Mellow Thursday: Philip Glass' Violin Concerto, 1st movement

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.

This is one of the most lovely and hypnotic things I've seen online in quite some time. Enjoy Philip Glass' Violin Concerto, 1st movement set to striking time-lapse images. If you click through to view the video on YouTube, select the little box in the bottom righthand corner of the video window to watch this full screen for maximum relaxation.

Way to get to Hell #1: Suing your way to the afterlife

I won't pretend to understand how or if people go one place or another after death, but if there is a Hell, I am pretty sure Tomas Delgado of Spain will find himself there.

I am not sure which of the ten commandments or seven deadly sins this falls under, but Tomas is suing the family of a dead 17-year-old bicyclist for the damage done to his car in the accident that killed the youth. Both parties were at fault--the young man was cycling alone at night without reflective clothing or a helmet and Tomas was driving at excessive speed. As a result of the accident, the cyclist was killed but the really tragic thing, according to Tomas, is that his Audi A8 sustained 20,000-Euros worth of damage.

I understand the kid should've been riding safely, but what kind of cold and callous person sues the family of a dead child to recover the damages done in the accident that killed him?

Symantec demonstrates how to lose a customer

Until yesterday, my PC was protected by Norton 360, which is advertised to offer a "full circle of protection" according to it's maker, Symantec. Personally, I found it to be a bloated application that worked slowly and adversely impacted the operation of my computer, but I figured that was better than getting infected, right?

But this week my computer got sick with some malware, despite the fact I had Norton's active antispyware and antivirus operational. That's annoying, but I understand no software is going to protect you from every threat.

I updated my virus and spyware definitions in Norton and scanned my hard drive, but the virus (or Trojan or whatever it was) remained on my PC. Even more frustrating, but I'm a reasonable person and understand malware enough to know someone's always trying to build a better mouse and my mousetrap hasn't been updated enough to catch it, yet.

So, I turn to Symantec's online chat for assistance, and here is where they really went off the tracks: They seem to mistake "support" with "sales" and "their obligation" with a "revenue-generating opportunity."

I spend five minutes chatting with a guy who confirms what I already know--that I have a virus--and he asks me to wait for assistance from the "next level." Little did I know that it wasn't the "next level" of service but of high-pressure sales.

After waiting several more minutes the next Symantec person enters the chat window, and eight minutes later he agrees I have a problem and announces they can solve it. I type "thank you," and he responds it will cost $99.95. That's right--their software didn't prevent it, their scan didn't catch and resolve it, and now they want to charge me more to resolve the problem I shouldn't have had in the first place if Norton had worked with its "full circle of protection."

I balk, let the "service" rep know I'm upset, and suggest I might try to resolve the problem myself before paying for their service. And this is where the cut-and-paste high-pressure sales pitch begins. I'm told the virus could be dangerous; it could be compromising my security; it could get so bad my PC will be beyond help; it could infect other computers; and my ISP could drop me because the virus is causing the end of civilization as we know it. And all the time, he's using those crappy closing techniques they teach in sales classes: "Shall we begin to fix the problem, sir?"

Ticked off, I decided I'd had it with Symantec. I uninstalled Norton (another 20 minutes wasted, including a reboot) and instead download AVG antivirus (free), update my Adaware to the 2007 version (free), and download Spy Emergency 2007 (free to try). It takes a while to install the programs and complete scans, but these free programs accomplish what Norton cannot--they find the problem and eliminate it!

The best part is that my computer is virus-free and operating better than ever (without Norton slowing it down), and it cost me nothing.

I lost half a year of prepaid services to Symantec, but the fact they not only refuse to stand behind their product but then expect me to pay when they fail was more than I could stomach. I won't be using Norton again any time soon!

Just had to share my frustrating experience.

Is this in bad taste?

It's a subtle line, but maybe--just maybe--a Holocaust-themed Carnival float might just cross it.

"The float is extremely respectful," said one organizer.

Or at least as respectful as a parade float can be, I suppose.

