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An Observer of Life in Bad Poetry

Commentary on Daily Life, Politics and Sports

Category

Television

Plucking The Last Feathers

The work week was over. What was left of your paycheck was deposited after taxes

You’d put in your time, nose to the grindstone, been humiliated by a co-worker, and during the drive home been given the bird by an angry woman in glasses

But the big game was tomorrow and the six pack was cooling under ten pounds of ice

The same ice used on the bag of shrimp you’d found at a very good price

And just when it seemed like the weekend might end on a high note, you scrolled through the messages on your phone

The one that caught your eye was from your TV provider stating the conglomerate owning the sports channels was dropping your provider for reasons unknown

It seems the boys in the boardroom all decided that money alone wasn’t enough, overshadowed by their unquenchable thirst for power

The sports network wanted it all. They’d already taken the gutless conferences hostage with staggered start times now completing the monopoly not caring who they devour

Raise the price charged to the competing provider who were stealing customers by offering better technology and viewing results

And have their own networks talking heads promote their ever spirialing greed while the bill paying customers have to swallow the insults

You’ve been loyal to your own provider and watched as it raised it rates every year

Justified by adding four DIY channels and three more dedicated to alternative lifestyles and the queer

No, you didn’t want the ability to watch NE Montana Technical Institute play women’s volleyball

And you didn’t want to be caught in the middle of the three piece suit boardroom brawl

Life was simple when the game was on one of three channels and was broadcast for free

Now for the price of a monthly utility bill you get a watch a three-hour commercial fest diluted by reviews and one idiot referee

One look at the list of commercials from the wealthiest corporations on the planet

And one might figure the TV providers could broadcast for free, charge these lucrative corporations for the airtime and could still make out like a bandit

But suddenly you are rapidly scrolling for alternative provider plans just to see the game

All you wanted was to kickback for a while but here you sit like a plucked chicken waiting for the flame

The Rage of Self Hatred

Recently a television ad aired showing a young, blue-eyed, blond actress sporting a pair of tight- fitting jeans

Immediate uproar was heard from the leftist crowd as they felt this particular advertisement demeans

The actress didn’t accentuate multicolored hair, excessive tattoos or piercings and wasn’t a minority

Perhaps in real life she stayed in shape as part of her regiment as her looks and body type became her own priority

The company had their choice of people to wear their jeans and drive away in a super car

But hiring a woke person to sell product was attempted by a large beer company in an ad crusade that was quite bizarre

Maybe the Madison Avenue execs are starting to turn the corner with their new campaigns

The bottom line is why they exist and profit generated by their one minute spots keeps fuel in the company’s planes

So the internet has to stir the hatred. This fascist person is selling the Nazi ideal

The self loathing peaks and blood pressure rises when the actress slides behind the wheel and shows her backside to the audience as the tires peel

This person wasn’t an over-weight glutton dancing down the street selling a weight loss pill

Or a minority sniffing a laundry detergent as if it was her only thrill

While the phone pounds away that everyone has it all and all is sensational

But then reality clicks in at the hyper-mart. No cash, no credit, and petty theft occurs as the situation becomes confrontational

“It’s not fair,” the internet screams. All should be equal regardless of education, work ethic, and size of paycheck

So the seething hatred becomes violent. Fast food counters, c-store displays, storefronts, and innocent bystanders’ lives are easy to wreck

The rule of everyone equal has created a mental illness that has gotten out of hand

The continual drumbeat of white superiority and destruction of once peaceful cities all appear government planned

Import 14 million people to live on the dole. Increase the national debt until America is beyond broke

All to advance a policy of governmental control behind the disguise of being woke

They tried diluting an election, forced rapid inflation, spread a lab-grown disease and ordered questionable vaccines

So it’s hard to believe the hoopla being stirred by miserable leftists over a pair of jeans

The Person Behind The Makeup

Men go to bed with Gilda and wake up with me,” was famously stated by actress Rita Hayworth

Fantasies abounded with the thoughts of romancing the famous star but the next morning crashing back to earth

In 1949 The Artists League of America voted Rita’s lips best in the world

She signed with Max Factor to promote its line of Tru-Color lipsticks causing women around the world to flip their hair as they twirled

Cosmetics have been used for centuries to enhance beauty and cover flaws

The internet is packed with stories of divorces filed by men viewing their spouse without makeup as the cause

