Redundant
"In May 1789, LouisXVI summoned to Versailles a full meeting of the Estate Generals. The First Estate consisted of three hundred clergy. The Second Estate, three hundred nobles. The Third Estate, six hundred commoners. Some years later, after the French Revolution, Edmund Burke, looking up at the Press Gallery of the House of Commons, said, 'Yonder sits the Fourth Estate, and they are more important than them all.'" – Jeffery Archer
They seem to like the term as much as they do citing the Bill of Rights. But, the consultants have really mucked it up. The first consultants did their number here on Channel 7. It was happy talk news and screwy ads showing them marching across the countryside like a drunken boy scout troop. They have since taken that further and further.
We had a killing of a student struck with a big-ass two by four happen a couple of months ago. Somebody captured it on a cell phone. It has appeared at least once a week since. They've made someone's death plebeian at this point.
There is this kitten on YouTub that does something cute. I have seen that three times in fewer days. Well, I guess it beat the obligatory repeats of some jock who manages to have his leg flapping at the knee. The lack of animals plying the streets made them scramble to find a different dead horse to show being beat.
Our local PBS now has news. We're an adjunct of the Chicago market and are poor cousins. I understand why although when they do the occasional story or show a temperature over here they could at least put the dot on the right area of the map. So I had high hope for decent, local coverage.
They had a small staff that has grown and grown. Nobody seems to get fired but the story stay pretty plebeian. They hired an aging newsreader who'd been a small market player. Here name is Jody but I call her Giggles. If I were a stand up comic (no snide remarks) I'd hire her as an audience shill. She isn't alone; the major market has several just like her. I don't think Edward R. Murrow would get hired by the consultants these days – too dour. You need to yuck it up, Eddie.
Anyway, our local news could be easily stolen from the Indianapolis Star. There is a lot happening in our state and a good bit of it is important news. Indiana is solvent and staying that way. Sadly, they cover school board meeting and politicians with strange ideas. Well, at least that's close to straight reporting but it deserves far more. Lake county has often gotten the title of most corrupt county in the nation -- eat your hearts out Louisiana.
We had a referendum last month. It was state mandated. I voted. Only item on the ballot and the cost was over $100K to do it. It was defeated like 87:13. You'd have thought that'd generate some interesting coverage. Nope. They didn't have a clue beforehand or after. BTW, we turned down millions in federal aid to establish commuter rail. And we're in a solid Democratic area that you'd think would jump at the free 'jobs' money being offered. We've a congressmen that under serious investigation and the last I saw of him was him speaking at a jobs fair or such.
I think I'm going to disagree with the reason they are called the fourth estate. My guess is it is because they always finish out of the money.
ADDENDUM:
Speaking of overkill reporting:
1. Tiger's new movie is out: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Hydrant.
2. Apparently the police asked Tiger's wife how many times she hit him. She said "I don't know exactly , but put me down for a 5."
3. Tiger Woods is so rich that he owns lots of expensive cars. Now he has a hole-in-one.
4. What's the difference between a car and a golf ball? Tiger can drive a ball 400 yards.
5. What were Tiger Woods and his wife doing out at 2.30 in the morning? They went clubbing!
6. Tiger Woods crashed into a fire hydrant and a tree. He couldn't decide between a wood and an iron.
7. Phil Mickelson contacted Tiger's wife to pick up some tips on how to beat Tiger!
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