Americans ARE terrified of many things these days - or I should state a certain percentage that seem to be in the high five figure/low six figure salary range.

These people also tend to drive Volvos. They seem terrified to make left or right hand turns at traffic lights and will use up the ENTIRE time at said light, looking nervously in all directions before creeping out into the MIDDLE of the intersection - where they STOP and look about some more...

These are the people who lock their car at the gas stations (here in Oregon) when they get out to check their oil for fear all the attendents will SWARM their car and strip the interior...

These are the people who's gaze darts about in public places, sure that they're going to be knifed... OR the ones that have that idiotic, permanent NERVOUS SMILE plastered on their face that they present to everyone while their eyes hold that barely constrained look of terror that YOU might be the one who threatens them...

Having dealt with the public WAY too much in my past (along with other friends) we learned to spot these types in seconds...

It's sad too. No doubt in many respects the media and especially the so-called "news" outlets perpetuate this fear nightly.

P. Marlowe

Recently, some morning news program had an expert instruct people on how to enter a mall. They said you should look in the windows to make sure no one was behind you, and look for an exit as soon as you enter the building. They had a few more ideas, but I don't remember them.

Dang it Jake! Not remembering those tips might cost you the next time you visit a Wal-Mart! For instance, do you know the sure signs of a nascent stampede? When you turn down an aisle and there are more than THREE bipedal heifer-sapiens jockeying for position, my son you are in the WRONG aisle! Because sure as Wal-Mart crushes little Mom & Pops there's about to be a run of the bulbous on some just-about-to-be-announced special...

P. Marlowe

Have you noticed that the network evening news programs, such as Couric's, now are about 10 minutes news, 10 minutes health-scare features, and 10 minutes of gross-out OTC and prescription drug commercials?

They can't compete with cable for really reporting news anymore, I guess and, following the lead of politicians, have decided that fear-mongers attract attention.

They specialize in fear-mongering on the radio, too. Every ayem I have to listen to interminable menacing warnings about incipient hair loss, my basement flooding, roaches moving in, & various other dire warnings, in addition to the radio people themselves freaking out every time it looks like there might be a raindrop or a snowflake in the next few days. Honest to god - this (DC/MD/VA) is the ONLY area I've ever lived in that shuts down schools for RAIN. I kid you not, they've done it. And snow - ! Mention the 4-letter "S" word, & hordes stampede the stores to stock up on toilet paper & milk as if they lived in Pt. Barrow, AK instead of the mid-Atlantic coast. Jezus-H-Keerist! I'm SO sick of fearmongering, whether by politicians or marketers or the damned MSM. I wish there was some way to stop it.

In Iowa, they declared every county in the state a disaster area when it snowed. The only problem was that they declared before there was any snow on the ground.

A few years ago, I remember a school closing for rain. That school was bad enough that if a dog would urinate in the school parking lot and there was a chance of it freezing they would cancel school, or have a delay.

LOL - & I thought we were bad here!

The one that topped it all was the utter fool from Homeland Security who urged us all to run out and get rolls of plastic and duct tape to COVER ALL OUR HOUSES WITH in case of a bio-chemical attack!

There's not a comedy writer crazy enough to think that up--it had to come from a bureaucrat, pretending that he actually had a clue!

5 years ago I moved from Britain to the hot, dry Central Valley of California, where a light sprinkling of rain is referred to breathlessly on the local news as a 'storm', which amused me mightily until I realized that the British newspaper industry practice of calling a light dusting of snow a 'blizzard' would doubtless cause much hilarity in, say, Minnesota.
My point (and, to quote Ellen DeGeneres, I do have one) is not only to agree that media hyperbole has a lot to do with how safe people feel, but also that people actually seem to get a kick out of personal peril - hence the amplification of minor local inconveniences into disasters. Something to tell the grandkids: 'I remember the great storm of '07... 0.14 of an inch of rain in 24 hours. Things were so tough, we had to eat the heel off the bread loaf... Momma couldn't get to the store because traffic was only moving at 45 on the freeway! God, it was hell...'
Slightly off-topic, media hyperbole in Britain also makes America out to be some kind of psychotic war zone where you can't walk down the street without losing several limbs to automatic gunfire. Well, I'm still here... although I do have to go and run some errands in a minute. I'll let you know how that goes... if I survive.

I believe it was Goering who said that an entire country can be controlled to okay whatever the leaders want so long as they are scared.

Old Hermann may have choked on cyanide but he clearly has some BIG fans in the White House--especially Rove.

