Friday, January 28, 2011

The Straight Dope and beer bottles

Some time ago, I submitted a question to The Straight Dope, a website and weekly syndicated column that deals with weird, wacky, wonderful questions in a well-researched yet tongue-in-cheek manner. It's one of those "must-read-regularly" columns.

I just heard that my question, after thorough (and hopefully enjoyable) research on the part of the Straight Dope team, has just been published - kewl!

It concerned what I thought was a somewhat dubious claim in a TV ad where Samuel Adams claims that their beer tastes better because it comes in brown bottles, and not clear or green ones. The subsequent Straight Dope research, however, seems to prove me wrong...

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Olbermann disappears

Keith Olbermann's sudden vanishing act from MSNBC on Friday, during the same week that the FCC approved the Comcast-NBC merger has to make one speculate whether this was just mere coincidence...

Of course, both Comcast and NBC deny a connection, but remember that Comcast has a reputation for donating heavily to right-wing causes; could they be "cleaning house" in preparation for the merger? Right now, General Electric owns NBC Universal. After the 13-billion dollar transaction takes effect, GE will retain 49% control - like Comcast, GE is not renowned for being friendly to left-wing causes.

While I did not always agree with Olbermann's leftist viewpoints, there's no question that he was an important counterpoint to the huge onslaught of right-wing punditry that is slowly and perniciously poisoning the much-too-easily influenced minds of the U.S. populace. Balance is important, more so in this era of extremism on both the right and the left.

Rachel Maddow is the next logical target - I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Keith: While I realize that you have to adhere to whatever agreement you pounded out with MSNBC, please do not let yourself be silenced - your voice is important during this critical time in U.S. politics.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

English as she is spoke - quick note

Just a reminder... Now that I'm getting back into updating my site, please note that my regular sidebar doodads will also spring back to life. For starters, see English as she is spoke.

What is wrong with society?

OK, so the Gabrielle Giffords story has lots of "human interest," the sort of crap that people love to see, and the primary reason the media panders to this sort of nonsense. But really, do we have to hear about her rubbing the husband's neck for ten minutes? Or lifting her finger?

I'm just waiting for the next headline: "Gabby farts and takes her first dump" - no doubt with a detailed account of the volume, length, girth, texture, color, and odor.

Monday, January 17, 2011

Ricky Gervais - good stuff!

Seems that Ricky Gervais ruffled a feather or two at the Golden Globes last night - good for him! We need more of this sort of thing on U.S. TV, instead of the nonsensical pablum that is served up to us ad nauseam.



(Btw, I'm still trying to get back into the habit of updating this site more regularly. But I've been busy with, erm, other matters. Normal service will be resumed asap, as they say!)

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Sarah Palin - blood on her hands

Much has been said about the so-called "Tragedy in Tucson." At the risk of being targeted as a subversive, I feel compelled to point out that that while the shooter is clearly guilty of the massacre, I really feel that he is more a "victim" than a "perp." Like so many people these days, he's clearly nuts - nothing more, nothing less.

The problem is that people like this are so easily influenced by the crap that is spewed by the politicians and pundits in this country. While both sides, left and right, are guilty of this, I think we can all agree that it's the right wing that is instigating the vast majority of this bullshit. (And, it should be noted, Keith Olbermann - a leftie - immediately went on air after the incident to apologize for anything he may have said in the past, and vowed not to do it again. It would be nice to see the hate-filled right-wingers do the same.)

Nonetheless, idiots like the killer (I forget his name) are prone to listening to and believing in the agitprop that fills our airwaves. When Sarah and her ilk talk about "bullets not ballots," "don't retreat, reload," and such, not to mention publishing the infamous map on her website, what can you expect? She even listed the names of the intended targets, including that of Gabrielle Giffords (see above).

Now who's the guilty party? It's pretty damn clear to me, and I honestly believe that Sarah Palin should be charged - at the very least - with incitement to kill or whatever the official name of that particular crime is these days.

I'm ba-a-ack!!!

With my (somewhat) new high-speed 'net connection, I'm now in a much better position to get back to updating my rambling without the frustration of low speeds. Mind you, there's a long story about the crappy service provided by our local cable carrier, Comcast. That's for another time, but very soon, I promise. You will definitely want to hear about the shitty company they run.

Meantime, there's just so much political crap floating about, I need to vent - BIG TIME. There'll be a new post about our friend Sarah coming up shortly...