What Guiness World Record would you like to break?

Why do they do it? How do they think of these things to do? What would make a man want to pull a bus by his ears? Ears were meant for hearing not for pulling bus’ -right? What Guiness  World record would you like to break?

Is Blackberry Rage Replacing Road Rage?

In the past two days, I watched people collide into one  another because they were busy reading their blackberries. In one near shoulder to shoulder collision, I was certain one person was going to fall off the train platform and on to the tracks.

In each of these situations, people briefly glanced up, not bothering to apologize. In fact, the blackberry offender usually seems offended that his victim  interrupted his reading. Another example of blaming the victim.  How long can this go on before someone loses their temper?

What will blackberry rage look like? Will people yell, push, or threaten finger removal?

Will the Bubble Boy Family Take Jobs From Joe the Plumber?

The more the media coverage continues about  ”Falcon the bubble boy,” the more I am convinced the family will have a book deal, made for tv movie, or that realty show they so desperately want. From where I sit, the cable news outlets are pissed off that they got duped, so they want to really have us see what a scumbag this father and mother truly are.

It’s not a hard sell. They are the family that new kids on the block find themselves visiting, until they realize no one else wants to be around them. But the longer the story drags on, the more it’s perfect for a book, interviews, tv movie etc. Soon the dad will be filling in the gigs that Joe the Plumber used to be offered.

Is your state ready to reject a public option if others get one?

So it appears the public option is gaining some momentum. There is some talk about states having the option of deciding if they wish to participate in the public healthcare option. I love it. I can’t wait to hear how politicians deny this for their states. Moreover I’ll be very curious to hear how all the screaming opponents of a public option feel when they need it, but their state doesn’t provide it.

Where will Fox news be then? Will they be providing a healthcare option for citizens or states that reject the option? Will Glen Beck be offering help to offset private healthcare premiums for those who can’t afford it, but have no choice in their state? I don’t think so.

Why would you support an Insurance CEO over a Public Option?

I can not understand why anyone would be opposed to a public health care option. Why would anyone care more about putting more power and income into the hands of insurance CEO’s and executives than affordable healthcare for all.  Heck,  even if it warms your heart to know the CEO of  United Healthcare, Humana,  Aetna,  Magellan, and so on can have a new jaguar, boat or summer home-how would a public option deny them of such riches?

If you believe they should continue to live a life far superior to yours, then continue to buy insurance from them. But why would you oppose an option for people who don’t give a shit about them or don’t believe in their business practices. If you’re worried that the public option will deny them of their riches, fear not. They will continue to make you or your healthcare provider endure financial hardship before they will.

Repealing “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” could be a mixed blessing

I’ve heard people privately express annoyance that the LGBT community is pushing Obama to follow through on his promise of eliminating “don’t ask don’t tell. I guess the frustration is that many people think the President has more important issues to confront like healthcare, the economy, and war. It is easy to get swayed into thiking that way.

What is a little hard to understand is why this is the issue the LGBT community wants to fight so hard for when we are caught between Iraq and Afghanastan. Sure we need the Arabic speaking gay soldiers who was discharged. We need men and women who want to fight, but were denied because ot their sexuality. But we are also talking about asking commanders who have opposed gays in the military to decide whom to put on the front lines during combat. So on one hand, “yeah you can say you’re a gay soldier!!!….., and boo-your commander has sent you into enemy territory because you’re gay.” Maybe you’ll be remembered as a hero and maybe you’ll be dead.

Michael Moore’s Movie Blames All the Usual Suspects except……….. Us

I saw Michael Moore’s new movie, “Capitalism,a Love Story on Saturday. It was easier to digest than some of his past political propoganda. He seemed more able to express his disdain with politicians and Wallstreet in a more balanced approach than he has in past movies. Specifically, he outed Democrats as well as Republicans. Moreover he showed more of his sense of humor that I remember from past films.

However I’m not sure I would recommend the movie. I’ts  long. It goes to great lengths to prove his points,yet fails to support his ideas. In addition, his recurring use of old stock historical footage combined with current images is interesting once, but  beyond that, feels formulaic . I did find it interesting that he shared more about him and his family than he has in previous films. I couldn’t help but wonder what his dad thinks of Moore. On the surface, he seems like far less of a rebel than Moore. Also  I was surprised that he seemed to make Catholic priests into heroes-especially when their stock value is not that much greater than Wallstreets.

In the end, it might mobilize some to be outraged. But as someone at my table said, “most people aren’t going to care about this once their retirement accounts shoot back up.” I think he’s probably right. Moore points out all the failings of politicians,and wallstreet, but fails to point out, we,  the people are also guilty. As long as it worked for us, we had no need for Michael Moore. And when it picks up again, we ’ll probably ignore him again .

