Agreed but at one point in thier careers they all covered 2 very unpopular wars and the fallout back here at home before sitting behind the anchor desk. While still too young remember back then I have seen clips from Korea and Vietnam as well as the street protests back then. Savvy Old News Hounds...
How could people not like you when you even go the extra step of researching how many calories are in a delicious Big Mac? I was hoping against hope you might have the answer to this problem, but I think your answer IS the answer, however sad that may be.
I made this similar point on one of MY sainted social posts and asked why there can't be a new, 24-hour news channel that looks a lot like CNN of the 80s and 90s (news every 15 minutes on the hour), with a mixture of clearly labeled left-wing and right-wing shows, and one that's a little of both? Some of my esteemed journalist friends (they are still esteemed and are still friends, as I believe there are far more in the field who do care) said, "Yeah, but no ... if that was possible, we wouldn't have Fox and MSNBC and CNN the way they look today. They evolved to this point because this is what people wanted."
Meanwhile, we continue and scream at each other with the talking points we hear from our favorite outlets.
I will dwell on this further while I'm at the gym later today, but I really, really, really want a Big Mac now.
Not for nothing do their signs say “billions and billions sold.” Wrong! "billions and billions served" Get it right Labash.
As someone that supported the White House Media both domestic and internationally for 8 plus years of the Clinton Bush2 era, I witnessed the best of the worst when it came to journalism and news. The biggest of all types of media in the world vying to lie to the american public depending on what side of the fence you stood. Watching up close and personal the talking heads huddle with their producers and handlers looking for an obscure angle to stretch the truth for ratings or the scoop. I was often the unnamed source for some cheeseball news story on a slow WH news day or when on The Vineyard or The Ranch on Presidential Vacation. "How many scoops of Gelato did Bill get?" Did Senior actually spill BBQ sauce on Barb? Truth in reporting.
Where is Walter Cronkite, David Brinkley, Hugh Downs, Chet Huntley.....
Corrected. (McDonald's.) But remember that a lot of those guys were glorified news readers. If they spent a couple months slinging opinions around, you'd hate them, too. It's easy to be the Voice of God when you just have to read a teleprompter and there's no competition. But that ain't the world we live in anymore. And Americans wouldn't want to put that toothpaste back in the tube, even with as messy as it's all gotten.
Very nice piece as always, Matt. I find the media/fast food analogy very fitting. I know that as I got a bit older and wiser, I gave up both. The junk food I gave up mainly because I somehow managed to make enough money to afford real food. Which is pretty amazing considering I had nothing when I dropped out of high school at 17, but managed to retire at 55. And the media I gave up on because somewhere along the way, they lost all credibility for accurate reporting. In fact, it's not an exaggeration to say that probably >95% of the reporting across all MSM platforms contains glaring omissions, outright bias and/or shear incompetence. I mean, it's almost laughable that NYT, WaPo, NPR, CNN, MSNBC, Fox, or any of them, claim to be news organizations when what they really are is entertainment companies. It's to the point that the "paper of record" is about as reputable as Cosmo. Next you know, they'll have 5k word piece on "how to achieve the big O." Far as I can tell, about the closest thing we still have to a real newspaper is WSJ. And even there, you have a bunch of youngsters running the news division, with countless repetitious stories on all the hot button issues, like climate change (fka global warming), student loan forgiveness, and of course, hot fashion trends like whether it's cool to tuck in your sweater, or how to get one of those super cool Bass Pro Shop trucker hats. Which, now that I think of it, I do recall reading an entertaining piece on that last one. But it wasn't in WSJ. Rather, I found it on some obscure website. So, maybe that's what we need. More of those obscure sources and the pieces written by the smart, reasonable folks you find there.
