While many people find watching, reading, or listening to the news a way to keep informed, it is often a confusing mess of disjointed facts. Depending on which source one accesses, the spin can differ considerably. It's often better to form opinions after investigating national news from the perspective of several foreign sources, state news from across the nation, and local news from... well, somewhere else.
Peeve #1 - Missing information. A recent a two-part news report from a television station in Atlanta was about the Arizona border. The reporter indicated that a small percentage of the people crossing the border from Mexico into the United States are classified as OTM (other than Mexican). He went on to say some of those detained for illegal crossing are from countries known for less-than-favorable attitudes to the United States. Why isn't that information prominent in Arizona news reports?
Peeve #2 - Many local news stations don't know what ALERT means. An ALERT is an alarm or warning. An AMBER ALERT is an ALERT! Yes! They've got it! But its not to be... on the very same news program there is a WEATHER ALERT complete with flashing red letters to get your attention. Is there a tornado in the vicinity? A flash flood? Ohmygosh, should we take cover or take refuge on higher ground? No. On several of our local stations a Weather Alert is anything from a raging storm going on right now (truly an alert) to a puddle of water from yesterday's rain. Or it could be an alert about yesterday's potential flood in a state far, far away. A real flood would be news, not a fake alert. Why not use another word or phrase for lame weather information that is not an imminent alarm or warning? Maybe INTERESTING EVENT or SOMETHING HAPPENED. If it's interesting enough to be reported people would pay attention without diluting and rendering impotent such an important word as ALERT.
Peeve #3 - Many local news stations interview the witnesses at the site of an incident or accident, but instead of labeling the person as "witness" there is often wording such as "almost saw accident" or "knew victim's second cousin once removed" or something else equally mundane. News should be presented at a reading/listening level high enough that a sixth grade student doesn't feel insulted. Since when is "witness" a difficult word? Egads.
Peeve #4 - Why is local news so selective? Inconsistent? One evening you are treated to a dissertation of every car accident, bank robbery, and domestic disturbance in the metro area, and the very next day you have no idea why local police, the FBI, and the haz-mat team were at the supermarket where you shop, and they were not shopping. Maybe a "busted" (another of our anchors' favorite words) thermomenter with mercury threatening to roll under a display. Not newsworthy, one supposes.
So much for peeves - on to happier topics, like decorating...
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Monday, July 26, 2010
Home Decorating 101
How did I ever paint those rooms when I was younger? I’d decide to change the color, go buy the paint, slap it on the walls, and wall-ah (no pun intended) it’s a new room. What happened?
I’m almost 55 years old, like to change my décor every ten to fifteen years, and channel surf through DIY and HGTV and all those other shows that feature drill-toting, paint-brush wielding babes who can do it all. I’d love to see the outtakes of those shows.
What about the wallpaper that, when applied, is so thin you can see the pencil marks beneath it? I’d written “cut to 87”” in pencil so I wouldn’t need to measure to double check a sixth time. I’d already measured five times… measure twice, cut once… remember that? I’m the overcautious type. How attractive is a newly decorated wall when you can see the notes jotted on the wall beneath the paper? It isn’t. Scratch that 87” of wallpaper.
What about interior paint that has become so hazardous to breathe? As long as it contains chemicals including, but not limited to, glycol-something-or-other-et-al, you are liable to need a lung transfer as soon as the paint has “cured.” The paint may have finally cured, but the person applying it and/or living with it has begun a health issue most likely to lead to early death because fume sensitivity is, no doubt, a preexisting condition and won’t be covered under currently existing insurance rules.
What about the caulk instructions that tell the decorator to clean the area thoroughly with alcohol prior to caulking? Did they ever mention that alcohol will strip the design right off your new wallpaper? It may have been in the small print, but I doubt it. All the print was small (make that miniscule) and my eyes weren’t focusing any longer. I was at the point of trying to accomplish tasks that could be seen through my old, beat-up, drug-store cheaters as my new glasses were not pulling things into focus. Another one of those things – I’ve been to the eye doctor twice and they can’t tell why one eye might get tired faster than the other. Maybe it was the eye closest to the paint as it cured.
I’ve been working on this decorating project for a year now. A year. Yes, a year. I finally got the kitchen wallpapered (no small feat) and new outlets installed (thanks to my handy man, Randy). I can’t believe Randy’s patience. While I move back-and-forth between projects trying to juggle a multitude of difficulties (paint problems, wallpaper problems, electrical problems, etc.), he endures the house in total chaos.
It’s one thing to have my sewing room a disaster area with clutter being the norm, but having the main part of the house in upheaval makes me (yes, even me) crazy. I want so badly to find a job so I can afford to hire someone to finish the nightmare I have begun.
Thank you for listening. Sometimes ya just need to vent.
How did I ever paint those rooms when I was younger? I’d decide to change the color, go buy the paint, slap it on the walls, and wall-ah (no pun intended) it’s a new room. What happened?
I’m almost 55 years old, like to change my décor every ten to fifteen years, and channel surf through DIY and HGTV and all those other shows that feature drill-toting, paint-brush wielding babes who can do it all. I’d love to see the outtakes of those shows.
What about the wallpaper that, when applied, is so thin you can see the pencil marks beneath it? I’d written “cut to 87”” in pencil so I wouldn’t need to measure to double check a sixth time. I’d already measured five times… measure twice, cut once… remember that? I’m the overcautious type. How attractive is a newly decorated wall when you can see the notes jotted on the wall beneath the paper? It isn’t. Scratch that 87” of wallpaper.
What about interior paint that has become so hazardous to breathe? As long as it contains chemicals including, but not limited to, glycol-something-or-other-et-al, you are liable to need a lung transfer as soon as the paint has “cured.” The paint may have finally cured, but the person applying it and/or living with it has begun a health issue most likely to lead to early death because fume sensitivity is, no doubt, a preexisting condition and won’t be covered under currently existing insurance rules.
What about the caulk instructions that tell the decorator to clean the area thoroughly with alcohol prior to caulking? Did they ever mention that alcohol will strip the design right off your new wallpaper? It may have been in the small print, but I doubt it. All the print was small (make that miniscule) and my eyes weren’t focusing any longer. I was at the point of trying to accomplish tasks that could be seen through my old, beat-up, drug-store cheaters as my new glasses were not pulling things into focus. Another one of those things – I’ve been to the eye doctor twice and they can’t tell why one eye might get tired faster than the other. Maybe it was the eye closest to the paint as it cured.
I’ve been working on this decorating project for a year now. A year. Yes, a year. I finally got the kitchen wallpapered (no small feat) and new outlets installed (thanks to my handy man, Randy). I can’t believe Randy’s patience. While I move back-and-forth between projects trying to juggle a multitude of difficulties (paint problems, wallpaper problems, electrical problems, etc.), he endures the house in total chaos.
It’s one thing to have my sewing room a disaster area with clutter being the norm, but having the main part of the house in upheaval makes me (yes, even me) crazy. I want so badly to find a job so I can afford to hire someone to finish the nightmare I have begun.
Thank you for listening. Sometimes ya just need to vent.
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