FOLLOWING THE NEWS

Once upon a time in a life now long past I worked for a charitable gaming organization, dealing blackjack in the local bars (pubs) of Small Town USA. It was one of the best jobs I've ever had for people watching, I tell you true. People are maybe 'more themselves' when they've tucked a couple under their belts, so to speak.

At any rate, during my night shifts I've taken to having the television news on.

As it turns out, doing my work with the news channels in the background kind of reminds me of that job I had once upon a time.

On the one hand there's a group of people who tend to do nothing but whine and complain and gossip about other people in a nasty way, often at the tops of their lungs and always with a hateful twist to everything.

On the other hand are a whole different group who only get far enough into their cups to be able to vociferously voice their opinions in sometimes loud discussions. They've had enough to drink to be open and honest, but not enough to come to blows about anything.This group will argue anything until the cows come home, never convince each other to change their minds, agree to disagree until the next time, and head for home still friends.

Not surprisingly, I'm finding the dynamics of the media group on the one hand to be just as annoying and disgusting as I did their counterparts back in the day.

The folks on the other hand just make me smile (even when the topics are deadly serious) because ... well ... because it just reminds me of Small Town USA, the way it's supposed to be.

On the one hand I'm not going to name names, because I don't have to. Small Town USA always knows who's who.

On the other hand, I will name one : FOX NEWS.

I'm still adept at tuning out the folks on the one hand as best I can (although their obnoxious voices still penetrate now and then) while tuning in to the folks on the other hand who can present their points of view without being hateful about it.