Men have always had to guess what lies behind that foundation, concealer and blush

And what nightmare might emerge from the bathroom the morning after a barroom crush

Ancient Egyptians both women and men used cosmetics for religious purposes, repel insects and show social standing

Though originally used by those connected to royalty, soon the lower caste of people began applying as the use of cosmetics was ever expanding

Recent examples of cosmetics were Twiggy’s eyelashes, Jennifer Garner’s skincare, Brooke Shields’ eyebrows, and Lynda Carter’s lips

Covering flaws and enhancing facial features was as easy as a trip to the mall as a wide array of makeup was at your fingertips

Whole departments in major chain stores are dedicated to cosmetics

To improve a woman’s features that unfortunately were left behind by genetics

Plus the fact the customer usually leaves with a sackful of high-priced colors, sprays, and lotions

All to please the face in the mirror and spark the partner’s emotions

In 2022 the cosmetic industry generated approximately $430 billion in revenue and is on the rise in all categories

As new and improved products are being produced in mega-companies’ laboratories

But as for the males in this ever-changing world and it doesn’t matter what is stated by the law

No amount of concealer is going to hide the fact that you have a hoo-haw

Cat-A-Roni

Much has been written lately about Haitian immigrants eating the neighborhood cats

Apparently they circle the area looking for the food bowls placed next to the home’s door mats

And when Mr Fuzzy comes down the sidewalk looking for his ration of Meow Mix, suddenly he’s grabbed, skinned and turning on a spit

Or if to be barbecued the Haitian would have splatchcocked kitty and thrown him on the grill over an open pit

Watching with great interest, Big Food held a series of meetings to determine if there was indeed a market for felines

The general consensus was to test market a few cat menu items to see if the company “could make hay while the sun shines”

But first they had to figure a way to kill that fishy taste with chemicals including riboflavin and sodium diacetate

Because one would need to get maximum enjoyment from chemically enhanced cat on a plate

After much deliberation the first food product to hit the grocer’s shelves was Cat-A-Roni, “the immigrant Haitian treat”

Mixed up well with artificially jerk flavored rice, the box guaranteed the kitty would be good to eat

Microwaved for three minutes in two cups of boiling water and the special flavor pack or twenty minutes on the stove top

And you’ll be eating parts of Mr Fuzzy until you’re ready to pop

Another limited edition release would be Kitty Patty Helper complete with another chemical flavor packet

Just add milk and maybe some peppers and mushrooms and no one will know you’re dining on the local elementary school’s mascot

Finally, on a whim, for one last item of feline protein, it was suggested the addition of Kitty Paws

To satisfy one’s cravings for something sweet would be the little kitty’s paw pads minus the claws

Roasted, toasted, and covered with sweetened syrup, these chewy delights are easy to munch

Just watch the children’s eyes light up when they pop these morsels of goodness and experience that satisfying crunch

Once again Big Food will stop at nothing to exploit a trend

Never let it be said that corporate dining isn’t your friend

So guard your pets if its possible because some immigrant might just be eyeing your cat

Meanwhile Big Food will start their own cat farms, stuff them full of growth chemicals, and then blame people’s sedentary lifestyle for making them fat

The New Secret Service

The line of smoked glass black SUVs with lights flashing and in single file roared into the parking lot

This was the B-team assigned to a Trump rally as the A-team had been scheduled for a more important first lady time slot

This crack team of agents emerged from their cars all in dark suits, dark glasses, and a pretentious air of authority

Not listening to the local police this group of feds felt their orders took priority

Talking into their wrists and lapels they let everyone know who was in charge

With their glasses fogging in the heat the dark suits didn’t hide the fact that a couple of the agents looked out of shape and large

But they strutted around acting tough and made their presence known

While 450 feet away a disillusioned youth with a backpack had scaled a building in the open and lay prone

Scanning the crowd with intense glares this group of feds were beginning to feel like real agents of federal law enforcement

Assigned to this rally by the new leader, who rumor had it recently successfully defended the Cheetos factory from an attempted coup by the Frito Bandito, this under-performing group was looking for her endorsement

With sweat running down their backs this batch of agents were wishing the water bottles weren’t left in the car

Farming out the perimeter protection to the local police, this group figured that no one would attempt anything from afar

