De-Flowering the Donald

There is a really good reason why I choose to read over watching much network television, other than the fact that I am an extreme book nerd, I am also tired of the bullshit. Seriously, reality television makes me seethe. There are some that I like, I admit it. I enjoy “The Taste”, and “The Amazing Race” is fun to watch on the treadmill, but mostly? They suck.

For instance, I don’t give two shits that Nikki Minaj and Mariah Carey hate each other. I do, however, think it’s disgusting that they’re in a position to be great role models for young women, and instead they’re acting like spoiled children while simultaneously perpetuating the myth that women can’t work together. I hate that the show that purports itself to be the vehicle in which the next great performing artist will become a household name spends its first several weeks cherry picking the most deluded, desperate, and untalented to have the judges make a spectacle of.

How is it that people do not see this as contributing to the bully culture? Sure, they know what might happen simply by being there, but there are also people who genuinely and naively believe in their talent, and are crushed and humiliated in front of millions.

Then there are the dating shows. “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette”, specifically.  What a ridiculous concept. A gaggle of women or men, treating each other like crap, talking badly about them to a camera confessional, competing for someone who will surely ditch them after casually bringing their competitors to the “bachelor suite” for some non-committal nasty. That’s not demeaning at ALL! Seriously, Elizabeth Cady Stanton is rolling in her grave. I don’t even care if they’re not actually knocking boots in the suite. They’re blatantly inferring that they have or should.

I’m not a prude. I know what grown ups do behind closed doors, and I don’t expect people to be married to do it. I don’t care about much about casual sex it seems people have on a regular basis. What I do judge is the concubine style courtship that takes place on this show. If we’re going to go back to this particular era, can we go ahead and Chris Harrison and Mark Burnett whipping boys?

Let’s just save everyone the trouble of being irritated with these sexist representations of our culture, and combine Miss USA and The Bachelor. It’ll be like the celebrity edition. Roses AND sashes. They’ve already got the wardrobe, or lack thereof. Sounds like a win to me! Just as how one is only permitted to reign as Miss USA for a year, one will only be expected to be engaged to the bachelor with a diamond paid for by Tacori, for one year. It’ll also have the added benefit/added desire to kick yourself in the head addition of the Trump. He’s given out and taken away several roses in his time.

UGH. NO MORE. Give me more “Glee” and “Hell on Wheels”. I want to sing along or watch Common do…anything. Seriously, could that guy GET any more talented? I’m thinking no.

No more shows adding to the bullying culture, no more glorification of the demeaning of women and reduction of relationships down to giving or receiving a friggen flower–no more weight-loss shows that exploit children, no more CRAP. Alas, I may be in the minority in this view.

Rant over. Pear chips beginning.

Everyone and their brother has made apple chips. They’re easy and delicious, I can’t blame you. I love them myself. What I’d only had at Harry and David, though, was PEAR chips, and they’ve always been my fave. I figured if I could make apple chips, pear chips should be easy. They were. They are also delicious.  I spiced mine up with vanilla and cinnamon, and they are out-of-this-world good.

Cinnamon Vanilla Pear Chips