Jon Stewart on Bill Clinton

The section at the two-minute mark about Bill Clinton is the best Jon's done since the writers went out on strike. But, the phone call reenactment at 4:30 is among the most embarrassing and uncomfortable minutes so far--the laughs start polite and get quieter and quieter as Jon soldiers on through some terrible material.

Amen

Kid Rock: Preacher, counselor, saint, sinner, nag, adviser, human rights activist, philanthropist, critic, internationalist, conscience, patriot, humanitarian, and judge:

Guaranteed Way to Stop Being Late for Work

This product is imaginary, but it should be real. Over at ThinkGeek, they offer the SnūzNLūz, an alarm clock with a special feature that will get your butt out of bed instead of having you hit the snooze button all the time.

Simply set up the clock with your bank account number and a charity you hate, and every time you hit the snooze button it will take money from your account and donate it to the charity.

It's brilliant. If every time I wanted to sleep in it cost me $5 to the Republican party, I'd get out of bed like a shot whenever the alarm went off!

From Elder Statesman to Partisan Pit Bull

Bill Clinton is earning some frank criticism these days. He was popular for most of his presidency, left office in shame, began re-earning more respect as a statesman (with efforts that included his collaboration with George H. Bush to help victims of Katrina), and is now losing the support of party leaders with his angry and bitter attacks on Barack Obama. In a year in which the Dems should easily win back the White House, the former president is threatening to turn the primary race into a bitter one that will leave whichever candidate survives in worse shape for the general election.

South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn, the highest ranking African American in Congress, told Bill Clinton to "chill a little bit." Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont, an Obama supporter, took Bill to task for taking "glib cheap shots" that are "beneath the dignity of a former president." Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, criticized Bill's "fairy tale" comments by insisting, "this is reality, not fantasy or fairy tales." Ed Schultz, the nation's top liberal radio talk host, accused Bill of "lying about Barack Obama's record" and "embarrassing" the Democratic Party. Former Democratic Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle criticized Bill's campaign performance as "Not presidential" and said Bill's actions could "destroy the party" if not stopped. And even former Clinton Labor Secretary, Robert Reich, got into the act, accusing bill of spearheading a "smear campaign against Obama."

In the most scathing criticism from the left, William Greider, national affairs correspondent for liberal political weekly The Nation, said, "The Clintons play dirty when they feel threatened... The recent roughing-up of Barack Obama was in the trademark style of the Clinton years in the White House. High-minded and self-important on the surface, smarmily duplicitous underneath, meanwhile jabbing hard to the groin area. They are a slippery pair and come as a package. The nation is at fair risk of getting them back in the White House for four more years. The thought makes me queasy."

The cause of all this criticism is that Bill is repeatedly accusing Obama of injecting race into the campaign, but it's apparent to anyone following the news that Bill's the guy who's doing it. Once lauded as the "first black president," Bill is destroying the trust and goodwill be built across the races.

For example, one of Bill's recent comments resulted in a shocked ABC News' Senior National Correspondent, sarcastically commenting, "Boy, I can't understand why anyone would think the Clintons are running a race-baiting campaign to paint Obama as 'the black candidate.'" The statement that caused this reaction was Bill's response to question asked about it taking "two Clintons to beat" Obama. Bill's response evoked a past black candidate in a way that seemed to have no relevance to the question but did seem aimed at painting Obama as a "black candidate." Said Bill: "Jesse Jackson won South Carolina in '84 and '88. Jackson ran a good campaign. And Obama ran a good campaign here."

Over at CBSNews.com, senior political editor Vaughn Ververs is bemoaning Bill's "Lost legacy." Says Ververs, "By injecting himself into the Democratic primary campaign with a series of inflammatory and negative statements, Bill Clinton may have helped his wife's presidential hopes in the long term but at the cost of his reputation with a group of voters that have long been one of his strongest bases of political support."

What's interesting is that Bill's aggressive campaigning may have hurt his wife in South Carolina. Nearly six in 10 voters said the former president's efforts for his wife was important to their choice, but ironically among the people who said this, slightly more favored Obama than the former first lady.

And, it's possible Bill's actions are so alienating the Democratic leadership that he's weakening support for Hillary. There are reports today that Ted Kennedy will follow his niece, Caroline, and announce his support for Obama soon.

