Down on the corner, out on Main Street

media types crack me up. the very people that are paid to put a creative, interesting spin on the bland old news of the day will seize any opportunity to take the easy way out and use easy plays on words or other phrases and terminologies that are supposed to stick in our minds. "the palin effect" comes to mind recently (kimmel has a great couple of videos splicing footage of all the talking heads using the phrase that pays) among a handful of others.

but all pale in comparison to the one dominating the headlines recently: "from wall street to main street." i find this laughable because the ones that created this corny tagline are undoubtedly from areas devoid of any true main street. furthering the insult, politicians--the ones living in fancy houses (like 13 of them, perhaps?) in large metropolitan areas or their richer suburban climes--have adopted the saying as well. it makes for a catchy campaign term, but the fact is that the idealistic "main street" both media and politicos so fondly talk about no longer exists, particularly in their necks of the woods.

before cell phones, the internet and ATMs, there was a "main street" america. it was at the heart of all the smallest towns, hamlets, villages and unincorporated areas of the country. even the larger cities had an area or two that conjured up nostalgic feelings of community and of a central gathering area. but that idyllic painting faded years ago as people in cities retreated to their offices and homes, suburbanites moved to exurbs and rural dwellers no longer had much need for a main street because they could simply accomplish most anything they needed to from home.

i'm amazed at how out of touch these creative minds really are with the reality of our society. the truth is that while there is most certainly a Wall Street (or what's left of it anyway), there just isn't any longer a Main Street--either because it's been renamed for some local sports hero or because people just no longer congregate as they used to--leaving their coup de grâce of clever wordplay and imagery out cold...on the street.

One man does it alone

i could write some long-winded, smarmy post but i won't. i read this article on ESPN.com about a former athlete that finally got it right. the article speaks for itself and it's a great read. good on you, mr. bender. good on you.


***if only more "role" models would only live up to the moniker and expectations.....

Is that my line?

my political affiliation isn't much of a secret, and i'm anything if not staunch in my views and gladly throw my support behind those who share my views. but none of this precludes me from hating politicians from both sides of the aisle.

i thought my ire had reached its peak when a certain governor from a certain, ahem, "state" had an interview with a fairly credible journalist and failed to comprehend the basic principles of the doctrine of her predecessor. it certainly reinforced my figuring that americans are, in no uncertain terms, fucking stupid and have no problem flaunting it by supporting their elementary school librarian for the 2nd highest office in the land. but then came a moment that shot my blood pressure through the rough and forced steam from my ears....and it came from MY candidate.

let me understand one thing: you've been on the stump for how long now? and after all this time of repeating the same thing over and over and over and over and then over some more, you STILL can't remember what you're supposed to say without reading a goddamned queue card? really?!

you know when you're lying in bed at night all relaxed and suddenly you pick up on this annoying little sound and it's the only thing you can focus on? well, the same thing is happening to me every time i see a political ad (local, state, federal or otherwise) where there's a person talking to the camera. i haven't a clue what they're actually saying because i've tuned them out. instead, i focus on their eyes and see if they ever avert their gaze from the queue card and talk to me from the heart. and the answer is always no. and it makes me want to make my own ad where i speak to politicians and i say "i see your lips moving, but all i hear is 'blah blah blah blah. i'm a dirty skank.'"

look, if you want to be taken seriously and you want us to believe you're genuine in your words and in your convictions, it may be a good idea to be able to recite these things by rote memory. just a suggestion.

but i guess it's a good thing i don't actually hear what they're saying. ya know, since every article i've read in the past few weeks claim that none of the "facts" contained in these ads are true. god, you just gotta love election season.