I am gross and perverted
When Stan Zemanic appeared on my tv screen extolling the virtues of a weight loss drink on A Current Affair, the words of Frank Zappa's song "I'm The Slime" came to mind.

Zemanic admitted on camera he was being paid by the company making the diet drink to spruik for it on tv. What was A Current Affair doing running an ad disguised as a news report?

It's one of the unmentioned legacies of the late Mr Packer who had no concept of the public interest when it came to turning his publications and stations over to those who would pay the highest dollars.

You can't expect a radio shock jock to have any ethics when it comes to perverting the content of the media they use to enrich themselves - do you remember "cash for comment"? Laws, Jones, et. al. And you can't expect a PBL news outlet to have any either.

So why am I so angry about it? Because of the sick-making, forelock tugging to Packer as they 'buried' him a few weeks ago. His ghost haunts us. It was on A Current Advertisement last night. In the form of Stan Zemanic and his weight loss drink.

Does it matter? Yes, it matters. Every time the slime gets away with hoodwinking the public by perverting the independence of the spaces between the ads, they chip away at two important institutions: the credibility of the news media and the right of people to know what they are consuming as news is in fact news.

The PR industry preens itself and proudly boasts that 80% of what appears in the media starts as a press release paid for by some company. The brain dead Alan Jones listener doesn't want anyone to respect their intelligence. They simply have a need for "Daddy" to tell them what's what, like the German middle classes responsible for the rise of Hitler. These same moral folk will vote for John Howard no matter how often he lies to them. Research revealed in the press this week that the white bread Aussies who keep Howard in power believe he lied to them about children overboard and weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and the wheat board. But that won't stop them voting for him. Because he makes them feel secure. His word is worthless. He will say anything to slip and slide out of trouble. He's proved that he can't be trusted. But wait! They trust him.

My Mum would say "There's a special place in Hell for that person." If there's any justice, there's a few special places reserved down there for the gross and perverted.

..............

I'm The Slime
by Frank Zappa

I am gross and perverted
I'm obsessed 'n deranged
I have existed for years
But very little has changed
I'm the tool of the Government
And industry too
For I am destined to rule
And regulate you

I may be vile and pernicious
But you can't look away
I make you think I'm delicious
With the stuff that I say
I'm the best you can get
Have you guessed me yet?
I'm the slime oozin' out
From your TV set

You will obey me while I lead you
And eat the garbage that I feed you
Until the day that we don't need you
Don't go for help . . . no one will heed you
Your mind is totally controlled
It has been stuffed into my mold
And you will do as you are told
Until the rights to you are sold

That's right, folks . . .
Don't touch that dial

Well, I am the slime from your video
Oozin' along on your livin' room floor

I am the slime from your video
Can't stop the slime, people, lookit me go

I am the slime from your video
Oozin' along on your livin' room floor

I am the slime from your video
Can't stop the slime, people, lookit me go  ¶ 9:18 AM