Saturday, February 21, 2004

TechTV Down the Toilet

Even TechTV, the cable network that focuses on computers and new gadgets has succumbed to the need to titillate. I was skimming channels tonight when I zipped across TechTV on Cox Cable and caught sight of a woman's butt pointed provocatively into my living room. What's this? This is TechTV for pete's sake. As a series of butt shots of various women filled my screen I looked for the technology connection. Before I figured it out however the host of the show was showing me upclose photos of human feces in toilet bowls. No, I'm quite serious. The show is called "Unscrewed" and the sleazy host was featuring a website that invites people to "rate my poop". I turned off my TV and sent Tech TV an e-mail.

I don't have a problem with low-brow programming being available to those who specifically want it but I don't want it on the Superbowl halftime, in broadcast TV, or on channels devoted to music, technology, etc. In other words I want to be able to watch some channels without worrying that something inappropriate for my children suddenly pops up.

It also saddens me that networks have a need to be base in order to attract an audience.

Friday, February 20, 2004

Not listening anymore.

At a time when local businesses and government officials decry the use of the Internet by consumers to bypass local merchants one would expect the small business owners to be putting extra effort into pleasing the customers who do walk in their door. This is not the reality in my own experience. I succumbed to these appeals to my local patriotism a couple of months ago and started buying locally some items I had started ordering on the Internet. My experience was not rewarding.

It had been at least three years since I bought Valentine roses locally. This year I had found what I wanted on the Internet and was about to click the pay button when a pang of guilt pulled me back. This year ,I told myself, I'd do my duty and order from the nearest florist. So two weeks before Valintines Day I walked into the nearest florist and told them I wanted a dozen mixed color roses - just like I'd seen on the Internet. "We can't do that," said the floroclerk. "You have to pick from this list," she said, as she shoved a flyer into my hands. I asked why I should buy from her shop when I could get what I wanted on the Internet. She was apologetic but explained that the absentee owners set the rules. I took the dozen standard red roses from the local florist this time but I vowed it would be the last time. It's back to the Internet.

A few days later I walked into a coin and card shop to buy some baseball cards for a nephew's upcoming birthday. I approached the counter with a list of his favorite players in hand - prepared to ask for the best, most expensive cards the owner had. For 3-4 minutes I stood there while he shot the breeze with an acquaintance - without acknowledging my presence just three feet away. No "I'll be right with you" or even a "why don't you stuff this card up your arse. mate?." I had spent hundreds of dollars in this shop before. I turned around and walked out of his shop for the last time. I got the cards on the Internet - with free overnight shipping.

I could offer other recent examples of the lack of service and foolish business practices of small businesses in Oklahoma but suffice it to say I'm not listening to any more pleas to keep my purchasing local - until local businesses start taking business, and their customers, seriously.

Sunday, February 15, 2004

Senator Jim Williamson and Gay Marriage

At Victory Christian Church in Tulsa this morning the pastor, Rev. Billy Joe Daugherty, gave the floor to State Senator Jim Williamson to ask the 1,000+ congregation to show up Tuesday at the State Capitol for an anti-gay marriage rally. Williamson explained that in reaction to the national debate over allowing gay marriage he had introduced a bill to amend the Oklahoma Constitution to specify that marriage be allowed only between a man and a woman. He went on to complain that his bill had been placed in a committee headed by a Democrat who had stated that "anyone against gay marriage was a bigot". Williamson further assured the Victory congregation that "all the Republicans he is in charge of had signed on as sponsors of the anti-gay marriage bill". He also asked for prayers for his family as they had "come under attack" as a result of his stand on the issue. Williamson said Senator Scott Pruitt was also a leader in the anti-gay marriage effort.

Pastor Billy Joe then seconded Williamson's message and reminded the congregation that Williamson was a member of Victory. The Pastor explained that if we lift the restrictions on marriage that have been in place for hundreds of years we would be signaling that such behavior (same-sex marriage) was OK. "We need to obey God's instructions on this," said Pastor Daugherty.

Besides wondering how churches like Victory can maintain a tax-free status while blatantly lobbying for certain legislation I also disagreed with the Pastor and the Senator. I can't imagine how a man can be attracted to a man (the thought makes me sick) or a woman to a woman but I recognize it happens among a small percentage of any animal population. I also believe it is their right to do as they please and gay marriage is their right. Their right to live fulfilling lives while doing no harm to others trumps the yuck factor others feel.

I see the desire of those like Senator Williamson as extreme hypocrisy. I know Senator Williamson well enough to know that he is against (quite admirably) excessive government control of citizen's lives. If government tries to involve itself too deeply in the lives of businesses Senator Williamson is among the first to jump in to stop such intrusiveness. So why does he and the like-minded feel compelled to control the lovelife of anyone?