It's all small talk to me.

Interesting commentary from Arch Lustberg:

The lack of animation that has snuck into “small talk” now dominates the world of spoken communication. And our role models offer little or no help. Pay attention to the way the politician or the CEO delivers a speech. The way the correspondent reads the news on television. The way the “expert” analyzes in the public forum. Or worst of all, the way the movie star delivers lines. If you pay attention, you’ll notice how little color, enthusiasm, or vividness are communicated. It all sounds exactly like “small talk.” A keyboard kind of dullness has taken over the whole world of communication. It’s not unusual that when a TV reporter says, “Three thousand people are missing in the flood,” the words come out exactly as though they were, “I had a rotten cup of coffee on my way to work.” Monotony reigns supreme.

WHAT?!?! Is THIS really true?!!?!??? Perhaps our media needs to look to the 14-year-olds of today for inspiration. There's, like huge, massive, thiiiiiiiisbig inspiration from that group of communication experts.