Good luck with that. Bankruptcy looks like the only growth industry among the few remaining media chains which own most of our news sources and are scrambling to see who can get rid of the most actual notebook-carrying reporters.

But the real problem for The Onion sale is that the actual news, as compared with the fake news, seems far less probable these days, and far more worthy of hysterical laughter.

A governor resigns, incoherently, 18 months before her term is up and her political party anoints her as a good candidate for president.

A city council announces it has no interest in televising its proceedings and the citizens don't start a recall, or at least loudly squeak in indignation.

Another governor admits, with gag-inducing greeting card sentimentality, to lying about an extramarital affair without offering to resign. His constituents don't question that.

A group of privileged white men question the integrity of a Latina judge candidate who acknowledges that life experiences have a role in shaping everyone.

A public employee uses on-duty time and public money for his commercial pilot flying lessons and no one in his department notices until he nearly crashes the helicopter.

Another governor, elected on campaign promises to straighten out the state's fiscal mess, apparently forgets that for six years until the middle of budget talks, when he demands top-to-bottom reforms before the budget can be settled.

How can satire compete with any of that?

Sophie Annan Jensen is a retired journalist. She lives in Lucerne.

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Living in Strange Times
written by Chris Thompson, July 16, 2009

Yes, these times are strange and the news is an embarrassing wealth of stark reality, misinformation, and gossip. This tragic soup has anesthetized the average citizen to the point where apathy rules the day. It's all about "I, me, mine, and not in my backyard" for almost everyone I meet.

When someone does actually see through the fog, smoke, and mirrors, and catches a glimpse of the reality that is ours, I must applaud!

Thank you Sophie!

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...
written by bearer, July 17, 2009

I hear you.

Janet Napalatono resigning mid term was beyond belief.

And that governer, Mark Spitzer screwing around on his wife on state time. your right about that too.

And the gaggle of white democrat senators that refused to seat Gonzales because of his ethnicity.

But what is least important here is elected representitives from the statist democrat party refusing discusion of issues that face the country and voting for passing bills they have never read.

I am sure the writer of this commentary is comfortable with that.

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bearer:
written by sannan, July 18, 2009

It's all just grist.

Peace.

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sannan
written by bearer, July 18, 2009

the finest flavors are derived from the mixing of juxtaposing "grist"

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MsHumboldt
written by Gabandgo, July 24, 2009

Sometimes the public needs their information sprinkled with some aspartame and laughter. Journalism will have to adapt to the public's changing demands.

Hopefully CHANNEL 8 can develop the "new" newspaper business of the future.

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