In 1972, I joined the National Organization for Women, which was six years old and had begun a strong membership drive in support of ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment. There were other male members, but not too many. It’s not that I was a staunch feminist. Hey, I was a freshman in college and cared more about meeting women than anything else. But I truly believed in equal rights and felt that it was absolutely stupid that more than half of the population were targets of legal discrimination.
Those were heady days, and even though the amendment was not ratified (for absurd reasons I will never understand), it was a period of enlightenment around gender roles and realities. Within a few years, that enlightenment seemed to spill over into the cinema, and since then, there have been several movies about women who aspire to strength and success not limited to their personal relationships. They include “Norma Rae” (1979), “Silkwood” (1983), “The Color Purple” (1985), “Aliens” (1986), “Working Girl” (1988), “The Accused” (1988), “A League of Their Own” (1992), and “Erin Brockovich” (2000).
However, a recent spate of movies has caused me to wonder about the message we, as a society, are sending to girls and young women. In films like “Julie & Julia” (the Julie character), “Sex and the City 2,” “The Kids are All Right” (Julianne Moore’s character), and “Eat Pray Love,” there seems to be a strong focus on self-absorbed, affluent, white women. Unlike some men, I dislike the term “chick flick,” and I generally prefer movies that actually deal with some level of relationships rather than merely random explosions. I also understand that the women portrayed in these movies exist in our society, but do we have to keep glorifying them when there are so many great women doing great things daily? Where are the movies about them?
I’m not saying that these movies have to be depressing. Most of the movies I listed two paragraphs above, from “Norma Rae” to “Erin Brockovich,” were highly entertaining films that I have watched several times. I just think it’s time that Hollywood and the independent filmmakers started to focus a little more on women who inspire rather than those who wallow in self-pity. I personally know plenty of women whose experiences I’d rather see portrayed on film, and I’m sure you do too.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Places to Visit in New England
One thing about a recession is that it makes you change your travel plans and look for closer locales to visit. That’s what Joni and I have done this summer, and coupled with her newly expanded love of photography, we have searched out and found some out-of-the-way places within 2 hours of our home in Massachusetts.
I’m not talking about the obvious spots like Newport, Provincetown, and Ogunquit, but rather some beautiful and slightly less tourist-affected locales. I will update this posting as I find more spots, but until then, here are a few (the photos are by Joni):
Jamestown, RI
Just over the bridge from Newport is Conanicut Island, which has a wealth of beautiful spots including the Jamestown Village Center, the Clingstone “House on the Rocks,” and the amazing Beavertail Lighthouse and Park. For food, you can enjoy breakfast at the Slice of Heaven Bakery or oysters at the Jamestown Oyster Bar.
Biddeford Pool, ME
North of Kennebunkport and Southeast of Biddeford is the Biddeford Pool—a picturesque harbor and ocean-facing peninsula that was the site of Maine’s first recorded permanent settlement, then called Winter Harbor. Aside from spectacular views from the rocks and beaches, there is a small golf course and a town center where you can visit the Pool Lobster Pound and buy everything from groceries to wine to cooked lobster and steamers you can eat at the tables outdoors that face the harbor.
Quabbin Reservoir, MA
Once upon a time, there were Massachusetts towns named Enfield, Dana, Greenwich, and Prescott. In 1938, those towns were “discontinued” so the state could construct a damn and flood the Swift River Valley, leading to the establishment of the Quabbin Reservoir, which supplies the drinking water for Boston and many of the communities of Eastern Massachuetts. What was also created was an absolutely beautiful expanse of water and hills. The best site for viewing is the Enfield Lookout at the Southern end of the lake in Ware (and you will get quickly get sick of the obvious question, “Ware?”)...you might even see a few eagles. There are many other exquisite spots to visit along this massive body of water. If you are hungry afterward, stop by the Clam Box in Brookfield for some of the best seafood in Western Mass. 
Humarock Beach, Scituate, MA
This peninsula, which is now accessible only from the town of Marshfield, contains one of the most unusual and picturesque beaches in the world. The beach consists almost entirely of smooth, fist-sized rocks, which cause the receding waves to make a humming sound. And if you get hungry, you can stop nearby at Polcari’s Bridway Inn.
