How Long is Long Enough After 9/11? Cloverfield Answers.

How long is long enough following the tragedy of 9/11 to begin to pry into the American psyche, probe our collective memories of that horrifying day, and begin to exploit those strong and painful emotions? How long is long enough to treat 9/11 as nothing more than a pop cultural reference used to evoke feelings of horror and dread?

According to J.J. Abrams and Entertainment Weekly, the answer is just under six years.

As I browsed the latest EW, I turned the page and was hit by the image on the left below--a teaser poster for the new, top secret movie coming from the producer of "Lost" and "Alias." I found it's visual reference to 9/11 quite shocking. Lady Liberty stands against a smoldering Manhattan, plumes of smoke rising from towers and drifting to the right.

Even the use of the date on the poster--the film will be released on 1/18/08--seemed to touch a nerve. After all, no other great tragedies are referenced simply by date. We don't speak of 12/7 but of "Pearl Harbor", and the "Oklahoma City bombing" is not known as 4/19. So, the omission of a movie title and focus on the date only serves to reinforce the reference to the 9/11 terrorist attack.

I wondered if EW would take J.J. to task for exploiting the tragedy, a charge leveled by many against the very noble and worthy film "United 93" little over a year ago. To my surprise, there is no mention in the accompanying article about the way the poster plays on our recollection of that day six years ago when the world stopped, looked in horror, and cried.

Are we beginning to forget? Have we grown so tired of Bush and Company's unfailing use of the term "9/11" to justify rights abuses and war that it has lost its meaning? Or have we now, after six years, arrived at some psychic "statute of limitations" on 9/11's anger, grief, and dread?

I don't actually object to the poster and am intrigued by the effective, teasing marketing campaign. But I do find it fascinating how quickly we've gone from cries of "too soon" over United 93 's vivid tribute to the heroes on that flight to indifference over a monster movie's plagiarizing of 9/11 imagery.

What Happens in Japan Stays in Japan

Remember "Lost in Translation"? Apparently there really are big bucks to be made for American celebs by prostituting themselves for Japanese TV ads.

If you have a couple minutes to waste, you can do worse than visit Japander.com, which chronicles the appearances of the famous and near-famous in Japanese ads. A few of my favorite are noted below.

Michael J. Fox's understated interpretation of Edward Scissorhands


Jodie Foster, who (unlike Robert De Niro) does sell cars


Mariah Carey glitters in this ad for coffee

Robert De Niro is Not Selling Cars

So, suppose you're a director of TV ads--a perfectly respectable profession, but you're not exactly Scorsese--and you get the chance to direct Robert De Niro in an ad. What do you do? Do you "direct" him, or let this acting legend do whatever the hell he wants?

This video shows the director "directing" and shows De Niro being De Niro, in return. Maybe after Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, The King of Comedy, and Goodfellas he has earned the right do pull an attitude when he wants to, but Mr. Hoity-toity actor may also want to remind himself he also starred in The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle, Analyze That, and Bloody Mama.

I'm just sayin'--we all put our pants on one leg at a time!

Cute Dog Alert: Sugar, the two-legged dog

A few days ago I issued a Cute Cat Alert over a video of Charley, the cat with Cerebellar Hypoplasia.

Now it's the dogs' turn! Sugar is a two-legged dog who has overcome abuse, pneumonia, badly broken legs, and paralysis and clearly is full of love.

Don't ask for a raise!!!

You ever have this thought? "I work hard. I contribute more than my fair share. I'm asking for a raise--after all, what can it hurt? The worst that can happen is the boss says 'no'."

Apparently worse things can happen.

The owner of a car dealership in Georgia has been accused of killing two employees because they kept asking for pay raises.

East Point police Capt. Russell Popham wins today's Greatest Understatement Award: "He told us that he was under a lot of stress. Unfortunately, he decided to take his anger out with violence."

Yes, I definitely would call that unfortunate.

Read the sad story at http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/07/31/raise.denied.ap/index.html

Smart people who are really dumb: Trilby Lundberg

Trilby Lundberg is smart, famous, and influential. She is also dumb.

We humans sometimes think that because someone is smart about one thing, that must mean they are smart about all things. If that were the case, then would doctors (who are smart enough to get through very difficult school and make tons of money) smoke (which is clearly among the dumbest personal habits)?