Reading Glasses at Restaurant Tables

For most of my life, I never wore glasses. However  in the last couple of years, I’ve been known to hang out in  the reading glasses section of CVS. In fact, once I bought a pair, I was hooked. Now I can’t be on the computer or readi the paper without them. But since they are intended only for reading, I don’t always have them with  me. For example, on Saturday, we were at a restaurant, and I was somewhat challanged by the tiny menu print. I joked that they should have reading glasses on the table so customers can read the menu. And thus a new trend was born. I think this one will catch on.

Just imagine sitting at the table trying on some cool looking glasses. You get to read the menu and everyone else tells you how great you look in them. The restaurant loves it because they get to sell you more. The company that makes the glasses has a new market. And best of all, you get to actually read the menu.

Discovering the World of Sounds on the Internet

I have been interested in downloading sounds lately. I find it makes for more interesting home made Cd’s and movies. On my journey, I have discovered more fart sounds than I was aware of. But I also found new twists on old gags. Today, I’d like to pass on interactive hands. Click on the fingers and you’ll know which gag I’m referring to. www.misternicehands.com

Anderson Cooper’s Trying to Create Trouble

I like Anderson Cooper. However I didn’t like his coverage of violence in Chicago. He seemed to be on a mission to create the impression that Chicago is nothing but a violent city.

As Eric Holder said, this is not Chicago’s problem, this is an American problem. When you combine poverty, low income, poor housing and, limited resources, drugs, alcohol, and gangs, you’ve got trouble. The fact is these communities need what every modestly safe, healthy community needs: families that are stable, schools where parents and teachers work together to help the kids succeed, jobs with good salaries and  benefits, advocates, and a healthy tax base to provide community programs.

When so many people are fighting for limited resources, it’s every man for himself. Hey Anderson, you’ve been around as long as Mayor Daley, yet where were you? This death is not unique other than it was captured on video. What is unique is that the media finally took some time out of  its endless coverage of Michael Jackson, to notice.

Jon&Kate just another disappointing TV family

Jon, Kate and the 8 are not unique. We had the Brady’s, Cleavers, and Ozzie &Harriet. Since we’ve had tv, we’ve had fake tv families that have set unrealistic standards for American families to strive for. But rarely are those families exposed with all of their flaws while still on the air. The other families usually get to live off of the fantasy for many, many years before we here all of the dirty details.

If you think about it, it is much harder to hear about Jon’s dating while it’s happening. Sure we were shocked to hear Papa Brady was gay and Marcia was a coke head, but was it enough to truly alter our images of them. No. The Brady Bunch brand is as good as gold. I’m not sure the Goselin household can say the same.

But then again, their teen years are coming, so I imagine the saga continues.

While Chicago’s Olympic hopes flame out, don’t count Obama out

Despite the Dream Team of Barack, Michelle, and Oprah, Chicago couldn’t make it out of the first round. So let the pundits have their fun. Many will question Obama for leaving Washington and not coming home with Olympic gold.

This was not about Obama. This was about Mayor Daley and his team. They are the ones who will suffer. Who knows how many building contractors had already spent the Olympic money already. And what about all of those guys who know guys who know guys who work for the city, who promised dem jobs when da lmpics comes to Chicga. They are the ones who are crying today.

The city will go on. The Bears will give us some hope. The Cubs will have us believing that next years the year. And the best part of losing the Olympic bid is Obama will come back more determined to push through the best health care reform plan for everyone (insert theme from Rocky ……now.

As McKenzie Phillips speaks, Hollywood Defends Polanski?

It’s odd how things work out sometimes. McKenzie Phillips comes out with an honest, painful, tragic story of being sexually abused by her father when she was 13. And then Hollywood stands up to deliver their support for Roman Polanski, a man who drugged, raped, and traumatized at 13 year old. It’s as if she is a walking reminder to Hollywood that Polanski’s actions had consequences. And yet, the Hollywood elite seem to have this odd need to defend his actions, in much the same way the Bishops and priests struggled and continue to struggle to recognize abuse within their community. When will people with power get it? You can be a great film director, politician, or priest and still be an adulterer, rapist, or sex offender.

Republicans and Conservatives now use ACORN to distract and distort

When will the Republicans and Conservatives just  “SHUT THEIR BIG YAPPER!!!”  Obama has not even been President for a year and they have come up with one distraction after another in an attempt to discredit him. Now it’s about ACORN and SEIU. We’ve already heard about them quetion his citizenship, call him a liar, say he wants to kill grandma, he’s a socialist, and on and on. If just once, they would take the time to investigate these stories before reporting them, they might be credible. But instead, they just come up with insane stories and then expect the Democrats to disprove them.