Mill Falls, Methuen, MA
You wouldn’t expect to find a scenic waterfall next to an apartment building in Methuen, but there it is. Although man-made and used to generate electrical power, this is a very strong waterfall, especially after a few days of heavy rain, with a noise that is almost deafening.
Wayside Inn Grist Mill, Sudbury, MA
Not far from our home is the Grist Mill, a picture that has graced many photo displays and wedding albums. You can picnic on the lawn or walk around the back to the lake that feeds the mill’s waterfall. In the summer, there are even opportunities to go inside and learn about its history. While in the Sudbury/Marlborough area, you can have breakfast at Stephen Anthony’s (which also features a gazebo overlooking Hager’s Pond), lunch at the Halfway Café, or dinner at the Wayside Inn. 
I’m not talking about the obvious spots like Newport, Provincetown, and Ogunquit, but rather some beautiful and slightly less tourist-affected locales. I will update this posting as I find more spots, but until then, here are a few (the photos are by Joni):
Jamestown, RI
Just over the bridge from Newport is Conanicut Island, which has a wealth of beautiful spots including the Jamestown Village Center, the Clingstone “House on the Rocks,” and the amazing Beavertail Lighthouse and Park. For food, you can enjoy breakfast at the Slice of Heaven Bakery or oysters at the Jamestown Oyster Bar.
Biddeford Pool, ME
North of Kennebunkport and Southeast of Biddeford is the Biddeford Pool—a picturesque harbor and ocean-facing peninsula that was the site of Maine’s first recorded permanent settlement, then called Winter Harbor. Aside from spectacular views from the rocks and beaches, there is a small golf course and a town center where you can visit the Pool Lobster Pound and buy everything from groceries to wine to cooked lobster and steamers you can eat at the tables outdoors that face the harbor.
Quabbin Reservoir, MA
Once upon a time, there were Massachusetts towns named Enfield, Dana, Greenwich, and Prescott. In 1938, those towns were “discontinued” so the state could construct a damn and flood the Swift River Valley, leading to the establishment of the Quabbin Reservoir, which supplies the drinking water for Boston and many of the communities of Eastern Massachuetts. What was also created was an absolutely beautiful expanse of water and hills. The best site for viewing is the Enfield Lookout at the Southern end of the lake in Ware (and you will get quickly get sick of the obvious question, “Ware?”)...you might even see a few eagles. There are many other exquisite spots to visit along this massive body of water. If you are hungry afterward, stop by the Clam Box in Brookfield for some of the best seafood in Western Mass.
Doanes Falls, Royalston, MA
Just North of Athol (another obvious joke name) and South of New Hampshire is the town of Royalston, where lies the beautiful Doane’s Falls, a series of five waterfalls along a section of Lawrence Brook, a tributary of the Miller’s River. They have done a marvelous job of protecting this site while making much of it quite accessible to visitors. The falls are beautiful and very relaxing, as long as you don’t forget the bug spray. On the way home, you can stop for dinner or just more pictures at the Old Mill in Westminster.
Just North of Athol (another obvious joke name) and South of New Hampshire is the town of Royalston, where lies the beautiful Doane’s Falls, a series of five waterfalls along a section of Lawrence Brook, a tributary of the Miller’s River. They have done a marvelous job of protecting this site while making much of it quite accessible to visitors. The falls are beautiful and very relaxing, as long as you don’t forget the bug spray. On the way home, you can stop for dinner or just more pictures at the Old Mill in Westminster.
Humarock Beach, Scituate, MA
This peninsula, which is now accessible only from the town of Marshfield, contains one of the most unusual and picturesque beaches in the world. The beach consists almost entirely of smooth, fist-sized rocks, which cause the receding waves to make a humming sound. And if you get hungry, you can stop nearby at Polcari’s Bridway Inn.
Mill Falls, Methuen, MA
You wouldn’t expect to find a scenic waterfall next to an apartment building in Methuen, but there it is. Although man-made and used to generate electrical power, this is a very strong waterfall, especially after a few days of heavy rain, with a noise that is almost deafening.
