What is NOT NEWS

This past weekend, Tiger Wood's confessional/apology/news conference was the freaking LEAD STORY for THREE DAYS on almost all news on TV, Radio and newspapers/internet news. After it was the lead story, hours and hours of news time were dedicated to hashing out "what it meant" and "was it enough."

What it wasn't was NEWS!!!!!!! I'm tired of feeling the contempt of the media trotting out this tripe as the LEAD story and endlessly navel grazing over it and then "by the way" reporting substantial events that effect us globally, nationally or even personally. There are a lot of really important events going on with long term ramifications, and I resent being presented with "something shiny."

It makes me wonder what is being glossed over when stuff like this gets sensationalized. Remember in 2008 when a study done by the Center for Public Integrity and its affiliated group, the Fund for Independence in Journalism found that Bush and his aides had lied 935 times to get us into the Iraq War? Pretty damning of both the Bush Administration and to the media for not even investigating the administration's claims, quite solid grounds for impeaching and/or starting war crime proceedings.

Don't remember it? Sort of glossed over because HEATH LEDGER died, and that needed weeks and days and hours of press coverage as the lead story. Short attention span theatre, and we all move on...nothing to see here...

Maybe it's just market driven. Maybe it's that the average consumer of news media is actually guilty of tuning into this tripe because the real problems of the world are too complex and frightening. A famous person dying or being a douchebag is easier to watch than NATO repeatedly blowing up enormous numbers of civilians in Afghanistan, the Iranian nuclear threat, environmental crisis, the poor world economy and our broken hyper-partisan government holding party far more dear than the good of the people they are supposed to serve. And more.

I guess I can understand the need for an eye-catching lead story to draw people into the broadcast--but it is wrong to tell us that the eye-candy is actually a meal.

Is that Muscles I See?

Currently I am on Week 4 of a quest to work out 4-5 times a week, and finally I am starting to see results.

As of today's measurements and weigh in, I have lost .5 inches in waist and hips, and may or may not have lost 3 lbs. My scale has been really wacked lately, so it's hard to say. Scale o' pants says, back to pre-Christmas, but that really isn't something amazing to look at.

My arms are the first place to see the difference, as well as my back and shoulders. The Activtrax program I am using at the YMCA seems to really focus on those areas, and there's definition in the arms again. I may be able to go sleeveless with pride by the time spring rolls around. I am certainly wanting to be able to wear shorts again without shame by summer.

I am feeling stronger and more energetic, but I am also realizing that 5 days a week may not be prudent on a 40+ year old body on a constant basis, so I am going to work with 4 days a week and consider any extra days a bonus. I learned from the last time I ran a marathon that less can be more in the masters athlete, and rest days are as important as the work days. Still, I am impatient for results.

Not much else to report. All are well.