CNN Breaking News

I get CNN breaking news emails. They keep me peripherally informed of what CNN feels is the most important stories of the moment. Here are some of the latest headlines that were sent to my inbox:

-A court has ordered pop singer Britney Spears to give up custody of her children effective Wednesday at noon, according to court papers.

-A girl who was shown on a videotape being sexually assaulted has been found and is safe, Nevada authorities tell CNN.

-Dow closes at record high after surging almost 200 points.

-Newt Gingrich will not run for president in 2008, his spokesman tells CNN.

I have trouble with all of them.

1. A has-been celeb who is on a down-hill crash course to ruin her career and life is not news that needs national attention. What has this person done that is important to anyone? Tell me about someone who is doing something good for children, animals or the environment. In this world of sensationalistic journalism, that would be news.

2. I have been sick for the last week and have tried to watch some daytime TV. After flipping through the channels, I would end up on CNN. The story of the little girl who was molested dominated CNN at the time. (I guess nothing else in the whole world was happening, because they kept showing the same pictures on the TV and saying the same things over and over again.) That poor little girl's traumatized face was splashed like wallpaper over the screen. It was too disturbing to look at. I felt she was being violated again. And the word "safe" -- what does that mean? Is she safe from her nightmares that will haunt her forever? Is she safe from the people who weren't properly looking after her? Does the world feel safe to her?

3. The Dow closes at a record high even though the housing market has screeched to a halt, which affects multiple industries, the sub-prime loan factories are closing down and the U.S. has a deficit bigger than any number any of us can comprehend. Voodoo Dow.

4. Now, does anyone care at all what Newt Gingrich is going to do? Isn't the presidential race crowded enough with candidates? I have to admit I am more interested in Britney than Newty.

None of these stories is news. They are just salient sound-bites trumped up to be news.

That is my rant for today. Feel free to comment.