The Week of Letters: Today, Entertainment

Dear Wall Street Journal,

I faithfully read and enjoy your paper. I think it is one of the few remaining journalistic endeavors that actually requires its writers to be able to put together a sentence more complex and eloquent than "See Spot run." I enjoy your financial analyses - especially regarding the financial crisis. I couldn't get through the end of my week without Henninger and Noonan. Evan Newmark expresses 90% of my inner hostility to the masses.Your Real Estate section makes me drool with house designing envy and your Life and Style section always provides interesting insights.

So, when I saw that you had launched the "Speakeasy" entertainment and culture blog I was ecstatic. No more embarrassing trips down the TMZ road I thought. No more having to stoop down to New York Times reviews. No more messy and inaccurate Drudge Report posted articles from the UK. I imagined I would be able to combine my high interest in television and film (and all the messy gossip revolving around them) with tasteful writing and thoughtful analysis. I assumed you would pick some bright up-and-coming writers who actually enjoy entertainment to write these pieces. I was wrong.

So wrong that I perpetually deceive myself into thinking that I will enjoy the recaps of my favorite shows only to read the article and think, "Wow, did you even bother to watch this episode... without the distraction of your European boyfriend drizzling hot Swiss chocolate all over your face to 'improve the mood of boorish American television?'" Or, maybe detract yourself enough from your dissertation on the lack of whit in Woody Allen films to realize that television is actually supposed to be enjoyed? Despite popular belief, it does do more than rot one's brain. Actually, I'm fairly confident no "brain-rotting" actually occurs.... certainly far less than reading the editorial page of The New York Times.

Now, I am a firm believer in criticism. I don't think that something should be deemed "good" that clearly is not. However, these writers do not even depict the events of the shows accurately which is typically a pre-requisite to critiquing an event. Sadly this trend has crossed mediums in this country and is now the rampant form of expression: pre-forumlated criticisms based on your own views regardless of circumstances or facts. Empiricism is sadly dying, but the arts (including banal television) should not be a place where such lack of regard is EVER applied. It's a disservice to readers and the atrocious writing is a disservice to your distinguished publication.

I hope you sincerely take my criticisms under advisement and proceed to rectify the situation at Speakeasy. It can only help to improve the blog itself as well as the goal of you becoming a more broadly encompassing paper of high quality.

Best Regards,
Prudence

My Favorite Quote

So, I haven't double checked this quote with the original source, but I love it. We've been having some major issues with our dogs involving their lack of training and aggression towards each other. We've been doing lots of research to figure out how to solve our situation and came across this trainer called the Pooch Professor. I love her advice and she seems like my kind of person due to her attitude about training dogs. One's attitude toward training a dog heavily reflects their personal beliefs. I always thought it was insightful, but after now embarking upon it personally I realize it is far more than I had ever supposed. We've started to have some minor success thanks to some great advice from a friend of my husband's and as a result had our first night of uninterrupted sleep since we picked them up. Woo hoo! Life always seems much better after being well rested. The mandatory exercise that has accompanied my puppies also has me feeling better than I have in years. I may not appreciate getting up earlier in the morning, but I'd much rather spend 30 minutes walking my dog than sitting in traffic. It's amazing what a difference it has already made in my life. More on that later, along with the semi-conclusion of the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad two weeks and my extended opinion on the "healthcare debate."

Here's the quote:
"Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in traditions simply because they have been handed down for many generations. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. But when, after observation and analysis, you find anything that agrees with reason, and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it."
~ The Buddha, in the Kalama Sutra

I think that just about sums up my opinion on the world, if you include Christianity in the mix. My basic world views are primarily influenced by empiricism and Christianity. Apparently, this is not such a popular view these days. Or so society and my husband tell me. I'm also guessing that Buddha also would not approve of my approach since it includes some non-rational elements. The perpetual conundrum that is my life - no box applies.