My point is this: As the author of the incredibly-widely-read and incredibly-highly-regarded Lundberg Report, Trilby Lundberg may know more than any living person about the factors that impact the price and supply of gas. But she apparently knows nothing about what comes out the tailpipe of cars as that same gas is consumed.

In an interview with CNN.com, she said, "It is not even established for our environment that we [should] deprive ourselves of gasoline for our personal mobility as well our commerce." Trilby has the right to disagree with those who believe global warming is a serious problem, but does she have a right to dispute the link between reducing fuel consumption and improving the environment?

And if she disputes things known to be factual, what about the rest of her opinions? Trilby goes on to say other outrageous things, such as that our consumption of fuel and its impact on the environment are justified because "many, many millions of people around the world... envy our way of life." (I may envy Paris Hilton's way of life, but does that mean I should start driving on a suspended license, hanging out in clubs, and shooting embarrassing amateur porn videos! )

Given CNN dedicated so much space to her strange beliefs on environmental issues, I must ask: Should we perhaps not give a person such a soapbox to vent on topics outside her expertise when decisions made on those topics have a direct impact upon her very comfortable livelihood?

I mean, I think if you asked Kenneth Lay in 2000 what he thought of laws to increase corporate oversight, he might have mounted a fair-sounding argument for how those laws increased the cost of business, decreased American competitiveness, and adversely impacted American productivity. Kenneth was also a very bright man who did dumb things, which happened to include destroying Enron, a business once valued (due to illegal activities) at $70 billion.

Perhaps the media should allow Trilby to stick to the things she knows--the price of gas. Her insights into global warming are no more or less informed than yours or mine, but I don't see CNN knocking on our doors for our opinions. CNN's interview with Trilby can be found at http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/07/10/fa.lundberg.qa/index.html.

Franklin Covey Picks Its Nose

While at the mall this weekend, this giant image in the window of a Franklin Covey store stopped me in my tracks. At first I thought it was a girl carrying something using a string fed through her nose. After a double take, it seems the girl has two dandelion stems shoved deep into her nostrils. Either way, it's creepy and gross and makes me want to turn away rather than buy time management tools. (Not that I could've--I was at the mall on Sunday, and Franklin Covey doesn't want anyone's business on that day of the week.)

Who the hell would look at that image and say, "Yes, that's the shot I want to greet customers and represent the professional and serious image of my company"?

Is this America at its Best?

This video got me angry. If this sort of behavior is common, than we've not only lost the war in Iraq but planted the seeds for more hatred of the kind of shallow, arrogant, brutish behavior that so much of the world seems to expect from Americans.

So many good men and women risking their lives, and all it takes is a couple of jackasses with no brains to ruin it all. (Foul language - Rated R.)

Ads that suck: Amnesty International "Make Some Noise"

A good ad can and should convey something about the brand without relying on a tagline at the end--or at least the tagline should put what preceded it into some different sort of interesting context.

This ad is not good. It relies on the tagline at the end to explain the ad, and even then a viewer might be forgiven for not "getting it." Not only is the idea of "make some noise" not conveyed by having a movie star goof around with a basketball, but the ad looks and feels like some new celebrity line of Nike Ads--Air Clooney.

What is infuriating is that this TV ad is meant to spur action on something deadly serious and deserving of attention: the ongoing crisis in Darfur. Hundreds of thousands of people have died since 2003 as a result of the violence raging in Darfur. Some 4.5 million people, or 2/3 of the population of Darfur, are currently at risk of death or displacement.

And here's what gets conveyed in this ad: Millions are at risk, and George Clooney is playing basketball. One wonders what George might accomplish if he stopped showing us his impressive Harlem Globetrotters skills, put down the damn ball and, oh I don't know, do something about Darfur!

Old Steve Martin Skit

Comedy sure has changed. This old skit starring Steve Martin, Buck Henry, and Teri Garr features no farts, for example. It also seems quaint how long the skit takes to get around to its punch line.

An amusing and unexpected ending, but is it worth the six-minute ride?

Spammer getting tricky

I was perusing my spam for funny material when I came across this ingenious attempt by a spammer to overcome no-call lists and e-mail privacy laws.

Any email that comes from a person named Bronze Rocks is just going to be interesting, don't you think? It sounds like an adult film star's name. And Bronze was offering me special samples from L'Oreal, so how could I possibly not open the message?

