CNN

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!! I hope everyone had a great holiday. My brother is still alive and that is a great thing - for the kids. To be completely honest, he really is a decent human being. He has the right politics, is great to his kids, and is not going to kill anyone with an ax. I just don't like him.

Personally, I don't like to be insulted or fought with every time I make a comment. Seriously, I talk about how I might be furloughed as of July 1st, and his comment is "That's bad for you, but it might be the best thing to happen."(not a word for word quote) He has a point, when things stop getting done because people have to be furloughed or laid off when there is no money, then perhaps the public might realize the importance of their taxes. But there is this thing called tact and my brother doesn't have it. When someone has a mortgage, health issues requiring treatments every eight weeks, and no one else to help her out (except for parents if need be), she really don't want to hear how great a furlough is.

Enough about my brother, I can wallow, or move on.

CNN - Did you hear that CNN fired it's entire science, technology, and environmental news department? Admittedly CNN has been playing to the lowest common denominator in the news (have you watched them lately) but geesh, what a sad move when science is one of the most important issues of the day. Their excuse, they have the "Planet in Peril" series with Anderson Cooper, so they don't really need science journalism. This makes me sad. I'm glad they have a show all aimed towards the planet and the environment, but science is so much more and there are so many more issues to look at. What about nanotechnology, new medical break-throughs, space exploration, and more. If these stories come up, and you don't have people who understand the science, then you might get someone who extols the virtues of a great discovery, who's only problem is that “Many scientists say the technology violates the basic laws of quantum physics.” Hmmm, anyone see a problem with this?

This "Planet in Peril" program, of course, has advertising. I looked on the website and Dow, a chemical company, had a big 'ol ad right there. Can't we have some journalism, articles, environmental show, etc. that is not dependent on advertising? Is it possible?

I'm following Debora Blum and her boycott of CNN. It's not going to make much of a difference, but at least I'll feel better.