Thanks, Aaron. Though I did do a follow-up to that bassholes hats story, which I meant every word of when I wrote it. And stand by it. But the follow-up was on the guy who wrote the original for the WSJ, which I'd made fun of, using his piece as my jumping-off point. And then he accosted me with decency, and turned me into a fan of his after the fact. Because he showed me something I don't see much of these days: high character. He repaid my unkindness with kindness. See, journalists are just people, like all other people. There are good and bad ones. And here's a story about a good one who genuinely surprised me:
Matt-- Your follow on piece was very nice. Mr. Gallagher sure sounds like a decent fellow. And he's right to appreciate your work, as any serious writer would agree it's a stellar example of the craft. But, really, he deserved the Bassholes piece. In fact, there's plenty more to work with if you want to do a series. A few recent examples include: Crochet Clothes: Not Just for Grannies Any More; The Big Men's Fashion Trend of 2022? Dressing Like a Tween; and Distressed, Ripped Jeans: They're Happening Again. Would you be at all surprised if any of those appeared in The Onion? I think not. But WSJ? Really? And that get's back to your latest piece. Most of what appears in the media today is either incomplete, inaccurate or irrelevant. Unfortunately for Mr. Gallagher, even though he's a nice guy and decent writer, much of what he writes falls into the latter category.
The problem is the journalism schools don't teach journalism and everyone there wants to be on TV to cover the elitist celebutards. The media like Little Katie Couric is all over and friends with them all. Now THAT is the problem. When they won't cover what Hellery did to Trump, paying for that phony Russia story, when in the meantime she sold 20 percent of our uranium to Russia, that says it all about today's media. It is not us, it IS them!
Except that Couric just wrote a book crapping on half the media. And yeah, the media thought Trump was in bed with Putin. Wonder how they could've ever gotten that idea? I mean besides him saying things like this: " "I went in yesterday and there was a television screen, and I said, 'This is genius.' Putin declares a big portion of the Ukraine -- of Ukraine. Putin declares it as independent. Oh, that's wonderful."
Oh, I see you were linked by Drudge again. got to love that the uranium story still has wings, and now hunter's laptop has details on Ukrainian Biolaps. ;-)
Pretty decent analogy, really. It is high calorie, low nutrition stuff that we like to consume most. Goes down easiest. Provides the most intense sensation *right now*, too. Now one’s got the patience to wait for anything much anymore.
I’ve got the problem that I’ve managed to subscribe to plenty of content, between various e-pubs and streaming services, and l’m content with the content, as it were. It’s calmer stuff for the most part for my addled nerves. It’s less likely to ignite fits of rage than glowing embers that degrade steadily to ashes on their own.
But now spring’s all sprung and Ma Nature’s trying to tear [stuff] up quicker than I can fix it. I’ve got to pick my battles outdoors cautiously for now. Except that I can go full chicken-hawk-verion of seal team six on the topic of Vladimir Putin, probably for the foreseeable future. As you were, soljah.
Anyhoo. I’m sure glad you can and do send correspondence. I’d sure hate to have to be responsible for keeping that up, too. Always find time for the music tips also. Grâce à toi, as we so often like to say here in southern West Virginia—if you’ll pardon our French.
I love me some West Virginia. Or used to - when they had healthy smallmouth bass populations in the places I used to go to find them. Which have dried up in the last two or three years due to flooding and other factors beyond our control. If you can figure out a way to bring them back to my old honey holes, you'll get a comp'ed subscription for life.
You deserve an update, Matt. WV is having its annual fish-stock extravaganza, and there are locales in the eastern panhandle not terribly far from your haunts, in case you’re interested. Runs from today through April 9.
That's quite the tall order there, Matt. Even taking into consideration what I might do for the comp'ed sub! For instance...
No! Who am I tryin'a kid?
Here in my area, we've got Bluestone Lake and the *new* New River National Park--but that's so far from the B'more area to be prohibitive as a day trip: six or eight hours driving? Hell, we're generally about three/four hours' drive from other major east coast metro areas like Charlotte, Cinc'y or P'burgh.
I'm in Raleigh County, and various parks and lakes are within an hour. All the scenery you can eat. But if you're ever in the area, let me know and we can do lunch, as one does.
