Confessions of a TV Junkie

I confess, I LOVE competition reality shows! Adore them. Was thinking about it earlier, and I do watch a lot of them. Some I'm straying away from, or have all together. But for the most part, I have my faves. So I split them into groups & I'll tell why I love them or have stopped watching.

PERFORMING ARTS (singing/dancing/variety)
X-Factor, American Idol, America's Got Talent, The Voice

I always love the auditions for these, its afterwards they lose me. American Idol - I quit watching that after Simon left. I was getting bored and his way of delivering the truth kept me watching. America's Got Talent - I watch the auditions & that's it. I love that got Howard Stern as a judge. Can't stand Mandel.  The Voice - I watched the first season. I feel it like pandered too much to the judges. X-Factor - Watching it for the first time this season. This will probably be my last as well. I hear that a Kardashian will be a judge, so I'm out.

COOKING 
Chopped, Top Chef, Top Chef Masters, Hell's Kitchen, Master Chef

The knife techniques, flavor profiles, & timing constraints that go into a plate in these shows would make me nuts! 
Chopped - Love this show. Timed, rules, & wacky ingredients make this show amazing. There are some judges I don't care for, but for the most part its awesome.
Top Chef/Top Chef Masters - I love these shows, because of the challenges. No matter how great of a chef you think you are, if you're not ready to think outside the box, you'll lose.
Hell's Kitchen - By far, my favorite!! Why? I believe it will be going into its 11th season this next year & we will still have chefs coming in not knowing Ramsay's menu. Every year, he has the same 3 things. Scallops, risotto, beef wellington. Every year, those 3. Without fail, you will have chefs, not knowing how to cook a scallop. I've been watching through a TV screen, and I can tell you when a scallop is raw. I am not a trained chef! I can barely cook! Then there's Master Chef. I love it. Home chefs come in & try to cook restaurant quality food. That's just good drama.

Last but not least its

FASHION
Project Runway, Project Runway All-Stars, America's Next Top Model

Oh, the diva-ness of these shows. When I watch them, I feel like I have a gay man living inside me screaming to come out. I get it, fashion is their passion. There are just times that they treat it like if this hem isn't in straight, the world will collapse. On ANTM, a model contestant blew a raspberry because she was exasperated, and one of the judges went off on her while on the shoot. He was just blown away that she would act in such a manner! Like, 'how dare you?!'  Do not get me wrong, I love fashion, but lets get real, it is not life or death. At least when Ramsay goes off on his chefs, its because they were going to send out raw food which would make someone ill. Priorities! 

I guess the two main reasons I love these shows is the competitiveness & the creativity. Which is what has kept America going. 

The Lost Art of Being Civil

First of all, how great of book title would that be! It sounds like one of those upper tier type of reading. I'll have to keep in mind if I ever write a book. I figure I should finish reading one before I try writing one. (BTW, I'm currently in the middle of reading 2 e-books & 8 regular print books). Back to my original thought.

What does civil mean? (from freedictionary.com)

civ·il  (svl)adj.

4. Of or in accordance with organized society; civilized.

5. Sufficiently observing or befitting accepted social usages; not rude: a civil reply. See Synonyms at polite.

Growing up, my mother made sure I had manners. I addressed every adult that was not family as Mr or Mrs. At the family table, we did not bring distractions & engaged in the conversation. 'Getting dressed' to go outside meant clean clothes. To this day, I have a hard time going outside to my car in my pajamas. 

If I was in an argument, I was taught language & tone. Hitting was allowed in self-defense. (I had 2 older brothers, so I had to use it a lot) Name calling was beneath what I was supposed to bring to the table.

The reason I bring those examples up is because in the world today it seems that there are no manners left.

Example: How many children today address adults as Mr/Sir or Mrs/Miss/Ma'am? 

(It's okay, I'll wait while you think about it)

When was last time you sat down to eat with no phones at the table?

I'd be happy if people that shopped at Wal-Mart wore clothes that fit. If they're clean, its an added bonus!

To me, that's just pure laziness in life. On the my last point, arguments.

It seems in the last few years, people have gotten trigger happy in arguments. It used to be it was just the lowest of lows that resorted to violence/murder. Every where I turn, people threaten death on anyone that disagrees with them. And if it isn't death, its rape on their wife or children. 

HUH?

Really? 

Our minds have become so narrow & small that any deviation must be exterminated?

That's not how I want to live. I like being able to discuss/argue ideas with others. It forces me to strengthen my argument. It forces me to go back & look up facts.

For me to threaten violence is like someone yelling 'RACIST!', it means I lost the argument. I lost the fight & this is how I can get you to shut up. Plus, it just sounds ignorant. I'm not ignorant, just flippant.