The History Book Club discussion

oooh...Thai and Indonesian food...now THAT'S delicious!

never mind the pay cut...Howard Stern is also on the things I could care less about list.

Ooohh, I love celery. I love the smell of it in addition to the taste of it. A salad isn't a salad without celery, nor a tuna or chicken salad sandwich. And what about celery stuffed with Cheez-whiz? Some people like it stuffed with peanut butter, but I like my peanut butter on toast.

Football

add watching soccer, formula 1 racing, golf, ski jumping, bob sleigh racing, tennis, weight lifting(...), also nice: shot-putting...or rowing and most other sport on tv. Actually playing them can be fun, like swimming, basketball, running, whatever - but watching things unfold on a tiny screen, from a sofa, chips in hand??? Where the @#$ is that golf ball???

Don't feel bad; when I am at a PGA event; I can never spot the ball in the air - never.

did I mention the Kardashians?

tennis is the one sport I love to watch, but only the Grand Slam events. Then I'm parked in front of the TV for hours and get behind on my reading.

forgot to add that "sport" they "play" in Central Asia with a dead calf: Buzkashi (kind of Barbarian variation of Polo).

and then of course the insane bull fighting. I just do not understand why nations thinking themselves developed and civilized don't ban this stupidity...

I think the Spaniards see this sport as part of their culture and tradition. For me, it would be hard to watch.

how about evolving? The Romans managed. Back in the days hundreds of animals perished in the arenas, either fighting each other or Gladiators or sometimes being granted the luxury of munching on Christians. Some people grow (and keep voting for Berlusconi) others stick to what they think is their tradition....
Still, as long as they stick to this barbaric cult I have trouble accepting them as developed Europeans.

Apart from that, as far as I know the Spaniards aren't the only ones enjoying the barbaric game. It is also still popular in large parts of Mexico, the south of France ...

I know you feel strongly about this Andre and you are correct...other areas are into bull fighting too.

Bentley wrote: "did I mention the Kardashians?"

Sounds like another Barbarian tribe. Are they into bull fighting, too - or do they merely hunt for Paparazzi?

No, I was agreeing with you (smile)

I know, I know. Just love to laugh, that's all.

Did I mention Dick Cheney? Although I do wish him well with his upcoming surgery and hope that his health continues to improve; having said that I feel he continues to step into the mix when frankly everybody would have liked him to take a page from George W. Bush's book of how to handle a post presidency. He really has the ability to stir things up in a very negative way.

Didn't he also like to hunt?

Yes, (lol) even his best friends (completely by accident)

it seems he's in need of a complete overhaul. I wish him all the best.

I do too; but hearing less of his opinions would be helpful since he really is not in any position of power or holding any public office. Sniping at the folks who are in the hot seats really does not seem polite or befitting him.

Fortunately, we're not seeing any more of Al Gore, but it took awhile after Clinton was out of office for us to quit hearing from either of them. I can agree I don't see why anyone is listening to Cheney, and, if no one were listening, he wouldn't have a mike.

Bentley wrote: "I do too; but hearing less of his opinions would be helpful since he really is not in any position of power or holding any public office. Sniping at the folks who are in the hot seats really does ..."

True. Not good for the heart either. Nor is shooting at your friends...

André wrote: " Nor is shooting at your friends... "

Nor is hitting them....

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Fortunately, we're not seeing any more of Al Gore, but it took awhile after Clinton was out of office for us to quit hearing from either of them. I can agree I don't see why anyone is listening to ..."

The media keeps listening so therein lies the problem and Gore - I forgive him because he was actually rebuilding his life anew focusing on those endeavors he loved; not spouting out on "every subject" imaginable to get in his jabs at those in power now. Sort of sad about his long term marriage to Tipper.

André wrote: "Bentley wrote: "I do too; but hearing less of his opinions would be helpful since he really is not in any position of power or holding any public office. Sniping at the folks who are in the hot se..."

Andre and Kristi - humorous - very.

Kristi wrote: "André wrote: " Nor is shooting at your friends... "

Nor is hitting them...."

Laughing is, apparently...

I think the "media still listening" is the problem, and, to point the finger in the right direction, they are for profit outlets, so there must be a market for this stuff. I have been watching and reading less and less. More's the pity because it has become harder and harder to learn what is going on. The media is extremely biased (all of it, both sides) and so the slant continues.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "I think the "media still listening" is the problem, and, to point the finger in the right direction, they are for profit outlets, so there must be a market for this stuff. I have been watching and ..."

True. A lot of journalists care more for their paychecks than wanting to dig to get to the bottom of things / the truth/ a good story.
Maybe it's partly also our fault. More and more people want things fast, short and simple. Long stories take time to read - and sometimes even brains...
Many so called journalists just deliver.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "I think the "media still listening" is the problem, and, to point the finger in the right direction, they are for profit outlets, so there must be a market for this stuff. I have been watching and ..."