I have to drive 35-40 minutes to get to Arby's; how is that Smokehouse Brisket? Have you had the one with the Au Jus dip? Just curious as to whether I should drag my lazy butt over there...
Not gonna lie, Robert. I drive about 20 minutes to my nearest, but 40 minutes for Arby's is a commitment. I guess you just have to ask yourself how serious you are about The Meats. I can't answer that question for you. You're gonna have to look within. The Smokehouse Brisket is a pretty impressive specimen. I wouldn't put it up with great bbq joints or anything. But for fast food? Pretty damn good. As an alternative, don't sleep on the Greek Gyro or the fish sandwich, the latter of which, I believe, tends to be seasonal.
Usually when I do get by there I just order a big bag of 2/$6 Beef n' Cheddars; even though I live in Massachusetts we have NO roast beef sandwich shops out in Western Mass! When I go on one of my numerous charter trips out around Boston, stopping for great roast beef sandwiches is a big part of the trip. But thanks, I'll try the brisket. When I was in college at Duke Arby's was a big part of our "circuit". FYI not gonna lie, I'm serious about red meat, period...
No Arby's? You should go! When it comes to roast beef sandwiches, for a cheap cut of ultra-processed Round soaked in a gelatinous broth of water and sodium phosphates in sealed plastic bags until it's shipped and cooked in the store, sliced into paper thin strips and slung onto a bun, it ain't half bad.
Seriously, Arby's kind of gets a bad rap because of that urban legend thing about it not being "real" meat. I used to grab a meal to go there occasionally back when I was working a 3rd shift job. There was one on my way to work, and the drive thru wasn't busy at that hour, so it was a pretty quick stop. And I actually did like their signature sandwich. They also had some pretty good onion rings, but I haven't been by one in a very long time, so I don't know if that's still the case. I also used to like their apple and cherry turnovers. Problem was that at the time I was stopping - not long before their closing time - they'd often be "out" of those.
Yeah, they process the hell out of their meat - and no doubt most everything else - and it has a high salt content. But hey...it's fast food, not home cookin'. Unless you're going to become the anti-Jared of Subway fame and eat their stuff all the time, no harm in a little indulgence now and then.
Now, you wanna' talk a little less than "real", at 88% actual meat and 12% "additional seasonings" (water, soy, black pepper 'flavoring' as opposed to actual black pepper, and a whole host of other stuff), let's talk Taco Bell.
Here’s the thing: I used to listen to Braden and Buchanan on WRC 570 in DC (before Crossfire) and while they vehemently disagreed, they were never disagreeable and seemed to have a genuine affection for each other. Hell, they even had Willard Scott banter with them on the top of the hour! I don’t think Tom Braden and (pre presidential run) Pat Buchanan thought the other was an enemy of the people. They just thought the other was well meaning but utterly, utterly wrong.
Exactly. That show was pushing the boundaries of journalistic decorum 40 years ago, but by today’s standards would be closer to an afternoon literary guild (to be followed by refreshments in the sun room).
Do we consume so much garbage media because there is so much of it or is there so much of it because we consume it?
I think the answer is yes.
Agreed but at one point in thier careers they all covered 2 very unpopular wars and the fallout back here at home before sitting behind the anchor desk. While still too young remember back then I have seen clips from Korea and Vietnam as well as the street protests back then. Savvy Old News Hounds...
How could people not like you when you even go the extra step of researching how many calories are in a delicious Big Mac? I was hoping against hope you might have the answer to this problem, but I think your answer IS the answer, however sad that may be.
I made this similar point on one of MY sainted social posts and asked why there can't be a new, 24-hour news channel that looks a lot like CNN of the 80s and 90s (news every 15 minutes on the hour), with a mixture of clearly labeled left-wing and right-wing shows, and one that's a little of both? Some of my esteemed journalist friends (they are still esteemed and are still friends, as I believe there are far more in the field who do care) said, "Yeah, but no ... if that was possible, we wouldn't have Fox and MSNBC and CNN the way they look today. They evolved to this point because this is what people wanted."
