Skipping ahead...

Speaking of TDS, Jon was en fuego last night with Bernard "Fathead" Goldberg.

I've seen a few people say that, but I thought it was a terrible interview. Jon was basically making the argument that we should be more concerned with, e.g., the weapons of mass destruction issue than with Bono saying fuck at the Grammys or Barbra Streisand's blog. Which is absolutely true, but ... there's *always* something bigger to worry about. If I complain about a broken nail, it doesn't mean I don't know that women in Saudi Arabia can't drive.

I think the more valid discussion was one Jon abandoned pretty quickly, about how critics have been saying society is getting worse for the last several thousand years, and yet somehow we always muddle through. I would have liked to hear how Goldberg would respond to that.

Missed the roll-over due to taking an extended lunch, so as to avoid the ant spray in my office. Fun!

Don't forget your apple juice, Burrell!

I'll probably skip it in favor of a cup of tea, but I *did* just get up from a nap, so I've covered toddler behavior as well.

But I think that's part of the same point he was making. In other words, the cultural changes, like people saying "fuck" on TV, are not where the problem lies and not where the focus of change should be. Goldberg was the one claiming these people are "screwing up America" and that basic premise is what's flawed.

I slept through TDS last night. I'll have to try and catch the repeat after tonight's show.

Ant spray = Ewwww. I thought traps were used for ants. When I get them the bug guy puts goo in little traps and they happily march in and die.

That's good. Toddlers live well.

A lot of times, I think if I could go back to being any age, I would choose age 4. You can understand just about everything that interests you. You are old enough to make yourself understood, and yet nobody expects much from you.

Goldberg was the one claiming these people are "screwing up America" and that basic premise is what's flawed.

Yeah, it's not so much "why write about Striesand when there's more important things in the world," but rather "if you think Streisand's the reason we're all getting our handbaskets prepped, boy, have you missed a couple of things."

Haven't watched last night's DS yet. How much do I love that show?

Jon was basically making the argument that we should be more concerned with, e.g., the weapons of mass destruction issue than with Bono saying fuck at the Grammys or Barbra Streisand's blog. Which is absolutely true, but ... there's *always* something bigger to worry about.

Goldberg's book is called "100 People Who Are Screwing Up America". I think Jon's point was valid. Taking shots at ditzy Babs is just cheese when there are much bigger fish to fry. Goldberg is, by definition with his book, opening up the discussion for bigger things to worry about. They did discuss the "things are just getting worse and worse" meme, and Goldberg was ducking it with his "swearing is ::bad::" tapdance.

Sorry, x-posty

Goldberg was the one claiming these people are "screwing up America" and that basic premise is what's flawed.

That's the book title, yeah. But from listening to what he said (I haven't read the book) it sounded like the book's argument is "this is A problem in America" not "this is the ONLY problem in America." Jon basically conceded that coarsening culture is a problem; I would have argued that point, and forgotten the "but this is worse!"

Also, if I was doing the interview, I would have made Goldberg justify some of the more ridiculous inclusions, like Jimmy Carter. Including Roy Moore does not match putting the founder of Habitat for Humanity at number six, you know?

I think Jon Stewart had fun, but as a whole that interview really wasn't more enlightening than watching Sean Hannity skewer some poor Democrat. And I expect more from TDS.