I did not download the images (and neither should you if you choose to review your spam). But at the bottom of this message was this smarmy legal disclaimer:

By clicking any image and/or text link in this Email (excluding the removal link), you are accepting the practices described in this Privacy Policy. As such, you are representing that you have the authority and are authorizing Find A Quote and/or any of its business associates to contact you via email, postal mail, or telephonically with information stored in the Find A Quote database.

This spammer seems to think that his clever little disclaimer provides him with the legal right to harass people by email and phone, simply because they clicked a link in his message. Alas, this tactic won't actually work if the spammer tried to enforce it; the CAN-SPAM act requires marketers to receive "affirmative consent" before they can begin sending messages.

Affirmative consent has a very specific meaning in the act: the recipient expressly consented to receive the message, either in response to a clear and conspicuous request for such consent or at the recipient's own initiative. Clicking a random link--with or without the legal disclaimer at the bottom--does not qualify as "expressly consenting" to a "clean and conspicuous request for such consent."

Of course, if no one clicks on a link in the spammer's message in the first place, then the whole point is moot. And really, why the heck would anyone click a link in a message from someone named Bronze Rocks?

Two Get Married Despite Threats from Knuckle-Dragging Neanderthals

Seriously, WTF year is this?!?

Ian Johnson married Chrissy Popadics yesterday, and they started their ceremony with a prayer to end prejudice. The prayer was appropriate enough considering Ian, a Boise State running back who is black, and Chrissy, a cheerleader who is white, received threats as a result of his on-air proposal.

On the one hand, in a sad sort of way, I suppose we should be pleasantly surprised the couple received only 30 threats. Seems to me you can find 30 demented, brain-damaged people to spew unreasonable and incorrect ideas on virtually any subject, and less than 50 years ago, a poll found that virtually all whites disapproved of marriages between blacks and whites.

On the other hand, WFT?!? In 2007 we still have to hear about crap like this? Who are these knuckle-dragging Neanderthals who not only think this way, but take the time to phone or write a threat? And how do they even know how to write or use a phone? Maybe someone transcribed or dialed for them.

Can't we find these people and throw them into Guantanamo Bay without a trial? People like these are the real threat to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness in America!

MartyFeldmanizeMe.com wishes Ian and Chrissy a long and happy marriage!

David Letterman: Game Show Host

Imagine how TV would be different today if this pilot, with David Letterman as host, had been picked up. David might be taking over "The Price is Right" from Bob Barker, and Paul Shaffer would be just another itinerant musician.

Thanks to OtherCrap.com for calling this to our attention.

This video is Part 1 of the pilot. Here is Part 2 andPart 3.

Mall Porn Store: Spencer Gifts

I still remember walking into my first adult book store. It seemed dangerous, exotic, and sleazy, what with the handcuffs, love gels, vibrators, and images of women fondling each other.

Luckily for today's youngsters, there's no need to wait until they turn eighteen to experience that sense of wonder and excitement. They have Spencer Gifts at their nearby mall!

Other than the absence of hardcore videos, I have no idea what separates Spencer Gifts from those rapidly disappearing "adult book stores". Exotic lingerie? Check. Flavored lubricant oil? Check. Love rings, dildos, handcuffs, stripper poles, G-strings? Check, check, check, check, and check.

And the posters! I was standing next to a young girl as I flipped open the poster rack and immediately arrived at the image of two kissing women on their hands and knees wearing bras and panties, asses to the camera, in bed with a guy. The faux motivational poster said, "Teamwork: Sometimes you gotta take two for the team." Hilarious... unless you're standing next to an 11-year-old girl!

What I simply don't understand is that while I was in Spencer Gifts, there were three children in the store, all accompanied by a parent. Let me get this straight: If a kid sees 1.2 seconds of Janet Jackson's nipple, that's a national scandal deserving of $550,000 of fines for Viacom, but parents willfully stroll their kids past sex toys, edible bras, and posters of porn stars groping each other?!?

If I sound particularly pissed off, here's why: This whole episode made me feel old. It made me want to ask what's wrong with kids, parents, and the world today. It made me pine for the days when Spencer Gifts was filled with magic tricks, whoopee cushions, posters of Cindy Crawford, lava lamps, and black lights.

So, is this how getting old happens? One second I'm a liberal-minded guy believing in free speech and free will, and the next I am wondering if people need to be protected from themselves (or their parents)? Damn kids, get off my lawn!

What the heck happened to Disney?