Meanwhile, we continue and scream at each other with the talking points we hear from our favorite outlets.
I will dwell on this further while I'm at the gym later today, but I really, really, really want a Big Mac now.
Screw the Big Mac, Gary. Go Arby's!
And thanks for using the question!
I like that Drudge - who likes to regularly link to things about sex robots, celebrity feuds and political hysteria - also linked to this.
I like it too, Kevin. The man has impeccable taste!
Not for nothing do their signs say “billions and billions sold.” Wrong! "billions and billions served" Get it right Labash.
As someone that supported the White House Media both domestic and internationally for 8 plus years of the Clinton Bush2 era, I witnessed the best of the worst when it came to journalism and news. The biggest of all types of media in the world vying to lie to the american public depending on what side of the fence you stood. Watching up close and personal the talking heads huddle with their producers and handlers looking for an obscure angle to stretch the truth for ratings or the scoop. I was often the unnamed source for some cheeseball news story on a slow WH news day or when on The Vineyard or The Ranch on Presidential Vacation. "How many scoops of Gelato did Bill get?" Did Senior actually spill BBQ sauce on Barb? Truth in reporting.
Where is Walter Cronkite, David Brinkley, Hugh Downs, Chet Huntley.....
Corrected. (McDonald's.) But remember that a lot of those guys were glorified news readers. If they spent a couple months slinging opinions around, you'd hate them, too. It's easy to be the Voice of God when you just have to read a teleprompter and there's no competition. But that ain't the world we live in anymore. And Americans wouldn't want to put that toothpaste back in the tube, even with as messy as it's all gotten.
Very nice piece as always, Matt. I find the media/fast food analogy very fitting. I know that as I got a bit older and wiser, I gave up both. The junk food I gave up mainly because I somehow managed to make enough money to afford real food. Which is pretty amazing considering I had nothing when I dropped out of high school at 17, but managed to retire at 55. And the media I gave up on because somewhere along the way, they lost all credibility for accurate reporting. In fact, it's not an exaggeration to say that probably >95% of the reporting across all MSM platforms contains glaring omissions, outright bias and/or shear incompetence. I mean, it's almost laughable that NYT, WaPo, NPR, CNN, MSNBC, Fox, or any of them, claim to be news organizations when what they really are is entertainment companies. It's to the point that the "paper of record" is about as reputable as Cosmo. Next you know, they'll have 5k word piece on "how to achieve the big O." Far as I can tell, about the closest thing we still have to a real newspaper is WSJ. And even there, you have a bunch of youngsters running the news division, with countless repetitious stories on all the hot button issues, like climate change (fka global warming), student loan forgiveness, and of course, hot fashion trends like whether it's cool to tuck in your sweater, or how to get one of those super cool Bass Pro Shop trucker hats. Which, now that I think of it, I do recall reading an entertaining piece on that last one. But it wasn't in WSJ. Rather, I found it on some obscure website. So, maybe that's what we need. More of those obscure sources and the pieces written by the smart, reasonable folks you find there.
Thanks, Aaron. Though I did do a follow-up to that bassholes hats story, which I meant every word of when I wrote it. And stand by it. But the follow-up was on the guy who wrote the original for the WSJ, which I'd made fun of, using his piece as my jumping-off point. And then he accosted me with decency, and turned me into a fan of his after the fact. Because he showed me something I don't see much of these days: high character. He repaid my unkindness with kindness. See, journalists are just people, like all other people. There are good and bad ones. And here's a story about a good one who genuinely surprised me:
https://mattlabash.substack.com/p/in-praise-of-graciousness?s=w
Matt-- Your follow on piece was very nice. Mr. Gallagher sure sounds like a decent fellow. And he's right to appreciate your work, as any serious writer would agree it's a stellar example of the craft. But, really, he deserved the Bassholes piece. In fact, there's plenty more to work with if you want to do a series. A few recent examples include: Crochet Clothes: Not Just for Grannies Any More; The Big Men's Fashion Trend of 2022? Dressing Like a Tween; and Distressed, Ripped Jeans: They're Happening Again. Would you be at all surprised if any of those appeared in The Onion? I think not. But WSJ? Really? And that get's back to your latest piece. Most of what appears in the media today is either incomplete, inaccurate or irrelevant. Unfortunately for Mr. Gallagher, even though he's a nice guy and decent writer, much of what he writes falls into the latter category.
