beingmichael's Blog

This is all about my fascination with how human beings control language. Specifically, I’m amazed by the deftness of certain politicians and cable news people.  It’s as if they huddled in a room with note pads and dictionaries conspiring to change, cloud and vilify the meaning of certain words.

 One certain word is “liberal.”  Have you noticed how the word has become synonymous with “Un-American?”  Really it goes a step further than that.  Many equate it with “evil.”  One radio talk-jock recently assigned “liberal” to the Virginia Tech Shooting.  That one struck me as terribly odd but also terrifying.  Language is so powerful.

I seek out the most vicious anti-liberal shows on cable every night to find out just how bad I am.  Did my open, unabashed conversation about abortion today somehow hurt our country?  Did my quiet wish that our troops would return home kill one of them?  When I consider the many solutions related to immigration do I endanger the future of American life?  Was my date this weekend a threat to Family Values?

I digress.

There are words for both sided: RadCons (radical conservatives) and NeoCons.  And there are ill-meaning media outlets and politicians trying hard to make those dirty words too.

I know some of you, dear bloggers, can spot a liberal a mile away and I am one.  I offer full disclosure.  And I want to be FAB (Fair and Balanced) about this.  This isn’t about me. This is about how we behave with our words.  It’s about how we behave with each other as Americans?

 So here are the questions:  Are we hurting ourselves by attacking each other?  As Americans what are more powerful: our differences or our similarities?  Are liberals really evil?  Are conservatives?  How do you define your own life and how do you communicate that?

So get ready for another big Michael Moore controversy.

It turns out Moore and his film crew went to Cuba in March to film part of his new movie "Sicko."  He took some people who've had health problems they say are related to their work at ground zero after September 11, 2001.  (Interestingly, Tom Cruise just got a bit of publicity for teaching Scientology to ailing ground zero workers.)

Anyway, Moore didn't file the appropriate paperwork with the U.S. government (The Office of Foreign Access Control) allowing him to travel to Cuba.  They found out and they've launched a civil investigation.  The first step was sending Moore a letter asking him to justify is trip to Cuba.  They want to know why he went, how much he spent and who went with him among other things.

This is a civil investigation.  There's no threat Moore will go to jail so far as I can tell.  There could be a fine.  The AP reports the New York Yankees paid a $75,000 fine for doing business in Cuba in violation of our embargo.  ($75K could easily be considered a reasonable expense for a Michael Moore Production).

Okay so here's the punch line.  And keep in mind; I tend to lean only moderately right of Mr. Moore on most issues.  Michael Moore is playing up this whole thing as an attack against him from the Bush Administration. It's splashed all over their web site along with the announcement that "Sicko" is opening at the Cannes Film Festival later this month (U.S. release next month).  And there's every reason to believe that someone in the Moore camp leaked the news of the investigation early in today's news cycle.

I won't be so obvious as to ask my fellow bloggers if you think this is a publicity stunt.  It clearly is.  But I'm curious as to how critical you are of controversial news stories.  How closely do we consider the sources of these stories?  Do you tend to believe liberal or conservative news based on your own personal bias?  Or do you dig a little looking for some hint of objectivity?  And while we're at it  ... do you like Michael Moore Movies?

So, video killed the radio star.  (I'm dating myself).  But what's happening to Television?

Just yesterday I read an article in TV guide about my favorite non-Fox show, LOST.  It barely holds it's #1 ranking in the ratings on Wednesday Nights.  But the article also notes that it is the #1 downloaded show on iTunes.  I happen to be one of those downloaders.

More and more often people are watching "television" on their computers.  This website is a great example.  TV entertainment, news and general information is going digital.  I can't tell you how many times I've missed a video clip and found it on here or YouTube or a similar site.

Where are you getting your TV content?  Are you still watching broadcast television?  Are you heading online for content?  Both?

There’s been lots of news lately about home sales.  Overall existing home sales are down.  But here in Houston home prices are on the rise.  And, interest rates are still low.

I recently bought a house.  It took me almost a year and I looked at nearly 50 houses and HUNDREDS of house profiles online.  It can be mind boggling.

A hired professional home inspector to look at my new house before we closed on the deal.  I can tell you, it was the best money I’ve ever spent.  Who else would have noticed there was no clamp on the drain pipe from the disposal?  Or who would have ever known there was too much insulation too close to the chimney in the attic?  Home inspectors are super thorough and can save you from a potential “money pit.”

Did you recently get a new home?  What goofy things turned up on the inspection?  Or, what surprises did you find once you moved in?  Do you haves any funny stories from your search for a house or purchase of one?  Share!