1/19/17
My wife and I just returned from a trip to the Florida
Gulf Coast. It was terrific in every
way and inspired us to begin what promises to be an extended search for
property in that part of the world. But
rather than engage in a travelogue in which there is neither room nor reason
for my usual cynicism and “glass ¾ empty” approach to travel, I will confine my
comments to a matter only ancillarily related to the trip.
What the world really needs is a genuine cable news
station. In Chicago, we have WBBM
Newsradio 78. In New York, they have
WCBS and 1010 WINS. Other cities have
similar stations, though I suspect their number is shrinking. What is frequently called “news radio” in
other markets is in reality what we would call “talk radio” in larger markets. The beauty of a WBBM, a WCBS, or a 1010 WINS
is that its listeners are never more than a half hour away from a concise
summary of the genuine news of the day.
For those of us who suffer from the heartbreak of news junkiness, these
stations are a lifeline to sanity in a world overcome by silliness.
The problem arises when one travels away from Chicago or
New York. One is not normally familiar
with the characteristics of the local AM radio stations and must search for a
news station in the car. Usually, one is
disappointed to find either no news stations or talk stations or sports talk
stations that falsely label themselves news stations. Even if one were to find a genuine news
station, AM reception is poor in hotel rooms.
This leaves us who, even during a relaxed and wonderful vacation are compelled
to keep up with the news, limited to what is available on the television…and
there is the problem.
We did not have CNBC in our hotel, which was fine because
I wanted to get away from the markets for a while. In order to keep up with the news, though,
that left us with CNN and Fox News. So
what is the problem, you might ask? Can’t
one get news on the Cable NEWS Network or Fox NEWS? The answer, ironically, is no.
There is little if any news on either of the big cable news
station, or at least there is no news at reasonably predictable times. Instead, what we get on CNN and Fox are
panels of “experts,” with varying, but generally abysmally low, degrees of
expertise arguing about esoteric points that matter not a whit to anyone who
does not reside within 20 miles of the Washington Beltway. Who really cares about the confirmation
prospects of Mr. Trump’s pick for the post of Second Assistant Deputy
Undersecretary of Undershirts?
Apparently, only the estimables who populate CNN and Fox News; one has
rarely seen such passion, and such volume, expended on matters with such
indiscernible consequences for the average person…or even for the typical news
junky like yours truly.
Furthermore, is there any “news” on either Fox or CNN
that is not “breaking”? What is this
with all the “breaking news” that is notable only for its lack of import,
consequence, or timeliness? “Breaking
news: interviews at Trump Tower
continue.” “Breaking news: Weather is Cold and Snowy in the Midwest in
January.” Really?
Once upon a time, there was a station called CNN Headline
News, which delivered summaries of the news in half hour intervals. Its beauty, like that of the aforementioned
genuine news radio stations, was that one could get to the news of the day
within a half hour regardless of the time of day or one’s location. The channel still exists as CNNHN, but apparently
has been taken over editorially by the people who lost their jobs when the
Weekly World News ceased to exist; CNNHN’s fare consists entirely of far too deep
a dive into the latest ghastly and pervertedly titillating crime stories.
The obvious conclusion is that the relatively straight
news programming once provided by CNN Headline News does not sell and that is
why the format of the station was radically reconstituted into a sort of
National Enquirer of the Air. What
apparently does sell, judging from what one sees when one is forced to watch
CNN and Fox News, is a lot of yelling, screaming and ad hominem attacks by marginally informed commentators on issues about
which rational, sober people who work for a living care little.
Glad to see you back on the pen, though disappointed to see that your travels are not up to expectations. Thinking back to an earlier, simpler, time - I must ask: When in FL, did you have to suffer through a CVT transmission rental car? If yes, then I know why the cup was INDEED 3/4 empty (and not 1/4 full).
ReplyDeleteThanks, Matt, but this trip was different in that I didn't have to engage in my usual "3/4 empty" approach to descriptions of our trips, which have become legendary among my blogs. But this latest trip was a great trip in every way; as I wrote "there is neither room nor reason for my usual cynicism and “glass ¾ empty” approach to travel....".
DeleteBut now that you mention it, perhaps it was not perfect in EVERY way; I did have to drive an automatic (though not a CVT) on the trip. But that downside was tempered by my now being a regular driver of an automatic; times have indeed changed! But I have to tell you that last night I was dreaming of once again driving a stick; it was a wonderful dream...but not as good as that trip; I highly recommend Fort Myers Beach!
Most important, thanks for reading and commenting; having my material read is great, but having it read my insightful people like yourself is even better.