Six takeaways: Thoughts on this week’s news

1. The Weather Channel -- Once again, hard working journalists slumming it in the depths of the profession wind up having to defend their work because of the actions of television journalists milking coverage for ratings. I’m so tired of being told “I’m one of the good ones.” Seriously? That’s where we are at? Now, I like seeing Mike Seidel lashed to a lamp post as much as anyone, but are we really elevating the weatherman to the #fakenews level? Next, you are going to be shocked to find “reality television” is staged. TWC have been playing for ratings for years, naming blizzards, breaking out the storm jackets, chasing tornadoes and standing in water desperate to record any weather destruction it possibly can, because it sells. That said, know your memes. Do your research. Don’t send me ten-year-old images of Anderson Cooper standing in a ditch and try to sell it to me now. Not researching what you repost makes you the #fakenews.
2. Kavanaugh allegations -- It is unfortunate how politically this is playing out. Republicans, desperate to get their man through before the midterms because they fear losing control and know this might be the last shot the Federalist Society gets for a while. Democrats, holding this card to the very last moment to force delays for more hearings and investigations for just that reason. That said, it’s pretty simple. If it did not happen, Kavanaugh should welcome any investigation to prove his innocence. If it did happen, there is no forgiveness without repent. Yes, it was a long time ago. It’s how he has treated it in the last 30 years that is a reflection on his character. Knee-jerk reactions based on ideology are beyond the pale.
3. Bert and Ernie (and Big Bird, too) -- It came out this week (not intended) that a writer for Sesame Street acknowledged he had used his own relationship as a gay man to write Bert and Ernie’s relationship. The folks on the Street put out a statement reminding everyone they were puppets, and didn’t work that way. To me the joy of Sesame Street is that it was what you imagined it to be. To me, B&E were two kids with very absent parents, but whatever. I was an odd child. Another story claimed Sesame Street characters were coming off diapers because they were “too masculine.” To me, Big Bird was always female. What do I know? Call ‘em how ya see ‘em and just be happy.
4. Recommended reading — Read “The ex-Green Beret who inspired Colin Kaepernick to kneel instead of sit during the anthem would like to clear a few things up”  in the L.A. Times and see how both sides are getting it wrong.
5. Shaving man -- Earlier this week, video surfaced of a man shaving on the train. Immediately, social media did what it does best and started shaming the man. Turns out he had been homeless, had a lifeline from a brother, and didn’t want to show up looking bad. Shame on who? Putting that aside, I road commuter trains for almost a decade, and I’ve seen it all. All I could think when it went viral, you sheltered folks obviously never spent a lifetime riding the rails.
6. In my own back yard (the work one, anyway) -- From one of my papers this week: “Man arrested for indecent exposure at Manassas Giant grocery.” To bastardize a quote from Delmar in “O Brother, Where Art Thou?,” Oh, George… not the produce!