Random thoughts over the last day

( Random thoughts from the last 24 hours... )

American vs British soldiers

I was in a queue for some bagels, behind a very tall soldier fully decked out in green camouflage uniform. While in the queue, someone else randomly went up to him, shook his hand and said "I thank you, soldier, for protecting our country" before going on his way.

I'm not too sure how much that happens in the United States - do random strangers thank policemen and fire fighters too? Certainly contrasts to the UK, where the armed forces essentially had to launch a media campaign telling people to thank the Army and Navy after there were rumours of hotels barring soldiers and the like.

Whilst waiting for our respective bagels, I was tempted to look up to the soldier (man, he was TALL!) and ask him why he was wearing his uniform instead of casual civillian clothing. I mean, it can't have been that comfortable, surely - and you don't see policemen or fire fighters wearing their uniform off-duty. But alas my courage failed me - another reason why I'll never be a journalist...

Just 150 minutes to wait to my next connection...

CNN is independent?!

I always thought Fox News was incredibly right-wing and CNN was relatively impartial.

Now I'm watching Lou Dobbs berating "lame duck" Congress for "selling out" the American people. When less than an hour ago, Wolf Blitzer (made up name alert!) was reporting relatively positively on the economic shenanigans. Including Arnie saying to the US Government "Give me your money!"

And why are vox-pop people labelled as "taxpayers"? What next? "Citizens! Hear us!"

Random thoughts over the last day

( Random thoughts from the last 24 hours... )