Them’s fightin words–at last nights City Council meeting in Harrisburg.

According to WGAL’s website: “Council President Vera White is accusing councilwoman Susan Wilson of hitting her in her nose and chest during a disagreement at the end of Tuesday night’s council meeting.”

What can be said about two city council members allegedly assaulting each other? (The president and vice-president, respectively…or not)
A few things come to mind–but for starters, how about “when is the next round of elections?”

A few years ago, I wrote an essay on the evils of television and how I inadvertently forced myself into a life without cable.

At the time, I had Verizon DSL and had no need for any type of cable connection in my home.

Fast forward a couple years and I’m in a new place; living with my girlfriend…who needed the full cable package.

Okay, so I gave in a little. And we had HBO. We watched VH-1. And I actually sort of enjoyed the Cartoon Network and Comedy Central.
But lo and behold, we broke up. And the day she moved out, I called Comcast to cancel everything except what was necessary in order to have Comcast High Speed internet.

Which brings our story up to date.

I now have (and have had for over a year now) the most bare bones and basic cable subscription all in the name of high speed internet.

I’m not up to date on Entourage; I haven’t seen a new episode of South Park in eons and I couldn’t tell you what the latest reality phenom on MTV is. (Admittedly, I do go to a friends house religiously during Sopranos Season)

I’ve made a few observations–again about TV–that I thought I would share.

• What happens on Television, in a sitcom or otherwise, IS NOT, nor should it ever be, considered “News” and featured in either a newscast or in a newspaper.

It’s utterly baffling to me when I see FRONT PAGE news about a television program. Add to that the VERY FIRST THING one sees when opening The Patriot News (and likely any other commercial news publication) is an update on what happened last night and what’s happening in the coming nights/weeks.

Sitcoms, reality television, docudramas and advice shows are not and will never be REAL NEWS.

• Television shows and commercials are no place for an upcoming band.
  

Having argued this idea extensively with friends and colleagues, I’ve come to the conclusion that either I am crazy, or no one else sees the problem.

Bands that I grew up with…that impacted me the most…that put on heartfelt and spontaneous live shows…that are still relevant today…NEVER would have sold a song to a bubble gum teen sitcom or car commercial.

Tell me Nirvana would still be as relevant today as they were before Cobain offed himself if had they sold “Teen Spirit” to “Teen Spirit”.

How can a band gain TRACTION without working their way up through the ranks via traditional methods like touring hard, merchandising and winning over fans one by one?

Sure, sure…but they can get exposure to SO MANY people by selling a song to a TV show or commercial.

But what about the CONTEXT?

Music is art. Art is interpreted differently by different eyes and ears.

But when you put a song in the CONTEXT of a candy bar, car or Colgate commercial…POOF! Context goes out the window. The song is ruined.

Bands, please don’t sell out. I’d rather meet you two years from now in a memorable fashion than forget about you three minutes after hearing your song in a Target ad.

• Football is a Distraction
  

Imagine, just for one moment, if three hundred million people spent one single Sunday afternoon thinking about the war. Imagine if three hundred million people spent a single Monday night reading a book. Imagine three hundred million people focusing their efforts for a few hours per week on ways to improve their neighborhoods.

Do you think that we’d see an improvement in a neighborhood?

Do you think the conversation at the office would be a bit more stimulating on Tuesday morning?

Do you think more people would get involved in anti-war activities?

OF COURSE THEY WOULD.

But when millions of people lay motionless watching fodder that is as relevant to their well being as monkey bars are to dolphins, they forget about the war. They forget about the kids in their neighborhood who don’t have an elder role model. They can’t construct a proper sentence in an email or conversation.

Sure, it’s not just football. It’s baseball and basketball and golf (CHRIST! who watches GOLF!?) and NASCAR. And it’s just something else to think about than ways to fix our fucked up world.

We’ve got fantasy football leagues. People actually spend HOURS of time poring over statistics and facts and figures of NON EXISTENT TEAMS.

Okay, maybe I’m not the biggest football fan and that could be part of the problem.

And I’m not implying that there is no need for organized sports. They’re apparently beneficial for children. And that’s great.

But the DEGREE to which people go in defense of their favorite team is ASTOUNDING.

Imagine the biggest Eagles or Steelers fan you know. (Maybe it’s you).