For the past seven years since Bill left office, I've defended him as a good and sound president and accused others of letting Bill's poor personal decisions cloud their judgment of him as a leader. I now feel as if I was the one who was wrong all along. Bill's nasty and inflammatory actions and words are leading me to believe that--at least in Bill's case--one cannot separate the personal from the professional, the human from the leader. For the Clinton's, it seems everything is political, and to them all's fair in politics and war.

Domino Advertising

Good advertising should encourage people to watch, which is where most ads fail. Marketers forget they are making ads for consumers and not for themselves or their bosses, which is why most advertising is so boring (and so very easy to ignore).

Advertising featuring dominoes or Rube Goldberg-like situations could get boring if everyone did it, but here are three great ads that demand you pay attention.

Frank Lloyd Wright in Half Life 2

No, you can't shoot aliens in this version of Half Life 2. Instead, the gaming engine was used to recreate the famous Frank Lloyd Wright masterpiece Fallingwater, also known as the Kaufmann house. FPS (First Person Shooters) games provide an interesting way to allow people to experience architecture.

If you have HL2 and wish to tour the virtual home, you can download the map here.

Boulevard of Broken Songs

This is one of the greatest mash-ups ever. It's called "Boulevard of Broken Songs," and it seamlessly merges Green Day's "Boulevard of Broken Dreams", Oasis' "Wonderwall", Travis' "Writing to Reach You" and Aerosmith's "Dream On". This comes from DJ Party Ben and was among the most downloaded songs way back in 2004.

Mellow Thursday: Peace Train

Haven't posted a "Mellow Thursday" post in a while. Hope you enjoy it.

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.

Below are a couple of videos of Yusuf Islam (the former Cat Stevens) singing versions of his hit "Peace Train." The first is a contemporary African version, while the second is the version you may remember from 1971 (as performed at a 1976 concert). Says Cat as he introduces the tune, "If everyone could love Alfred Hitchcock, I think it would be a better world." Heck, why not?)

And, for an extra bonus, I am including a recent performance of "Father and Son," a Cat Stevens favorite of mine from many decades ago.

Dumbest thing I've heard in a long time

I read a comment in a news story and found the level of ignorance so appalling that I had to share.

Three young people, ages 21 to 23, were tragically killed in a car crash in Denver. They had been drinking and were speeding at around 100 MPH when they hit a pole, splitting the car in two.

The sister of the presumed driver was quoted in the Rocky Mountain News: "The thing that really makes me feel much better about this is they died doing what they loved to do — they were drinking, they were going fast and they were together. It gives me comfort, it does, to know those three things."

Did I miss a memo? At some point, did unquestioning acceptance of aberrant behavior supplant love and concern as the primary expectation of family members?

Unaired 1994 pilot for "24"

What would "24" be without all the high-tech gadgets? Wonder no more...

bin Laden Pleas for Peace

This headline is true, but sadly the bin Laden who is pleading for peace isn't (of course) Osama, but his son, Omar.

Omar bin Laden, who works as a contractor in Cairo and is married to a British woman, is a brave man. He is speaking out because he desires an end to the violence his father has inspired, and he and his wife are launching their own movement for peace. The couple hopes to organize a multi-month horserace through North Africa in the name of peace. (I have no idea what racing horses has to do with peace or how it can inspire others, but I'm for just about any crazy idea at this point.) (Of course, one hopes the horses will be well cared for, or else this race will only bring more suffering into the world.)

Omar, who is one of Osama's 19 children and hasn't spoken to his dad since 2000, isn't merely seeking more peaceful means from his father. He has strong words for the US and others: "I don't think 9/11 was right personally, but it happened. I don't think ... [the war] in Vietnam was right. I don't think what's going on in Palestine is right. I don't think what's going on in Iraq is right. If we make what is right and not right, we will make a very big list."

Read more on CNN.com.

