The Media Zone

 Today we have Christian Bale's exploding in an expletive rage on his DP (Director of Photography) on the set of a new edition of the Terminator franchise, Terminator Salvation. Read More

 When I was five years old, and quite sick, my parents, as they wrapped me up in blankets and carried me to the car, explained that it was very important that I experience and remember this night. The night in question was May 8, 1945, V.E. day. I never forgot it --  The noise makers, the joy, the tears, the honking of car horns, the effusive camaraderie evident everywhere I looked. I realized something very special was occurring. Read More

It is clear that where consensual reality is elusive, so is negotiation in good faith. Too many sides have too many dogs in this never-ending fight and our news media run around like crazed chickens trying to cover all the basis, offering their good offices of TV studios to bring warring sides together to "talk" either at or to each other and make PR and political hay. All the while, callow anchor persons entreat partisans and diplomats "Can't we all just get along" while thoughtful Americans redden with embarrassment in their living rooms. Read More

 What, you might ask, also correlates with excessive amounts of media use (or abuse) beside obesity? Well, I'll tell you: absentee parenting, latch key children, too many children for ill-equipped parents to handle, poverty, single parent households, parents who are afraid to refuse anything a child asks or screams or badgers for. Parents who are otherwise engaged, generally too preoccupied with their own needs, interests, goals, etc. to parent and use credit cards as a substitute for "quality time," add to the large list of contributions. Need I continue? Read More