I went into my local Spencer Gifts and was treated to this view. Sorry for the bad picture, but what you see before you is a case containing Disney jewelry (on the blue cards) and Playboy jewelry (red cards.) That's right, Tinkerbell is cozying up to Hugh Hefner.

So, what the hell happened to Disney? I used to be a big fan--a true fan! I collected Disneyana, visited Disney World every year, and treated the release of each animated movie as a special event. Now, I get to Disney World every five years (maybe), missed all of the recent movies (except the Pixar ones), and all that Disneyana is packed away. (Mickey turns 100 about the time I'd like to retire, so let's hope that stuff gains in value--otherwise I'll be working until I'm 80!)

I think this fuzzy photo encapsulates the Disney problem. It used to stand for something--quality family entertainment and products--but around the time Michael Eisner came down with a God complex, Disney started wanting something "more." The Mouse started wanting to own a major TV network, to release R-rated flicks, to produce vanilla sitcoms, and to dump as many products in as many stores and at the cheapest price points possible.

As is so often the case, more is less. Trying to be all things to all people has left Disney a shadow of what it once was. Other than their animated fare, Disney's sitcoms and movies are indistinguishable from those of any other entertainment company. The parks are no longer as clean, nor are the Castmembers as polished. (Do we still need to call them Castmembers if they no longer act like they are "on stage"? They seem to have demoted themselves to "employees.")

So, maybe Tinkerbell has the right idea. With Playboy recapturing some of its past luster via reality TV and the return of their upscale clubs, maybe it's time for Tinkerbell to apply for a new job wearing bunny ears. After all, she's already accustomed to the strapless outfits!

Time-lapse Movie of Hot Air Balloon

I thought this time-lapse video was interesting and well done. It shows balloons taking off from a rally in Reno.

Blade Runner: The Final Cut

I'm not sure how I feel about this.

On the one hand, Blade Runner is my favorite film of all time. It was startlingly ahead of its time; a beautiful, horrible, thought-provoking actioner that managed to have one foot firmly planted in the future with the other foot in the classic film noir of movies four decades before.

So, perhaps I should be happy that Sir Ridley Scott has gone back into post production to create a "Final Cut" with "never-before-seen added/extended scenes, added lines, new and improved special effects, director and filmmaker commentary, an all-new 5.1 Dolby Digital audio track and more."

Not that I get a vote, but I'd rather see Sir Scott work on new movies. He's an exciting director, and he needs to make up for "A Good Year." (The upcoming "American Gangster" has some huge buzz going and promises to return the director to the praise and attention he deserves.)

I may not be completely on board, but I'm looking forward to seeing his new version (and vision). I trust Ridley, but I hope he doesn't monkey with his classic too much!

The Donald Gives Good Advice

There's a saying that even a broken clock is right twice a day. That probably made a lot more sense back in the mid-20th century when clocks had hands and dials, but you get the idea.

Donald Trump weighed in on Lindsay Lohan's problems with some advice, and I think he got it right: "Find what you love doing (other than drugs and alcohol), work hard, stay focused, get a new set of parents."

Of course, being The Donald, he couldn't let a good opportunity pass without some self-promotion, so he added: "Then join me on 'Celebrity Apprentice,' which is shooting soon - I'll keep you straight!"

Check it out on NYPost.com.

Bottled Water = Tap Water (Except in Cost)

You hear a lot of people complain about how terrible the economy is these days, but I think there is compelling evidence Americans are doing pretty well: In 2005, U.S. volume of bottled water sales surpassed 7.5 billion gallons, a 10.7% advance over 2004’s volume level. That translates into an average of 26.1 gallons per person.

Yes, people are paying big bucks for something they can have for free! (If you're in the US or Europe, I'll bet as you read this that a free source of water is within 30 steps of you!)

But surely, I can hear you say, it is worth paying for the bottled stuff because it's better, safer, and healthier. Guess again. To date, no independent investigation has shown that bottled water passes more safety and health checks than tap water. In fact, the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) tested 103 brands of bottled water and concluded there was no assurance that water out of a bottle is cleaner or safer than water from the tap.

Still not convinced? Here's the latest news: Pepsi's Aquafina will begin to reveal the source of its water on it's label: "Public Water Source" (i.e., tap water). Aquafina isn't alone, Coca-Cola Co's Dasani is also purified tap water. Danone's Evian and Nestle's Poland Spring are shipped from specific locations the companies say have notably clean water (but are probably no cleaner or better than tap water.)

