Ethic Soup

FCC Finally Fixes Earsplitting Volume of TV Commercials

FINALLY, yesterday, the Federal Communications Commission  unanimously approved rules that will require cable operators and TV stations to quiet those thunderous TV commercials.

More than a year ago, September 2010, Congress passed the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation Act, or CALM Act, giving the FCC the job of ensuring that TV commercials aren't louder than TV programs. Next, we, the listening public, had to keep sticking our fingers in our ears at commercial-time because nothing changed.

WE CAN'T BE C.A.L.M. FOR YET ANOTHER YEAR

But, it's still not going to take effect for yet another year. Supposedly, the new rules start next December, in 2012. That's when cable operators and TV stations will have to make TV commercials no louder than the TV programs. What's with the hold-ups, deferrals? I think it's just part of the definition for government.

Consumers have been complaining about the excessively loud television commercials for decades -- decades.

 

No More Late Nights with Smarmy Bigot David Letterman

  

I won't be staying up late nights, watching David Letterman on the Late Show anymore.

Letterman's physical appearance isn't a pretty picture to look at these days.

He used to be cute, with all of that thick curly hair. It's not just his receding hairline or all of the snow on his roof. Before he was an old man and had his bypass heart surgery, his smile produced little crinkles near his eyes, not those giant crows feet he's got now. But, that's not really the problem either. Though, a little plastic surgery couldn't hurt. He is a TV star, isn't he? I noticed during his nightly monologues that the camera didn't zoom-in for as many close-ups anymore.

PETTY DETAILS

The petty details discussed above, about Letterman's physical appearance, is an attempt to replicate Letterman's mean-spirited 'humor' about the physical appearance of others. Of which, I've had my fill.

Sadly, Letterman was one more old man who was anxious to pass on his genes by becoming a father in his senior years -- asking his live-in girl friend to become his breeder. No, no he didn't offer her marriage for her motherhood. Even guests on his Late Show would ask Letterman on-air: "When are you going to marry the mother of your child?" 

It Pays To Be Ethical: Billionaires Share Secrets to Success

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. This one is a picture of one billion dollars.

Tonight on 20/20, Barbara Walters interviews four billionaires who share their secrets to success. The billionaires are:

John Paul DeJoria (left), founder of Paul Mitchell hair products and owner of Patron Spirits;

 

   Lynn Tilton (right) of Patriarch Partners;

 

 

 Guy Laliberte (left), founder of Cirque du Soleil

 

         

                       and Tony Hsieh (right) of Zappos.

 

 

Below is a list of the "Billionaire's 20 Keys to Success," according to ABC News 20/20. I was surprised, really surprised, at how many of the 20 tips for success involve ethics. In fact, I think the four billionaires might agree that it is very difficult to become so rich without being an ethical person, whose business and personal behavior is both ethical and moral.

What Medical School Actually Gave Conrad Murray a Medical Degree? Meharry Medical School

 

The trial of Dr. Conrad Murray, personal doctor to pop-icon Michael Jackson, finally began September 27, more than two years after Jackson's death.

I've been watching the trial on CNN's channel HLN -- until it drives me crazy and I have to turn it off. And, that occurs every time I turn on the TV to watch this trial, eventually.

Commentator Nancy Grace, described by the Los Angeles Times as "HLN supernova...for her spitting pro-prosecution fury," asked on-air: "Where did Conrad Murray get his medical degree? That school must be proud." 

MURRAY REALLY HAS A MEDICAL DEGREE?

Well, I've been asking myself the same question.

As each bit of evidence is introduced concerning Murray's actions, and unbelievable inactions, I ask myself: "How did this man manage to get a medical degree?" And, then I ask: "What medical college actually let him graduate as a doctor of medicine?"

After all, he was trying to give Jackson CPR with only one hand, and on a soft bed mattress instead of an ungiving floor. Even gradeschoolers know CPR. He was giving Jackson Propofol in a home setting when a hospital surgical setting is required -- if you're interested in keeping your patient alive.

Instead of calling 911 to get an ambulance for Jackson, he waited for 23 minutes while he talked on the phone to one of his three young girl friends. And later, while in the ambulance with Michael Jackson on the way to the hospital, Murray talked on his cell phone to another of his girl friends. Just saying... 

After Living 28 years with a Rock Star's Infidelity, Ex-Playmate Shannon Tweed Finally Marries Kiss' Gene Simmons

 

Former Playboy Playmate Shannon Tweed has waited 28 years, given birth to his two children and suffered through God-only-knows how many other women with whom KISS bassist and front man Gene Simmons has had sex.

Well, Simmons proudly claims to know, along with God, that he's had sex with some 4,600 women. That's what he told Terry Gross, in an interview on NPR's Fresh Air in 2002. That was 9 years ago. There's been lots of time for many more groupies to throw their underwear at Simmons on stage.

It's been a long wait for Shannon and one in which the world knows many of the intimate parts of her life. How much is one person suppose to bear? One hell of a lot in Tweed's case. The father of her children Nick, 22, and Sophie, 19, finds it hard to even tell his own mother that he loves her, Simmons admits, according to US Magazine. 

