One of the best snippets of dialog I've heard on network TV in a long time was on Studio 60 on Monday.
(to the best of my memory)
Harriet Hays: I don't know what the sides are in the culture war.
Matt Albie: Well, your side hates my side because they think we think you're stupid. My side hates your side because we think you're stupid.
tagged: politics, culture, war, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, TV
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
YouTube Tuesday: Vote for Billy
I don't know about you, but the conclusion I draw from all of the candidates' political ads this season is that they're all preschoolers and they're trying to appeal to other preschoolers.
I mean, when will we have a candidate who acts like a grownup? I think there's more maturity in this ad for preschool class president.
tagged: movie, YouTube, video, election, vote, humor, culture, politics
I mean, when will we have a candidate who acts like a grownup? I think there's more maturity in this ad for preschool class president.
tagged: movie, YouTube, video, election, vote, humor, culture, politics
Monday, November 06, 2006
Back from the future
I just got back from tomorrow. I was just curious about how things were going to turn out, and since I can't stand to watch the so-called news on TV anymore I decided to call my good friend Mr. Peabody and get a preview.When he arrived we hopped in the WayForward machine to get a quick glimpse of Tuesday's election results and their longer-term consequences.
And you know what? The Democrats were right.
I mean, I don't want to divulge any of the actual details and voting numbers. I've been told that such information could adversely affect the course of events, leading to a temporal chain reaction which would cause a rift in the very fabric of space-time.
But there is one observation I want to report. The Democrats were right about the voting machines and they have been all along. There were/will be many Democratic victories, but it will turn out that they were all due to voter fraud and hacking of Diebold voting machines.
As it turns out, a group of liberals at Princeton University had been working for months on a way to hack the voting machines to steal votes. They were doing this under the guise of "research" and only in "lab" conditions.
Unfortunately, the scheme was discovered and many of the votes from tomorrow's election were thrown out. This of course led to mass protests and demonstrations which eventually turned violent. And when the first shot was fired at... oh but wait, I've probably said too much.
Anyway, have a great election day. I've got to go home and pack up some supplies. I'm taking the family on an extended vacation in our cabin in Montana.
PS -- Tony, I had a quick message from you. I'm supposed to tell you to take the blue pill, whatever that means.
tagged: vote, election, Democrats, Diebold, Mr. Peabody, Montana
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Feeling nostalgic
You remember the good ol' days, when cigarette advertising was straightforward, misogynistic and targeted at children?
tagged: movie, YouTube, video, cartoon, smoking, humor, Flintstones, Winston, advertising
tagged: movie, YouTube, video, cartoon, smoking, humor, Flintstones, Winston, advertising
T Wrecks
We took our daughter out for a birthday diner last night at T-Rex in The Legends mall in WyCo (more on The Legends later).
Our now-4-year-old daughter has really been into dinosaurs lately, an influence from the majority male class at daycare (she's the only girl in the class). So we thought she would enjoy the experience.
In case you've never been, T-Rex is a dinosaur-themed restaurant (duh) with gigantic animatronic dinos including (obviously) the Tyranosaurus Rex. There is lots of paleozoic atmosphere, giant octopuses (octopi?), bugs etc.
It's all very fascinating... for about 20 minutes.
Then the overstimulation starts to grate on your nerves. The noise level is about the same as Arrowhead Stadium when the Chiefs are protecting a third quarter lead. The dinos are constantly growling and moaning and the insect are incessantly chirping. I assume all of the noise is to cover the sound of the continuously screaming kids.
Our daughter was pretty intimidated from the moment she walked in the door. The first thing you see is the gaping maw of an enormous 4-year-old-eating T-Rex.
Add that and the overstimulation to mediocre food and bad service (we were offered other customers' meals twice, but we had to wait 45 minutes for our own) and needless to say we were there way too long.
When we left, I had a splitting headache and was on my very last nerve.
In short, while I think the whole Legends area is an economic boon for Wyandotte County, save yourself some money, gas, and a headache and avoid T-Rex.
tagged: Kansas, Wyandotte County, restaurant, dining, T-Rex, dinosaur, Legends
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Deployed: A hell of a ballance
I wanted to post a follow up to two previous posts about my brother-in-law Nick, who was deployed last month as part of an MP patrol unit in Iraq.I'm sure you've all read/heard that October was one of the deadliest months so far of the war in Iraq with 104 soldiers killed.
As a member of the military police, Nick is tasked with making regular patrols outside of American bases. He and his comrades are the targets of the infamous IEDs.
Anyway, I wanted to pass along this note from Nick to anyone who might be interested. I've edited out some of the more personal and personally identifiable information.
Hey Everyone,
Really great to hear from you all. Iraq is okay and ironically enough though it is sandy, it's way less sandy than Kuwait was.
I find myself here being very bored when I'm not going on missions and also very uncertain when I go out. It's a hell of a balance: either stay back and be bored or go out into Iraq on missions and play chance. In the end I find that playing chance works better for me because at least it keeps my mind occupied.
I don't really follow anything in the news, all I know is that for us (Military Police) it's been dubbed the year of the police in Iraq, and we're here to support that. No explosions yet, knock on wood.
