The "What's New About This?" News

He's the first black American president. He's the first progressive, open-minded man to win the White House in eight years. He started as an anti-war candidate, won as a bipartisan, hopeful candidate. Now, Barack Obama is TIME magazine's 2008 Person of the Year. Who else would be Person of the Year? If you say anyone else, you're not only naive--you're stupid. What's new about this? Barack Obama is the most important person of the year still?

Fifty-four year old Drew Peterson (the other wife-killing Peterson) is being creepy again. He's marrying some 23 y/o that he's been dating for four months. His 24 y/o, too-young-for-him fourth wife, who he is still legally married to, went missing last year. He still hasn't been charged. Why is this news? "Man kills wife, gets replacement; stay tuned for coverage of the next one." The funniest comment on that page is the guy who said it was a really elaborate FBI sting. Besides that joke, what's new about this? Some guy is being a douchebag still?

A very rich, old white man who had been stealing from other very rich, old white men in a Ponzi scheme is going to jail. He would take people's money, promising to double it, keep that money, and when the next person would line up to have their money doubled, he'd hand the first person the second person's money. It's a little more complicated than that, but he managed to make it appear like he made FIFTY BILLION DOLLARS more than he actually did for those people. He was released on 10 million dollars bail, and the SEC is publicly saying "oops. I honestly don't see how this is news. Maybe if he was rotting in a jail cell, had to pay everyone back the money he stole, and doesn't get off easy by hanging himself, then it would be news! Rich people who trade invisible money for more money are in trouble... still?

This was a slow news day.

In real news, though, Steve Jobs will not be at Macworld 2009 in January. If you'd told me these four headlines yesterday, this is the one I would say is the most unbelievable--the most "new" news, if you will!

[Update - I really like this comment on a piece regarding Obama as Time's PotY:

"Are you serious??? Not surprised???? Are you stupid? i think I remember someone winning 8 gold medals all world records @ the 08′ Olympics. Is that not good enough for person of the year? What has Obama done? Smile and wave… That is how you get to be “Person of the Year”? ****, put me on the cover of Time if thats the case. IDIOTS."]