WTF Is Our Media/Society Coming To?

Like other political bloggers, I generally refrain from talking about Britney Spears. She has turned into such a pitiful and sad disgrace of a human being. I remember liking her first and second music videos for a couple months back when I was a college freshman but then she was over with. The only problem was that the media wanted more, so that they could sell more magazines and TV ads on E Online! and wherever else.

This pop star is now teetering on the brink and you can forget about the media doing the responsible thing, which would be to leave her alone. Of course they want to make money, keep selling, selling, selling. What will she do next? Will she throw her kids in the air while doing jumping jacks? Maybe put in hair extensions and buzz them off like she did to her real hair. Society greedily eats it up and the media dishes it out. What a terrible conundrum it is. So Britney has these cameras shoved in her face and the only way she can cry out for help is to do even more outrageous activities. The publicity empowers her and at the same time prohibits her from seeing the powerlessness she has to whatever disease is destroying her head.

Now the media is smart enough to see this self-destruction, and instead of leaving her be, supposedly reputable organizations like the ASSOCIATED PRESS has decided to preemptively write her obituary. Why would they do this horrific act you ask? Well, as they put it, it would be "easily one of the biggest stories in a long time."

So much for 9/11 and global warming, I guess those things don't count when you are talking about a pop star trained to be this character for us to gawk over from her early childhood. Please people, stop watching her, it'll be the death of this woman who hasn't even seen 30 years of age.

Remembering Steve Gilliard

The blogosphere mourns tonight for Steve Gilliard who passed tonight at the young age of 41. He founded The News Blog along with his own site with the blogspot address. He wrote brilliantly, tirelessly and courageously on a wide range of issues that touched his readers deeply. My condolences to his friends and family.

From The News Blog:

Steve Gilliard, 1966-2007

It is with tremendous sadness that we must convey the news that Steve Gilliard, editor and publisher of The News Blog (www.thenewsblog.net), passed away early this morning. He was 41.

To those who have come to trust The News Blog and its insightful, brash and unapologetic editorial tone, we have Steve to thank from the bottom of our hearts. Steve helped lead many discussions that mattered to all of us, and he tackled subjects and interest categories where others feared to tread.

We will post more information as it becomes available to us.

Please keep Steve's friends and family in your thoughts and prayers.

Steve meant so much to us. We will miss him terribly.

- the news blog team

Meteor Blades at DailyKos also had a fitting memorial.