If this sounds like much ado about nothing, then consider this: Making bottles to meet Americans’ demand for bottled water requires more than 1.5 million barrels of oil annually, and for every one million bottles of water that are manufactured and shipped to consumers, 18.2 tons of carbon dioxide emissions are pumped into the air.

So, go the nearest faucet or water fountain and enjoy some nice, healthy and free water!

Original source of the image below is Pointlessness.

News Helicopters Crash - Wasted Lives and Wasted News

Let me start by saying that I hate news helicopters. Passionately.

They don't improve the quality of news. In fact, they detract from the delivery of real news. Instead of conveying necessary information that impacts the lives, liberty and pocketbooks of viewers (such as happenings in the Middle East or Washington, D.C.), news programs put their helicopters to use to titillate and entertain with unimportant junk such as the endless police chases. The helicopters have turned dangerous, life-threatening situations into entertainment for adrenaline-addicted couch potatoes.

Plus, the helicopters are incredibly wasteful of fuel and damaging to the environment. Dozens of gallons of gallons of fuel are used for every hour a helicopter spends in the air.

And while trivial, these helicopters are really annoying. Remember when you use to go to a big event or festival without the constant buzz of helicopters overhead? Network affiliates use the helicopters more for marketing than they do to deliver newsworthy information, as evidenced by the fact they get used so often to fly over high school football games and hover over festivals. (Not news: that high schools play football and that people attend festivals.)

Also, they're dangerous. As they've become more common, so have accidents. A tragedy happened in Phoenix this week when two news helicopters crashed.

These clips are sad. Four people died, and as you can see from the first video, they died covering an "event" that could have gone unreported without impacting a single person's life. The first clip is the last moments broadcast from one of the news helicopters that crashed, and the second clip is the emotional and horrified reaction of a third news helicopter nearby.

Hundreds of Gallons of Fuel Wasted for Entertainment

I understand the attraction of seeing a whole lot of power on display, but this seems just plain wasteful. The Shockwave jet truck in this video spends three minutes spewing enormous flames from its back and exhaust pipes, an effect acheived by igniting large amounts of pure deisel fuel. Then it accelerates to a couple hundred miles an hour, a feet that requires 400 gallons of fuel per mile.

The fuel wasted in this three minutes (not counting the energy required to haul the Shockwave truck from place to place for its exhibitions) is more than the average American uses in a year!

Why Demolition Workers Need a Basic Understanding of Physics

Imagine a several-ton, 20-foot-high table with four legs. Would you stand underneath a corner of that table and remove one of the four legs? Of course not, because the table will fall towards you.

That little nugget of wisdom escaped these guys as they demolished a building. Appears no one got hurt, but it was close.

Cute Cat Alert: Charley has Cerebellar Hypoplasia

Here's a video that is fun and eye opening. Charley is an incredibly cute cat with cerebellar hypoplasia, a condition that doesn't shorten his life or cause any pain; it just makes him a little clumsy. This video states that people don't understand cerebellar hypoplasia, and as a result many cats are needlessly destroyed. As evidenced by Charley, this is an avoidable tragedy.

Two horseshoe makers battle for business: Netflix and Blockbuster

I found these two headlines hilarious:

• Blockbuster changes Total Access terms after loss
• Netflix reports first subscriber quarterly loss

First of all, it's always fun to see two companies pummel each other out of profitability. Sorta like watching the climax of a Rocky movie, only in this case both fighters may end up on the mat.

But what's really funny is this: While DVD rental will remain big business for quite some time, it is undeniably a threatened business that will soon start shrinking. With the growth of high bandwidth connections, the rise of file sharing and online movie delivery, development of interactive TV systems, and the desire of cable companies to grab a bigger slice of the entertainment pie, it may not be too many years before those shiny DVD disks are as relevant as floppy disks.

Maybe Netflix and Blockbuster see themselves in that digital future and feel the need to knock out the competition now. Still, neither one will get to that bright future if they bloody each other up now.

Tracking Shots that Dazzle

Tracking Shot: A movie segment in which the camera is mounted on a wheeled platform or otherwise moved while the scene is captured.

Tracking shots are movie directors' way of showing off. Most of the time, the use of a long, fluid take is meant to dazzle moviegoers in obvious fashion. For example, the long opening shot of Robert Altman's great "The Player" is intended to grab film fanatics with the inside joke of how the scene mimics another famous opening tracking shot from Orson Welles' "Touch of Evil".

