The Power Of Media

In the last two days, I got to experience (and think about) the incredible power the media has over our opinion.

Fact: On Saturday, April 26, an exchange student from Germany has been shot and killed in Missoula, MT.

The headlines: German exchange student shot and killed after breaking into a garage in his neighborhood. Previously, he had broken into several other garages.

My thought: What the hell! Why hasn't this guy been arrested and sent home before that? Things like that happen when you break into someone's property in a country where many people have guns to defend themselves and their property.

The editorial: Obviously, it's been a game for the kids in the game to "break into" the garages in the neighborhood to organize some beer. It's been known and most people even have left beer for the kids to take in their garages (we're talking 17 or 18-year olds, not 12-year old kids). All garages have been unlocked, so no-one's property was damaged. The shooter, in contrast, has declared prior to the shooting that he was just waiting for one of those "effing kids" to show up so he could shoot them. He had left the garage door open and equipped his property with motion sensors and cameras to be notified as soon as someone entered his property.

Doesn't that change the story completely? A petty criminal turns into a young man who faced a gun nut. Were the "break-ins" a good idea? No, but it was not only accepted but even encouraged by many homeowners in the neighborhood. The student was a well-respected and loved member of the community back in Germany and in the U.S. and didn't want to do any harm. What probably scares most parents in that town is that it could have been their kid just the same.

What do I learn from this experience? Don't just read headlines to form an opinion, but investigate, inquire on the details, take your information from several sources.

Good night, everyone!

Why The 2000s Were Awesome-Ish

Today was a weird Friday, because I was off yesterday and kept referring to Wednesday as "last Friday", I think people thought I'm not quite there. But a wacky schedule and having to sub for two coworkers does that to me.  And here comes today's Finish The Sentence Friday, something I felt like I answered a few weeks ago, wondering whether I was ready to turn 30:

My favorite decade is...

... the 2000s.

I know, it sounds boring, but I'm still one of the young'ns. The 80s, I don't remember much of, I was only 6 when it all ended. The 90s, well the teenage time wasn't my friend. Add weird hair, even weirder clothes my mom got me, and some extra punds (besides being an awkward kid in general), and you have the class target.  On to the 2000s, time of my evolution, my rebellions, my time as a party girl, and eventually calming down. I remember decent clothing (the revival of the extreme flare pants had died down again), better hair (bye-bye perm), and somewhat better music, even though Metallica's "St. Anger" was a huge disappointment!



On the upside, Ville Valo cleaned up his act and managed to do concerts sober! (Yes, I sometimes have a weakness for goth lads)



The 2000s were also the revival of one of the best TV shows ever. Susannah knows which one I mean  :-)



It was also the high time of a certain pre-FaceBook platform that lead to me tripping over that certain lad to whom I'll be married for 8 years come April.


And that's the 2000s for me.

What's your favorite decade??

Everything's Going South

Discussion at "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" (German edition) a couple of minutes ago:

Geography question.
Candidate: So, is Reykjavik left or right from us?
Joker: Well, from my perspective, it's on the "right"...
Candidate: So south?

Source

When I was in school, we learned how to read a map in 5th grade!

Sunday Social - TV Time

Once again, I'm linking up with Ashley for the Sunday Social. It's been busy this weekend, and quite honestly, I need another weekend, I'm so not ready for a new week of craziness! But since things are as they are, let's have a look at my sometimes somewhat embarrassing TV history (and present):

1. What was your favorite TV show as a kid?
As a little kid, definitely THIS!

And I liked (and still like) those 1-hour fairy tale movies I now watch with the girls.

2. What is your current favorite TV show?

Don't judge!!

I would like to say that it is THIS show, but some wonderful execs decided to axe it after only about 11 episodes!!

Yes, I'm still in denial!!

3. Which reality TV show would you NEVER do?

How about: all of them! I hate reality TV, even though I admit the guilty pleasure of watching "Wife Swap", even though it's more a case of "Fremdschaemen" than actually enjoying the show. 

4. Which reality TV show would you LOVE to do?

See answer to no. 3. But if you count game shows as "reality TV", I'd love to do Jeopardy or Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, even though I'd probably embarrass myself in national TV.

5. What is the TV personality / character that you feel is most like you?

If I had to pick someone, I'd say Miranda from SATC. I'm a career mom, who used to be such a tough girl before being a mom, and since that day had to learn to accept her "new" self.

6. Which TV character would you want to date?

No words needed!

Have a good start into this coming week, everyone!

Thirsty Thursday - Confessions

My thanks to Mar for hosting the blog hop!

I noticed something today as I was leaving work about an hour late: I miss girlfriend get-togethers. The other day, I happened to stumble in an unexpected afternoon with three other girls; we hung out, and several bottles of wine later (none for me since I was driving), I was elated.

Today, I closed the office with two of my co-workers, after which we spent some time chatting about the latest TV-shows, relationships, children, and whatever. I don't know if it's the spontaneity, which doesn't happen much any more with two little girls, or spending time with women my age without the little ones; not sure, but I enjoyed the time.

I know that Richard keeps telling me to take more time for myself; but to be honest, at the weekends I just cannot get myself to leave the girls alone. He deserves a break, and I need the time with them. Until a few weeks ago I didn't even miss time with my own friends, most of whom live at least an hour away. But ever since this afternoon I realized, that I need girl's time. Whether it is joking about motherhood, talking men and relationships, or just about TV, movies, and fashion (a bottle of wine doesn't hurt either).