Very true Elizabeth...not that I liked Dan Rather...but he had a point when he mentioned what news had denigrated to. Just reporting the facts and nothing but the facts...has fallen by the wayside.

I don't mind getting the opinion and analysis, but somehow I feel we've missed getting the facts along the way. I think most here recognize that what passes for news these days is primarly opinion, but I'm afraid that the majority do not.

I am afraid that you are correct; when they hear a Glen Beck or on the other side a Keith Olbermann pontificate...many think they are listening to the news. Sad, really.

The stupid grin of that Arizona shooter. He even made it onto the cover of Time.
I can't look into crazy people's eyes so I instantly covered him up with Hu, who's on the cover of Newsweek - with the great title: The Last Apparatchik

Yes, Andre...it gives me the creeps.

Bentley wrote: "Yes, Andre...it gives me the creeps."

Me too, the creep.

He looks like Fester fome the Adams Family...

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Lol - Kristi - terrific. You really had me there.

I could care less but the upcoming federal election in Canada I am getting tired of all the tv ads oh and commericals that come on 20x a day. i just yell at those like oh u s****d or other profonity and they closed my fave chinese buffet in my city no wonder i wasn't able to call to ask them how much the lunch special is these days I was mad.

I am sorry that you are irked by politics; pretty soon the presidential pre election hoopla will start up again here. It does get to be a bit much.

ok I went through the whole list and I have to agree with most of it except the ditching of

by

and

by J.K. Rowling



sorry but I just love them. and Bentley you had the latest Bachelor/Bachelorette right in your post. oh i could care less about the OWN network. reruns of just about anything reality shows. Repeats of the same movies never anything new on cable and if it's new it's those fancy movie channels i don't have. ok the only thing with American Idol is I love Kelly Clarksonand if i recognize the song i will rush downstairs to go sing it. oh and please forgive my endless grammar and spelling mistakes when i try to correct it I've completely misspelled the work and they don't have a correction(browser on auto spell check)i think I've covered it for now. excellent game ben! sorry ur nickname will now be ben- bentley

I am glad you are having fun and you can call me anything (Ben or Bentley)

Pretentious/assuming people.
Pedantry.
Left-wing politics.
Jazz.
Onions.
Computer viruses.
Silly fashion sense.
Most music in the charts today.
Annoying/pointless adverts.
Most television programs.
Romantic comedies, it feel like they release the same one every week... Starring Jennifer Anniston, of course.

Most of all- modern art.

Good things to not care anything about.

Glad to hear it, Bentley!

Joe Mauer's relationship status
Things I'm told will give me cancer that probably take 300 years of exposure to actually harm me (studying science gives you great perspective on that)
The Viking's probably very expensive new stadium
Lady Gaga's newest personality
Really just all the negative, very personal details people see fit to print.

Here's my list. I don't want to offend anyone as some of these are pretty popular. Maybe it's my own inner flaws...:)

1. Lady Gaga (Am I now being hunted down? :)...at any rate I don't get it..I never really got Madonna either)
2. Fashion (which is probably why I don't get number 1. I hate shopping for clothes)
3. Dr. Phil ( Nothing personal- I am sure his intentions are good but I still don't care)
4. Self Help books ( I could probably use these but I don't care to, which is probably why I don't care about #2)
5. Televised Golf (I like to play it, but don't care about watching it. Blasphemy right?)

And of course I do not like all the shows that exploit people's drama-- and I agree with Bentley about the media having a ball with people's mistakes. I think it is sad that it seems many just wait in the wings for people to screw up and then poke fun of them. It's very sad.

And I agree with Kristi I just want to enjoy my food. I could not remember all the health benefits if I tried. Every day it feels like the "talk food" of the day causes something or cures something simultaneously. Honestly, it makes me wonder if anyone really knows or if it's just really good marketing techniques.

Autumn wrote: "I think it is sad that it seems many just wait in the wings for people to screw up and then poke fun of them..."

I would add all the tabloids - worldwide - incl. their paparazzi photographers.

I'm not a fan of Jude Law (having nothing against him either) but this guy just went for a swim and some idiot took pictures of his receding hairline practically asking if he'd have a hair piece...
I mean, who cares? Anybody ever thought about why hairdressers are called "dressers". No need for fake stuff here, just a comb.
If only they would leave these people alone.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/...

Andre, perfect and humorous example! :)
That is exactly the stuff that drives me crazy about the media. People are people right? Celebrities are just people. I don't care what someone has for breakfast or how gracefully they age with people that I know (to me there are more important things) let alone that a guy I do not know at all is losing his hair hahahaha :)
I can think he's talented and like to watch his movies but for the life of me I don't get the need to analyze someone's ( a person I have never met) personal life/appearance.

Autumn wrote: "Andre, perfect and humorous example! :)
That is exactly the stuff that drives me crazy about the media..."

Autumn, as long as there are people caring about this kind of junk others will be happy to deliver, sticking to these people, snapping their pictures and telling lies...