I'm a cynic, I admit it.

I used to think the world was a wonderful place and everyone in it was good. And I still do…but there’s definitely something wrong. Maybe it’s because we see and hear way too much, more than we ever did before.

I’ve become such a cynic. I watch the coverage in Japan and I imagine the media sent there are only thinking…”Wow, this is the story that’s going to make my career”. I cannot imagine they’re there out of the goodness of their hearts.

I’m encouraged by the people of Japan. There’s been no looting and people have been waiting in lines in an orderly fashion for the most basic of necessities. Hmmm, couldn’t we learn something from them about dignity?

I wonder though in the absence of something more sensational and salacious, are the media making more of the nuclear power plant situation there? An Air Force friend stationed north of the hardest hit areas in Japan sent me the following: “There are no concerns at this location over the nuclear power plant issues in Fukushima; we are well north and the media hype is overblown. We’re in no danger of radiation fallout/poison.” I tend to believe the Air Force over the media. Of course the people in Fukushima need to be concerned but from what I’ve seen, they’ve been evacuated or informed of means to limit exposure.

I find I watch less and less coverage on TV and refer mainly to written reports. I cannot bear to watch some of the newscasters…with their seemingly fake (at least in my mind) concern and shock at the state of some of Japan’s coastal cities. It’s a trust issue…I don’t trust the media. I miss Walter Kronkite. He was trustworthy…or at least I thought so.

The other day…well really a few weeks ago, I watched Good Morning America. And they call this a news program???? George Stephanopoulos was reporting on the dingbat that was texting while walking in a mall and fell into a fountain. He sympathized with her! He even said, “I can so imagine that happening to me.” What a freaking moron. I’ll never watch that stupid show again. On their web site they have the following listed as Hot Topics: Disaster in Japan, Tsunami, and Royal Wedding. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all over the royal wedding, but really…compared to Japan?????

And the Today Show is just as bad. Meredith Vieira is such a complete lightweight. I never liked her. On the top of their web site, they have the following: Today’s Royal Treatment Contest. It’s as if both news (fluff) organizations cannot wait for the Japan disaster to be over so they can concentrate solely on the royal wedding.

This morning I watched The Early Show. Kind of liked it. Not as cheesy as the others and honestly, their reporters did indeed seem sincere. When I checked out their web site, guess what, no mention of the royal wedding. Maybe a news organization with an appropriate focus? Too early to judge, but I’ll watch it again.