Miscellaneous

A New Yorker cover is often worth the price of the magazine all by itself. This one qualifies easily. Thanks to Wilton for the nomination.

Hankster offers the following quote from Saul Bellows as a prescription for your times: "We are here, in this fallen state, riven by contradictions, given to understand some things but never others, faltering in our wills, flawed in our abilities, uncertain in our actions. But that is where we must begin and there is no excuse for not taking the task seriously."

Most of the talk about an Obama economic stimulus plan centers on creating jobs for people to work on infrastructure projects. If you will pardon a brief moment of self-satisfaction I wish to refer you to my January 23, 2008 post offering the "d’blank Economic Stimulation Plan," which did exactly that, but never made it out of committee. I always knew I’d have been a better President than W. here is the proof.

Finally, this from UPI: “Unhappy people watch significantly more television compared with happy people who are more socially active, according to a University of Maryland analysis of U.S. adults. Happy people attended more religious services, voted more and read more newspapers."

Miscellaneous

New York Times headline today: “U.S. Freezes Solar Energy Projects.” I’m sorry, is the oil crisis over? I thought it hit $140 yesterday. This ranks right up there with the law that prohibits the government from negotiating with pharmaceutical companies to get lower drug prices for Medicare recipients.

“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

One sentence. 27 words. But nine of the most highly educated judges in America can’t agree on what it means. Amazing.

A group called the Presidential Memorial Commission in San Francisco is trying to get a sewage treatment plant named for George Bush. I get the joke, but these people should just let it go. All they’re doing is pouring gasoline on the cultural bonfire that I believe both John McCain and Barack Obama are sincerely trying to extinguish.

Don’t miss this: Many people have sent me their own favorite George Carlin lines this past week. They are all great. And HBO2 has been running all his old HBO specials all week -- I watched as much as I could. But this Saturday night on NBC, Saturday Night Live will rebroadcast the very first SNL, which Carlin hosted. I’m really looking forward to it.

Post 100

This is post #100 for The Daily Blank, so I thought I’d celebrate by posting some meaningless drivel.

What kind of year did you have in 2007? I thought I’d had a pretty good year, but here are some teenagers who made more than me:

• Miley Cyrus: $25 million
• Daniel Radcliff: $25 million
• Jonas Brothers (some Disney concoction): $12 million
• Zach Efron: $5.8 million
• Ashley Tisdale: $5.5 million
  
  

Don Cornelius sold Soul Train for an undisclosed amount this week. The new owners plan to redistribute it in every form except suppositories. To see the classic click here.

The whole Fox News, “Obama’s baby mama” thing kind of disappeared quickly. I thought that would have more legs. I guess Michelle’s appearance on The View went well. She and Cindy McCain should do their own talk show. Cindy did The View a couple months ago. She could get Bud to sponsor it.

Why isn’t anyone engaged that the Federal government hasn’t helped more people in the Midwest flood zone? Why no outrage aimed at the Army Corp of Engineers over inadequate levees?

Did you know everyone used to eat a completely different kind of banana than we eat today, and that it was considered to taste much better than the current variety, the Cavendish? It’s true – I read it in the New York Times.

Would anyone like to know why we should abolish corporate income taxes? I have the answer.

Miscellaneous

• I caught Senator Obama's stump speech today in Montana, and I think he’s been very effective at countering President Bush’s remarks in Israel suggesting that anyone who wants to sit down and talk to people like the Iranians are appeasers. He is punching back with good arguments and doesn’t sound at all defensive. Kerry and Gore always sounded defensive, and therefore weak, whenever they tried to fight back.
• All media may be lame but TV is the worst. NBC makes me crazy. First Tim Russert, blowhard extraordinaire, interviews Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) on Meet the Press Sunday, and practically nominates him for Vice President. What a wet kiss, softball exchange. This morning “NBC-medical-correspondent-Dr.-Nancy-Schneiderman” diagnoses Ted Kennedy from the video of him being loaded into the ambulance (by several strong men). What is the point? Finally, Richard Engle had an “exclusive” interview with President Bush. What does that mean, exactly? That no other network was interviewing W. at that exact moment?
• Senator Obama is warning the Republicans to “lay off my wife” after the Tennessee Republican party ran this ad: http://youtube.com/watch?v=YmWEaqxkGtU
  What do you think? Is the ad fair or not?

Miscellaneous

It's amazing how fast life changes. My father fought as a Marine on Iwo Jima and today I played golf with a Japanese man whose uncle was killed there fighting on the other side. I doubt either man could have imaged today's 2-some.

If you have an iPod, download the Dwight Yoacam, Sheryl Crow version of "Baby Don't Go." If you can listen to it without signing along I'll refund your 99 cents. You might also try John Hammond's "If You Wanna Rock & Roll" from "Push Comes to Shove," but if you do you're going to want the whole album.

I was late to the "Into the Wild" party, but I read the book recently, and then watched the movie shortly thereafter, and thought they were both terrific. The story is an old one in which a young man searches for inner truth by freeing himself from the trappings and conventions of society. While the ending is tragic, the underlying story is uplifting. Sean Penn's translation to the screen does not disappoint. It has beautiful scenery, a fantastic cast, and a great soundtrack by Eddie Vedder.

I don't care what anyone says, these shows are not funny: The Office, Reno 911, Flight of the Conchords. Here's a book I want to read: "Unusually Stupid Americans" by Katheryn & Ross Petras.

Miscellaneous

Money: In February, Obama raised about $55 million, Clinton about $38 million, and McCain about $11 million. Controversy pays. The Dems will spend over half a billion dollars to nominate a candidate. I don't know the GOP number, but it's real money. There is something just a little crazy about this process.

Muslim extremists: This seems like too nice a term. Four American and one Austrian contractor were kidnapped in Iraq more than a year ago. This week their captors sent five severed fingers to U.S. authorities as "proof of life." DNA analysis confirms they are from the captives. It would be a really bad thing if these people win.

Gov. Richardson's endorsement of Obama must really hurt. He's known the Clinton's forever. They gave him his first big job. Bill went to NM to watch the Superbowl with him, and yet he went with the enemy, no doubt taking a few Hispanic votes with him. What does he know that we'd like to know?