Sorry Negative Nancy, You Are Not Welcome Here!

Another day, another media outlet trying to take our mood from euphoric to plain ol' depressed. All of the financial headlines this morning are focusing on the negative. Stocks are down, wholesale inflation increased at the fastest pace since 1981, and housing starts fell in July to the lowest point in 17 years. If you took all of these numbers to heart, you might just want to crawl into a hole and become Rip Vanwinkle until it is all over.

Let me let you in on a little secret. The media likes to sensationalize things. I know, I know, it took me by surprise too, but alas, it is true! They love to put those Debbie Downer headlines up for shock factor, yet they rarely give the entire picture. Okay, so it is true; wholesale inflation rose in July by 1.2% and that is worrisome. Now, for the rest of the story. See, wholesale inflation includes indicators such as energy costs and motor vehicles. Let's think back to a month ago. What happened? That's right Sally, oil prices went rictor...all the way to $147.27/barrel! Of course inflation is going to sky rocket, it makes perfect sense. However, it also makes perfect sense that inflation numbers for August will go down considering oil is now back to $112/barrel. Then we will see the markets go wild! Apparently, dropping that kind of knowledge on the population at large would create a positive vibe detrimental to society. Or, it could produce knowledgeable citizens capable of determining their own opinions based upon truthful insight instead of catchy headlines. Somebody stop me!

Clearly I am a little bit "angered" this morning, so let's say we move on to the world of Hollywood via Beijing. First off, Michael Phelps is now getting to enjoy the Olympic experience and it makes me smile. But, let's face it, he is going to be the one smiling for the next year or so as every advertiser out there wants a piece of him. He is going to be going for the gold in more ways than one, you know what I'm saying? Speaking of the Olympics, Nastia Liukin got gypped out of the Gold Medal on the uneven bars. Somehow, even though the scores were tied, Liukin had to settle for the Silver. I do not understand. All I know is that I miss the days of the Perfect 10! I don't think I have ever been as excited as when I saw those cards go up for Mary Lou Retten. God, I loved her.