Disclaimer: This is not directed at any politician past or present. This is merely the opinion of the writer of this blog and said writer does NOT want to get into a political discussion regarding the current presidential administration. Therefore, please keep replies dealing directly with the topic at hand and not any government institutions or employees thereof. The management thanks you for your cooperation. Now back to our regular programming.

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First let me say that I am all about freedom of speech. I have no issues with whatEVER two consenting adults choose to do. That is their choice, their decision, their business. Not mine. I have no issues with pornography as long as it is not exploitating children or animals (in other words, those who are not able to speak for themselves or necessarily control what is happening to them). That does not mean that I particuarly care to view said pornography, but hey, if it makes them happy, whatever. I have no major issues with nudity or profanity in certain arenas, either, as long as it is in the appropriate arena. However, I'm also all about freedom of choice. We should all have the freedom to choose whether or not we want to view said pornography or listen to said profanity. It needs to be kept in its appropriate place and not shoved down the throats of those who choose not to view or listen (and by the same token, those who spout their religious views should not shove them down the throats of those who do not wish to be bombarded with them either). In other words, there is a time and a place for everything.

So, that is why I think what Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake did during the half time show of the Super Bowl was way worse than anything Howard Stern has even THOUGHT about doing. Why? Because I can choose whether or not to listen to Howard Stern's show. I EXPECT it to be obscene, distasteful, and in other ways not to my liking at all, and so I CHOOSE not to listen. I have that choice, because unless you have been in a cave for the last few decades you know what Howard Stern is all about. The same goes for Playboy or Hustler or various other skin mags out there. And so on and so on.

However, millions of people watching the Super Bowl did NOT have a choice whether or not to view their little escapade. It was carried out in an arena where it was completely unexpected. I am sure that had there been some warning given that the Half-Time Show would not be appropriate for all viewers and “parental discretion is advised”, many people would have tuned out until the game started up again, because in that scenario they would have been given the CHOICE. That, of course, is not what happened. And although a semi-naked nipple is not a huge deal in the whole scheme of things, it is something that a lot of people find offensive and certainly it is something that the majority of parents would not want their children to see. The Super Bowl is supposedly family programming - an American sports institution - a national event, and for it to be hijacked by two pop stars out for thrills or headlines or WHATEVER the hell they were out for is just plain WRONG. It really made me angry, because that freedom of choice I was talking about before was basically taken away. Not cool.

Why do I bring this up? Well, because the backlash from that seems to be the media freaking out and overreacting to EVERY little thing that happens now. Howard Stern is banned from Clear Channel. Other dj's are sued by stupid people who don't like what they are saying or doing. An American Idol contestant has to change the words of a song from “mattress dancing” to “crazy dancing”. Hello? CHANGE THE ^#%&$^#$ channel! I don't care one IOTA what Howard Stern does on his show because I don't listen to it. And to all those people out there who are freaking out about it, I have four words: CHANGE THE STATION. DUH!!!!!!!!

Okay, I'm ranting, I'm ranting. It just really drives me crazy. I detest Howard Stern. But do I go writing complaint letters to the stations that carry him and demand that he be thrown off the air? No. I just don't listen. And that's what people should remember. Change the channel. Sure I think there is too much violence and sex on tv. But I don't write letters and whine about it. I just don't watch it. And if enough people did that, then the ratings would go downhill and they'd be cancelled anyway. If you really want to take the protest further, then don't buy the products advertised on the shows. Protest with your pocketbook, that is where it hurts them the most.

Anyway, I suppose I have ranted enough. I'm just angry that two stupid, idiotic, semi-talented people have seemingly sent the country over the edge. I'm not saying they have caused the whole situation, I am just saying that their actions seemed to be the last straw.

Gee Janet and Justin…are you happy now?