Edward R. Murrow: Media Prophet
Just got home from seeing Good Night, and Good Luck, the story of Edward R. Murrow’s lone stand against the psychotic tyranny of Joseph McCarthy. This movie had me from the opening scene. Eery how appropo the subject matter is today. A bit of Murrow’s speech featured in the movie:
“Our history will be what we make it. And if there are any historians about fifty or a hundred years from now, and there should be preserved the kinescopes for one week of all three networks, they will there find recorded in black and white, or color, evidence of decadence, escapism and insulation from the realities of the world in which we live. I invite your attention to the television schedules of all networks between the hours of 8 and 11 p.m., Eastern Time. Here you will find only fleeting and spasmodic reference to the fact that this nation is in mortal danger. There are, it is true, occasional informative programs presented in that intellectual ghetto on Sunday afternoons. But during the daily peak viewing periods, television in the main insulates us from the realities of the world in which we live. If this state of affairs continues, we may alter an advertising slogan to read: LOOK NOW, PAY LATER.”
Edward R. Murrow would love blogging. Read this speech, given by Edward R. Murrow in 1958 in it’s entirety HERE
Important stuff, presented in a thoughtful, even-handed manner. Big props to George Clooney. Great movie. So, SEE IT NOW.
On a different note, I had brunch at this slightly cheesey restaurant in my hood in West Seattle. You know, the kind of place that has a monthly theme? I think it annoyed me right away that their theme was Chicago, and one of their “theme specials” was a Lakeshore salmon scramble. Salmon. Chicago. Salmon? Chicago? Hey Zues. Whatever. But what really upsets me in restaurants is the over-use of inappropriate adjectives. This place, for example, has “frisky fries.” I know I stretch it when I talk about wine, but “frisky?” I had the fries, by the by. I would say they were more…flacid.
Got a favorite/absurd restaurant descriptor? Please share it with the class.
October 19th, 2005 at 12:27 pm
You’re talking about Endolyne Joe’s!
That place bugs me, and I can never put a finger on it. I pretty much want to smack every server that’s waited on me. So fake and Flo. I have noticed that the frisky fries are somewhat less than described, hee hee.
But I just get annoyed by the whole bruch culture. Everyone with their labrador and fleece vest, waiting an hour for an overcooked bit of potato and eggs. I usually trek to Septieme on Capital Hill, where everyone’s still too hungover to make 9:30 brunch. The service is surly, but I consider it more refreshingly honest. Nothing happy about working brunch. And the bloody mary’s are stroooong.
October 19th, 2005 at 8:03 pm
Its nice to know I’m not alone in hating the seattle brunch crowd.