I'm glad that Julie has you all there to help her with this. Being away from her makes me realize how terribly in love I am with her. Simply put I am not the same guy without her, and I just want to get this over with and come home to her the same person I was. That's all this year is to me. It's what I have to do to get home, and I'm just going to lower my head and motor through it until it's done.
Anyway you all take care. Write often cause its great hearing from everyone. Take care of Julie the best you can for me (thanks for helping with the house) and take care of yourselves.
tagged: Iraq, war, soldier, military police, October, home
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Soccer ballot
I've been trying to decide on how to vote on this $75 million soccer complex proposal.
That doesn’t make me special. Lot’s of people have been weighing in on it. Cara over at …JustCara gave a pretty good (though not-so-objective) point-by-point breakdown of her opinion on the matter. And Tony has published a well-produced video which backs the initiative for its ability to add to Johnson County’s cultural diversity.
I'm not vehemently against the proposal, as Cara seems to be. I'm actually okay with the County paying for parks and rec and other quality of life-type amenities. Anyone ever been to the Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead? Ever walked/jogged/biked along the Indian Creek Trail?
These are the kinds of amenities that keep property values high. These are the kind of amenities that contribute to healthy lifestyles. These are the kind of amenities that separate us from the barbarians who live in KCMO.
But let’s face it, $75 million is a lot of money for a soccer field – even in Johnson County. And, while we don’t suffer the fiscal ineptitude that KCMO and Jackson County, Mo., are plagued with, it’s always a tough sell to get people to volunteer even more of their hard-earned money.
What I would like to hear (it might be out there and I might find it with a little research), is whether there is some kind of revenue opportunity here. As Tony points out, there is definitely an opportunity for increased visitors and tourism.
Is there a plan to leverage this for additional income? Can the soccer complex be used to host tournaments to help retire the debt? Is it possible to have some kind of special sales tax on concessions, etc., to help pay for maintenance?
I think these questions have been overlooked in the campaign efforts of the measure's proponents. And they are definitely questions I'll have to have answered before I'll vote yes.
tagged: soccer, Kansas, Johnson County, taxes, ballot, vote
That doesn’t make me special. Lot’s of people have been weighing in on it. Cara over at …JustCara gave a pretty good (though not-so-objective) point-by-point breakdown of her opinion on the matter. And Tony has published a well-produced video which backs the initiative for its ability to add to Johnson County’s cultural diversity.I'm not vehemently against the proposal, as Cara seems to be. I'm actually okay with the County paying for parks and rec and other quality of life-type amenities. Anyone ever been to the Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead? Ever walked/jogged/biked along the Indian Creek Trail?
These are the kinds of amenities that keep property values high. These are the kind of amenities that contribute to healthy lifestyles. These are the kind of amenities that separate us from the barbarians who live in KCMO.
But let’s face it, $75 million is a lot of money for a soccer field – even in Johnson County. And, while we don’t suffer the fiscal ineptitude that KCMO and Jackson County, Mo., are plagued with, it’s always a tough sell to get people to volunteer even more of their hard-earned money.
What I would like to hear (it might be out there and I might find it with a little research), is whether there is some kind of revenue opportunity here. As Tony points out, there is definitely an opportunity for increased visitors and tourism.
Is there a plan to leverage this for additional income? Can the soccer complex be used to host tournaments to help retire the debt? Is it possible to have some kind of special sales tax on concessions, etc., to help pay for maintenance?
I think these questions have been overlooked in the campaign efforts of the measure's proponents. And they are definitely questions I'll have to have answered before I'll vote yes.
tagged: soccer, Kansas, Johnson County, taxes, ballot, vote
YouTube Tuesday: Happy Halloween
Halloween is a special time of year. The air is filled with brotherhood, peace and goodwill toward men.
And of course, there's the spoiled brats raiding every home in the neighborhood for candy, and you have to pay or your home will be vandalized. Ah, sweet extortion.
Anyway, be careful out there tonight, kids.
And to you parents, here's another public service announcement from Three O'Clock in the Morning:
Every year, we like to decorate our homes with Halloween fare, including the ever popular jack-o'-lantern. But please be sure to clean up that carved pumpkin in a timely manner. There's nothing more disgusting than the rotted corpse of a carved jack-o'-lantern -- with the possible exception of the rotted corpse of Phill Kline's political carreer.
Don't believe me? Well take a look at this time-lapse demonstration, courtesy of YouTuber Hirnduebel:
tagged: movie, YouTube, video, Halloween, pumpkin, humor, jack-o'-lantern, rotting, corpse
And of course, there's the spoiled brats raiding every home in the neighborhood for candy, and you have to pay or your home will be vandalized. Ah, sweet extortion.
Anyway, be careful out there tonight, kids.
And to you parents, here's another public service announcement from Three O'Clock in the Morning:
Every year, we like to decorate our homes with Halloween fare, including the ever popular jack-o'-lantern. But please be sure to clean up that carved pumpkin in a timely manner. There's nothing more disgusting than the rotted corpse of a carved jack-o'-lantern -- with the possible exception of the rotted corpse of Phill Kline's political carreer.