Not think about how much that person talks about the team, the game, the players, the coaches, et cetera ad nauseum.

Now imagine that person were that passionate about something that could IMPROVE the world we live in.

Again, I’m not saying we should eliminate sports. But how about we tone it down a bit?

And lastly, for now…

• CELEBRITIES WHO ARE CELEBRITIES FOR THE SAKE OF BEING CELEBRITIES SHOULD BE FIRED OUT OF A CANNON TO THE MOON.
  

I’m talking about Paris Hilton. I’m talking about Brittany Spears. I’m talking about Lindsay Lohan.

These people are a JOKE. They do NOTHING to increase my knowledge of the world. It’s not even mildly amusing to look at some papparazzi photos of their exposed selves.

Yet they are dressed up and paraded in front of us night after night after night…drilling into our minds how much we WISH we had that kind of money…how much we WISH we had that new Benz…how much we WISH we could party with those people.

Keep dreaming, folks. You’ll sleep better.

On that note, here are a few more bona fide facts to leave you with- PDF HERE
http://turnoffyourtv.com

http://tvturnoff.org

My good friend Sarah Firth embarked on a spiritual and social journey to do her part for the people of New Orleans in the wake of Katrina.

I just received an email from her this morning and absolutely had to share…she’s quite the prolific writer and expresses herself incredibly well…and I’m sure she’ll be sending more updates…here’s what she has to say–

Good Morning,

I am sitting in an RV outside of 715 Le Beau in old Arabi outside the 9th ward in what used to be New Orleans.  We have an extension cord running from the neighbors 3 doors down; but have no gas, heat, nor hot water.  I’ve already boiled water to brush my teeth and make java and am getting a slow start to the day.  I have been in NOLA for 6 days now and give tremendous respect to the volunteers that have given up their personal lives to help their fellow man.  Many have been here for a year or more and the wear and tear of hope – or lack there of, is visible in their eyes, on their skin, and has begun to penetrate their beliefs.  Where is the help?  It has been 16 months since Katrina leveled the Big Easy and still elderly sit in gutted decay without the necessities so many of us take for granted – food, water, shelter.

I’ve come down here with Plenty International, (www.plenty.org) whose motto rings true – ‘In all fairness there is enough for everyone.’  We are turning 715 Le Beau into a community house to offer hot showers, food, housing, and a place to gather after a long days work.  A home base.  This is work itself.  Already I am physically exhausted.  The south, east, and north side of the house have exterior walls, but the west is lacking.  This house was in standing flood water of 5 ft for 2 days.  The flooring, pipes, ceilings, walls, appliances, etc.. need to be replaced.  We’ve focused on the bathroom and should have a place to shower by Monday.  We are dealing with mold, asbestos, toxic water, and lead paint.  Violence and crime are widespread.  We jump at the smallest noise at night and investigate whether or not someone is trying to break in and take what very little we have.  I carry a knife and dreamt I had to use it.

But it’s not all bad.  Humanity is still alive.  There is no government, there is no corporate contractors that have the money and man power to make quick progress; but there are individuals from all walks who care.  Nonprofits and church groups make up the majority of volunteers and labor, and we work for each other for trade.  We work all day and then attend Camp Liberty, Camp Hope, Common Grounds, or an EC to get fed at night.  I went to the French Quarter and was surprised.  The residents there received more then enough compensation for the storm and have been able to buy NEW things with insurance and Red Cross money.  But what about 83 year old life resident Mr. Robinson who hasn’t had a roof on half his house since Katrina gobbled it up?   He lives outside of the Quarter and is not needed to generate state tourism revenue.

Neighborhoods after neighborhoods are empty, dark and hollow.  This is far from over.

Help is needed.  Bands, perhaps swing through and energize the volunteers.  Venues, perhaps hold a Katrina relief night and donate the door.  Individuals, perhaps take a portion of your tax return and donate to Plenty so we can put a roof on Mr. Robinson’s house.  The smallest gift can go the farthest.  I can help direct in which ever way you feel inspired.  We’re all in this together.

I’ve included you in this email either because you’ve expressed interest or I want you to be interested.  I will be sending updates weekly.  If you’d rather not be included, let me know and I will gladly remove your name.

I hope this finds you well, safe and warm.

Much love,

Sarah Firth