In the past, Simmons said: "I refuse to stand up in front of a rabbi and my friends and the woman I love -- who I will tell you I can love with all my heart -- and promise she will be the only one I will ever have until the day I die. That's a lie."

Loud TV Commercials Banned: President Signs CALM Act

 Finally, those screaming TV commercials are illegal and broadcasters will have to turn down  the volume. Hallelujah!

SHHHHH --- IT'S LAW

President Obama signed the CALM Act into law this week. The Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation Act, however, won't become effective for another two years. First the FCC has a year to prescribe a regulation for limiting the volume of TV commercials. Then the television broadcast industry has yet another year to comply and modulate audio levels to prevent those way-way-too-loud commercials -- as if they don't already know exactly what to do.

WIGGLE ROOM?

With another two years before the CALM Act is effective, advertisers and broadcasters will have time to work on wiggling-out of compliance. Sorry, I can't see to keep my skepticism at bay. Or, is it cynicism? We'll talk in two years. 

Senate Votes: Turn Down Volume on Loud TV Commercials

 
"Too Loud" copyright by Sharon McEachern

Finally, all of those obnoxiously-loud TV commercials will soon be illegal -- actually against the law. The U.S. Senate passed the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation (CALM) Act this week, putting the FCC in charge of TV commercial regulations about volume. 

CALM MEANS NO MORE STARTLE RESPONSES

I can hardly wait. No more leaps for the remote, after you've already spilled the bowl of popcorn and made the cat leap three feet straight up from your lap. A person will be able to actually relax on the sofa and watch TV, instead anticipating the next commercial so you can hit "mute" before the abrasive volume jumps to 'screaming' range. You can't legitimately call yourself a 'couch potato' if you're really exercising -- all that leaping up is aerobic.

The CALM bill was approved by the House of Representatives last year, where it will return for a final vote before President Obama signs it into law.(Read Ethic Soup's first post on the bill here.) 

Betty White SNL Smash: Highest Rated Show in 18 Months

Betty White was wonderful on Saturday Night Live this weekend.

We knew she would be a special comedic treat. That's why so many of us tuned in to watch SNL and make it a ratings bonanza. We watched with the expectation of Betty saying something totally inappropriate for her 88 years and making some kind of sexual innuendo -- sometimes subtle, but usually blatant. And that's just what she did -- hilariously.

RATINGS BONANZA

The show got an 8.8 household rating. Whatever that means to TV bean-counters, it's the highest number of beans for SNL since the 2008 episode that preceded the presidential election. That was when they got ratings jumps because of Tina Fey's portrayal of Sarah Palin.

It wasn't one of those "Oh, let's be nice to good ole Betty White. After all, she's 88 years old now." Hell no! Betty's "show-me-the-money" performance not only brought the show a huge ratings boost, but beaucoup future advertising bucks for SNL which depend on ratings.

Go Betty! Go Naughty Betty! Tonite It's Saturday Night Live: With Betty White!

I CAN'T WAIT for Betty White to host SNL. And it's tonight! She's wonderful, hilarious with a perfect sense of comic timing.

Betty knows how to be naughty and uses blue language -- not a lot, just a little and enough to make you want more. It's always a shock to hear one of her saucy lines, coming out of what looks like a sweet grandma.

For example, everyone knows that Betty loves animals. She once said:

"All creatures must learn to coexist. That's why the brown bear and the field mouse can share their lives in harmony. Of course, they can't mate or the mice would explode."

Or has Hank Stuever of the Washington Post wrote today "America loves a slightly dirty-minded meemaw..." 

Italy's New Soup du Jour: Head of Bigazzi

 
 
Head of Bigazzi Soup -- Copyright by Sharon McEachern 

The Italian chef with a fondness for feline flesh, 'Beppe' Bigazzi is losing some fans. After appearing on Italy's public TV network almost every day for a decade, he was suspended last week for extolling the delights of stewed cat, as related in an Ethic Soup post two days ago. 

A CHEF'S ARROGANCE

Bigazzi's arrogance and refusal to apologize to the Italian viewing public, prompted us to do some follow-ups. After one blogger suggested a recipe for cooking Bigazzi himself, garnished with celery and tartar sauce, we decided that graphic follow-ups could be visually suggestive of an experience which a great many cat-lovers would like to give 'Beppe.' That's pronounced BEP-pay.

Some of the headlines for this story around the world included:

"Cat Stew: are You Fur Real?" The Sun (UK)

"Fur Flies Over Chef's Cat Recipe"  The Calgary Herald (Canada)

"Chef's Cat 'Joke' in Paw Taste" The Sun (UK)

However, the most informative article was "Cat, dormouse and other Italian recipes," by John Hooper in The Guardian (UK). In it Hooper describes how "horse, larks and even maggots can feature on menus in Italy."

HORSE MEAT FOR BABY FOOD

 First, there is horse meat -- widely consumed in Italy, a favorite being  pezzetti di cavallo al sugo, or horse meat chunks in tomato sauce. Apparently horse meat is frequently recommended to young mothers and their infants. Baby food, picture right, shows picture of horse on package.