Incoherent Scribblings

EU Expansion and the American Media

Tomorrow marks the addition of 10 new member states to the European Union.

For those of us living here, this is a really big thing. All day today there have been different shows on TV about the preparations and celebrations for enlargement, shows that highlight the various soon-to be member states, (By the way, after watching one of them, I have decided that my next vacation will be in Cyprus.) and from what I understand a very interesting spread in the Bild Zeitung (Germany’s top-selling “newspaper”) featuring scantily-clad beauties from each of the new nations.

However, about an hour and a half ago (8 pm GMT +2 and 2 pm Eastern Standard Time), I was browsing through the front page of USA Today and realized that there was not one mention of the EU Enlargement. I did a little digging and finally found an article about it, but it got me to wondering: if I looked at a variety of American news sources online, how many would mention the EU Expansion on the front page? After all, the big day is tomorrow!

In order to do my little experiment, I chose USA Today, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The LA Times, The Des Moines Register (it is Iowa biggest newspaper and that is where I am from), CNN (the US edition), MSNBC, CBS, ABC, and Fox News. 7 of the 10 news sources (USA Today, The New York Times, CNN, The Washington Post, The Des Moines Register, and ABC News) did not have one word about EU Expansion on their front page. True, I was able to find articles about the EU expansion on most sites after a little digging, but according to my little experiment, only 30% of American news sources are reporting this historic moment as a top news story (i.e. worthy of the front page).

I am not sure how accurate my findings are, but if they are, I would say that it is a sad day indeed when America cares more about Michael Jackson’s “not guilty plea” than this historical event that will further unite Europe as never before seen in history.

Thought for the Day

Just because you’re not paranoid doesn’t mean they aren’t out to get you…

At least it was quiet…

I just read this article about a student that has been sleeping in NYU’s (New York University) library for eight months to save money. Apparently, the NYU library is open 24 hours and nobody took too much notice of the fact that he was sleeping in chairs six hours a night.

For some, this may seem far-fetched. How could someone be sleeping every night in the library for eight months without someone thinking it was a little bit odd? However, speaking from experience, (no, I haven’t slept in the library for eight months, but I am librarian who has worked in academic libraries) I can say for a fact that he was probably noticed, but no one thought too much about it. There are students who spend so much time at the library, one would think they lived there. And there are so many nooks and crannies in a large academic library, he was probably just mistaken for another student who fell asleep while studying.

I remember while I was in library school, we had a discussion about an issue very similar to this. I went to school in Denton, Texas, which is about 30 miles north of Dallas. The Dallas Public Library constantly had problems with homeless patrons seeking shelter in the library and they literally had to be kicked out at closing time. The students on campus really wanted our libraries to be open 24 hours a day (they closed at midnight), but in addition to economic and staffing factors, one issue raised was that of the homeless coming up from Dallas (or even just those in Denton) and attempting to take refuge in the library at night. Suffice it to say that the extra security that would have been required was cost-prohibitive. I am not advocating the homeless should not be allowed to use the library. Quite the contrary. Libraries are also community centers and a critical place the homeless can turn to improve their circumstances. However, the line must be drawn when they begin to abuse the situation.

This brings me back to the NYU student who was sleeping at the library. Was he abusing the situation? He has a scholarship so it isn’t like he isn’t a student… And New York is one of the most expensive cities in the world to live in (ranked 11th)… But he is also a creative writing student and chronicling the experience through his writing. (Wouldn’t you know it, he has a blog! Read it here.) Was he just trying to experience being a “starving artist?” We may never know.

However, it was through his writing that he was discovered and now he has a place to stay for the rest of the summer.

Pet Owner Responsibility

Sometimes I just have to write about something that really bugs me. Today is one of those times. I just want to know why some people think they can dispose of their pets like an old piece of trash. You know what I mean: the sack of kittens abandoned along side the road or the puppy found drowned in the river. Not only does it really bother me when people treat their pets with such a flippant attitude, but is also breaks my heart.

The fact of the matter is that pets are a long term commitment. Properly cared for, cats and dogs can live into their 20s, and if you are not ready for that kind of an obligation, it is best not to adopt one at all. If you put it in context, the act of adopting a cat or dog that might live into their twenties is not so different than that of bringing a child into your home. The time commitment is similar and both need dedicated care. It is not enough to fall in love with a kitten or puppy and have good intentions to provide him or her with a good home. You must be prepared: emotionally and financially.

We have all seen or read something about the overpopulation of animal shelters. One of the most important aspects of pet owner responsibility is the willingness to get your pet spayed or neutered. Kittens and puppies are adorable. There is no doubt about it. But kittens and puppies quickly become cats and dogs and many people no longer find them so cute. A home that can easily support one cat or one dog suddenly is overwhelmed with anywhere from four to twelve new animals. When the owner realizes that five, six, or seven cats or dogs are too many for his or her modest home and there are no more phone calls from people wanting to adopt those babies, where do they end up? The local animal shelter. If they get lucky, they are eventually adopted, but if they aren’t so lucky their lives are ended before they have even begun. It is sad, but many times the truth.

There are a host of other issues that come along with pet ownership: medical, behavioral, spatial, nutritional, and social just to name a few. I highly recommend anyone who is considering getting a pet, whether it is a cute little parakeet in a bird cage or a St. Bernard, to seriously consider not only the rewards of pet ownership, but also the consequences. For issues that you should consider, but never even thought about, review this handy little “Pet Owner’s Pledge,” and if a flesh and blood pet seems too much responsibility, consider a virtual pet, like the ones available here.

Friday Fun

Friday I ate lunch for the first time at the Hard Rock Cafe here in Munich. An American friend of mine who also lives in Munich and I were in the mood for a hamburger and that is as good of a place as any to get a semi-authentic American hamburger here in Munich. It was a nice day and we had a good time sitting outside watching the tourists stroll by.

Later that afternoon I bought a new pair of Birkenstocks. From the amount of Americans I encountered at both the Hard Rock and the shoe store, I have come to the conclusion that must be what Americans do when they come to Munich: Eat at the Hard Rock Cafe and buy Birkenstocks. Not that I was any better, but hey, at least I live here!