This got a Drudge link?
Yes indeed. He'll even let me in! Just like I let riffraff into the comments section.
I'd never join a comments section
that allowed me to become a member.
The problem is the journalism schools don't teach journalism and everyone there wants to be on TV to cover the elitist celebutards. The media like Little Katie Couric is all over and friends with them all. Now THAT is the problem. When they won't cover what Hellery did to Trump, paying for that phony Russia story, when in the meantime she sold 20 percent of our uranium to Russia, that says it all about today's media. It is not us, it IS them!
Except that Couric just wrote a book crapping on half the media. And yeah, the media thought Trump was in bed with Putin. Wonder how they could've ever gotten that idea? I mean besides him saying things like this: " "I went in yesterday and there was a television screen, and I said, 'This is genius.' Putin declares a big portion of the Ukraine -- of Ukraine. Putin declares it as independent. Oh, that's wonderful."
Oh, I see you were linked by Drudge again. got to love that the uranium story still has wings, and now hunter's laptop has details on Ukrainian Biolaps. ;-)
Pretty decent analogy, really. It is high calorie, low nutrition stuff that we like to consume most. Goes down easiest. Provides the most intense sensation *right now*, too. Now one’s got the patience to wait for anything much anymore.
I’ve got the problem that I’ve managed to subscribe to plenty of content, between various e-pubs and streaming services, and l’m content with the content, as it were. It’s calmer stuff for the most part for my addled nerves. It’s less likely to ignite fits of rage than glowing embers that degrade steadily to ashes on their own.
But now spring’s all sprung and Ma Nature’s trying to tear [stuff] up quicker than I can fix it. I’ve got to pick my battles outdoors cautiously for now. Except that I can go full chicken-hawk-verion of seal team six on the topic of Vladimir Putin, probably for the foreseeable future. As you were, soljah.
Anyhoo. I’m sure glad you can and do send correspondence. I’d sure hate to have to be responsible for keeping that up, too. Always find time for the music tips also. Grâce à toi, as we so often like to say here in southern West Virginia—if you’ll pardon our French.
HA, I didn't know we were practically neighbors...lol..(NE OH)...I have been to your beautiful state many times
I love me some West Virginia. Or used to - when they had healthy smallmouth bass populations in the places I used to go to find them. Which have dried up in the last two or three years due to flooding and other factors beyond our control. If you can figure out a way to bring them back to my old honey holes, you'll get a comp'ed subscription for life.
You deserve an update, Matt. WV is having its annual fish-stock extravaganza, and there are locales in the eastern panhandle not terribly far from your haunts, in case you’re interested. Runs from today through April 9.
https://wvdnr.gov/fishing/gold-rush/
There’s even a contest, if you draw a tagged one. Lifetime WV fishing license, for instance, as one of the prizes. ;-)
That's quite the tall order there, Matt. Even taking into consideration what I might do for the comp'ed sub! For instance...
No! Who am I tryin'a kid?
Here in my area, we've got Bluestone Lake and the *new* New River National Park--but that's so far from the B'more area to be prohibitive as a day trip: six or eight hours driving? Hell, we're generally about three/four hours' drive from other major east coast metro areas like Charlotte, Cinc'y or P'burgh.
