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In my weekly Blog Dogger column today, I mentioned a Chicago Sun-Times story about Stas Gunkel, a 7-year-old blogger in Chicago, who types, proofs and posts his own blog entries.
The NBC-affiliate in Chicago also did a piece on him—and it's embarrassing. The kid is cute and brilliant; his parents are obviously proud. But the report itself is one degree shy of The Onion. In fact, it lays the groundwork for a sequel to one of the greatest movies ever.
Take a look at this 1 minute 38 second video.
My three favorite parts of this video:
1. "Blogger's mom" appears in the title card for little Stas's mom. What a dubious title.
2. When Stas explains his political leanings, I can imagine—in my wildest fantasies—people huddled around a TV nodding seriously and vigorously that "this kid gets it" or thinking "huh, I never thought of that."
3. When the reporter says, This 7-year-old "who helped others form their political opinions online." Really? Little Stas has influence online. Can you cite your source on that one?
Anyone ever seen Being There starring Peter Sellers? It was among the last films he made before he died. It's a terrific movie and if there was ever cause for a sequel, Stas is it.
In Being There, Seller plays a rich man's gardener named Chance (Chance the gardener) who hasn't left the house in years. Everything he knows about life comes from gardening and TV. When the old man dies, he's left to wander the streets but is quickly picked up and taken into the care, and trust of, Washington D.C. elite, including the president, who considers him a modern philosopher.
Will Obama follow this same path. Will Stas Gunkel the seven-year-old blogger become the nation's next great philosopher?
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It doesn't, Colin. Here are four reasons why:
1. This story has yet to gain traction. People are talking about it, and...
Comments (14)
"What's OBAMA done as president Sarah???"
He ain't the president yet, you oysterbrain.
Posted by Moe Howard | November 18, 2008 10:09 AM
Posted on November 18, 2008 10:09
We get it buddy. You're bitter.
Posted by Phil | November 14, 2008 11:42 AM
Posted on November 14, 2008 11:42
I love how everyone ... OBAMA... just assumes I'm....OBAMA...a Republican. Trust me. I would...OBAMA...have been just as...OBAMA...upset if McCain had won.
What's OBAMA done as president Sarah???
Posted by Jon | November 14, 2008 11:03 AM
Posted on November 14, 2008 11:03
Jon is SO right. I wish Obama would DO something. I mean, what HAS the man done?
First black president of the Harvard Law Review. First black president of the United States of America. Graduated from Columbia University with B.A. in Political Science with a Specialization in International Relations. Harvard - Juris Doctor (J.D.) Magna Cum Laude.
What a slacker!!!
For his legislative indifference, check out this link:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bob-geiger/to-those-who-question-oba_b_87970.html
We would have been SO much better off with the GOP offering:
McCain:
United States Naval Academy - Class rank: 894 of 899
Palin:
Hawaii Pacific University - 1 semester
North Idaho College - 2 semesters - general study
University of Idaho - 2 semesters - journal ism
Matanuska-Susitna College - 1 semester
University of Idaho - 3 semesters - B.A. in Journalism
Posted by Sarah Palin | November 14, 2008 10:29 AM
Posted on November 14, 2008 10:29
Phil,
OBAMA!!!
Posted by Jon | November 14, 2008 8:14 AM
Posted on November 14, 2008 08:14
Jon...
STFU!!
Posted by Phil | November 13, 2008 4:27 PM
Posted on November 13, 2008 16:27
Unfortunately Michael, it doesn't...OBAMA!!!...seem as though we'll...OBAMA!!!...get the chance to...OBAMA!!!...find out.
AMABO!!!!!!!
It's even more fun when you say it backwards.
Posted by Jon | November 13, 2008 2:13 PM
Posted on November 13, 2008 14:13
Could someone please explain the attraction here?? It looks like someone is just creating a human interest story without the remarkable.
I went and looked at his site (http://planetstas.blogspot.com/) and I know he is just 7, but I fail to see what is so unusual.
This is impressive (albeit in a different area): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucqCefwInWc&feature
I know he is just a kid, but that is just it - there are some truly remarkable children, and he may someday become a person of note (perhaps with some thanks to media exposure).
At this point Grace Bedell likely had more impact as a child (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grace_Bedell)
Posted by JH | November 13, 2008 2:06 PM
Posted on November 13, 2008 14:06
I suppose it's like the hiccups. I've tried to hold my breath, drink water upside down, get a good scare and yet still--OBAMA--see, I can't shake it--OBAMA.
Of course, I'd like to think this post works whether Obama is part of it or not.
Posted by Michael Sebastian | November 13, 2008 11:58 AM
Posted on November 13, 2008 11:58
Do you realize it's been ten whole seconds and we haven't mentioned his name yet???
OBAMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You know what would be great??? Change the name to OBAMA Junkie!!!! Wouldn't that be just the most???
OBAMA!!!!!!!!!
I tell you...once you start, you just can't stop!
OBAMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think we should change the name of this country to.... that's right, you guessed it - The United States of...
OBAMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Jon | November 13, 2008 11:43 AM
Posted on November 13, 2008 11:43
OBAMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Jon | November 13, 2008 11:40 AM
Posted on November 13, 2008 11:40
I tell you... we can't seem to post a blog anymore without mentioning Obama, can we.
I think you guys would write a 10-paragraph article that has nothing to do whatsoever with politics, and you would stick the word "Obama" at the very end just to be consistent.
All I'm saying... can we just WAIT for the man to actually DO SOMETHING before we start poverbially tongue kissing him??? Hmm? Can we?
My hero is Economist Thomas Sowell. I think he is the most brilliant man on Earth. If I got to choose anyone to be President, he would be the man. But I've never tried to work his name into any of my posts (until this one), even those that deal with politics.
This crush people seem to have on this man who's done nothing yet - who's never even governed - is really setting everyone up for a let down.
And I think we're going to find out that Stas knows more about economics than our new president.
Posted by Jon | November 13, 2008 11:38 AM
Posted on November 13, 2008 11:38
I like to watch.
Posted by Chauncey Gardiner | November 13, 2008 10:23 AM
Posted on November 13, 2008 10:23
There is an interesting correlation between Chance Gardner the fictitious savant and the psychologist Howard Gardner who developed a theory called The Multiple Intelligences.
Essentially, (Howard) Gardner debates that intelligence-as-classically-defined is deficient in encompassing the wide variety of human abilities.
His categories of Intelligence include: Bodily, Interpersonal, Verbal-Linguistic, Logical-Math, Musical, Visual-Spatial, Naturalistic and "Other".
The SAT doesn't, for instance, give appropriate (any) credence to someone like a dancer or artist with high bodily or Visual-Spatial intelligence.
Savants and sometimes Kids with Autistism have extremely high intelligence in only one area. Stas is clearly high on Verbal-Linguistic. But can he throw a baseball?
Posted by Sue Bylevyn | November 12, 2008 5:06 PM
Posted on November 12, 2008 17:06