MLK's Final Speech

How sad and inspirational is this? Here are the final words of the final speech of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. , spoken the day before he was shot and killed. In this day of bickering, self-interested, uninspired, and uninspirational "leaders" with names like Bush, Pelosi, and Reid, how distressing is to see this footage from 30 years ago? What more should we be expecting from the people who wish to lead us?

Disappointed in Oscor Noms

I'm nothing but a movie fan in a flyover state, so I know my opinion isn't worth a nickel, but I was disappointed that "Sweeney Todd" failed to win more nominations. I thought it was a better movie than at least three of the five movies nominated for Best Picture (Atonement, Juno, and Michael Clayton) and deserving of more recognition than for just Johnny Depp, Art Direction, and Costume Design.

If you believe the buzz, the Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor awards have already been delivered to Daniel Day-Lewis and Javier Bardem (and the buzz is probably right, in this case.)

The Best Actress category is much more interesting, with Julie Christie, Marion Cotillard, and Ellen Page all being talked up. In the Support Actress category, I'm rooting for Tilda Swinton who blew me away in "Michael Clayton", but I suspect Cate Blanchett may be too strong a candidate for "I'm Not There."

The animated film category will be interesting to watch, with art house favorite “Persepolis” competing against the critically praised box office hit, “Ratatouille.”

Disney got three of the five nominations for Original Song with tunes from the movie "Enchanted", but I think the one song nominated from the film "Once" will take home the statuette. (It's actually a little surprising the critical favorite "Once" only got a single nod.)

And the fact the Academy could possibly even think of nominating “Norbit” for anything, much less go ahead and do it (Makeup) is astounding.

Funny thing is that I just realized I'll be in Los Angeles on the night of the Oscars, unless they get canceled due to the writers strike. What's especially odd is that we were able to get rates just over $100 for the Omni. I know the stars will be staying elsewhere, but even in a year where the ceremony is up in the air, you'd think the hotel rates would be astronomical over that weekend, wouldn't you?

Guess I better pack my tux for this trip!

Jerry O’Connell takes on Tom Cruise

I've never been much of a Jerry O’Connell fan, but maybe I need to give him another look. While others steer clear of mocking (or even talking about) Scientology, he seems game to wade right in.

Some sites were so afraid of legal action they wouldn't host the first video, which is of scarily intense, possibly possessed, and slightly loony Tom Cruise speaking about his faith. (It must be hard being Tom, having to create new realities, knowing you're the authority on everything, and being unable to drive past an accident scene without pushing the EMTs out of the way because they cannot help like you can.) The second video is Jerry O’Connell's parody on the Cruise video.

Insane bike trail - First-person vid

Do you think after you do this sort of bike trail that roller coasters are forever ruined for you?

Huckabee sews up the Redneck vote

I don't want to turn this blog into an anti-Huckabee site, primarily because you probably don't care. But really, every time I read a quote I wonder if he and I could possibly be from the same planet. His latest head-scratcher was to support the Confederate Flag, a symbol many consider to represent racism and rebellion:

"I know what would happen if somebody comes to my state in Arkansas and tells us what to do, it doesn't matter what it is, tell us how to run our schools, tell us how to raise our kids, tell us what to do with our flag — you want to come tell us what to do with the flag, we'd tell them what to do with the pole."

Our flag?!? Funny, I thought the US flag was our flag. I guess Huckabee has a different flag than we Americans. Perhaps he thinks this is the flag of God's Army.

Four ways American Idol can alienate its audience

Yes, I'm an American Idol fan. I never thought I'd enjoy it, but four seasons ago I got hooked. Seeing regular people get a shot of a lifetime based on (mostly) real talent has proven quite addictive. a

But Idol is ailing. This season's premiere was the lowest rated in four years, and some of their high-profile winners and contenders have seen disappointing sales and are losing their contracts.

Some people think Idol has run it's course, but I don't think this has to be. After all, this really is nothing but a big, glitzy talent contest, and those are as old as humans having talent to show off.

But, I do think Idol can crash and burn this year if they're not smart--and so far, they aren't being smart. I'd suggest that there are four things the producers of American Idol can and are doing that will gaurantee the seventh season is the last:

• Lie to us: The thing that has kept Idol on top while other "reality" shows have failed is "reality." Idol hasn't been about fake immunity challenges or choking down cockroaches; it's been about regular Joe's singing live. I know Idol is struggling to develop better "story lines" out of their contestants, but manufacturing unrtue stories will only turn off loyal viewers.
  
