Tuesday Insight: Kids Television Today

Admittedly I slept all day, but I was up all night working on a class paper. And then went out for coffee with a friend and hung out for a while before going to sleep. So not totally a bad thing in this case. I also discovered last night that I like jazz, which I will discuss at a later time. But a while ago in a column I started to go on about kids’ television. I figured I better get around to finishing that little rant at some point. So why not today? Seems as fine a time as any.  When I was a kid television seemed to treat kids as if they had a brain. Now a days televisions treats kids like mindless zombies for the most part. There are exceptions and I don’t mean just PBS. There are some cartoons out there with good writing. Unfortunately, they are normally meant for older kids.

What I want is for a television writer to really sink his or her teeth into writing television that is both entertaining and smart for younger kids. And that doesn’t have to be educational. Is that really too much to ask? I don’t think it is. We ask the same thing out of television writers for adults why not kids as well. And tell give me that stupid answer of well because they are just kids. That is a ridiculous. I remember seeing a couple of kids’ book series transformed into television series when I was both a younger and older kid. And I think there should be more of that. Since it can be done well and the stories are good for the most part. It could even be done with books made for slightly older kids between young adult books and kids’ books.

            I mean there is not a lack of source material to make good children’s television or at least to get ideas for it. We have some ideas that are still going on from my childhood that are starting to get stale now. We need fresh new ideas to propel us forward. We need new kids’ television writers. And it can’t all just come from comic books. Some of it has to come from games and books. We need writers to step up to the plate and companies to take a chance on ideas once more. We need smart ideas again.

            It inspires kids not just in play but also in education as well. It makes them want to learn and aspire to be the things they see on television. We used to strive to inspire the next generation now it seems we just want them to be mindless robots and that is just plain wrong. We should inspire the dreamers of the future generations. We should make them dream and imagine. It is wrong to turn today’s youth into mindless zombies through television. We should strive to inspire them even if that television ends up online. It should still be good smart television.

            How would you like it if your television was mindless and stupid? You would probably flip the channel or go online to find something you liked even if you had to go back years to find it. And wouldn’t watch anything new till they made it smart again. Well unfortunately kids don’t have that choice if they want to watch television since for some that is their only form of entertainment. So don’t we owe it to them to demand smarter television for them. We do it for ourselves so why not them too.

            I’ll get down off my soapbox for now, but seriously think about what I’ve said today. As always feel free to leave questions and comments below. As for me I am going to have a late dinner and get to work on some more school work and be up late tonight. *Tips his hat and walks out the door towards the kitchen. *

Monday Beginnings: Making The Best Of Insomnia

            Happy Monday everyone, and I hope you are all having a good start to the week. At the moment insomnia has me wide awake, so either during or after writing this column I will hopefully be getting some sleep. Either that or wait till tonight and pass out early. I am hoping to have my editor look over my story one more time before I submit it. But if that isn’t possible I will be submitting it today. I am super excited about it as well in case you hadn’t been able to tell. I have finally been getting regular reading time in. Though it means later nights which I am getting used to once more. Not sure how it will work with me wanting to be up early.

            Maybe I will just need a nap during the day is all. I’ll have to figure out how to work that into the day at some point. I’ll hopefully be getting out today or tomorrow and going to see a movie now that my movie pass app is working right. And I am back after sleeping all day once more. And it looks like I will be making it to the movies Wednesday. But might be going out for some coffee with a friend Tuesday morning. But have to be home in the afternoon to receive some furniture my mom promised me. On a more productive note I got my submission for the Christmas anthology submitted and just waiting to hear back from the editor of it.

            Working on my next submission after I get done schoolwork tonight, which I will be doing after finishing up here. And yes surprisingly for me I have cabin fever, which is still a new thing for me. Maybe if the weather is good tomorrow and mom is feeling good I will see if she wants to go sit some place and just enjoy the view. Will depend on how she is feeling of course. But it is worth a shot. And I can work on writing various things while I am doing that as well. Just really need a good portion of tomorrow to be outside of the house if possible. Just something calling me to that at the moment.

            I’m still staying on top of my reading though at the same time. Though not reading as much as I want to, but getting there. Class and writing have just been taking u a lot of time as well as trying to get out more. Then there is the fact I am having sleeping issues again, which are hopefully short lived. But I am enjoying what I am getting to read. And you will get to find out why and how much when I review it. It will be worth the wait trust me. I’m also keeping my eye out for new reads like any book worm does. I swear I am going to need a new book shelf by the end of the year at the rate I am going.

            I suppose I should get to my schoolwork before it gets too late as much as I am not looking forward to it. As always feel free to leave questions and comments below. And if you don’t want to miss a post ever click that follow button. As for me I am off to work on my paper for class. *Tips his hat and walks out the door towards the study. *

Spiritual Sunday: Companionship

            I know I am late today but I slept all day unfortunately. I hope it is not the return of my sleep problems. But over the past few weeks I have been thinking on a few things as well. One of them being companionship. We all seek it in many forms throughout life. We seek it from friends, family, and even in lovers. It’s an important part of being human for all of us. No one likes being alone after all. I know from experience that being isolated is miserable and not healthy for myself. So I can’t see it being healthy or empowering for anyone else.

            It is important for us to be able to share ideas and experiences with other people. It helps us grow both mentally and emotionally. As well as discover new ideas along the way. The people we make companionships with help inspire us as well. They comfort us when we are hurt or down. They share in our joy and successes. And we are there for them likewise. As we walk through life with them.

            But there are different kinds of companions in all our lives and each serves a different role. There is family who stands by us through thick and thin encouraging us in all we do. Showing unconditional love along the way. Whether we are up or down in life. They help us out when they can and we help them out when we can. As the motto of my family goes, “Family takes care of family.”

            Then you have the friends you meet all through your life. Some are with you your whole life and some are with you only part of it. They share ideas with you and you with them. You inspire each other and root each other on to success. You have each other’s back in times of trouble. You share troubles and sorrows with each other that you don’t want to share with family or others. You bond of silly things that only you and them get. You bond over books and movies and even sometimes sports. Friends in many cases become like a second family.

            Finally, we come to the most intimate of companions the lover. That special person that you can confide anything in. Who also drives you wild sexually. And at the same time you can discuss anything with them. And they inspire you in ways no one else can. Plus, they understand you better than anyone ever can. They drive you to be a better person in every way possible. They also comfort you like no other can in times of loss. They are like no other companion you will ever have and the one you search the hardest for in life.

            As you can tell we have many different types of companions and these are only a few of the types of companions we meet throughout our lives as well as some if not the most important ones. They make us more human and empathic as well. And help us connect to our fellow human beings better. Since all of our companions have different likes and personalities. They teach us compassion and understanding as well.

            So as you go out into to the world make as many connections as possible. You never know who will turn out to be your next companion. As always feel free to leave questions and comments below. And if you don’t want to miss a single exciting post click the follow button. As for me I have some late night studying to do tonight. *Tips his hat and walks out the door towards the study. *