Wayside Inn Grist Mill, Sudbury, MA
Not far from our home is the Grist Mill, a picture that has graced many photo displays and wedding albums. You can picnic on the lawn or walk around the back to the lake that feeds the mill’s waterfall. In the summer, there are even opportunities to go inside and learn about its history. While in the Sudbury/Marlborough area, you can have breakfast at Stephen Anthony’s (which also features a gazebo overlooking Hager’s Pond), lunch at the Halfway Café, or dinner at the Wayside Inn.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
BP and You
Unless you’ve been living in a cave, you know by now of the magnitude of the BP oil disaster in the gulf. This is the largest environmental debacle in US history, and it threatens to eventually affect every shoreline from Mexico to Canada, with the entire US East coast in the balance. It was shoddy drilling practices that led to the problem, and British Petroleum was responsible.
So how has BP reacted? First by dragging its feet in getting equipment into place to clean up the spill, then by lying to the President, Congress, and the American people about the magnitude of the problem, then by lobbying to get a judge who has financial interest in the oil industry. Finally, they have spent millions of dollars and countless experts in their fields to develop…wait, here’s the punch line…an advertising campaign which they are plastering on the most expensive TV ad time to describe the responsibility they are displaying in the face of this “situation.” They should be giving those millions of dollars to the fishermen whose lives they have ruined or to all of us consumers who will bear the brunt of absurdly high food costs resulting from this devastation.
Let’s face it—these people should go to jail! Everyone from BP’s CEO to their Board of Directors to the people responsible for the ad campaign should be locked up in a prison with Louisiana’s most dangerous inmates, who will be encouraged to plug their holes daily.
So what can you do about it? Aside from donating to charities to help those financially ruined by the disaster, you can boycott all BP products and affiliates. They include AMPM (Convenience Store Chain), ARCO (retail gasoline brand on the US West coast), and Castrol, as well as any company whose name starts with BP. Then, pay attention to who votes for what in Congress in the next few months and vote against any bastards who side with BP or other oil companies in deflecting responsibility for this environmental nightmare.
So how has BP reacted? First by dragging its feet in getting equipment into place to clean up the spill, then by lying to the President, Congress, and the American people about the magnitude of the problem, then by lobbying to get a judge who has financial interest in the oil industry. Finally, they have spent millions of dollars and countless experts in their fields to develop…wait, here’s the punch line…an advertising campaign which they are plastering on the most expensive TV ad time to describe the responsibility they are displaying in the face of this “situation.” They should be giving those millions of dollars to the fishermen whose lives they have ruined or to all of us consumers who will bear the brunt of absurdly high food costs resulting from this devastation.
Let’s face it—these people should go to jail! Everyone from BP’s CEO to their Board of Directors to the people responsible for the ad campaign should be locked up in a prison with Louisiana’s most dangerous inmates, who will be encouraged to plug their holes daily.
So what can you do about it? Aside from donating to charities to help those financially ruined by the disaster, you can boycott all BP products and affiliates. They include AMPM (Convenience Store Chain), ARCO (retail gasoline brand on the US West coast), and Castrol, as well as any company whose name starts with BP. Then, pay attention to who votes for what in Congress in the next few months and vote against any bastards who side with BP or other oil companies in deflecting responsibility for this environmental nightmare.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Obama’s Energy Policy
I have been a strong supporter of Barack Obama for quite some time, and I think that overall, he’s doing an excellent job as President. However, dating back to mid-2008, there is one issue that has bothered me, and that is his energy policy.
The key to this policy is energy independence, and for a variety of reasons, it makes sense conceptually. The less we rely on the Middle East for our energy demands, the more likely we will be to guarantee our own security and protect our economy. The problem is that the President has adopted a sort of throw-caution-to-the-wind posture, embracing options for “clean coal,” nuclear power, and oil drilling. In fact, just prior to the latest environmental disaster in the Gulf, Obama had approved a plan to relax restrictions on offshore drilling, leading some to believe that the “drill baby drill” people had gotten to him.
While he has reversed that policy in the wake of the BP debacle, it’s not clear whether Obama is ready to reconsider his approach. The truth is that while the BP oil spill is a terrible nightmare, it pales in comparison to the damage that could be inflicted by a nuclear mishap, and there is very little evidence that “clean coal” is any better for the environment than any other kind of coal.
