Why did Jon Stewart allow Jason Jones to go quite so far to create laughter at the expense of the elderly?

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Jon Stewart is usually laugh out loud funny. I don’t get my news commentary from him as he picks his stories along different interests than I do. In all fairness I’m not a die-hard fan like many are. It’s only recently that I’ve been watching him more consistently though I rarely get to every episode. Jon is clever, intelligent, sarcastic and reasonably liberal from what I can tell and usually he’s a pretty funny comedian. I wasn’t crazy about the Mad Money Jim Cramer show as most were. Yes, I’m upset about the banks and stock market like everyone else but I didn’t think Stewart was an investigative reporter and the venue made me uncomfortable. Oh yes, Jon got ‘im and he deserved it, but as far as I could tell that was about as hard as shooting fish in a barrel and was way too long.

I for one was happy when Jon went back to being the funny guy that keeps track of the nonsense in politics that we all know and really appreciate. Then there was the show on April 9, 2009 where Jason Jones took an awkward and not all that terribly funny look at the rise in STDs among Florida's senior citizens in his segment. I rolled my eyes a bit and was annoyed by the blatant stereotyping that went on throughout the bit. I’m fairly tolerant of things that I don’t agree with but I found this skit relatively condescending and unfair though I’m sure many people would disagree with me (including Jon I expect). Did the elderly somehow deserve a takedown like Cramer or Carlson? I suppose everyone is fair game eh?


This country doesn’t place a great value on the elderly. They are often portrayed as ditsy or angry people that are tolerated rather than valued for being wise. They are made fun of because of failing health. Punch lines for erectile dysfunction, memory loss or bladder control jokes. They are portrayed often as less useful as the younger, prettier, healthier, smarter, more tolerant folk. (Complete balderdash)

All of which is simply a complaint of mine with a lot of television: so I didn’t like the skit and that’s fine. I knew it would be over soon and the show would move on. Unfortunately The Daily Show closed with Jason Jones doing an obnoxious parody of the seduction scene from “The Graduate”

Jon:
You chose to end the show with Jason Jones filmed through the leg of what we are to assume is an elderly woman similar to that famous shot from "The Graduate." Not the typical moments of zen you normally end the show with. Jason Jones, your stooping that low was disappointing but Jon, it’s your show and your approval stamp. The skit was enough without the last thing we were to hear on your show:
"Mrs. Rubenstein you're trying to nauseate me... aren't you?" (looking ill and making a drawn out sick sound) "Oooooohhh.... What is that?"

I’m sorry Jon but it was tasteless. Maybe appropriate for a different forum but not where you want to be seen as a politically relevant man with a show that is a valuable venue as well as making important points through comedy. It seems sometimes that you have trouble deciding just where you fit in. Comedy, political satire, interviewer of interesting authors, statesmen and actors, or… something else?

Jonathan Stuart Leibowitz, you owe my mother an apology and probably your own too.

Suddenly I find myself more interested in whether or not Stephen Colbert gets a space node named after him.

G’night,

Laura

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The Talking Ann Coulter doll… everyone should have at least one.

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Can you believe there is a talking Ann Coulter doll? I’m not sure why you would you want one, but there it is.
The Ann Coulter an “America’s Real Action Heroes” figure clothed in her trademark minuscule black dress.

Ann Coulter talking right wing barbie doll

Now I realize that you might be saying to yourself “so what, it’s not surprising that Ann has a doll” and you would be right except for what this amazing little talking doll actually says…
You have to go to the site where they sell it to listen, and I recommend doing just that right here:

And she talks too, listen up…

I think it would be far better if it was a talking bobble head doll.

Other “talking action figures” include:
George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, Ronald Reagan, Donald Rumsfeld, Dr. Laura, Kinky Friedman and Elvis Presley.

Now I understand Bush, Clinton, and Reagan but a talking Donald Rumsfeld? Why? Bad enough the real one talks.
Here’s another odd one. Though I would think if it was true to the real Dennis Miller’s character the doll should be called a “ranting” rather than a “talking” doll. I don’t think it looks much like Dennis, actually it’s just a little scary, get that smile.