  Case and point: Kristy Lee Cook was a hottie with an excellent voice who stood out in the Philadelphia tryouts. The story Idol told was of a hometown Oregon girl who raises horses and had to sell one to get to the tryouts. Heartwarming, isn't it?
  
  Except Kristy already was a signed artist with Arista and released an album. I don't mind that she's a former-and-now-unsigned professional (although other Idol fans do), but what the hell is with the misdirection from Idol? This chick once moved to Texas to work with the manager who formerly managed LeAnn Rimes, so the backstory of her as a whole small-town Oregon girl who had to sell her beloved horse to afford the shot on American Idol is pure, unadulterated, manufactured BS.
  
  Lying is precisely the way for American Idol to make viewers feel alientated. And this clumsy attempt at positioning an early contestant as something she's not--as anyone who can do a Google search can confirm--makes Idol look amateurish and clueless.
  
  
• Bloat the shows: Fans of American Idol, after seven seasons, have seen it all. And that is something the producers must consider. I know there's pressure to sell lots of ad time--particularly with the writer's strike--but do we really need 90 minutes of the same old same old twice a week? There is nothing they can show us that we haven't seen before!
  
  Crazy people--check. Bitter people--check. Angry people--check. Singers with little experience and plenty of raw talent--check. Semi-pros who sound like they're already ready for their record contract--check. Backup singers who want their time in the limelight--check. Check, check, check, check, check.
  
  Maybe something that worked in season one cannot work in season seven. Since they can't really change the format of the auditions, they may need to simply shorten the shows. I know I could limit myself by watching just 30 or 60 minutes of a 90-minute show, but even for a fan like me, it is getting easy to think that I have something better to do with three hours a week. And if Idol loses fans like me in week one, there are a lot of us who won't come back once the show moves to Hollywood.
  
  
• Think the show is more about freaks than talent: While some fans might disagree with me, I'd suggest the early shows concentrate more on talent and less on freaks.
  
  Week after week, seeing deluded, mentally unstable people over and over again isn't fun; it's demoralizing. I feel dirty, in fact. Watching the three judges laugh at people who need help (and feeling as if the producers think we should be laughing) is getting tough to stomach. Especially because after years of watching, you know these people are being prepped and having their hopes raised simply so that they'll be a form of 21st Century freak show in front of the three judges. Tens of thousands of people show up to try out, and Simon, Paula, and Randy can't possibly see but a small fraction of them, so clearly someone is screening the hopefuls. Why would disturbed and awful singers be allowed through to the high-profile judges except to turn their very real problems into amusement for the judges and viewers?
  
  So, I'd love to see the real reason for the show--talent--take a front seat. Let's see ALL of the people who are selected for Hollywood and not just a couple. Eliminating the redundant parade of psychologically-damaged people would make plenty of time for viewers to enjoy all the talent Idol is finding.
  
  
• Do more of the same: Any show that is going to be on for a decade or longer needs to reinvent itself from time to time. Idol is feeling stale, stale, stale.
  
  They set up the "human interest" stories the same way as always. Contestants seem to fall into two categories: People who overcame adversity (we've already seen a survivor of a horrible accident, a mother with a disabled child, and a daughter with a morbidly obese and ill mother) or people who seem to have sprung from some agrarian Normal Rockwell painting. Who knew in the 21st Century that a majority of Americans lived in small towns and rode horses! (At least that's the conclusion some future anthropologist would get if they viewed American Idol a century from now.)
  
  Mix it up! Every person who gets the "golden ticket" has a story. Let's hear a little more of them and see a little less of the insane people who swear and rant about the judges (with a camerman tailing them out of the room, down a hall, down an escalator, out the front door, and a mile down the street.)

I'm fan and was waiting for this year's American Idol premiere. But after Tuesday night's ad-stuffed 90 minutes, I actually lost interest in seeing Wednesday night's episode. That doesn't bode well, but why should I spend that much of my life seeing the same generic stories and setups with barely interchangeable faces and voices?