What eludes me in all his tough talk against the oil companies is why Obama has not put an all-out effort into increased, safe, carbon-free and waste-free energy options such as wind, water, and solar. Let’s face it, if any of those options cease to exist—if the sun, for example, should burn out—we will all be dead anyway.
So, why not take the equivalent of the money we spent on the war in Iraq and spend it on developing cost-efficient solar power, with effective battery solutions for storing that power? In Bush’s case, the answer was simple—he didn’t want to buck the oil companies, which were among his greatest financial supporters. But Obama is supposed to be different—a man of change who is independent of the big oil money.
In the long run, if we can harness the power of the sun, wind, and water, and store it successfully to draw upon as needed, we will permanently solve our energy concerns and become truly energy-independent.
The key to this policy is energy independence, and for a variety of reasons, it makes sense conceptually. The less we rely on the Middle East for our energy demands, the more likely we will be to guarantee our own security and protect our economy. The problem is that the President has adopted a sort of throw-caution-to-the-wind posture, embracing options for “clean coal,” nuclear power, and oil drilling. In fact, just prior to the latest environmental disaster in the Gulf, Obama had approved a plan to relax restrictions on offshore drilling, leading some to believe that the “drill baby drill” people had gotten to him.
While he has reversed that policy in the wake of the BP debacle, it’s not clear whether Obama is ready to reconsider his approach. The truth is that while the BP oil spill is a terrible nightmare, it pales in comparison to the damage that could be inflicted by a nuclear mishap, and there is very little evidence that “clean coal” is any better for the environment than any other kind of coal.
What eludes me in all his tough talk against the oil companies is why Obama has not put an all-out effort into increased, safe, carbon-free and waste-free energy options such as wind, water, and solar. Let’s face it, if any of those options cease to exist—if the sun, for example, should burn out—we will all be dead anyway.
So, why not take the equivalent of the money we spent on the war in Iraq and spend it on developing cost-efficient solar power, with effective battery solutions for storing that power? In Bush’s case, the answer was simple—he didn’t want to buck the oil companies, which were among his greatest financial supporters. But Obama is supposed to be different—a man of change who is independent of the big oil money.
In the long run, if we can harness the power of the sun, wind, and water, and store it successfully to draw upon as needed, we will permanently solve our energy concerns and become truly energy-independent.
Friday, June 18, 2010
A Few More Thoughts on Professional Sports
Sorry I’ve been writing so much lately about sports, but TV shows are changing seasons, and movies and Broadway this year have mostly sucked. So, here are a few more thought about sports.
The World Cup
This may sound very American, but soccer bores me. They play entire games with no score or a 1-1 tie. Can’t they make the goal bigger or something? Then there’s the “heading” of the ball…how much abuse must their brains take? Finally, and in the proper deference to “Invictus” and Mandela and all, I hope they never hold the damned thing in South Africa again, not as long as the fans there keep blowing those vuvuzelas—the incessant buzzing horns you hear in the background. Maybe the same person who invented instant replay can invent a device that eliminates that obnoxious sound.
Sports Commentators
We should get a chance to pick our commentators through popular vote. I just finished watching the NBA Finals—congratulations Lakers fans (even if you are a bunch of surgically enhanced airheads). Anyhow, back to the point…has there ever been a worse color commentator than Mark Jackson? Let’s face it, he was at the middle of the pack as a player, and he’s just a moron as an announcer. Aren’t there enough bright, articulate NBA veterans around that we shouldn’t have to suffer through the playoffs listening to this fool’s endlessly uninspired droning? We only got to hear Magic Johnson for a few minutes per night, but we had to listen to Mark Jackson for hours…what’s wrong with that picture (literally and figuratively)?
MLB Commissioner
Can’t we get someone better than Bud Selig to be the Commissioner of Major League Baseball? It’s not enough that he was an owner of an MLB team (Milwaukee Brewers) or that he owned that team and was acting commissioner throughout the steroid era, but he continues to make ill-advised, gutless decisions, like calling the 2002 All-Star game a tie and failing to recognize Armando Galarraga’s perfect game. At least we in American League cities can revel in his decision to award World Series home field advantage to the league that wins the All-Star game, but if I lived in Philly, I’d be pissed off. If we could resurrect Kenesaw Mountain Landis (look him up youngsters), I would favor it, but maybe we could do the next best thing and find a more impartial, decisive leader for a sport that is in danger of becoming irrelevant.
