How much is too much? |
One example of the downward dive of the intelligentsia can be seen in the New York Times Magazine circa two days ago. Back in the day that worthy publication was my reason for getting out of bed on a Sunday. The articles were brilliant, the topics high-falutin' and the crossword puzzle was taxing and sometimes impossible to complete. Not so anymore; my husband and I finished the most recent puzzle in record time, and without even cheating. Even worse is some of the information contained within that magazine's drastically over-designed covers. Following is a sample:
Page 27: A feature called "Tip" tackles the thorny problem of How to Walk in High Heels, seriously dispensing such advice as, "Start with the right shoes. Thicker heels are easier. You can't stand in eight-inch stilettos comfortably for as long as you can in chunky-heeled boots. Stand up straight, spend some time practicing, don't obsess over mechanics..." Blah, blah, blah.
Page 24: A weekly Q and A column called "The Ethicist" which purports to address genuine problems regarding ethics ponders a question from a woman whose husband drinks a 12-pack of Mountain Dew every few days. She thinks that's excessive and wonders if it is.
Page 10: A graphic chart accompanies the following paragraph:
"Dear Reader: Are You Keeping Up With the Kardashians? Every week the magazine publishes the results of a study conducted online in June by The New York Time's research-and-analytics department, reflecting the opinions of 2,563 subscribers who choose to participate. This week's question: How many Kardashians can you name?"
I rest my case. Don't forget: tomorrow night at 7 PT. (That's 10 on the East Coast.)
my my what has happened to the NYT . . . I thought the news section was evil! But this stuff is just stupid . . .
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