Huckabee already rewriting the US Constitution

Every time I read about Mike Huckabee speaking on the subject of his faith and how it will impact his potential presidency--which he does a lot--I get a cold shiver down my spine. I'm all for people having faith, but I find it frightening when people in power begin to believe the law should be defined by their faith.

Last week he was part of "God's Army," and this week he wishes to rewrite the Constitution to "God's Standards":

"[Some of my opponents] do not want to change the Constitution, but I believe it's a lot easier to change the constitution than it would be to change the word of the living God, and that's what we need to do is to amend the Constitution so it's in God's standards rather than try to change God's standards."

What I find particularly frightening is that taken out of context, you couldn't tell if this quote was from a presidential candidate speaking about the US constitution or a fundamentalist Islamist speaking about the Iraq constitution.

IFH Mondays

You've hard of TGI Fridays? Then how about IFH Mondays.

This "ad" is not safe for work and features small bits of David Spade (so you've been warned), but I smiled:

Sad, strange, ominous ad

This is a weird, sad, and ominous find. AdRants found a 1979 ad for a Pakistani airline promoting its new flights to New York city. The juxtaposition of the plane's shadow and the famous twin towers must've seemed brilliant back in '79, but it sure looks different today.

Gizmodo turns off CES

When I heard about this video, I thought it might be funny. But seeing it, I have to say that I feel tech blog Gizmodo stepped over the line.

They went to CES (the enormous annual Consumer Electronics Show) with a TV-B-Gone, a special remote control that sends signals that turns off any remote control TV. Seeing an entire of wall of brand-spanking new TVs go off is fun, until you realize the brands Gizmodo is pranking spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on their displays in an effort to sell those now-dark televisions. Worst yet, Gizmodo went to presentations and shut off the TVs speakers were using to demonstrate products to a roomful of people.

Tech bloggers get pissed off when people accuse them of being unprofessional or say they're not journalists. Then a major tech blogger pulls crap like this, which only reinforces the idea they shouldn't be trusted. Gizmodo relies on press releases and access provided by major tech companies for their info, so I hope they find themselves shut out by companies who feel this sort of prank was expensive and inappropriate.

Commander in Cheif of God's Army or the US Army?

I find this speech by Huckabee to be concerning and inappropriate. The candidate is deeply religious and I respect that, but I want a president who puts liberty, law, and peace before religious fervor.

Speaking from a puplit at an Evangelical Church in New Hampshire, he said, "When we become believers, it's as if we have signed up to be part of God's Army, to be soldiers for Christ... When you give yourself to Christ, some relationships have to go. It's no longer your life; you've signed it over."

I understand religion and politics are highly personal and contentious issues, and together they are even more highly personal and contentious. Still, I'd hope most Americans would find this sort of talk very concerning from a man who wants to command our troops and our arsenal of world-ending nuclear weapons.

I want a president who gathers information, listens to advisers, and makes appropriate decisions based on US and international law. Not one who no longer has his own life; who's given it up to something else other than this country and the rule of law. And I especially don't want a president commanding our Army who already thinks he's in God's army.

Muslims around the world already think we've launched into a holy war against their religion. This sort of talk from a candidate to succeed George Bush is only apt to create more animosity, suspicion, and hatred. I hope Huckabee starts to fade, because even his candidacy (much less his potential presidency) seems concerning.

Which ring of hell is this?

I found this bit from Brandweek funny:

BLASPHEME MUCH? You just know this marketing scheme isn’t going to end well. Two Seattle twenty-somethings have begun selling “Reservations in Heaven.” Although the pair claim the idea is a gag gift, much like naming a star in the cosmos after someone, their Web site, Reserve a Spot in Heaven.com, is drawing some fire. There are two levels available: the “Essential Travel Kit” for $12.79, and the “All Access Travel Kit” for $15.95. But at least one visitor to the site seems a tad peeved. They wrote: “I wish you the worst and hope you suffer, because that monetary pool of happiness that you swim in on mother earth will soon be fire and hot lava in the dungeons of hell. May Christ purge the devil from within you. May the devil be gone!” Man, that seems a bit harsh.