If ACORN for example is a bad organization, come up with some significant data. Don’t send in some jamoks with an undercover camera to a couple of locations and call that in depth reporting. ACORN has a much richer history of supporting and helping the poor in this country. What by the way is so wrong with that?  But in the world of Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh and other radicals, there is no room for healthy debate. You either buy into their positions or they attempt to diminish you as a person. Doubt me? Listen

How could any politician oppose a public “option?”

If Max Baucus and the Blue Dog Democrats are so interested in working with Republicans, then vote them out. I’m sick of these guys completely ignoring the great majority of Americans that want a public plan. You have to wonder why would a politician on any side oppose a  public heathcare option. Option being the key word. How could anyone in favor of competition be opposed to a public option? It makes me wonder what kind of back door promises have been made to these guys? Are they guaranteed fat cat jobs at the insurance and pharmaceutical companies after they leave public office? There is more to this story.

Obama’s Dissing of Gov.Patterson will backfire

I predict President Obama’s intervention into New York politics will backfire because he asked another African American politician to not run again. I guarantee people will see it as him treating another African American differently than he would a white candidate. It was a bad move.Governor Patterson may be perceived as a joke in some circles, but to many African Americans, he is a black politician that has looked out for their interests. 

If Obama continues to freely throw African Americans that don’t appeal to the massesl under the bus, I think it will come back to haunt him at election time. I predict African Americans will start to seek out African American candidates who can and will address how racism is playing a role in politics. And if Obama has to compete with one or two African Americans, they may split the votes; and he may not necessarily get the votes he needs to move on to a second term.

Has U2 become today’s Grateful Dead?

Perhaps I’m just not hip enough…In fact, let’s assume I’m not. But has U-2 become the Grateful Dead for a new generation of music junkies? In the last 3 days, I have had several conversations with colleagues, friends, and strangers that began something like this, “I was at the U2 concert. It was so amaaaaaaaaaaaazzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzing, I have to see them in another city.” And this is followed up with stories about the “cooooooooooooooooolllllllllllllllllest people I met at the concert.”

Granted much of this is because U2 just performed in Chicago. However I was stunned at the dedication to locate tickets, pay a hefty price, stand for hours to get in and then stand to witness the almighty in person. It’s a good thing Christ didn’t decide to stage a comeback on the same nights as the concert.

Why should the President talk about “race?”

Should the President respond to Jimmy Carter’s assertion that some people can not or will not accept a black man as an equal? I’ve heard some pundits suggest the President must address the role racism plays in his presidency. And yet the President seems to be steering away from it. In fact, he seems to view as a distraction from healthcare reform, and other policy issues. On balance, I think it’s a good strategy. Why?

Without a doubt, to redirect attention on race, when you are so close to some type of healthcare reform would be a distraction. Additionally, what people forget is, this is not the first time Obama has encountered this level of vitriol. I am confident that  every time he climbed another rung on the ladder to success, he  faced racist hurdles that his white counterparts were not burdened with. No doubt, there were similar rumblings within the halls of Harvard law and law reviews around the country, when he was named head of the Harvard Law Review.  So he knows how to be in the spotlight and have people fling racist epitaphs his way.

He will address race. But I believe it will be in the second half of his second term or in a book about his presidency. And sadly, many of these issues will still be topical.

Why is everyone so Angry?

Why is everyone so angry? And when did it become all the rage to rage. Kanye West is upset. Serena Williams is mad. Even the opponents of  healthcare reform are screaming: even though many of them are benefitting from medicare, the closest thing we have to socialized medicine.

What happened to civility, manners, and intelligent debate. Congressman Wilson’s shout out during the President’s address was classless and rude. And most importantly, what do these people tell their kids; after they see mom, dad, and gramps shouting, pouting, hitting, and screaming on youtube? Oh yeah….. “do as I say, not as I do.”

Why do people continue to label Obama Opponents as Racists?

Like you, I’ve heard the rumblings that all of the anti-Obama protestors are simply racists. I’ve heard they just can’t accept a black man as President. Even the President doesn’t believe concerns about him are race based. After all, we elected a black president.

So I did a simple image search to see if there is any evidence that might suggest that racism is an underlying factor in opposition to Obama. As you can see, racism is clearly not at play here. It’s just another case of the liberals being overly sensitive…..Right?

As you can see, this is all about freedom to express one’s self. It is about the President’s decision making, his policies, his adminstration, his academic achievements, his response to healthcare reform, the financial crisis, the automobile crisis, and the mess inherited from the last 8 years. But in no way, is this racist. And it’s certainly not personal. Hell, wouldn’t you be flattered if your kids could see you depicted in this way?

In fact, it appears some think it isjust downright racist to think these sensitve images as racist!