News of the ridiculous
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By Tony Farkas
On the days that I am just too dejected to yet again comment on the declining state of affairs in the state, nation and world, I look to humor to perk myself up.
So let’s explore some of the more ridiculous entries into the world of media, shall we?
To show I’m an equal opportunity shot taking writer, we’ll start with Breitbart News, which has a couple of doozies: 70-year-old transgender lawyer goes viral for provocative courtroom outfit; and, Wild raccoon attacks Hersheypark visitors, bites young girl.
To the second headline, I’ll just say for a national news outfit, this seems a skosh pedantic, and should probably have been left for local media to cover. To the first, this may sound a bit harsh, but who cares? It’s been a societal goal, ever since the advent of apps like TikTok, Vine, Snapchat and the like, for people to have any and all of their peccadillos sent into the world to be seen.
“Look at me. LOOK AT ME!” go the users, almost exactly like Mad TV’s Stuart to his long-suffering mother. Why should this man be any different?
At MSNBC, a headline reads Confederate statues prove parts of American History are just a lost cause.
Whatever that means, it seems to me that history is just that. It’s something that regardless of being viewed as good or bad actually happened and viewing it through the lens of current proper thought, or destroying anything that depicts such a time, only sets up future failure.
On to CNN, where you not only got information on watching Monday’s eclipse, you were told that While you watch the eclipse, you’ll also be able to feel it.
Apparently, the intrepid reporters claim that the eclipse will cause changes to temperature, windspeed and even humidity, which probably should have Greta Thunberg screaming at the heavens, “How dare you!”
Seems to me that if some cosmic event can have such an effect on the planet, will converting to electric cars really make a difference? All the laws on the planet will become useless in the face of what is wrought by God.
Also, an opinion writer on this site said that the issue that will keep the Democrats in power is abortion. Not sound fiscal policy, Ukraine or Israel aid, the flagging economy, election integrity or spending problems. It’s abortion.
On the Texas Tribune website, apparently only a fraction of voters decide who runs Texas.
Seems that the old bugaboo gerrymandering — designing districts to benefit a political party — means that many elections are decided in the primary, as is quite common in the local races here in East Texas.
I’m old enough to remember when candidates were elected on the strength of their promises.
On Fox News, there were headlines about the nephew of a “Yellowstone” star who died at 27 and about a tiger cub that enjoys bubbles.
Couple of things here: It’s apparent that Fox News is succumbing to the nightly foibles of all people who watch hours’ worth of YouTube shorts and Instagram reels to rack up the silly and/or feelgood experiences that keep us from fretting over the state of the world; and putting out such silliness is a way to draw people into a website to help spike its web traffic.
All of that is to say that, yeah, we kinda have the news, but look! Bunnies!
I’d much rather these sites take our leaders to task and let their readers know the true state of affairs.
Plus, not enough silly dog videos.
Tony Farkas is editor of the Trinity County News-Standard and the San Jacinto News-Times. He can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
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