Obviously looking for an evil movie type assassin this team let a local kid climb up the side of a building in plain sight and assemble his semi-automatic

Bystanders singled out the gunman and pointed him out to the police but apparently that little tidbit was lost in the chain of command and therefore problematic

The shots rang out and the ex-President was wounded and an innocent spectator lay dead

The gunman was also killed only after taking his shots with a bullet to the head

Chaos ensued with the Secret Service looking totally unprepared for this catastrophic event

With pony tail flipping, unable to holster her weapon and blouse straining at the buttons, one agent was doomed to become the face of the agency they represent

Screaming “What’ll we do now?” and “where do we go?” another DEI recruit was not reacting but waiting for instruction

Unfortunately the TV viewership of the US has seen this sadly comic turn of events and formed their own deduction

A troop of Boy Scouts and three German Shepherds could have formed a better security detail

When hiring goals are more concerned with DEI policies this practice, when needed the most, will ultimately fail

Nickel and Dimeing Your TV Viewing to the Poorhouse

Back in the day television was a simple thing. Three channels of black and white delivered to you by a glorified lightning rod or rabbit ears with tin foil bowties

Then color TV happened with a phrase of “brought to you in living color” with the image of peacock plumage, a true feast for the eyes

One day Ted Turner decided there was more to life than billboard advertising and bought a small UHF station and bounced the signal off satellite and television viewing was never the same

One could forego Bonanza or Lucy and watch roller derby, wrestling, old movies, or a Braves game

So the network owners invested in large satellite dishes and doled out the sudden influx of available programs and channels through their own cable organization

Soon the antennae the viewer used was outdated and that viewer was pressured to purchase cable “packages” that included uncut first run movies and non-stop sports plus all the trumped-up local charges added that usually offered no explanation

Crystal clear viewing touted by the cable companies (if the weather wasn’t storming) came with a price

The basic $32.99 package usually came with your local network affiliates, a couple of home shopping networks, a Christian station, and could be used only with a single device

You want the Movies? Add an extra $4.99. A sports package showing the major sports? Another $6.99. First run original shows? Again another $4.99. Or you can bundle them all for $16.99. And with this bundle you can now view the shows in two different rooms

The network executives fueled by their own greed quickly realized the more bait that’s dangled the more the viewer consumes

But cable and the satellite networks both had their problems. Cable required miles of wire and a fleet of service people. The satellite networks required service and careful placement of the dish. And still a summer thunderstorm could knock out both

Many times the beer was cold, the friends were there, it was game time, when a crack of lightning turned the TV screen off accompanied by choruses of a four letter oath

And then came the streaming services. Eureka, now the greed mongers could send their signal through the consumers’ own equipment and charge the suckers for their programming only without the fleet of service employees

And different programming can be selected by viewers and those selections can be funneled to advertisers in those cities

And much like cable, different levels of programming can still apply. Only now for different networks they can have their own upcharges. What’s another $2.95 per channel for uninterrupted viewing

It won’t be long before the monthly bill with all the fine print shows up for $175 with all the charges you’ve been accruing

And the golden goose of sports honks loudest of all. You want Thursday night NFL? Invest in a Prime Membership. NFL in Europe? Another upcharge. College game on ESPN 3? Invest you turkey. Wildcard game on Peacock? Give till it hurts

And when they’re lowering your casket into that cold ground as the family stands by in silence wondering where their next meal will come from. Just remember they’ll be thinking of the small fortune squandered to a group of greedy broadcasting perverts

When Covered In Mud They Both Look Alike

The mud slinging had reached a fever pitch. Both candidates were firing big clods of dirt at close range

Old hidden wounds were being opened and yet in the nastiness of this election that didn’t seem strange

The broadcast airwaves were saturated with facts and half-truths concerning previous misdeeds from the two malefactors

Hoping their relentless TV commercials would swing the voters’ opinions to have one of them become the election’s benefactor

Each claiming their backgrounds and beliefs are critical to America’s success

Have former spouses talk on camera about the atrocities committed by each candidate in this high stakes game of chess

The mud piles rapidly around these two as the Preacher claims it’s okay to kill babies right up until the time of birth

While the other was complicit in a partner’s abortion and then claiming there is no excuse for this procedure on this earth

