Turned on the news to get updates on the Baja earthquake

***crickets*** on CNN and MSNBC.

So far for 'real news' there was a short bit about a suspected bomb in Kansas City, but I have not seen a follow up to find out if it was really a bomb or just a hoax. Obama throwing out the pitch for some game or another.

The rest of the 'news' is Tiger Woods playing f*&^^%&^g golf.

I don't watch news solid all day - during commercials and non-news stories I switch over to other stuff. But you'd think at the top of the hour, there would actually BE NEWS reported.

Where's your priorities, csz?












:sarcasm: (if I really need it)

It has got to be one of the most boring 'sports' I have ever seen. Maybe it is fun to play but it is deadly dull as a spectator sport. IMO of course.

That is precisely how I feel about the sport. However nice it might be to get out and walk a lovely golf course, pausing to hit a little ball seems so unnecessary. ;) And, yes, watching on tv is not something I'd want to do, although I have a pretty high tolerance for boring, having grown up watching tennis on tv throughout my formative years (and not just the big matches). LOL

Which apparently not posted anywhere on the internet. Essentially he covers the enjoying the outdoors, but the frustration of hitting a little white ball, only to have to chase it down and hit it again. And then of course there is the Robin Williams "History of Golf" sketch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcnFbCCgTo4

If I watch sports it is equestrian events - cross country jumping, dressage (boring if you don't know what to look for), stadium jumping, cutting, and reining. A much different type of sport, requiring perfect coordination between horse and rider with both sexes competing against each other.

p.s. it was mark twain..'golf is a good walk spoiled'

If I want to see them, I have to buy a video, though now there are some on YouTube and other online sources.

But even so, why should a golfer's return to his sport after a self imposed hiatus due to personal problems rate live coverage on the news networks? Repeatedly and trumping stories that will make much more difference to most American lives?

While 'follow the money' is likely the operative motive - and there is a whole lot of money in golf - there is more money involved in the political issues this country faces. I expect it is a case of "Look - something shiny!" distraction from the real issues, rather than the importance of a particular story.

Of course, that would render him persona non grata here at good old DU. Golf! Elitist white fuckers! For what it's worth, I played a couple of rounds at East Potamac Park when I was finally able to walk out of Walter Reed AMC in 1972. It was part of my rehab after getting lit up in the A Shau. Wounded grunts from Iraq and Afghanistan are doing the same thing as I type this. But you probably know better. After all, it's golf.

personal viewpoints. No one is taking away your right to play, nor criticizing you for doing so. We all have our hobbies and no one expects everyone to share the same.

Take that enormous chip off your shoulder before it causes you to make even more ridiculous assumptions.

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I meant you no insult.

package of phone books. I read the update at ajc.com.

With no followup. It's annoying.

the late 90's on CNN when mergers Ted Turner made with Time Warner and AOL caused Turner to leave permanently.

I guess. :)

Tiger returning to golf is going to be a big story. A lot of people are interested in it. I don't really begrudge that. Plus, it's just easier for the media to cover, since they will already have reporters covering the Masters, and they don't have to get people caught up on the story, since everyone has heard something about it. Plus it's a cultural touchstone right now--how our society deals with infidelity, whether we treat celebrities different from real people, how we see gender, and all that good stuff.

I have been wondering about the earthquake, though. The way the media is treating it, it has been a complete dud. If it turns out to be more significant, the media has a lot of explaining to do. If they are ignoring real news to cover gossip news, they need one of those self-evaluation weeks where they beat themselves up then exonerate themselves in the end.

All of the big issues confronting this country and the world right now. How about Erickson threatening federal census workers? How about the video of massacres being released? The Mexican earthquake? The list is so long.

I didn't care to hear much about the Edwards, Ensign, and other politicians' affairs and Tiger Woods is far lower on the scale of things I give a shit about.

I wish the FCC would/could mandate that a news channel actually *cover* the news - truthfully, without lies and spin. But I don't think it is possible anymore.

:shrug:

It's not just a case of what story is more important on some absolute Platonic scale of important stuff, but what story is peaking at the moment. All reports on the earthquake are that it did minimal damage because it ran into the desert. Should they show lots of pictures of stuff that didn't get damaged? Some redneck idiot reporter uses more shotgun rhetoric--if they hyped a story every time a conservative used stupid rhetoric, they'd have no time for anything else.

The story about Tiger returning to the Masters is big at this exact moment because that's when it's happening, so they are going to hype it. By tonight, when most people are tuning in to see a summary of the day's events, it will be one of the little stories that make up the news half-hour.

I'm not saying i like it, or even care much about Tiger's comeback, or agree with the way the "news" reports the news, but obviously a lot of people do care about Tiger Woods and what he represents, and it's a lot more than just an individual having an affair. Culturally and sociologically the reason celebrities make big news when they do things is because they are morality tales for normal folk. If your neighbor cheats on his wife, you don't really notice it objectively. When a celebrity does it, it's a chance for society to have a discussion about infidelity, redemption, and all kinds of related issues. When that celebrity is Tiger Woods--who formerly was seen mostly as a virtuous, decent, likable athlete, it reveals a lot to people about societal and cultural issues beyond just the affairs.

I mean, I don't care, either, on a personal level, beyond a bit of sympathy for his spouse. But on a larger scale, the reaction to the story is really the story that's being covered. The news could switch to Senate hearings on budget issues--which are far more important, we would all agree--but then most people would change the channel anyway.

buildings damaged

2 people killed

100 injured

Water issues

Electrical issues

Infrastructure issues

A little more important than Tiger as these affect real lives.