The World Cup
This may sound very American, but soccer bores me. They play entire games with no score or a 1-1 tie. Can’t they make the goal bigger or something? Then there’s the “heading” of the ball…how much abuse must their brains take? Finally, and in the proper deference to “Invictus” and Mandela and all, I hope they never hold the damned thing in South Africa again, not as long as the fans there keep blowing those vuvuzelas—the incessant buzzing horns you hear in the background. Maybe the same person who invented instant replay can invent a device that eliminates that obnoxious sound.
Sports Commentators
We should get a chance to pick our commentators through popular vote. I just finished watching the NBA Finals—congratulations Lakers fans (even if you are a bunch of surgically enhanced airheads). Anyhow, back to the point…has there ever been a worse color commentator than Mark Jackson? Let’s face it, he was at the middle of the pack as a player, and he’s just a moron as an announcer. Aren’t there enough bright, articulate NBA veterans around that we shouldn’t have to suffer through the playoffs listening to this fool’s endlessly uninspired droning? We only got to hear Magic Johnson for a few minutes per night, but we had to listen to Mark Jackson for hours…what’s wrong with that picture (literally and figuratively)?
MLB Commissioner
Can’t we get someone better than Bud Selig to be the Commissioner of Major League Baseball? It’s not enough that he was an owner of an MLB team (Milwaukee Brewers) or that he owned that team and was acting commissioner throughout the steroid era, but he continues to make ill-advised, gutless decisions, like calling the 2002 All-Star game a tie and failing to recognize Armando Galarraga’s perfect game. At least we in American League cities can revel in his decision to award World Series home field advantage to the league that wins the All-Star game, but if I lived in Philly, I’d be pissed off. If we could resurrect Kenesaw Mountain Landis (look him up youngsters), I would favor it, but maybe we could do the next best thing and find a more impartial, decisive leader for a sport that is in danger of becoming irrelevant.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
The Problem with Sports Officiating
A Detroit pitcher is denied a perfect game by a bad call on the last out. A day later, in the first game of the NBA Finals, almost every possession for each team results in a foul call, a week after Dwight Howard is allowed to elbow opposing players at will. Stories of bad officiating resound almost daily, fostered in part by advances in technology that give TV viewers a more accurate grasp of the on-field action than those actually participating in it. Maybe we need to change our paradigm regarding professional sports officiating.
Let’s face it, professional athletes are millionaires, some making upwards of $20 million per year. At the same time, billions are bet on these events, yet we stick with the decades-old concept of the often fallible, occasionally corrupt referee, judge, or umpire having the final say on important calls or non-calls.
I know from judging karate tournaments that it’s not always easy to make the right call, even when you are trying your hardest and there is little or no money at stake. So why, when there is so much on the line, do we leave the decisions up to often-underpaid officials when the rest of us can see, on instant replay, every time they make a mistake?
The NFL took the first step with replay challenges, and the other sports have adopted replay on a limited basis, but it is still up to the officials on the field or court to decide when and how to use it, often slowing the game to a crawl while they do so. We need a 21st century solution based on current sensibilities and technology.
Why not have a replay booth above the action or even in a central, monitored location, where officials see what we see, with the option of reversing calls in real time? Rather than having officials stop the action to run off the field or stick their heads under a makeshift tent, these replay mavens would always be there, keeping an eye on the action and attempting to guarantee consistency from game to game and play to play. Given the millions of dollars spent each game on players and broadcasting, wouldn’t it make sense to spend a few more dollars to assure that the fans are getting what they are paying (a great deal) for and expect?
It’s time for the professional leagues/associations to not be constrained by the old ways and to completely rethink how these games are officiated. Only then will we all get from sports what we want and deserve.