The Preacher supports the current administration’s climate change propaganda and funding Ukraine’s proxy war with unfettered spending

While the football player touts that old traditional values should be taught and are well worth defending

The mud keeps piling higher around these two as big gobs of dirt continue to be hurled

Some dirt mounding around the Preacher stated he voted to allow bionic men to compete against women in the sports world

The football player declared that a travesty to all biological females

But the Preacher seems to feel that the definition of a woman is all in vaguely defined details

The football player is denounced for shady business practices, while the Preacher is accused of an ongoing tax dodge

One thing is certain, with these two candidates no one has to sneak around in the dead of night tasked with a mission of espionage

In just a couple of weeks this slanderous election will be over and someone will be elected to the gang of Washington racketeers for six years

By then both men will need snorkels to breathe as the mud will be over their heads from all the opposing political smears

Truth is the First Casualty of War

The scenes from the Vietnam War were horrific, dead and bloodied casualties were evening TV fare.

If it bleeds it leads or so the televison news thought as they fought their own battles for viewing share

But somehow Walter, Chet and David could look at the camera, read the news, and what they spoke was accepted as the truth

Today we watch what passes as news with a jaded eye as we listen to the deceitful press and Presidential sound bites becoming more and more uncouth

The silent majority suffers through the constant daily drumbeats of the threat of war

This isn’t a nuclear threat as the President has begun to callously toss around, this is the war on everyday Americans this administration seems to abhor

Biden has been in office for almost two years and his appeal that he’s not Trump is rapidly subsiding

His accomplishments to this date has been in all races, genders and religions completely dividing

His misguided obsessive climate change policies are killing the once thriving economy by driving up inflation and forcing America into a recession and further in debt

Let “em shiver in the winter, keep them immobile with the price of gas, and keep the fearful shaking with another lockdown threat

The fact is this reckless ineffectual pawn was elected by being a first class liar

He and his second class family are only in Washington as figureheads and for all the riches their position can acquire

His tired demented eyes view the migrants streaming across the border as indentured servants for the ruling class

While citizens watch their paychecks and rights dwindle, their tax money being pumped into a puppet foreign government and into the pump for a tank of gas

The solutions are painfully simple. Close the gate, reopen the efficient oil industry, and wean Zelensky from “Big Mama’s tit”

End the scientifically proven ineffectual vaccine mandate, hire the fired vaccine refused personnel back, stop catering to a small leftist mob and best of all, pack up the entire Executive Branch and quit

The American people deserve better. You looked into their eyes and deliberately lied

You’ve failed as a leader, a statesman and as a man. Resign now while you still have some pride

TV Commercials BD&AD


Growing up in the 50’s and 60’s TV commercials had a different tone
They were aired to catch your interest and not offend with what was shown

Who doesn’t remember the product sold when you hear “Mother please I’d rather do it myself” or “My bologna has a first name.”
But then along came a commercial that changed the whole ballgame

The advertisement showed two women walking in an idyllic setting on a sunrise beach discussing why one doesn’t feel “fresh” enough
“Pam” one says as the water laps over their feet. “Sometimes I think I smell pretty rough.”

To which Pam goes on to praise the new product she uses
She continues to rave about the ease of use and the sense of confidence the product produces

It seems it was a douche commercial that opened advertisers’ eyes
Suddenly the gloves were off and for any malady no matter how disturbing there was a product cure for a spokesperson to advise

So now the commercial world can be classified before douche and after douche or BD&AD
BD commercials were as always hard sell but without all the side effects hooey

However BD commercials’ catchphrases would probably have completely different connotations for AD products sold today
The “put a tiger in your tank’ slogan could be used to end erectile dysfunction dismay

And “I can’t believe I ate the whole thing ,” when the person is the size of a minivan
Would now be a commercial for a weight reduction plan

This new age of loathsome advertising might have been avoided when the original two women strolling along the sandy track
If in their conversation Pam had turned to her companion and said, “it’s not you it was that dead jellyfish we passed about 100 yards back

Lonely Dog TV

The things I do to get a treat, oh the humanity
I’m not quite sure if it’s love ’cause it borders on insanity

I’m supposed to roll over and sit up and beg for a chemical tasty treat
If you really love me, ditch anything packed in cardboard or paper and give me meat

