on the Wii. Today, I am nursing a bum right wrist. Thanks a lot, Nintendo.