I did not watch the Oscars last night, but I overheard enough about them today—especially from the woman sitting in the booth next to mine at Panera Bread—to know a few things: Argo won best picture; Ang Lee won best director; Michele Obama presented an award; Seth McFarlane offended many, etc., etc. Most of that news bores me. I feel above it. But, lest I sound even more self-righteous than I am, I must confess that I went looking for news about the “entertainers” I do follow—e.g., The Bears, The Bulls and the Black Hawks (especially the 19–0 Black Hawks). I can’t be bothered by who was on the red carpet but I did listen to ESPN radio, scan the Sport’s section of the Trib, etc.
Meanwhile, I didn’t talk to a single one of my neighbors. Not one.
It makes me wonder: where might we be today if people knew as much about their neighbors as they did about their celebrities.