Now I’m supposed to be a really sweet boy and be grateful for this insipid TV channel
Not to mention this tight fitting very hot stupid looking sweater made of flannel

If you really want me to to be your loyal companion and look at you with adoration
Then coughing up the bucks for the doggie channel bundle would be my recommendation

This one channel of a bunch of stoned looking boomer dogs and 24/7 relaxing mood music gives me the squirts
So if you want to save money on the expensive puppy pads give me the channel bundle featuring dogs of action, current doggie headlines and mean spirited cat perverts

The bundle includes this elevator music channel, a dog reality channel, a news channel and scripted shows all in HD.
There’s also a dog accessory channel and if I could read a credit card and work a telephone I could go on a serious spending spree

On the reality channel of PLF(Puppy Love Forever) I can watch The Stud Bachelor
Where one lucky dude gets to date all the bitches while trying to avoid the dog catcher

Or I can watch FGT (Fido’s Got Talent) when after a heartbreakingly sad story about growing up a mongrel on the streets, the contestant wows the overwrought judges with unique tricks
And even if the show is bad, it beats picking ticks and fetching sticks

The scripted channel shows include This Is Our Litter about sibling puppies of two Golden Retrievers and one Doberman Pinscher
The Doberman the obvious smart pup helped his overweight sister out of many jams but getting her out of the hula hoop stuck around her waist was the season clincher

Also on is the long running NCIS (National Canine Investigative Squad) the show that never goes off the air despite killing off most of the cats in the area
Though it seems to be the same show week after week it does quell a dog’s fear of stopping the cat terror organization hysteria

Finally to stay abreast of breaking news there is the HDHN (Hound Dog Headline News) delivered with sincerity by a shapely Afghan Hound with long blonde tresses.
Though the news doesn’t have to be accurate, the fact she looks good wearing only a flea collar is what impresses

So add that extra twenty five to your already outrageous satellite bill and I won’t use the sofa as a chew toy
And anything else in the ten hours you’re gone I can destroy

To Kill A Talking Bird

The prosecution crowd was strutting in, it had been three long years
The man on trial wasn’t one of them, conjuring up their worst fears

In spite of their futile efforts, a new trade agreement was adding another achievement
“That’s not possible, he’s not good for the country.” They all cried boosting their bereavement

“But we finally got him, this ought to end his presidency.”
The fact the previous attempts at a coup bears no relevancy

Not caring their dog and pony show was beginning to look like a third world puppet regime
They were willing to give impeachment a shot so they could again reign supreme

The articles of impeachment were delivered by the trial managers marching across the Capitol looking like refugees from a PacMan game
Even though no one was home at the Senate the managers’ foolish parade appeared to produce no shame

The hand picked managers were to be a diverse group with two traits they all shared
The weasel, a Latino, two black people and a couple soon to be blue haired

The attributes in common are disdain for the American people and their hatred for the President
Taking this man down was their disturbed goal and not caring about the voters they represent

They’ve sharpened both their pencils and their teeth to grill the defense advocates
Hoping the same trial evidence and one new questionable witness won’t be found inadequate

Perhaps the trial after all does have the ability to anger the nation
When the citizens realize the proceedings preempt Days of Our Lives and are forced to watch reruns on the Super Station

A Deplorable’s Vocabulary Primer to the Hearings

It’s been three years now and the democrats still have their panties in a wad
Their frantic attempt to keep the republicans from reelection has Americans viewing them as odd

Forget about the USA’s problems of immigration, infrastructure or healthcare
Trump in office for another four years is unthinkable and cause for great despair

They’re at home plate down two strikes and hoping this impeachment process is not strike three
Rather than legislate they’ll build a case based on innuendo provided by their own designees

Words are being tossed around during the hearings that this Primer will help clarify
You’ll understand some of the language used by those hand picked partisans chosen to testify

Whistleblower: This is an individual who reports to a superior evidence of a crime
Like when we think that Donna Doright sent the home office pictures of Cathy Cleavage and General Manager Sammy Slime

Quid Pro Quo: Elitist speak for you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours
This how Cathy Cleavage went from temp to executive assistant behind closed doors

Impeachment: An effort to bring formal charges against a higher-up by questioning that individual’s honesty
That is why Sammy Slime now works third shift in his new career of broom management for being lusty