Wait, shouldn’t there be a Rush Limbaugh doll if there’s one of Dennis Miller? Rush probably controls his franchise and wouldn’t approve of it. Should be one dressed in black that flaps it’s arms, and hops up and down while it talks.
You can view and listen to all of them here:

Talking Action Figures


Absolutely amazing what one can not only find but actually buy out in cyberspace.
Not quite sure what these dolls say culturally about us or as a society. Hmm.


G’night,

Laura
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To twitter or not to twitter… Is that the question?

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Twitter seems to be all the vogue right now. I was asked recently “Do you twitter?”
Nope. I don’t twitter and don’t particularly want to twitter.

Basically there are a couple of reasons why I don’t:

Reason #1:

I don’t think my life is interesting enough hour to hour, day to day to twitter.
Wait, that didn’t sound right. My life is fine for me. It’s not interesting enough for anyone else to follow what I’m doing or thinking at any given time. Yes, I exist in a world where it was far better not to know how distractible, rude and narcissistic our congressmen’s thoughts are during presidential speeches and important legislative meetings.

Reason #2:

I can’t say or type anything meaningful in less than one paragraph, okay so maybe it’s two, three or ten paragraphs, who’s counting anyway? Apparently twitter is with its 140 character limit (a near impossible feat for me to accomplish without acquiring a nasty twitch and smoke pouring out of both ears). I could write a six page paper on virtually any topic without a problem. Any topic… even twittering. Don’t worry, I won’t and yes, I heard that sigh of relief (along with the curses).
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How is twittering really that different from texting on my cell phone or messaging online? Both are things I do often, but those messages are tailored to specific people that I assume care to know the information I’m sending. Perhaps if you asked them, they might feel my messages aren’t all that relevant but nobody’s complained (yet anyway).

I put unlimited texting on my cell solely because I have to type whole words out, and I mean it: I have to. No omg, lmao, b4, or 2morrow’s 4 me… My e-mails look more like letters in structure though less formal.
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English has been my favorite subject next to art since I was around four (scary right?) I read and write a lot. I’ve taken graduate English classes for fun. I know the value of research and I’m not bad at it. If I misspell a word and it gets by me: I HATE IT. My kids always had me proof read their many, many papers. My oldest son called me a Nazi with a pen with an odd pride but always had me proofread regardless. I guess somehow that was a compliment. Grammar is important to me. I love writing complete sentences that make sense, linking the thoughts together and if I’m really lucky it turns into something interesting that’s worth reading.

Perhaps if I found a legitimate use for twitter I might consider it, but honestly I haven’t found one yet that makes it in any way essential for me.
“Because it’s there” never was a reason to do something in my mind… Why? “Because I don’t want to” works far better for me.
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A week ago I dropped my cell phone into a cup of water, if I understand twitter my entry would have looked like this: “Dropped phone in half cup of water, doesn’t work now, OMG I’m a complete idiot.”
I think that’s acceptable but it doesn’t say how it happened, where I was or why I think I’m an idiot (which is a choice few pages worth right there).
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Ode to Twitter

Twitter, twitter
Little star
No longer wonder
What you are
Typing furiously from up high
Dropping diamonds from the sky

Twitter, twitter
Little star
I preferred to wonder
From afar

©L Hazel 2009

G’night,

Laura
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Perhaps Tonya Harding is what's wrong with the economy?

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As I've said before, I relax on Sundays and catch up on the news both written and video that I've missed.

And tucked between the endless "news" tales of the "villainous" Octomom and Rush Limbore's emphatic ill-spoken rantings...
was a little jem that was like a visit from an unwelcome ghost of winter's past.



The clip most definitely inspired a SNL Seth Meyers "REALLY!?!" moment for me... but to quote her own phrase "What the hell was she thinking?"

The only person pulling a Harding there is Tonya herself.
Ain't "celebrity" amazing?

Speaking of Seth Meyers this is the SNL Michael Phelps clip: REALLY!?!



I fell behind on this week's news, so I'm spending the evening digging. Putting on my hip boots, work gloves and grabbing the shovel... or maybe the pitch fork- to get through the endless loops of same s**t different day news stories... sifting for truth.

Can't watch another economy based show or my head will explode today. I just can't. My mind is in a full blown recession that hopefully won't turn into a depression anytime in the near future. Will rejuvenate my mood tomorrow night at the Bill Maher/Ann Coulter speaker series at Radio City Music Hall in the city. Probably sold out now. Should be a real pip.

G'night all,

Laura
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