John's Blog

I did a real double-take when I saw the headlines "Gay wins gold at the world championships" and then "Tyson Delivers Knockout Blow" pop up on my start page today. In both cases I though we were traveling back in time to a place where tolerance wasn't as prevalent, and back when Mike Tyson was still fighting. My confusion was cleared up quickly enough when I clicked the links. But I hate to see misleading headlines even when I expect them. Every time I pick up the sports page and see the headline "CHRIST THE KING BEATS..." I get a vision of Jesus kicking the crap out of somebody, even though I know I'm reading about a basketball game.

Expecting the press to act responsibly just may be too much to hope for, since their lack of objectivity as the selling of the Iraq war occurred still leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth. The boosterism exhibited by many media outlets was a shameful example of what happens when an independent press is lacking. What was probably a well-meaning attempt at patriotism produced disastrous results. Ironically using partial truths and information edited to reflect bias is commonly used by both news organizations and politicians alike, so this isn't a case of strange bedfellows at all. Too bad that the "AAD" world we live in plants these half-truths in the heads of many of those who are exposed to them.

But enough angry ranting for now, and perhaps it would be a good time to review some of the other bad headlines that have made it into print before:

March Planned For Next August

Blind Bishop Appointed To See

Lingerie Shipment Hijacked--Thief Gives Police The Slip

Patient At Death's Door--Doctors Pull Him Through

Latin Course To Be Canceled--No Interest Among Students, Et Al.

Queen Mary Having Bottom Scraped

Antique Stripper to Display Wares at Store

Prostitutes Appeal to Pope

Lawyers Give Poor Free Legal Advice

Killer Sentenced to Die for Second Time in 10 Years

20-Year Friendship Ends at Altar

Blind Woman Gets New Kidney from Dad She Hasn't Seen in Years

Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash, Experts Say

Many Antiques Seen at D.A.R. Meeting

Shot Off Woman's Leg Helps Nicklaus to 66

Kids Make Nutritious Snacks

Steals Clock, Faces Time

Tags: news, pointless rambling