Events or Things We Could Have Done Without During 2009

Celebrity News - Was it absolutely necessary for us to know who was getting divorced, had an affair, posed nude, got beat up, got arrested or the worse, had to sell one of their multi-million dollar homes?

Teabaggers – As much as I would like a well formed protest, this movement was suggested by a well known network and the people who were protesting didn’t have a clue of what they were actually protesting about. C’mon – they were protesting against tax hikes, TARP funds and changes in Medicare which were initiated by the previous US President.

The Balloon Boy – Networks were interrupted for non-stop coverage featuring a silver balloon floating in the air. If that wasn’t bad enough, some networks decided to loop the video over and over.

The Balloon Boy The Next Morning – Once again the networks looped the video of the little boy stating that he was sick and somehow managed to turn up the volume output to accentuate the fact that he was vomiting in the bathroom.

Town Hall Meetings - Truly an embarrassment to all Americans. The whole world viewed angry Americans, violent Americans and other Americans who were manipulated by corporations who released false information in order to scare people and set in fear. When fear is abundant, truth rarely is listened to or offered.

Levi Johnson – His claim to fame is that he was able to get the daughter of the Vice-Presidential nominee pregnant.

Jon and Kate Plus 8 - Didn’t know who they were until they appeared on every single tabloid magazine cover in the supermarket and every major network morning show. Still don’t know why I should get to know them.

Reality Shows – Just stop doing them, please! There was a time when networks had comedy shows and variety specials. Now they have shows to feature people you should criticize and detest. That way you feel so much better about your life.

The Snuggie - now available in prints!

15 Minutes of Fame Politicians – “Whatever it is, no matter how much good it will do, I’m against it.” In actuality, the statement that should have been said was “I must protest against the better road for the country so I can get on TV. That way the people who voted for me can remember my face when I run for office next year".

Unemployment Statistics – I’m not against the revealing of how many are unemployed, I am against the statistics being stated. In the US the ‘official’ unemployment rate is currently 10.1%. However this is not a true percentage of Americans out of work. The real number is 27% if they include the people who are no longer receiving unemployment, have stopped looking for a job because they are not available and temporary workers who are signed with an agency, but are not working. And if they don't include the foreign workers who work for the government on foreign soil, then it is actually higher.

Wall Street Executives – The boys club to beat all boys club. Each Wall Street executive has worked for another Wall Street firm and they leave and go to another Wall Street firm for the same reason: Money. The same guys who worked at AIG, worked at Goldman Sachs, worked at Bank of America, worked at Citibank, etc. Nice to able to have eight weeks on a job, resign and walk with $40 million in your bank account. I thought it was so endearing to have a previous Wall Street executive complain that with his salary ($22M plus stock options) he couldn't maintain the private petting zoo for his daughter.

OctoMom - She had eight babies and she was five cans short of a six pack. Would have liked to see more about people who are foster/adoptive parents to 10 or 15 children, some of whom have emotional or physical disabilities. They just don't make the news for their efforts!

Swine Flu – Although the threat of a pandemic was real, we really would have appreciated some honest and credible information regarding who had it, who it affected and why the vaccine was so late in being released and only available to certain people. What got up my nose is that certain companies who were not in the health services field, were able to buy the vaccine for a very profitable price.

Of course this list is only a sampling and I would welcome comments regarding other events or things we could have done without during 2009. Just think of what the list will be like for 2010……