But I gather our waterways are generally fairly well stocked. See here, eg: https://wvdnr.gov/bluestone-lake-wma-offers-hunting-fishing-lake-adventures-in-southern-wv/
I'm in Raleigh County, and various parks and lakes are within an hour. All the scenery you can eat. But if you're ever in the area, let me know and we can do lunch, as one does.
am killing myself laughing
loving all this red meat repartee
...and I'm a bloody vegetarian!!!
this must mean there is hope
hope for ALL our self righteous asses
and it's lookin to me
that our hope lies in humor
ah but you knew that all along
didn't you dear Slack Tide Matt
nobody can beat yours
I have to drive 35-40 minutes to get to Arby's; how is that Smokehouse Brisket? Have you had the one with the Au Jus dip? Just curious as to whether I should drag my lazy butt over there...
Not gonna lie, Robert. I drive about 20 minutes to my nearest, but 40 minutes for Arby's is a commitment. I guess you just have to ask yourself how serious you are about The Meats. I can't answer that question for you. You're gonna have to look within. The Smokehouse Brisket is a pretty impressive specimen. I wouldn't put it up with great bbq joints or anything. But for fast food? Pretty damn good. As an alternative, don't sleep on the Greek Gyro or the fish sandwich, the latter of which, I believe, tends to be seasonal.
Usually when I do get by there I just order a big bag of 2/$6 Beef n' Cheddars; even though I live in Massachusetts we have NO roast beef sandwich shops out in Western Mass! When I go on one of my numerous charter trips out around Boston, stopping for great roast beef sandwiches is a big part of the trip. But thanks, I'll try the brisket. When I was in college at Duke Arby's was a big part of our "circuit". FYI not gonna lie, I'm serious about red meat, period...
Spooky. This is the second time this weekend that Arby’s, which has never ever come up in my life, came up in my life.
Spooky, it’s meat Synchronism.
No Arby's? You should go! When it comes to roast beef sandwiches, for a cheap cut of ultra-processed Round soaked in a gelatinous broth of water and sodium phosphates in sealed plastic bags until it's shipped and cooked in the store, sliced into paper thin strips and slung onto a bun, it ain't half bad.
Yum?
Seriously, Arby's kind of gets a bad rap because of that urban legend thing about it not being "real" meat. I used to grab a meal to go there occasionally back when I was working a 3rd shift job. There was one on my way to work, and the drive thru wasn't busy at that hour, so it was a pretty quick stop. And I actually did like their signature sandwich. They also had some pretty good onion rings, but I haven't been by one in a very long time, so I don't know if that's still the case. I also used to like their apple and cherry turnovers. Problem was that at the time I was stopping - not long before their closing time - they'd often be "out" of those.
Yeah, they process the hell out of their meat - and no doubt most everything else - and it has a high salt content. But hey...it's fast food, not home cookin'. Unless you're going to become the anti-Jared of Subway fame and eat their stuff all the time, no harm in a little indulgence now and then.
Now, you wanna' talk a little less than "real", at 88% actual meat and 12% "additional seasonings" (water, soy, black pepper 'flavoring' as opposed to actual black pepper, and a whole host of other stuff), let's talk Taco Bell.
Yum!!
Surely, a sign from The Meat gods.
I remember the food fight description being applied to Crossfire way back. Such innocent times (and that was the Braden/Buchanan version).
Here’s the thing: I used to listen to Braden and Buchanan on WRC 570 in DC (before Crossfire) and while they vehemently disagreed, they were never disagreeable and seemed to have a genuine affection for each other. Hell, they even had Willard Scott banter with them on the top of the hour! I don’t think Tom Braden and (pre presidential run) Pat Buchanan thought the other was an enemy of the people. They just thought the other was well meaning but utterly, utterly wrong.
Exactly. That show was pushing the boundaries of journalistic decorum 40 years ago, but by today’s standards would be closer to an afternoon literary guild (to be followed by refreshments in the sun room).
“I’m so hungry I could eat at Arby’s!”… Simpsons clip follows:
https://youtu.be/zl1EBudmol8
laughing with glee
savoring y'alls comments
glad to be giving sanctimony a rest
having no Deep Wisdom to impart
The answer is, yes. Or? it is to laugh.