lets talk about it

...the media.

Wow- How many did they say had called in to vote for American Idol?
Oh I will tell you: 97.5 million audience votes cast by phone and text.
Last year’s total vote count was 74 million.

I wish I knew how many votes were cast in the last political election. Or the ratio of Americans that even know what is going on with that political thing anyway. Last I heard we are getting a black man not a woman. Whatever. I guess I am a bit indifferent when it comes to that. What? I am? I am more interested in which kid can sing more entertainingly on national television than who will run my country? Yeah- I guess in some ways I am? Wow. talk about naive and shallow to the world! But lets talk: 97.5 million people care about it—not just me.

Not that I am saying that the race to the oval office should be as popularity based as said vocal contest. But it is a vocal contest. A contest of performance. Who will out perform? And are we even watching? Not really- because "So you think you can dance?" is starting tomorrow!

We are so preoccupied with these reality shows because they are centered around us. Our lives. People just like you and me can get on a show like that and make it somewhere in their life. Like Ali in Biggest Loser, David Archuleta of American Idol...

I just thought it was interesting is all.

not so secret messages...

I have been re-watching Arrested Development— a show that I sometimes can't get enough of. I was watching an episode that I have seen a few times and I didn't catch the blatant political satire until this last time around. It is about how the family has to build a new model home to improve the company's image. They plan to build it in two weeks and say, "it doesn't need to be perfect, it just needs to look good." And they have a business "model" (a woman who used to assist with boat selling by just looking good in a sailor suit made for busty women.) Her sign says, "Solid as a Rock". When ever she comes out the music plays their slogan "solid as a rock" and it sounds like "Solid as Iraq". I never caught it before, but they play on the foreign policy and make many comments about how fast and hollow the house was built and after cutting the ribbon, the house falls to the ground...

Hmm.... what are they trying to tell me about the government here? More importantly, why am I so completely oblivious that I didn't catch the even more hilarious undertone of this one... shame on me.

Oh Mitt.

Oops.

I hate to stay on the political side of things, but my new interest in all media related to politics forces me to ask myself many questions when I see things like this.

One the one hand, my LDS background aches inside at the thought that Romney might have just brushed off a opportunity to really stand firm in his beliefs and give his followers a glimpse into what his religion is really like. On the other, I have to remember that this mini clip is from a longer interview. Perhaps he was asked other questions that led him to this answer. And I guess I can also see what he may have thought she was asking and mis-interpreted as well. In which case, I guess Romney may not have wanted to appear that he actually speaks to God physically face-to-face as Moses, and Joseph Smith. I myself can only be baffled and not let it change my opinion of him because of the one answer. But it does make me question the power of media. Perhaps he knew that this would be broadcast over everything everywhere because it is a hot topic and because he is already such a flip-flopper... but I wish he would have stuck to it. Answer it like you have a few million Mormons analyzing everything you say... and not because you want the vote, but because you represent them.

Anyway- just a thought.