What's funny about this is that I just finished a favorite novel from my youth called Inferno about a guy who dies and finds Dante wasn't writing fiction. In Dante's hell is a ring or ditch reserved for those who sell Christian favors and offices. In the 70s-era book, the ring is nearly empty of people since this sin isn't as common as it was back in Dante's time, but I guess the folks who launched this site could find themselves in one of the lonelier parts of hell in the future.

For the record, I think the concept and site is hilarious, but I understand why some people might find it offensive.

Polls Suck

Yesterday every pollster said Obama had a commanding lead on Clinton in New Hampshire. Today Clinton won. Makes me wonder why I listen so much to polls.

Maybe four out of five dentists really don't recommend sugarless gum for their patients who chew gum. (And who the hell was the fifth dentist who thinks it's okay to gnaw on sticks of sugar? Obviously, the ones who still have kids in school and a big mortgage.)

David Lynch recommends watching movies on the iPhone

As a movie fan, I tend to agree with Mr. Lynch...

Bill squanders what little goodwill he has left on Hillary campaign

I liked Bill Clinton and I still like Bill Clinton. There, I said it.

I was what was known as a "Clinton Democrat"--a middle-of-the-road Dem who tends to reject some of the more liberal leanings of the party. I was pissed off he lied to the country (but could care less about Monicagate), but I felt he was a pretty solid president.

Which makes me sad to see him squandering his remaining goodwill with these kind of negative comments. According to ABC, Bill mischaracterized and minimized Obama's platform and experience, then lashed out at Obama and said, "This whole thing is the biggest fairy tale I've ever seen."

No Bill. The biggest fairy tale most of us have seen was, "I did not have sexual relations with that woman." (I'm just sayin'--when you live in glass houses, be careful with the rocks!)

The Clinton campaign is slipping, and with NH polls showing another big loss, Bill ranting, and Hillary tearing up, I hope the Clintons can keep the campaign professional, positive, and on track. My fear is that Hill's sense of entitlement may cause her to do something that eventually ends up derailing the Dem's when they least need enemy within their midst.

Barack's Iowa Speech

This one goes out to Jason, who said he hadn't seen it. Some friends felt Barack had locked the Democratic nomination with this speech. I don't know about that, but Barack sure is one amazing and inspirational dude.

A scene from Scrubs

It starts as one of the worst-written scenes from Scrubs ever, but gets a little different a minute in.

Talk to your kids about sex

I'm confused as to which is the appropriate approach. (But I know which is the funnier approach!)

Greatest Radio Station Ad Ever

Final Blog Entry of Major Andrew Olmsted

Major Andrew Olmsted was a blogger serving in Iraq whose posts can be found on the Rocky Mountain News Site. Sadly, he became a casualty of the war in Iraq this week but because he knew this was a possibility, he had given a final post to a friend to make in the event this happened.

You may find Andrew's last post to be a heartbreaking, funny, and interesting read. It's hard to read it and imagine what it is like to compose something that won't be read unless you die.

This is an entry I would have preferred not to have published, but there are limits to what we can control in life, and apparently I have passed one of those limits... What I don't want this to be is a chance for me, or anyone else, to be maudlin.

I'm dead. That sucks, at least for me and my family and friends. But all the tears in the world aren't going to bring me back, so I would prefer that people remember the good things about me rather than mourning my loss... So if you're up for that, put on a little 80s music (preferably vintage 1980-1984), grab a Coke and have a drink with me. If you have it, throw 'Freedom Isn't Free' from the Team America soundtrack in; if you can't laugh at that song, I think you need to lighten up a little. I'm dead, but if you're reading this, you're not, so take a moment to enjoy that happy fact.

