Thanks for the mammaries…

1. The Misanthtropic: Name something (about humanity) you absolutely hate.

     Of all the things about humanity in the world, there is one thing that we can all agree upon: mucus is disgusting.  As a matter of fact, beyond the old addage that the only thing we can be certain of is Death and Taxes, I’m sure that Mucus should replace Taxes.  Death and Mucus — it’ll happen to everyone.
     That said, why is that as soon as someone gets a severe case of Mucus Unendus, they immediately say, “You made me sick!” when it clearly could’ve been the ass at the checkout the other day who wouldn’t cover his mouth as he hacked up a lung?

2. The Meretricious: Expose something or someone that’s phony, fraudulent or bogus.

     U-Haul Truck: $19.99.  Insurance: $14.99.  The look on your face when your final bill will come out to an average of $80: Priceless.

3. The Malcontent: Name something you’re unhappy with.

     Should I be unhappy that I can’t think of anything that I’m unhappy about?

     No?

     Well, there is one thing … which is a nagging question … “Dammit, why does she have to live so far away?”

4. The Meritorious: Give someone credit for something and name it if you can.

     Nick Kougioulis did a helluva good job on this video, combining two of my favorite things:

5. The Mirror: See something good about yourself and name it.

     I moved last weekend — finally finishing up the other side on Tuesday morning.  Through the week, I helped a friend move.  This past weekend, I helped more friends move.  Today, I helped another friend unload a truck.
     Somehow, I can exert myself like that, and not wake up sore and destroyed the next day.  I guess that means I’m in good shape. 

6. The Make-Believe: Name something you wish for.

     Today’s my birthday … I wish the woman in #3 would come for a visit. 

Now it’s your turn.

You can take part in The Monday Melee, even make it a regular feature at your site by visiting The Monday Melee page and following the steps. Kick-start your brain on Mondays and meet other bloggers.

Yes it was a tragedy, yes it was traumatic for those involved, and yes it was horribly unfair. But honestly, get over it already.

Why are we as a nation so infatuated with the death of 33 people whom most of us would never have met? Is this event any different than the thousands of other events that resulted in 1200 deaths across the nation in that same period of time? Is it suddenly news worthy when 33 people die in a single event vs hundreds or thousands dying in similar yet unrelated events?

In the United States of America, how many people drank themselves to death that day? How many innocent people were killed because someone was driving while drinking themselves to death? How many toddlers were raped by a family member. How many children were beaten, bruised, maimed, or killed by their parents that day? How many children slit their wrists or hung themselves because of depression? How many people starved to death? With the exception of starvation (just eight) each of those numbers is greater than 33, most are over 100.

There are many atrocities closer to home that we should be worried about. Yet as a people the US appears intent on ignoring the “routine deaths” in favor of the sensational. Why can’t we realize that CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, and all these other so called news channels are FOR PROFIT? They don’t give one bit of shit about reporting the truth. They only care about ratings.

The news is supported by the advertisers. Ratings go up when more people watch. Advertisers pay more for shows with higher ratings. It stands to reason that a for-profit company would do everything they can to get more viewers. I see it on the national news channels, local news, and even PBS and NPR. They all constantly promise one more tidbit of information to string you along and keep you from changing channels.

Ironically, I don’t blame the news agencies. I blame you! You watch the news, you agonize over the tragedy and you buy it, hook line and sinker. Truth, lies, slanted left, slanted right, you consume it all. Your eyeballs glued to the freaking CNN or Fox News are to blame. If you wouldn’t watch the shit, they wouldn’t produce it.

So as you’re walking around tomorrow and see people wearing orange and maroon, commemorating the shooting at VT, thank them from the bottom of your heart for perpetuating a nation of lies, half truths, and sensational tragedy.