Slow News Day

I'm currently in a lull between projects at the agency and have been trying to be productive with my "spare" time. Last week I duped my AD into teaching me Photoshop (which admittedly, I still don't really know), I caught up on every issue of Communication Arts from 1996, and I tried (and failed) learning Dreamweaver. 

But mostly I just end up watching Anderson Cooper talk about Michael Jackson all day.

It's hard to avoid. It doesn't matter what channel is on or what time of day it is. And if it's not Anderson Cooper it's Nancy Grace. And if it's not Nancy Grace, it's Larry King. The entire world has something to say about this whole situation. And here's why that bugs me:

1. It's not news anymore. It's like telling a story with the same ending over and over again. No matter how much we speculate, that doesn't change the fact that we are sans a King of Pop.

2. When you run a news story titled "Should Paris Jackson Really Be in the Spotlight?" and then proceed to spend the next 10 minutes talking about her, you're putting her in the spotlight.

3. Tickets to a memorial service of any kind should not be given away on the radio as if they were tickets to some crappy Creed cover band: "Be the 29th caller and get 2 tickets to the biggest event of the year!" I half expected them to throw in a nacho supreme combo from concessions and preferred parking at the Staples Center. On a similar note, tickets for a memorial service? Seriously?

4. Come on, Anderson Cooper. I thought you wanted people to take you seriously.

And yes, it is true that MJ himself said "don't stop 'till you get enough," but I think it's fairly safe to say, we've all had enough.

Today's thoughts while in traffic: Air pollution makes for a beautiful sunset.