Bubbling Under

There are things I wonder about, in the night when I can’t sleep. Since that qualifies right now, here’s what’s percolating:

- When Will America Do Something About The FCC? It’s been three years since Janet Jackson’s boob saw the light of day, and we’re to the point now where FCC auditers are reviewing tapes of sporting events to listen for profanity — whether there’s a complaint against that broadcaster or not. It has gotten to the point where the prurient nature of conservative thought consistently oversteps the mandate of the people. The FCC is not answerable to any citizen, only to Congress. This has to stop, and the pendulum has to swing back in the other direction.

- Where Will The Next Real Music Star Come From? The last music that made a lasting impact — where the art endures more than a three-year shelf life — came from bands like Pearl Jam and Nirvana. Listening to Sara tonight reminded me how badly the world needs a legion of real musicians like her, or Aimee Mann, or Ben Folds, and quickly. When we’re settling for the next winner of “PopIdol/ American Idol / RockStar” to provide our next favorite musician, we should weep for the present, let alone the future.

- Where Will Our Next Royalty Come From? From the ’30s to the ’80s, America’s royalty came from Hollywood. For the last thirty years, sports have provided us with the idol worship. With free agency, spiraling salaries and the latest performance enhancing scandal stripping away the veneer of pro athletes, who’s left to look up to?