And there's always Tony Blair to trot out those same 22 Pakistanis whenever a domestic scandal threatens White House control.

I believe the latest was the exploding hairgel bomb or some similar foolishness.

What's really appalling is that you guys just take the bait every time.

Terrorists, shark attacks in Nebraska, abductions in Poeduckville. Whatever gets the old blood pressure up there....

"Terrorists, shark attacks in Nebraska, abductions in Poeduckville. Whatever gets the old blood pressure up there...."

You forgot a few Moonraven........global warming, evil corporations, Christians, and anyone who has more than you trying to keep you down.

Yup..we all have to be vigilant and recognize the bait for what it is.

Jesus, Arch--When was it written that I have to put the entire list of stuff you guys are afraid of--including your own shadows?

I believe it was Goering who said that an entire country can be controlled to okay whatever the leaders want so long as they are scared.

Orwell said the same thing, but much more artistically...

Marlowe's description in comment #1 sure sounds a lot like the local crowd of high-earning lefties who fear everything and understand almost nothing.

The politically right-leaning guys in pickups don't exhibit that same kind of fear.

I think that accepting responsibility for your actions and not being dependant on government or an institution like a university for your living breeds a certain level of self-reliance and makes you take the fearmongers less seriously.

Dave

Dave I think you might actually be getting me! Almost...

I have friends who drive Volvos. I have friends who drive Dodge Rams. It isn't the individual. It is societal. The philosophies-of-the-moment, prejudices, fads, trends, attitudes, etc, etc. THESE are the issue...

I am just as revolted by the holier-than-thou attitude of the Left's Political Correctness as I am by the Bible thumpers. Both groups are mired in the very HUMAN flaw of fanaticism. No matter its "source material" the end result is ugliness and too often human suffering.

Humans have a difficult time disassociating the (very often) mish-mash of good and BAD ideas they've picked up over the years. It clings to them like some sticky intellectual detritus and they come to ASSOCIATE it WITH their actual SELF.

They become terribly defensive with anyone points out that SOME of this detritus isn't so good...

It takes time a patience to examine these things... It's a tough job... Sad really...

That's why having a sharp wit and cutting satire is so DAMN FUN!

P. Marlowe

Sounds like we're peas in a pod, Marlowe, at least up to a point. I'm certainly with you on being equally irritated by the religiously fanatical and the socialistically fanatical.

Maybe where we differ is on whether everything is societal or individual. While many people are sheep who snuggle into the niche prepared for them by society, I think there are still lot of people who break free to live as autonomous individuals on their own terms.

Dave

Yeah, mate, try surfing at a spooky reef break or a pointbreak or a lonely beachbreak in the country somewhere early in the morning or late in the evening when no bastard's around and dark shadows pass underneath you and then tell me how you feel about the risk of shark attack. I have been in the water when a shark surfaced nearby (I got out pretty quick). I only go surfing now if there's at least one other person in the water (unless it's ABSOLUTELY PERFECT surf) because that way, you immediately cut your risk of shark attack by 50 per cent. But it's the ones you don't see that are a problem.

That summer of the shark in the US, BTW, that you were talking about, was real. The buggers were everywhere, particularly in Florida (on vacation?).

Now they seem to have migrated Down Under, where attacks are on the increase and big sharks are being spotted around the underwater netting off city beaches. None of this going to stop me going in the water, however. I'm at more risk of crashing my car. Still, I don't fancy the idea of being lunch for a prehistoric fish with razor-sharp teeth.

"Marlowe's description in comment #1 sure sounds a lot like the local crowd of high-earning lefties who fear everything and understand almost nothing.
The politically right-leaning guys in pickups don't exhibit that same kind of fear."
- Dave (Vox Populi) Nalle

Except of course for the righties who espouse the invasion of another country, as long as SOMEONE ELSE does the fighting, "fearing" for their own safety.

Or how about those righties who are so "fearful of everything," they live in fortified compounds and kill stray dogs who happen to wander too close to their property?

Cougars mate, cougars ... that's what Dave should be fearful of. Stray dogs aren't a problem. You can pacify them by throwing them a bone and offering them a drink of water and a pat.

Crikey.

It's the bloody cougars Emmy. Big-toothed buggers with sharp claws. A bit like the tax department. That's the real reason why Dave lives in a compound and keeps firearms.

"Sounds like we're peas in a pod, Marlowe"

Danger! Danger! Pod people! Danger!