Let’s face it, professional athletes are millionaires, some making upwards of $20 million per year. At the same time, billions are bet on these events, yet we stick with the decades-old concept of the often fallible, occasionally corrupt referee, judge, or umpire having the final say on important calls or non-calls.
I know from judging karate tournaments that it’s not always easy to make the right call, even when you are trying your hardest and there is little or no money at stake. So why, when there is so much on the line, do we leave the decisions up to often-underpaid officials when the rest of us can see, on instant replay, every time they make a mistake?
The NFL took the first step with replay challenges, and the other sports have adopted replay on a limited basis, but it is still up to the officials on the field or court to decide when and how to use it, often slowing the game to a crawl while they do so. We need a 21st century solution based on current sensibilities and technology.
Why not have a replay booth above the action or even in a central, monitored location, where officials see what we see, with the option of reversing calls in real time? Rather than having officials stop the action to run off the field or stick their heads under a makeshift tent, these replay mavens would always be there, keeping an eye on the action and attempting to guarantee consistency from game to game and play to play. Given the millions of dollars spent each game on players and broadcasting, wouldn’t it make sense to spend a few more dollars to assure that the fans are getting what they are paying (a great deal) for and expect?
It’s time for the professional leagues/associations to not be constrained by the old ways and to completely rethink how these games are officiated. Only then will we all get from sports what we want and deserve.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Ruminations
The nice thing about having my own blog is that every now and then, I can just shoot off a disconnected bunch of ramblings about whatever is on my mind. This is one of those.
On Entertainment:
• What’s wrong with American Idol? Because of changes in the show’s demographics and the fact that there are no real restrictions on telephone voting, the vast majority of voters are young white girls and women, many of whom vote on whom they think is the “cutest” rather than who really deserves it. Hence, the past three winners have almost been clones of each other, the last two of which (Kris Allen and Lee DeWyze) clearly beating better-singing opponents (Adam Lambert and Crystal Bowersox). African American finalist Michael Lynche never had a chance—would Reuben Studdard or Fantasia win these days? Unless they find a fix for the voting, the show will continue to produce these white-bread clones and the rest of the public will start to lose interest.
• Why are TV seasons so short? I remember when shows stayed on the air from September until May, when the summer reruns started. Now, it seems like every time a show gets going, its season ends. How can you really get excited about “Mad Men” or “Parenthood” when there are fewer than 10 shows per year?
• What happened to romantic comedies? I thoroughly enjoyed movies like “Bringing Up Baby” “The Philadelphia Story,” and “Pretty Woman.” They were good films, and there used to be many other romantic comedies worth watching. Now, it seems like they are all lame, formulaic nonsense. Too bad.
On Sports:
• Why is Dwight Howard allowed to foul at will? I’ve been watching the Magic winning the last two games against the Celtics, partly by physically attacking the Celtics players, and Howard is the chief offender. In addition, when any Celtics go near him, they are called for fouls. Maybe Tim Donaghy was right.
• Why do Tampa Bay fans deserve a major league baseball team? Here’s an MLB-leading team that was in the World Series two years ago, and none of the fans show up to what is clearly the major league’s worst ballpark. Then, when they actually come to a game, they ring cowbells. Please!
• Why did the NFL award the 2014 Super Bowl to New Jersey? Until now, no team playing in an open stadium in a cold climate has ever been allowed to even apply for a Super Bowl, yet New York is awarded one for a stadium that is not even built yet. The average temperature in New York on February 2 is 30 degrees—during the day. Yet, they are going to play a nighttime game in that stadium. I somehow doubt that if Green Bay, Buffalo, or New England had asked, they would have been considered. It’s a bad idea—the most important annual sporting event in the world should not potentially be decided by weather.
On Driving:
• Why do Boston drivers get a bad rap? I’ve been driving in Boston since I was 16, and the drivers are certainly aggressive, but they generally pay attention. In driving through New Jersey and Philadelphia lately, I realize that most of the drivers there are relatively unconscious. I’ll take aggressive any day.
• What happened to passing in the left lane? Several years ago, the government decided that gas mileage worked out better if people were told they could drive any legal speed in any lane, so they dropped from the driver’s manuals any mention about driving on the right and passing on the left. Big mistake. How many times do you get stuck on the highway between two or three yahoos driving the same slow speed next to each other? When you flash headlights at them, they look at you like you’re from another planet. Likewise, you’ve got testocerone-induced drivers passing at 90 MPH in the right lane, where most cars have a blind spot. Let’s start a movement to reinstate the left passing lane.