Don't believe me? Well take a look at this time-lapse demonstration, courtesy of YouTuber Hirnduebel:
tagged: movie, YouTube, video, Halloween, pumpkin, humor, jack-o'-lantern, rotting, corpse
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Campaign Ad nauseam
Why do candidates even bother with campaign advertising?
I know, I know. I can answer my own question. They bother with it because it works. They make horrible ads – I mean c’mon the amateurishness of these ads is downright offensive – because a PR firm or election consultant told them that they can get n percentage of a lift in the polls if they do.
Trouble is, the ads are all the same. And I don’t just mean that the Democrats ads are just like all the other Democrats ads or that the Republicans ads are just like all the other Republicans ads. I mean all ads are the same, they all say the same thing and they have for years (I’ve been voting for nearly 20 years now).
In a year when we’re finally seeing a little original creativity out of Hollywood (a drama show about a comedy show? Now that’s something I can watch), the advertising firms are sticking to the same old hyperbolic, melodramatic bullshit that they know will appeal to the lowest common denominator.
Here's one example. The original poster noted that “who say’s Democrats aren’t fighting back.” I’m not sure what that means, but when Dan points to an ad, I go and watch. The ad is a bunch of hyper-emotional drivel about how if you don't support stem cells, you daughter is going to die of diabetes, your son is going to die a car crash and your wife is going to develop Alzheimer's. You shouldn't vote for Rep. Chocola because he didn't vote for stem cells.
Let me be clear on this. I'm in favor of stem cell research. There's a lot to be learned just for the sake of basic science, let alone cures for every disease known to man. And besides, the state of Missouri has enough excess chromosomes to keep pharmaceutical companies busy for years.
But the way that ad slaps you in the face with a fake emotional appeal just makes me want to gag on a cloned fetus. What happened to the so-called rational, scientific community supporting this initiative?
(I also get a kick out of the people, many of whom rant daily about the Bush administration being in bed with big corporations, who don't see that the big pharmaceutical companies are going to make tons of dinero on this stem cell thing. Hypocrisy can be so subtle sometimes.)
Anyway, the problem with this approach is that it works on the mindless sheep who think CSI is compelling television. At the same time, it's a huge turnoff to people who want real information about where candidates stand on any given issue.
Imagine this fantasy world: Instead of hearing how Mr. Candidate wants your baby dead because he didn't "vote for stem cells" (I didn't know stem cells could run for office), how about telling me specifically how Mrs. Candidate would use her position to support stem cell research.
But I guess campaign advertising is a good proving ground for when candidates are actually elected. They have to learn how to speak without actually saying anything.
tagged: campaign, advertising, stem cells, canditate, Missouri, debate, Republican, Democrat
I know, I know. I can answer my own question. They bother with it because it works. They make horrible ads – I mean c’mon the amateurishness of these ads is downright offensive – because a PR firm or election consultant told them that they can get n percentage of a lift in the polls if they do.
Trouble is, the ads are all the same. And I don’t just mean that the Democrats ads are just like all the other Democrats ads or that the Republicans ads are just like all the other Republicans ads. I mean all ads are the same, they all say the same thing and they have for years (I’ve been voting for nearly 20 years now).
In a year when we’re finally seeing a little original creativity out of Hollywood (a drama show about a comedy show? Now that’s something I can watch), the advertising firms are sticking to the same old hyperbolic, melodramatic bullshit that they know will appeal to the lowest common denominator.
Here's one example. The original poster noted that “who say’s Democrats aren’t fighting back.” I’m not sure what that means, but when Dan points to an ad, I go and watch. The ad is a bunch of hyper-emotional drivel about how if you don't support stem cells, you daughter is going to die of diabetes, your son is going to die a car crash and your wife is going to develop Alzheimer's. You shouldn't vote for Rep. Chocola because he didn't vote for stem cells.
Let me be clear on this. I'm in favor of stem cell research. There's a lot to be learned just for the sake of basic science, let alone cures for every disease known to man. And besides, the state of Missouri has enough excess chromosomes to keep pharmaceutical companies busy for years.
But the way that ad slaps you in the face with a fake emotional appeal just makes me want to gag on a cloned fetus. What happened to the so-called rational, scientific community supporting this initiative?
(I also get a kick out of the people, many of whom rant daily about the Bush administration being in bed with big corporations, who don't see that the big pharmaceutical companies are going to make tons of dinero on this stem cell thing. Hypocrisy can be so subtle sometimes.)
Anyway, the problem with this approach is that it works on the mindless sheep who think CSI is compelling television. At the same time, it's a huge turnoff to people who want real information about where candidates stand on any given issue.
Imagine this fantasy world: Instead of hearing how Mr. Candidate wants your baby dead because he didn't "vote for stem cells" (I didn't know stem cells could run for office), how about telling me specifically how Mrs. Candidate would use her position to support stem cell research.
But I guess campaign advertising is a good proving ground for when candidates are actually elected. They have to learn how to speak without actually saying anything.
tagged: campaign, advertising, stem cells, canditate, Missouri, debate, Republican, Democrat
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