IN THE DOLDRUMS It seems proper for us to borrow the use of a term from the vocabulary of the able sea men of the days when sailing vessels depended on the volatile Trade Winds to send them on their profitable pathways. Now and again, often during the harsh greyness of lowering winter times, such blessed winds were no available -and even the largest and best-equipped ships sat silent and still - unprofitable, too - on the confused tides. The beloved Trade Winds were not available to rescue the statuesque stillness. Disaster faced any with insufficient supplies aboard and without stalwart, determined and loyal personnel.
It is not unusual for our Ship of State to edge in to, such a time went the guiding force of the new crew is being put in place. It takes a bit of doing and time, too. Not until the topmost crow's nest has qualified men to question the waters ahead and around them. Officers must bring their charts, maps and methods of management aboard. Cooks must boss lifters and luggers to stock the holds with food and drink sufficient to meet unpredictable needs.
People who find themselves in such predicament often react in curious ways.
There are a few ego-smitten person who will step forth at once to restate their wishes and find some way to ridicule even insult others who have been trying to do then same job previously. There will be changes in personnel, of course, and most of these will take the move seriously and take sufficient time in which to do it well.
The social world experiments a great deal. They insist on importing used TV formats from England, for example, mainly because one or two proved to be profitable which is their standard word for "successful". They ignore the fact that scores of TV favorites from the '50's and 60" are the life blood of scores of non-network channels.
Real comedians are rare. Farcical feuds such as the current Donald Trump - chubby what's-her-name who finished off "The View" - are sad commentary on the dire downward direction so much network TV seems to be intent on making their "swan" song. That's unfair to swans! Could we make it Dinosaur dirge, perhaps?
Maybe some new Trade Winds will be whipped up in the entertainment area. I look forward to a far-off day when our entertainment Trade Press becomes more journalistically aggressive and speaks out strongly against us continuing our SOT side instead of encouraging creativity.
SOT translates: "Same Old Thing!"
Andrew McCaskey amccsr@adelphia.net 1-12-07 [c439wds]