I do ask (not that I'm in a position to enforce this) that no one try to use my death to further their political purposes. I went to Iraq and did what I did for my reasons, not yours. My life isn't a chit to be used to bludgeon people to silence on either side. If you think the U.S. should stay in Iraq, don't drag me into it by claiming that somehow my death demands us staying in Iraq. If you think the U.S. ought to get out tomorrow, don't cite my name as an example of someone's life who was wasted by our mission in Iraq. I have my own opinions about what we should do about Iraq, but since I'm not around to expound on them I'd prefer others not try and use me as some kind of moral capital to support a position I probably didn't support.

Click here to read the entire post.

And so something new begins on the Democratic side

Peggy Noonan had some wonderful insights about Obama's victory in the Iowa caucuses. You can read her take on Obama and Huckabee ("My sense is that Mr. Huckabee's good supporters deserve a better leader") on OpinionJournal.com, but I wanted to share these brief paragraphs:

As for Sen. Obama, his victory is similarly huge. He won the five biggest
counties in Iowa, from the center of the state to the South Dakota border. He
carried the young in a tidal wave. He outpolled Mrs. Clinton among women.

He did it with a classy campaign, an unruffled manner, and an appeal on the stump
that said every day, through the lines: Look at who I am and see me, the change
that you desire is right here, move on with me and we will bring it forward
together.

He had a harder row to hoe than Mrs. Clinton did. He was lesser
known, too young, lacked an establishment. He had to knock her down while
building himself up. (She only had to build herself up until the end, when she
went after his grade-school essays.) His takedown of Mrs. Clinton was the
softest demolition in the history of falling buildings. I think we were there
when it happened, in the debate in which he was questioned on why so many of
Bill Clinton's aides were advising him. She laughed, and he said he was looking
forward to her advising him, too. He took mama to school.

And so something new begins on the Democratic side.

I'm liking Obama more and more. Let's hope he continues to run the same campaign with as much confidence, class, and focus on American issues.

Does anyone else find Huckabee a little sleazy?

For a god-fearing guy with self-professed high morals, Mike Huckabee sure seems to like sleazy, underhanded politics.

Last week he called a new conference and announced he wouldn't do negative campaigning. In fact, he said decided not to air an attack ad that is highly critical of Mitt Romney. And then--to the laughter of the press in attendance--he said he'd show the very same ad that he felt was too negative to air. Huckabee knew full well the contents of the ad shown to reporters would get shared in all their news outlets, so his professed distaste for the negative ad was always in doubt.

And now FactCheck.org has found the ad ran in Iowa, despite Huckabee's promise. Not only that, but the ad itself contains exaggerations and half truths. For example, the ad implies Romney is light on crime because while he was governor of Massachusetts there were "no executions." That's true, but it's hard not to feel Huckabee is lying to us when you learn Massachusetts doesn't have a death penalty and Romney tried and failed to get the death penalty reinstated. Huckabee goes on to criticize Romney for a $50 co-pay for abortion on his state's health care plan, but it wasn't Romney's decision--the co-pay was implemented by an independent agency that by law is responsible for such decisions.

I had hoped Iowans would reject this sort of BS campaigning, but alas it appears conservatives as always care more about the appearance of conservative values than the actual practice of those values.

More marketing than R&D

This article annoys me because I'm a proponent of marketing. I don't like to see marketing abused or misused and when that happens, I think it makes the entire industry look bad. This article not only makes the advertising and marketing biz look bad, but also the pharmaceutical business, as well.

In a published report in Medical News Today, two researchers found that US drug companies spent $57.5 billion on promotional activities in 2004, the latest year for which figures were available. By comparison, the pair found that pharma R&D that year was only $31.5 billion.

Every time the pharma industry is criticized for skyrocketing costs, they claim it's due to the high cost of R&D. Learning that marketing accounts for more than double the cost of R&D is a little disheartening, and the authors of the study suggest this sort of data supports more regulation of the industry.

Even though I don't support more government intervention (into personal lives, medical decisions, or marketing), it's hard not to feel the government might have to take some action if the industry is more focused on selling drugs than on developing new ones or ensuring doctors and patients make the right decisions. (And a previous study has shown that drug marketing works--doctors are more likely to prescribe expensive new drugs that are being promoted by pharma companies even though older drugs are equally effective.)

You can read the entire article on the Medical News Today site.