No the reason they are not showing you this is because there are no desperate people or the US is not coming in to the rescue... no pun.

There is a problem when a news story that PROPERLY belongs in the Golf Channel, ESPN or Entertainment is leading "real news."

And even sadder that you do not get it.

Listening to a report from Mexicali.

They just had a press conference, they confirmed the arrival of the President of Mexico to declare the city disaster zone for federal support, and they are moving people. Oh and Iztecalli and General Hospital in Tijuana have damage and have been evacuated (that does not shock me actually) and private system is going to help.

They have activated the DN III plan, (National Disaster Plan) so they have over 3000 Personnel.

They have damage to streets, and a few houses that sank over a meter, that us substrate.

They have reestablished 70% of light services

They will need to rebuild some buildings at the University. (Universidad Autonoma de Baja California)

There are also shelters now open.

Now on to the meta comment the station doing this is a VERY SMALL, locally owned station, in Tecate that usually plays music. But they are doing yeoman's work. Even national MEXICAN networks have been thin in coverage... an IPOD and Wunder Radio...

Even Google News has only a little on it.

therefore no story, aka no story our news models can play to no end.

Just routine destruction of people's lives with a government doing what they can to alleviate in the aftermath.

I am glad to hear that the Mexican authorities are getting the job done as best as possible.

some political scandals and all that, but in a foreign political culture and it will take a year or so.

But not something that they can paint Obama in a bad light, and Calderon who the fuck cares?

Then it might make the news in this country. Otherwise, they just don't care.

It is an amazing lesson on how much difference building codes can make, even allowing for the sparse population at the epicenter; comparing to Haiti where even the newish modern structures collapsed, to see apparently superficial cracks in facades and the officials limiting access until the buildings are inspected is refreshing. Haiti - little if any government concerns about building safety before or after their quake.

I know when we built our house friends expected us to complain about the building inspectors. Frankly, those guys did their work and I appreciated them! I had actually contacted a private building inspector about periodic inspections to make sure that the house was built up to code and he told me in this county he just does not worry about it - he will do inspections in the latter part of construction, but does not "waste clients' money" for the structural portions! We're in a hurricane zone, not an earthquake one, but it still makes me feel better.

and the lead story yesterday was that damage in Mexico was gonna be spectacular.

BZZZZ it wasn't... this is what is amazing. CNN's reaction this morning was but comical, to be honest.

No doubt about it.

I know there are libertarian types here in Florida that complain about them. Sure, they ignored them completely and paid off inspectors in South Florida prior to Hurricane Andrew, which is one reason so many houses were completely demolished. If the codes before Andrew had been followed, a significant percentage of the houses that were lost would have survived, maybe with damage but recoverable damage. Some houses lost their roofs long before the peak winds hit, leaving the rest of the houses and their contents open to the rain and wind and adding to the flying debris.

Building properly is not that difficult or even that expensive and it pays off for the life of the building. But the cheapo contractors still try to cut corners and weasel out around the codes.

If the news wanted to do their job and inform people, they would show the difference - how a building that got an equivalent amount of shaking in Mexico survived versus one in Haiti that was completely destroyed. And then demonstrate the simple steps in the construction that aid in the stability and safety of the building. *I* could do that story - it is an easy one and one that authorities would likely be happy to help a news crew to research and shoot. It would make average people more aware and put contractors on notice that the public is getting better informed.

But instead we get to find out more about Tiger's nasty personal life.

by the way the worst damage was on a colonia where from the description NO building code would make a dinker damn of a difference.

The road opened and swallowed homes, that is where things went down to over a meter.

No building code can withstand that. Though our concrete walls and solid roof might manage, I hope to never have to find out.

Last I heard, the loss of life was low - only two people reported. Has it increased with more reports from the area?

and I posted a large update at the bottom...

We're still feeling aftershocks in San Diego.

Damage in Mexicali and Calexico is significant. El Centro took it on the chin. Tijuana has major problems. Life continues unabated for the most part.

But I am sure you know better than I do - I've never lived in an earthquake prone area. At least we get warnings with the hurricanes down here.

truly

they are sending Field Facilities for to help the medical services.

Oh and water they have water pressure issues (this usually is a mess) and this may even hurt Tecate.

The Electrical Company reports they are at 75% of service (as of 09:00)

They have reestablished transmission lines from TJ and Rosarito, while Sierro Prieto is partially back on line

The roads have fissures that they need specialists. And the Km 21 of the Mexicali Tijuana road was the worst damaged. They have 11 fissures at Km 21, but circulation is still going with temp work, and they had a landslide on the Rumorosa but they have opened this. And of course the Army (think NG) and they are paroling all areas affected with federal and local police departments.

And of course he also reports that the President is coming (I am sorry VIPS always get in the way)... but they are asking for help.

Well NOW I should do some work. I know... but scooping the "real news" is so much damn fun!

(Oh and I will probably say it, damage is probably going on for close to Billion)

Oh and here is the zinger. I am making news. They are actually going to coordinate with the US (the damage on the US is there) so they are looking at coordinated response.

Wounded up to 236

And the number of dead and injured not bad. I hope it stays low.

This is what I love about DU - there is usually someone who knows an area and can answer question.

Again, thank you!

that this is why it wasn't a story. You are right, there is one... CONSTRUCTION CODES WORK FOLKS.

:scared:

Apparently, the cooler was filled with phone books so it was a hoax. But the country got to see the KC bomb squad complete with guy in full armor, bomb robot and bomb sniffing dog in action LIVE! In short segments in between long discussions and live coverage of Tiger Woods returning to golf, that is.