The disenchanted traveler rants.

Dear ABC executives,

I love to travel. Let me clarify… I love to travel by airplane.

I love airports, layovers, and the Admiral’s Club. I love quick meals from some kiosk in terminal D and sodas from the clunky beverage cart. I love overpriced magazines charged at the watered-down version of Barnes and Noble and reading the Safety Cards placed in the back-pocket of every plane seat. I even don’t hate standing in security check-point lines (noticed I said “don’t hate” – that’s a far cry from love). I know, I know… I’m the perfect traveler.

But lately, I’ve started to let disappointment creep into my travel experience. And I blame you. 

The inevitable MTV TJ post.

I remember asking my friend Danielle what she “really wanted to do” when she graduated from journalism school.

Her (way too quick) response: “Umm be paid to blog about t.v.” (like she does here).

I remember thinking A) oh that would be perfect for her and B) she is going to be unemployed forever. Oh how wrong I was. Fast forward a year later and has an amazing job with Atomic Dust as their social media guru (aka she blogs, she tweets, she gets paid). But that is not all she has… she has a chance to do exactly (scarily so) what she told me her dream job was.

MTV has finally figured out this “twitter thing” and they want to actually do something with it. The days of the MTV VJ are behind us and the time of the MTV TJ is here. Who is going to be the next La La or Carson Daly? If I have my way, Danielle is (and not just because I want invites to VIP events – she is actually qualified, interesting, and the best tweet-er I know).

MTV has selected 18 candidates, and two more, nominated through Twitter by fans and friends, to compete in an online, Twitter-based challenge to prove their savvy social media skills. Weekly competitions will culminate in a live finale show in New York City where the final five candidates will go head-to-head in a series of elimination rounds.

What convinces me beyond a doubt Danielle should be at that finale… check out her twitter bio (made a long time prior to her knowledge of the MTV TJ competition): “a lover of tv, tall heels, and tweets.” I think that sums up what I want in a MTV TJ.

Decisions, decisions.

Thank God for football right? Image from The Daily What.

Where were you when LeBron James made The Decision? I sure hope in 10, 20, or 30 years no one will ask me this. But I have a feeling someone will… (Let me document it now – I was sitting in Columbia University’s East Campus dorm, room 1210, illegally streaming ESPN on my Apple laptop and simultaneously watching So You Think You Can Dance, no judgement please).

This is my decision on The Decision: it was the most hyped hour of television (Lost was two plus hours, so don’t say I’m wrong) of my life, it was the most disappointing hour of television of my life, and it was the longest hour of television of my life. I placed a bet LeBron would announce at 9:03 he was staying with the Cavs – now you see why I feel the way I do. Thank God the bet was only a few bucks (and it was a bet NO ONE in the pool of sports journos won, that’s saying something).

But I’m just a fan (interns lack credentials, therefore I get fan status), and, sadly, in the sports world, the fan’s opinion matters less and less each year. So whose opinion does matter? The pros of the media and NBA. Here is what some of them thought about the lasting legacy of The Decision…

About LeBron:

In no way does Jordan join a superstar like Wade. LeBron doesn’t have the competitive fire to even be mentioned in the same breath as Michael Jordan. – Bleacher Report

James is a genius for what he engineered with Wade and Bosh. – FanNation

LeBron played with fire – unnecessarily. – PR Inside

James’ team isn’t saying how much in total was raised, but Maverick Carter, CEO of LRMR, did say on Thursday afternoon that more than $2 million in net proceeds will go to the Boys & Girls Club of America. Vitaminwater and Nike also contributed in the charitable effort. – CNBC.com

Everybody can say what they want — it was the wrong decision, there was too much hoopla, whatever — but for me it  was about doing the event, getting the advertisers to participate and doing it for charity. – Ad Age

About ESPN:

ESPN has just sent a message to CAA, IMG, Scott Boras, etc., that they are OPEN FOR BUSINESS! for ‘news’ announcements. – NY Daily News

It was a ratings hit, so don’t be surprised if we see more packaged programs of free agents announcing their next stop in prime time. – USA Today

I’m keeping my 2 yr old up to watch the LeBron James Special. I want her to see the exact moment our society hit rock bottom. – Sports Illustrated

About the NBA:

The face of the NBA has now turned into one of the biggest villains in sports. Things could not be worse for LeBron’s image right now. – Bleacher Report

For the first time in league history, players themselves, not an owner or general manager, put together a championship team. – FanNation

Here is the thing about opinions – everyone is entitled to one, and usually no one opinion is right or wrong. But I think in this situation there will be an evident right and wrong (dependent on multiple factors including if LeBron gets rings, how other players handle their free agencies, if ESPN starts dishing out hour specials, etc.). Problem is, no one will be able to see this evidence for years to come. And by then – who really cares? There is no need to have an ultimate decision about The Decision. LeBron will still be a talented basketball millionaire, and we will all still be willing witnesses of whatever court the King decides to hold.

Lost, simplified.

Ready for a great video find?

Now I realize logically I should have posted this soon after it was created and in a timely manner with the Lost series finale – but unfortunately I just found in on Techland. Nonetheless enjoy – this guys is good and proves why post-it notes are fabulous!