Who will you vote for President in 2008?

Obama? Clinton? McCain?

Or, Paul?

Who?

Watch this and see what you think -- regardless of if you are a Democrat or Republican.

The iDontcareanymorefornow

Ok, I'm a techno junkie like many of you, but I don't spendtons of money on gadgets. They must have a practical and useful purpose (as opposed to just being pretty), so with all the Apple iPhone madness this week, I'm just about as tired as can be on the device and the marketing hype that Apple created and then spawned into the world. I'll make up my mind once I can pick the unit up and play with it. Until then, I'm of the mind of iCouldcareless. My mind, though, reserves the right to change. And, it probably will, but for now, I've had it up to here (raises hand to head) with the iPhone.

Seinfeld's still got it

The guy is 53 and living handsomely off royalties of various Seinfeld stuff from the long-running (and unbelievably popular) "Seinfeld" sitcom that ended in 1998 on top of the TV world. Yet, he still continues to tour and do stand-up and he's as good as he ever was. Count him in at age 53 (he's still got it) and George Carlin (he's still got it at 71) and he's just a great act in person. Most of Oklahoma City showed up last night at his performance here and were treated to a very good 90-minute show. Did I see a bead of sweat? Not one -- and he's still as funny as hell. Thanks for the awesome seats, Jaime!

Wal-Mart in person

Holy cow -- I've never been to a Wal-Mart annual shareholder meeting before (although I've covered them from live webcasts). The actual event, which I traveled to Bentonville for this past week, was more like a circus and entertainment venue that a shareholder meeting. Pretty neat stuff to see in person, and even better with full media passes to some great seats and up-close coverage. Whew though, the thing began at 7:00am and I was outta the hotel to be first (or 2,000th) in line at 6:15am. Man, they start these things early. Catch my mind-blowing four-hour coverage here.

Mark's contribution from the Big Apple

A shout out goes to my stepbrother Mark Conine who graciously snapped this once-in-a-lifetime image today while working relaxing in NYC's Chinatown. I wonder if this place serves MSG desserts?

As we steep deeper into personal, corporate-subsidized excess

This little snippet, published almost 90 years ago in Forbes magazine, says it all. Don't be so obsessed with the material that you don't enjoy the immaterial.

My 5,000th blog post

Well, after a little under 17 months, I've officially written over one million words in over 5,000 blog posts for various properties at Weblogs, Inc. (an AOL company). Woo hoo! The blogs I write and edit at include:

• www.thewirelessreport.com (now retired)
• www.bloggingstocks.com
• www.bloggingbuyouts.com
• www.thatsfit.com
• www.engadget.com
• www.engadgetmobile.com
• www.thecancerblog.com

All things considered, I can't believe I hit a milestone like that in such a short time. Man has it gone by fast.

Since I've written over a million words, perhaps a book is in order. Now, what do I want to write about. Hmm...

Jay Leno hits the nail on the head

Do you agree with the below? This is so incredibly true, and it's another vote in the ballot box on what I've maintained for years: the media is the most destructive force in the nation. Now, on with Leno's comments...but wait, they really aren't his after all. The below still rings true to many of us ;-)



The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true given the source, right?

The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed, and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the President. In essence 2/3s of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change. So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking . ''What we are so unhappy about?''

Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter? Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job? Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?

Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having topresent identification papers as we


move through each state? Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter? I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.

Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family and your belongings. Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes , an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90 percent of teenagers own cell phones and computers.

How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world? Maybe that is
what has 67 percent of you folks unhappy.

Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S., yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have , and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.

I know, I know. What about the president who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks?

The Commander in Chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me? Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad? Think about it ... are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain, OR is it because the "Media" told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful butt every day. Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go. They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a "general" discharge, an "other than honorable" discharge or, worst case scenario, a "dishonorable" discharge after a few days in the brig.

So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans? Say what you want but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds it leads and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells , and when criticized, try to defend their actions by "justifying" them in one way or another. Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book about how he didn't kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this way......Insane!

Stop buying the negativism you are fed everyday by the media. Shut off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as a country. There is exponentially more good than bad. We are among the most blessed people on Earth and should  thank God several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative.

With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides,flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, "Are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?"

Jay Leno

Companies that are getting naked

Is your company naked? If not, read this article and then think again. The power is shifting to the consumer audience, not the closely-guarded PR department. It's a new world out there, folks. Damn it's good to be a blogger ;-)

So many celebrities are hothead egomaniacs

We all know that divorce and children can be a mix that is handled with delicate gloves. This is generally lost on Hollywood celebrities, that left-wing group of talented performers that have no clue how much they are out of touch with the real world. That rant aside, thanks (Alec Baldwin) for the damage you've done to your daughter (click to listen). And Americans keep breeding kids that are psychologically hampered the day they are born due to parental (in)actions. Nice.

Themes on material excess

A few songs that I king of like jamming to while driving deal with what I would consider material excess -- a theme I see all too often in the days of McMansions and huge SUVs. A few faves? How about Big Time by Peter Gabriel and Workin' It by Don Henley. Check the lyrics out.

Virgina Tech shooting

An opinion I agree with -- read on.

Darrell Hammond at it again

The only saving grace on SNL these days is some of the short clips featuring veteran performers -- like Darrell Hammond. He's one of the best in the last 20 years I think. Watch him being Don Imus below. Truly friggin' funny.

Internet democratization -- good or bad?

Although it's great to see the end of the big, corporate agendas in mainstream media, is the opinion and view of every blogger a good replacement for much of the worthless, consume-everything tripe that consumes mass media these days? See what this pundit has to say...

Powered by ScribeFire.

George Orwell's 1984 coming true

This is a little scary, but not unexpected these days in the media-fed "be scared of everything" nonsense that has assisted in ridding many western countries of liberties and certain freedoms. Ok, maybe I should live off the grid and blog anonymously from now on? Just give me municipal WiFi and a box under a bridge.

I agree with Oprah on this one

Although Oprah's ego can get a little too inflated sometimes and her show's guests check their brains at the show's sign-in, I completely agree with her on this viewpoint. This is yet another example of why marketing and advertising is a force that many parents fail to shield their children from -- and look what happens. "I want an iPod -- to hell with homework!" Bleh -- nice generation we have coming up here, yes?

A line from Peter Drucker

It's not what you achieve, it's what you contribute. Like this man -- we should all be so noble.