I love the "gee whiz" impact of tracking shots as much as the next movie fan, but I often find them distracting--the visual equivalent of a too loud, too obvious music soundtrack. That's why I was so impressed with the tracking shots employed by Alfonso Cuaron in "Children of Men".

Rather than taking the viewer out of the movie, Cuaron's scenes have the opposite effect--they put the viewer into the middle of the action. It's a subtle effect that makes seeing his movie more exciting, personal, and vivid.

These scenes are much better suited for a TV or movie screen than a tiny YouTube window, but they remain impressive nonetheless. Do not watch the two scenes below if you haven't yet seen "Children of Men" as they contain significant spoilers. If you have seen the move, viewing these two scenes without the context of the movie provides a great way to be wowed by the coordination, execution, and acting required to make these scenes work.

KUNT in the morning, and during your workday, and at drive time!

One can only imagine their jingle: A low-power digital television station in Wailuku, Maui was awarded the call letters KUNT by the FCC. I think the FCC should fine the FCC!

When a columnist for the Star Bulletin contacted the president of the company awarded the suspiciously vulgar call letters, he claimed to be surprised and embarrassed. Uh huh. He did promise (and seems to have already made good on the promise) to file for a change of the call letters.

Check out at http://starbulletin.com/2007/07/26/business/engle.html.

Are we fatter?

Are we fatter than we used to be? No, not personally (although I am); I mean as a nation? Sadly, the answer is yes, but I was surprised at how quickly obesity has grown more common around the United States.

Check out CNN's obesity map: http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2007/fit.nation/obesity.map/. (Oh look, I think I can see myself!)

Another of the Great Ads of All Time: Father & Son for Telecom New Zealand

I first saw this TV ad during a presentation by the marvelous and inspiring Kevin Roberts, CEO of Saatchi and Saatchi. This is an ad worth watching again and again. It is memorable, and it makes a point (with honesty and integrity) that supports the brand, Telecom New Zealand.

This ad packs more emotional wallop in 76 seconds than most Hollywood flicks can manage in 76 minutes!



The New Zealand Telecom ad became inspiration when I was working for a travel brand some years ago. I created a spec ad, using my own personal photos, to demonstrate how I felt the brand could move away from dollars and deals and toward staking a claim in family travel and memories. I don't think this is a good "ad", and it was created with free video editing software--it was only intended to communicate the mood and emotion that could be part of the brand's message. The song is Alexi Murdoch's terrific "Orange Sky." (I trust Mr. Roberts won't object to the cheap imitation, which in this case is intended as the greatest flattery.)

The Grim Reaper Unveiled--a cute, cuddly cat?!?

At first glance this article seems funny, but it is actually pretty touching. What starts as a seemingly ridiculous concept turns into something more heartfelt as you read the article.

It seems a cat named Oscar was adopted by the dementia unit of the Steere House Nursing And Rehabilitation Centre in Rhode Island, and the staff has come to recognize that he has special powers. Oscar is able to discern when patients are near death and he comes to stand at their bedside.

Oscar has predicted the deaths of 25 patients, and done so with such accuracy that he has completely won the trust of even the initially incredulous medical staff. He is known to curl up with people who will pass away within several hours, and then stays with the body until the body is removed.

And most grieving relatives have found comfort in his presence. Says one man whose mother and aunt both died at Steere: "Oscar's presence gave a sense of completion and contentment. What could be more peaceful than a purring cat? And what sound more beautiful to fill one's ears when leaving life? He brought a special serenity to the room."

Read more on DailyMail.com.

John Mayer and Eric Clapton perform "Crossroads"

Okay, so maybe I can forgive John Mayer for dating Jessica Simpson and recording Your Body is a Wonderland and Daughters.

Here is a video of John performing the classic Cream tune "Crossroads" with the great Eric Clapton, and John more than holds his own on stage.

Visit ABCNews.com to see the clip from Good Morning America.

Generation Chickenhawk: College Republicans in Their Own Words

I'm not sure how I feel about this video. It portrays a seriocomic take on young, college-age Republicans who strongly support the war... but only if someone else's skin is in the game.

On the one hand, I think the war in Iraq has been disastrous, was launched by a President who clearly was in a rush and didn't care about truth or accuracy, has left us less safe, and has turned into a quagmire with not a single logical reason or expectation to justify the ongoing bloodshed.