The fact is this whole impeachment seems contrived and overplayed
As the Senate won’t vote Trump out, this whole inquiry is now the Dems divisive crusade

However, this hearing does detour around their campaign promises made when elected
Just another delaying tactic as their constituents will continue to be neglected

For they know that to accomplish guarantees made for their election they’ll have to work across the aisle
So America can stand up to their armpits in alligators while the Dems hide behind this trial

They Don’t Make ‘Em Like The Cartwrights Anymore

img_0868Time was in the 1950’s and 60’s TV westerns ruled the prime time airwaves

Family interaction, life lessons learned and good verses evil were what America craves

Shows crowded the evening line up with admirable people defending what is theirs

Against the likes of droughts, intruders and a gunman’s icy stares

Everything had order, good guys wore white hats and women apron strings

In the end blissful couples rode into the sunset while the bad guy swings

Times have changed, entertainment must toe the mark of politically correct

The shows must appease all factions of the population or a group will vehemently object

Let’s look at what three shows were like then and how they might appear now

Back when broadcasts were for entertainment not today’s attitude of holier than thou

Bonanza: A sprawling saga of a widower and his three sons laying claim to a quarter of Nevada

They controlled the mining, logging and cattle trade pretty much the whole enchilada

Patriarch Ben would squire all eligible ladies with charm and an occasional mimosa

Until he took them out on a buggy ride to show them his huge Ponderosa

Adam, the eldest was aloof cultured and educated with a law degree

He hoped for grassroots support and to run for office as a governor nominee

Hoss the middle son was huge and cuddly but could give bad guys a serious “lickin”

But the Chinese cook Hop Sing stayed furious at him for eating all the “flied” chicken

Little Joe the youngest was quick with fists and gun while chasing anything in a skirt

But marry just one and a crazed animal stampede would stomp her into the dirt

Bonanza 2019: Not the same show as the the characters have been updated and modernized

The politically correct scripts are now written so the clan appears duly propagandized

Ben: Now an old white guy mostly a front porch sitter with a cane and fly swatter

After a newsprint article revealed him advising a woman in lieu of rent how to remain a squatter

Adam: After a failed attempt at public office opened a store for payday loans

In addition to the Ponderosa most of the titles to the surrounding ranches he now owns

Hoss: Tired of years of back breaking farm work and shoveling horse manure

He decided to open a chain of dining establishments and has become quite the entrepreneur

Joselito: Now in show business working as a cross dressing saloon singer known as the Silk Tornado

Adored by throngs of rhinestone cowboys for his haunting rendition of “The Streets of Laredo”

The Rifleman: A dirt farmer scratching out a living with his son and a modified rapid fire rifle

Soon the bad guys in the area found that this was a man not to trifle

He was Lucas Boy to the sheriff and helped him out of many scrapes

Such as gold heists, wanted gunslingers and jail house escapes

Son Mark when in trouble knew all he had to do was holler “Paw Paw”

And Lucas would drill six slugs into the bad guy before he had a chance to draw

The Rifleman 2019: The townspeople weary of flying bullets and violence they could not condone

Banned the multi-shot rifle and and declared the town a gun free zone

Lucas reduced to hurling rocks and insults had enough and decided to retire

Works now part time in a carnival as a trick shot artist and his beloved rifle he still gets to fire

Now fifty seven Mark diagnosed as obsessive compulsive has not fared nearly as well

Weary of the constant yelling of Paw Paw the town folk locked him in a shed behind the hotel

The Lone Ranger: In most westerns women were notably absent or shown as saloon girls or school marms

Those seemed to be the only occupations available when they came in from the farms

The Lone Ranger had no women either just his faithful side kick Tonto

A native American he traveled with the mysterious lawman using a gun not a bow

Together they would strike fear into bad guys all over the west

Quick to dispense both wisdom and and bullets they were two of the best

The Lone Ranger 2019: Though the characters look the same, they’re portrayed in a different light

Oh they’ll search for truth and justice and give the bad guys a fight

Still dressed in tight light blue attire with a black mask and white cowboy hat

He fires silver bullets a souvenir for the undertaker after he lays the bad guy out flat

He rides a big white horse and a saddle adorned with inlaid decoration

And Tonto still says Kemosabe a lot and looks at him with admiration

Only now by the glow of the campfire after the light of the day

One might hear Tonto demanding more Kemosabe while the Lone Ranger cries Hi O Silver Awaaayyyy

