Lipsman.com - Main

Is Life just a book deal waiting to happen?

I'm not sure whether it's a spinoff of the reality TV fad or not, but it seems than any slightly out of the ordinary story suddenly leads to talks of book deals for those involved.

Jason Blair, the now infamous New York Times journalist caught plagiarizing and fabricating facts for stories has hired a literary agent to help sort through book and movie deals.

And those Northbrook, IL teens involved in the Powder Puff hazing incident have been offered a reinstatement deal, provided that they "don't cut a book or movie deal." Does that mean that some of them were already shopping their story?

This closely follows Montgomery County, MD police chief Charles Moose's filing suit to win the right to tell his story in a book. You may remember his as the face of the DC area sniper investigation.

And Stephen Glass, perhaps Blair's role model, recently received press coverage for the release of his novel, based on his own fabrication scandle that rocked the New Republic and other magazines for which he wrote five years ago.

With the exception of Chief Moose, these individuals brought unto themselves the scandal that lead to the media attention and possible book deals. It's almost like a new form of lottery ticket, but with higher odds of payout. Commit a crime, tell your story, cash in.

While Blair may not be able to work as a journalist again, he'll probably earn more with one book deal than he would in 20 years as a reporter.

A book deal would also help cushion the blow financially should any of those expelled from Glenbrook North have their collge acceptances recinded. So what if they end up at Wisconsin - LaCross instead of Illinois, when they've got their book deal.

So is that the trick? Do something so horrible you can literally write your own ticket to fame and wealth? Do they figure the infamy will blow over before the cash runs out? Do they hope that the book or movie will propel them to their own reality show, like Monica Lewinsky?

Am I the only one who sees a problem with this?