Random Thought: August 2011

I am starting to see the ads for the anniversary of 9/11. The survivors of that terrible day, and, the victims families. While it is compelling to hear these stories, I will try to limit my intake of the sobering memories of that day. It still is too much for me to process. The planes flying too low. The thoughts of those people on the plane, terrified, not knowing what will happen. Those big, beautiful World Trade Center buildings on that bright day, slowly awaiting fate to hit them. The people going about their day in those buildings, not knowing some will die soon and their dreams will be forever muted. A Pentagon sitting vulnerable to disaster. And, that lonely field in Pennsylvania, grass growing alongside flowers, soon to be a graveyard for that final plane. These images still give me chills. I guess I will watch some of the specials, but, not out of ghoulishness. But, rather, as my small tribute to the victims and survivors of this generations ''Day Of Infamy''.... On the other end of the intelligent spectrum is ''Jersey Shore''. You know of, or have heard of the show. A bunch of male and female Fredo Corleones from ''The Godfather'' get together and, well, I'm not sure to do what, except to dumb down the world. From my observation, there seems to be two types of fans of the show: those who take it seriously, and, those that see through it, but, still watch. Now, the people who take it seriously are not worth trying to convince: they aren't reading this, and, probably don't know how to read anyway. The other group who watch must be addressed. The feeling I get from some people I know around me-- and, respect--- is, '' Yes, I know its not real. I know its stupid, but, I can't stop watching it, like a car crash.'' Understandable. It is not necessary to watch PBS all the time. You are allowed in life to watch whatever you want. However, what worries me is that these people really don't get the joke. The reason you watch  ''Jersey Shore'' is unimportant: you watch it and that's all the people who put it together care about. Like supporting someone who is on drugs or alcohol, you are an '' feeding the habit''. And, if you feed that habit, then you are part of the joke. All I know is when I watch entertainment, I try to watch something that isn't insulting me by viewing it. To each his own... There are certain people who ride bikes in the street who think they own the street. You have seen them: they dress up like they are competing in the '' Tour De France.'' They have the fashionable biking outfit going. They try to look like Lance Armstrong. Fine. But, stop getting in the way of my car when I drive. You are taking over the whole lane. I really feel like hitting them with my car... As a sidenote, I love watching the highlights of the ''Tour''. Like bowling pins all going down at once, when one stumbles the rest go tumbling down. I like that. I like to think the hand of God is pushing them for all of us motorists... Ever notice that when a movie is set in prison the movie star is a nice guy, a victim of a crime '' HE DID NOT COMMITT!'' ? And, the handsome movie star is threatened, but, never really harmed in jail? Yeah, like in real life that is believable. If Brad Pitt or his ilk were in prison, they would be used like the only woman on a pirate ship.... Conan O'Brian seems to be sinking fast on his much ballyhooed talk show on TBS. I suppose this is some form on comeuppance. Contrary to the spin he and his people have put out, he forced NBC to replace Jay Leno in 2009 with him, this, while Leno was still number 1. For Leno , this had to be his comeuppance: in the early 90's, he and his manger conspired to shove Johnny Carson out the door early. After much public embarrassment, Conan took over for Jay, got beat royally by Letterman, and, was paid a fortune to leave NBC for greener pastures. He found it on TBS, or, so he thought. The ratings were good at the beginning, but, this is deceiving. All new shows, especially one as hyped as Conans', gets big numbers at first. Then, it settles down, and, then, that is when you can judge results. Conan is doing so bad that he took down ''The George Lopez Show'' after him. And, one last thing, Conan pushed out Lopez out of his slot when he came to TBS. Karma can be a bitch, Conan.... Finally,  while I was writing this, nameless heroes showed their faces. At any given time, human bravery makes a most welcome entrance. The fireman who saves people in a burning building. The policeman who catch that animal murdering innocent civilians. The politician, finally, standing up for what is right. The father who goes out to a job he hates just so his family can have a home and food. The single mother, abused in a relationship, who bravely walks away to an unknown future. The child who stops another child from being bullied. The millionaire who gives desperately needed money to charity. The doctors and nurses who take care of our sick and elderly. Those people, and , all the rest of us who try to get through life in a good and honest way, without hurting someone else. We are all the Silent Heroes who never get the glamour and praise in life that the ''Jersey Shore'' people get. These acts are all going on right now. I salute them, and, all of you....