I am supposed to use this blog to talk about “healthy women.” All right – I will be honest with you. I am by no means an expert in women’s health, but, sure, I could do some research on some issue and pass it on to you and you could read it or not. But then this blog would be like billions of other blogs out there. It would be BORING.
So, I’m gonna stretch my jurisdiction a bit and you can tell me if it makes sense. I am going to focus on things that affect our mental health. In other words, I am going to talk about some things that DRIVE ME CRAZY.
The first thing I want to talk about is the local TV weatherman or – politically correct moment coming – weatherwoman. No, that’s not even right. I think they now call themselves “meteorologists” or, if they are over 25 years old and their acne has cleared up, they are called a “chief meteorologist.”
Did you ever notice how these people are on the TV screen every ten minutes? Seriously, watch the news for one hour straight and tally up how much time is devoted to talking about the weather. As if things can change that quickly in your local area. I mean, is there no other news out there? Why the heck to we have to be barraged with the same information every ten minutes?
Then, notice how each weather segment now has a title. “Now, from Channel 4’s STORM CENTER, here is Benny Silverman with the STORM CENTER news!” The oh-so-perky Benny Silverman comes on, horn rimmed glasses and bow tie, and proceeds to tell us that it will be a sunny day, temperatures in the mid 70’s, great bike riding weather. “And that’s my report from the STORM CENTER! Back to you, Betty.”
What just happened? What about the friggin STORM?
The thing that drives me totally nuts is when they give the temperatures in the local area. They pull up a map and pick about 10 cities within a twenty mile radius and underneath the city’s name they post the current temperature. “So, right now in Alexandria it’s a comfortable 71 degrees. Up in Bethesda (30 miles away), it’s 72 degrees. And look at Reston – they are at a chilly 69 degrees. Better bundle up folks!”
Why for God’s sake do I need to know the temperature in every friggin town in my area? It’s not like it varies by 15 degrees of so. “Hey, Mabel, let’s drive up to Arlington today, it looks like it’s gonna be cooler up there!” What the hell?
And don’t get me started on when the forecasters see a blip on their screen telling them that a gaggle of clouds is forming near some tropical island 1,000 miles south of Puerto Rico. Oh my God – it could be the STORM OF THE CENTURY! We need to monitor that one! The meteorologist needs to stay here, send our weatherman to the ocean, put some rain gear on him and have him report to us in front of crashing waves! And start running “storm alerts” every five minutes!
Do me a favor, folks. In two minutes tell me if it’s gonna rain or not and tell me how high the temperature is going to get. Then, God forbid, use all that extra time to tell me what is going on in the world.
Thank you, Pat. I have been wanting to say this for years but always thought I would be labeled as a complainer. I would love to hear more of your thoughts!
Thanks, Chelsea. I’ll be posting a lot more, probably once ever three days or so. I’ve got a lot to complain about.
Oh…Pat…you are so right!!! Our llittle weatherman just came on and said…We are gonna have to keep a close eye on “Earl” and we should know something by…Thursday or Friday!!! It is only Monday…..it is gonna be “a…l-o-n-g…week” here in Charleston, SC……Of course they always seem to interupt the most important part of the show with a “SERIOUS weather-up-date!!!”… I love complaining….keep up the good work Pat!!!!
Thanks, Raine. I was laughing my butt off this morning when NBC had some dork on the Maryland ocean shore warning us about the “big waves.” Oh my god, waves at the ocean! Everybody run for cover!!!
Myopia much?
The weather report comes on as often as it does because other people need to be able to see it, too. People who may need to rush out the door before they could do another once-an-hour segment, or who don’t have the opportunity to look it up online.
Okay, yeah, I’m getting my harsh all up in here, but seriously, this ticked me off. Take it for granted that:
a) There are other people in your town that don’t have the privilege that you do,
b) They lead different lives that have different requirements,
c) The local news station really shouldn’t be making their lineup on what YOU want,
d) If it’s a LOCAL news station, then they should be telling you the local news, not what’s going on in the world; if it’s a national/regional station, then there’s a reason they’re giving you the weather outside of your town, and
e) You want local news? Step outside your house, ditch your car, and talk to people. Maybe pick up a local zine, or see where and when the next Icarus Project meeting is picking up. You’ll learn a helluva lot more than you will from TV…
I don’t know if you’re a suburbanite, but you sure act like one – unaware and unable to empathize with the reality that other people are different than you.
Actually, I’m from the city…
Anyway, thanks for your well thought out comments. You make some very interesting and valid points. Finally, lighten up, dude! It looks like you haven’t been exposed to a lot of satire, but this was meant to be a little tongue in cheek. Take a chill pill, my friend 🙂