On the other hand, would it be fair to head to a young Democrats convention, ask them if they believe in peace, and then inquire why they haven't joined the Peace Corps? Think you might get some half-baked excuses for why peace-loving college students think that making a handmade sign declaring their opposition to the war is the be all and end all of putting their money (or lives) where their mouths are?

So, while the shallow, ill-informed swagger of these arrogant war mongers is galling (and the possibly gay man at the 4:30 mark of this video who is trying to self-justify his experimentation is sadly hilarious), I wonder if this sort of video doesn't sacrifice honesty and a commitment to real change in favor of some cheap laughs. What do you think?

Mellow Thursday: Imogen Heap's "Hide and Seek"

Why Mellow Thursday? The week has a head of steam, and you're probably rushing to the weekend. Time to sit back and enjoy a bit of mellow music to clear your head.

For your enjoyment: Imogen Heap's "Hide and Seek". I saw her perform this live and it was one of the most amazing concert moments. She asked the crowd to be quiet since her mic can pick up ambient sound that alters her keyboard output. The crowd complied with complete silence, and her performance was shockingly beautiful and powerful.

One of the Great Ads of All Time: Volkswagon Cabrio

Seems as if marketers will grab any hit song and pair it with any product to make a commercial nowadays. And in doing so, they manage to make both the artist and the brand seem cheap and desperate.

This one is different. This ad dates back a few years, but it demonstrates the power of matching the right music to the right mood for the right brand. Funny how when it's done right, the use of the song doesn't seem like a sell out!

The incomparable Nick Drake's "Pink Moon" for the Volkswagon Cabrio:

Paris Can't Help It

This one made me laugh out loud. Paris Hilton is trying SO hard to convince people she's not shallow, and this is what comes out of her mouth:

"I went to the Los Angeles Children's Hospital. I visited all the little premature babies in the cancer ward, and the doctors were like, 'You have no idea how much this brightened up these kids day.'"

Yes, I am sure all the cancerous little preemies were beaming from ear to ear because they got to meet Paris Hilton!

Ugly Parenting, L.A. Style

So, who do you want to punch more in this video: The sleazy tanning salon sales guy or the mean-spirited mother? I think we have to go with the mother, who clearly shouldn't be allowed near any child ever again. Especially her own.

Watch this video and count how many times she subtly undermines her daughter's self confidence. Someone please save this little girl!

I believe I can fly doesn't suck (if the Gimme Gimmes do it)

R. Kelly's "I Believe I Can Fly" is among my least favorite songs ever. I think I'd listen to "Who Let the Dogs Out" 20 times before I listen to "I Believe I Can Fly" once. (Not 21 times--a man's got to know his limitations.)

But here's a version I can enjoy, thanks to the Gimme Gimmes.

Ripped from the Headlines or Plot from Scooby Doo?

Can you tell the difference between fact and fiction? How about the difference between ridiculous fact and Saturday morning cartoon fiction? I got 70%, barely above the 67% average. Test yourself on MentalFloss.com: http://mentalfloss.com/quiz/quiz.php?p=1&q=94

Any Officer out in the field, we could use some spackle. 10-4.

Earlier today I posted an anti-drunk driving ad. Maybe this video is all they need to show!

Mom always says not to play ball in the house!

Umm, this just ain't right. For those of you who for 40 years have been waiting to see Marcia, Bobby, and Sam the Butcher in a sordid threesome, I guess your sorry day has arrived. Not the Bradys XXX is coming to an adult video store near you, complete with Ron Jeremy as Sam the Butcher. (Isn't Ron getting a little old for adult video? I'd find out, but I'm afraid to look!)

The video is rated X, but the MySpace site is just rated R (for Repulsive and Repugnant).

Mug Shots of the Rich and Famous

At some point in the legal process, it helps to have money, power, and influence. That point is not when your mug shot is being snapped. Thanks to the The Smoking Gun, you can enjoy the mug shots of folks famous and not. This site includes arrest photos of everyone from Paris and Lindsay to gangsters to icons such as Rosa Parks. (Really, is it proper to have Rosa Parks' name on the same page with Paris and Lindsay? I think not!)

Can you guess which of these criminals is now the richest person in the world? (That's a gimme.)


Check out http://www.thesmokinggun.com/mugshots/index.html.