• Do we really need generic cars? There are some cars that are so generic that they don’t deserve a name…they should just be called “car.” For 2010, I place in this category the Toyota Corolla, Mercury Milan, Nissan Versa, Kia Rio, Buick Lucerne, Chevrolet Malibu, and Ford Taurus. My criticism has nothing to do with price, it’s about the lack of imagination that goes into producing and buying one of these lame vehicles. If you dislike driving so much, take the bus.
On Entertainment:
• What’s wrong with American Idol? Because of changes in the show’s demographics and the fact that there are no real restrictions on telephone voting, the vast majority of voters are young white girls and women, many of whom vote on whom they think is the “cutest” rather than who really deserves it. Hence, the past three winners have almost been clones of each other, the last two of which (Kris Allen and Lee DeWyze) clearly beating better-singing opponents (Adam Lambert and Crystal Bowersox). African American finalist Michael Lynche never had a chance—would Reuben Studdard or Fantasia win these days? Unless they find a fix for the voting, the show will continue to produce these white-bread clones and the rest of the public will start to lose interest.
• Why are TV seasons so short? I remember when shows stayed on the air from September until May, when the summer reruns started. Now, it seems like every time a show gets going, its season ends. How can you really get excited about “Mad Men” or “Parenthood” when there are fewer than 10 shows per year?
• What happened to romantic comedies? I thoroughly enjoyed movies like “Bringing Up Baby” “The Philadelphia Story,” and “Pretty Woman.” They were good films, and there used to be many other romantic comedies worth watching. Now, it seems like they are all lame, formulaic nonsense. Too bad.
On Sports:
• Why is Dwight Howard allowed to foul at will? I’ve been watching the Magic winning the last two games against the Celtics, partly by physically attacking the Celtics players, and Howard is the chief offender. In addition, when any Celtics go near him, they are called for fouls. Maybe Tim Donaghy was right.
• Why do Tampa Bay fans deserve a major league baseball team? Here’s an MLB-leading team that was in the World Series two years ago, and none of the fans show up to what is clearly the major league’s worst ballpark. Then, when they actually come to a game, they ring cowbells. Please!
• Why did the NFL award the 2014 Super Bowl to New Jersey? Until now, no team playing in an open stadium in a cold climate has ever been allowed to even apply for a Super Bowl, yet New York is awarded one for a stadium that is not even built yet. The average temperature in New York on February 2 is 30 degrees—during the day. Yet, they are going to play a nighttime game in that stadium. I somehow doubt that if Green Bay, Buffalo, or New England had asked, they would have been considered. It’s a bad idea—the most important annual sporting event in the world should not potentially be decided by weather.
On Driving:
• Why do Boston drivers get a bad rap? I’ve been driving in Boston since I was 16, and the drivers are certainly aggressive, but they generally pay attention. In driving through New Jersey and Philadelphia lately, I realize that most of the drivers there are relatively unconscious. I’ll take aggressive any day.
• What happened to passing in the left lane? Several years ago, the government decided that gas mileage worked out better if people were told they could drive any legal speed in any lane, so they dropped from the driver’s manuals any mention about driving on the right and passing on the left. Big mistake. How many times do you get stuck on the highway between two or three yahoos driving the same slow speed next to each other? When you flash headlights at them, they look at you like you’re from another planet. Likewise, you’ve got testocerone-induced drivers passing at 90 MPH in the right lane, where most cars have a blind spot. Let’s start a movement to reinstate the left passing lane.
• Do we really need generic cars? There are some cars that are so generic that they don’t deserve a name…they should just be called “car.” For 2010, I place in this category the Toyota Corolla, Mercury Milan, Nissan Versa, Kia Rio, Buick Lucerne, Chevrolet Malibu, and Ford Taurus. My criticism has nothing to do with price, it’s about the lack of imagination that goes into producing and buying one of these lame vehicles. If you dislike driving so much, take the bus.
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