STM Sez:

It's the bloody cougars Emmy. Big-toothed buggers with sharp claws. A bit like the tax department. That's the real reason why Dave lives in a compound and keeps firearms.

So, which is it? The cougars or the IRS, Dave?

My money's with the tax boys (literally!!).

This is one of my biggest pet peeves. I no longer watch local news programs because of the scare of the day reports.

I think most of the fear mongering is geerd at soccer moms (help us all). You know the hand sanitizer queens, salmonella, and flesh eating virus obsessed moms. The same ones who allow their three year olds to get manicures and pedicures and treat their 10yr old's boyfriend like a son in law. The same women who push Paris Hilton as a model for their very middle class girls who "live for shopping" yet cant recite the pledge accurately.

Every week there is a salmonella report. The lead before the news is always "Something dangerous that is lurking in your home that you may not be aware of". Now as horrible as salmonella is, typically one gets to go to the restroom several times a day for 2-3 days. The worst effects are joint aches for 7 days. Just drives me nuts.

The use of sanitizer can actually weaken the immune system because your immune defense system needs to get a work out in order to get strong.

Paris Hilton is far more dangerous for young middle class girls than germs.

Stan, I've written at length about the cougar problem we have here, and one of the main reasons I keep my 30-06 handy is because of them.

MCH doesn't seem to grasp certain basic realities of life in the country - surprising since he's living in Montana. He may be the only person in his state who doesn't understand the need to keep a gun handy when there's dangerous wildlife around.

On our land I regularly see coyotes, feral dogs, poisonous snakes and foxes, and since I raise chickens they're a serious concern.

The cougar problem was serious last year but it's abated since a number were killed by cars and the state game rangers got the rest.

Dave

#21 FUNNY!!!!

"The politically right-leaning guys in pickups don't exhibit that same kind of fear."

There's still time to sign up for our Glorious Iraq Freedom War.

I expect they're driving their pickups down to the enlistment office right now.

So, emmy: a new handle?

Your comments still smell.

Populi/Nalle;

The issue is not the need for guns for dangerous animals. The issue is your credibility, since you denied killing the dogs, after stating in an earlier post that you did.

Are you the only person in Texas who doesn't know the difference between the truth and a lie?

There is no 'issue' except for why you have the time when you are supposedly employed as a lightweight journalist to stalk people pointlessly on the internet. Were there no high-school basketball games this week?

But fear not. Next time I see a feral dog I'll make sure to catch it and have it shipped to you since you seem to think they're cuddly and cute.

And BTW, the earlier commenter was not the real MCH, but merely Bliffle/Methuseleh trying to be humorous.

Dave

MCH, consider that George W. Bush & Tom DeLay stem from Texas & that will answer your question about Texans understanding truth vs. lies, etc.

Hmmm. Now we have clavos talking about ART. I go to the beach and things fall apart here....

Something is very wrong with this picture.

Orwell was not exactly my idea of an artistic writer--but he was at least prophetic.

Goering has more credibility right from the get go because he had POWER. And Germany was absolute proof of his being right in what he said.

"MCH, consider that George W. Bush & Tom DeLay stem from Texas & that will answer your question about Texans understanding truth vs. lies,"

What about Arkansans understanding of truth v. lies. After all Bill and Hillary are from there.

Why am I not surprised that MR takes Fat Herman as a role model?

Dave

I am not fat, Nalle. Just lean and mean--like you wish you were, flabface.

Goering was not MY role model--but he sure has a big fan in Karl Rove.

Dave wrote: "Stan, I've written at length about the cougar problem we have here, and one of the main reasons I keep my 30-06 handy is because of them."

Dave, I'm with you when it comes to scary, feral animals. We have our fair share of very dangerous creatures here, as I'm sure you're aware. Out in the bush was the only time I've had to use a rifle outside a firing range, and I don't regret it. If a dirty great fu.cken cougar was heading my way, I'd like a gun. That's the only time, mind!

Moonraven wrote: "Goering ... And Germany was absolute proof of his being right in what he said."

The Brits have a beer called Spitfire Ale (the bottle of Britain). One of their ads is: "Downed all over Kent, just like the Luftwaffe".

That's about the time Goering discovered his absolute proof ... absolute proof that he was going to cop it fair up the clacker.

Zedd wrote: "can't recite the pledge properly".

Pledge is a brand of furniture polish in Australia. Same in the US?

Yes, it is, Stan. Actually, it's an American company, S.C. Johnson, in Wisconsin.