Not much!

I watched the news recently, both local and international. I can't say I'm better informed because frankly they seemed more misery fests. rather than news programs.

That's right. News is no longer a summary of key events in the world, it's instead a festival of misery, fire, blood and fools.

It would appear that one of the first things taught in journalism school is how to be orgasmic when an elderly woman breaks down into tears, or when you can stand in front of a building completely engaged by fire, or when you can get video or pictures of dead bodies. These are things news is made of today!

Yes, I do exaggerate. It's not all like that. There's the lost puppy dog news and the returning home soldier stories, neither of which requires much time, effort or knowledge of subject.

A few years back I noted that local news still lead the pack over national and cable because people demanded some substance from the stations that immediately served them. But now thanks to budgetary restrictions and manning costs, all but the larger city newsrooms have fallen into hit and run journalism where sensation and innuendo rule over substnace and accuracy and meaning.

In my day, journalism was a respected profession. Now I suspect they fall under trashmen and used car salesmen.

Times changes, and not always for the better.

The other day I was listening to an MSNBC personality on a national radio show promoting her documentary, as she called it. I listened and I listened intently not because of her mesmerizing presentation or because the character of the content. No, I listened intently because she was on a cell phone and perhaps only 80% was understandable.

This was it! The perfect example, I thought. In one neat little package this audio event summarizes the lack of professionalism that is broadcasting today.  Dare I say it even symbolizes the utter contempt with which these modern 'journalists' view us, the listeners, the viewers, the readers of their works.

Ask yourself why would anyone in any profession promote themselves and their work in a way that is anything less than professional?

When you can't spend 10 minutes sitting at a land line to promote your work then you show us how little you care about it. You show us that you are only going through the motions. You show us how little your own work means to you.

Calling in a radio show from a cell phone is like showing up on casual Friday in you dirty underwear. Either you've been living on another planet where cell service has been neatly perfected or you just don't care what others think of you and your product. You know a good chunk of your cell conversation will be unlistenable, and that a further large section will just sound ugly. But you don't care. You have so little respect for us that you show up in your dirty underwear unconcerned about our party or what we think. You're making an appearance. Doing your duty. Filling the time. That's all.

If you can't respect us enough to present yourself so that we can hear and understand you then I don't think we can respect your work. For if you can't spend 10 minutes sitting still at a real phone, I doubt you could put in a proper effort into your work, and provide us with something of value.

Coming next: Journalism, A World Of Misery

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More to come!

I found the charger and battery for the Kodak Z740 Digital camera. Unfortunately the use of the flash seems to suck dry the batteries after only a few pictures. So, I've ordered a power adapter for it to allow me to use the camera some since it is such a good camera otherwise. I'll have to try a new rechargeable at some point to see if the low-cost battery I have is the real issue.

In the meantime I've put up some pictures taken from my window of the rose of Sharon bush and some birds. The folks on QnA identified the black spotted birds as Starlings and confirmed the others are sparrows (thanks WillowLive).

I'm hoping to get a picture or two of the hummingbirds that visited but they haven't been around for a few weeks now. I would also like a few closeup of  the bees.

The pictures can be found here, Bird Pictures.