Let ’em Race

Another season, another Chase, another champion crowned
Adding credence to the saying what goes around comes around
Back in the day NASCAR was an afternoon of racing excitement
Now the crowds are thinning and lack of interest seems the sport’s indictment
In the past fans schemed so their hard earned vacation days were written in the company’s planners
The television cameras now show those devoted grandstand fans disguised as marketing banners
Ticket prices are high and the old camper is going to need a lot of work to be operable
Spending that kind of money for a weekend of questionable racing no longer seems honorable
NASCAR fixed what wasn’t broke and stubbed their toe on greed
A botched attempt at competitiveness cloaked as safety and the rules changed on speed
Restrictor plates turned drivers into bystanders waiting for the big wreck
No helmet flinging or slingshots off turn four, just interchangeable driver suits waiting for their check
Four or five owners control the whole shebang as their teams are always upfront
The little guys with limited sponsorship are back of the pack and not in the hunt
Think STP, Valvoline, Hardee’s, Tide, Goodwrench, Miller, Budweiser, and Purolator
Just say the name around race fans and you’ll get an instant description of those past gladiators
Nowadays their cars look like kissing cousins, the word stock car has vanished and doesn’t apply
Gone are Dodge, Buick, Plymouth, Mercury, and AMC as sponsors’ dollars are in short supply
Racing champions are coronated by some silly Chase rules
Essentially treating fans of lessor financed drivers as gullible fools
Thank you NASCAR, you’ve turned a once enjoyable hair raising competition
Into an afternoon of caution flags, boring crew chief interviews, and car attrition
The old expression of “if you ain’t cheating then you ain’t trying,”
Has turned into “I’m watching football as this thing called racing I ain’t buying”
So Boogity Boogity Boogity boys let’s have a finish under a green and white checker
As endless commercials play while tangled cars that had run in the pack await the wrecker

Did Hollywood Sanction White Privilege

Growing up in the fifties movies and television influenced impressionable minds

The images flickering across the screens produced ties that binds

Before Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, television was that era’s social media

If information was needed a phone wasn’t in play just the cumbersome encyclopedia

The politically correct industry has preached emphatically about white entitlement

The media railed against this unthinking concession with vile resentment

Social media, aspiring candidates, and celebrities decry this birthright

However, these same groups promoted this concept to keep all things white

As kids we sat in front of the black and white console clad in our Mickey Mouse ears

And watched the white t-shirted white kids sing and dance as Mousketeers

The whiteness of this group wasn’t an issue as we kids were all fans

However the brightness coming through the picture tube made us all wish for Ray Bans

Cartoon characters drawn in black were sassy cats, crows, or an agitated duck

If you were looking for a black role model you were out of luck

Amos and Andy, Tarzan’s natives and Our Gang’s Little Rascals with Buckwheat

Were stereotyped caricatures and all part of Hollywood’s quiet deceit

The entertainment industry grew a conscience after discovering a third color of green

It just may not be pure poison to show a person of color on the silver screen

American Bandstand showed bands playing both pop music and soul tunes

One realized all people could enjoy music and dance on Saturday afternoons

Weekly shows demonstrated that blacks and whites could interact

Networks added black people cast in recurring roles that had an impact

Star Trek’s Uhura, Mannix’s Peggy, and Julia all had starring roles

Give Mission Impossible’s Barney wire and a battery, he could sabotage bad guys’ controls

The pre-cable/satellite network industry flourished in the next couple of decades

However detective shows and wealthy elite sagas were best viewed through shades

Shows of color seemed to morph into thirty minute comedies of kids cracking wise

Creating a real life classroom situation that teachers grew to despise

Finally networks and movies began to show leadership roles in a different light

Corporate boardrooms seeing a depleting viewership realized all stars need not be white

Diversity became the collective buzzword to keep their investors in tow

One wouldn’t want any bad publicity leaking to the press to damage their profitable show

Politically correct agendas were trumpeted by those stepping from around the corner

Award shows became bully pulpits for high profile celebrities ranting in mock horror

Public Broadcasting lectured all with a haughty attitude preening for their pretentious fans

While watching the British comedies, Downton Abbey and Poldark through their Ray Bans

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