? ! ? News ? ! ?

Does anyone know what the "NEWS" is?

Celebrities, in my book, are not news ... unless they commit a 'real' crime, or are the victims of a real crime.

Anna Nicole Smith is not news! Now, in the past or in the future. She is dead, but, (sorry folks), she was a dumb Texas blond who had no control over her life or in her life. Having big boobs and marrying an old codger doesn't make you news. There are a lot of dumb women (and men) out there who have rotten lives, problems with drugs and alcohol and they either die or live.

Geraldo Rivera appearing in a small role in "The Sopranos" is not news.

Any of the Hollywood ?stars?, Music Business types, or sports ?stars? who get divorced, shave their head, get tattoos, have political views or want to save the whales, the world, the wetbacks, etc. are not news.

News is something that has, or should have, an impact on the lives [either physically, emotionally, mentally or financially] on a LOT of Americans. It can also be something of importance that affects (in the same ways) people either in our country or in other places in the world.

The topic of conversation in public and on job sites used to be about politics, world and national events, and sometimes sports. Now, all I hear in those environs is about TV shows. The Sopranos, reality (that's a stupid choice of labels I think) shows, Dancing with the Stars, whatever that "wanna-be-a-star" show is called. So and so's divorce, what Brad or whoever is doing behind their spouse's back and with whom. There used to be, and probably still are, magazines at the checkout counter that dealt with all that JUNK. Now, every 'news' show and every newspaper is a part of that market.

Maybe I am behind the times or just getting too old, but I hope that my life extends beyond something that is regularly telecast on TV.

Oh well .... I have opinions, as does everyone.