Not pizza, not ice cream, not doughnuts?

I doubt that this will be on the news, but it should be. Tonight on The Family Feud (it's on before Rules of Engagement) Steve Harvey asked a contestant, "If you could only eat one food the rest of your life what would it be?" Her answer, amazingly enough, "Turnip Greens." But even more amazing when they gave the results of the audience poll, seven people had responded,"Turnip Greens".Is that even possible?

Unbelievably funny.

I find it surprising that I think Rules of Engagement is funny. Because it's probably the most raunchy and unbelievable show on television. If you're familiar with it at all, I pose the following: Audrey (Megyn Price) would never be or stay married to someone as cheap, selfish and boorish as Jeff (Patrick Warburton). (Nobody would be amused over time by someone as stupid and near-moronic as Adam (Oliver Hudson). Nobody would be as alternately wise and dumb as Jennifer (Bianca Kajlich).  Nobody as intelligent as Timmy (Adhir Kalyan) would put up with the abuse of an employer like Russell (David Spade). And none of these characters would list among their friend someone as nasty, chauvinistic, sadistic and lecherous as Russell. Finally the idea of these people gathering regularly in a local diner a la the characters on Seinfeld is totally absurd. Yet the writing is very clever and despite all the completely illogical relationships, the show is very funny Did I read that it was cancelled?

How much do I hate dealing with Comcast?

My home phone from Comcast has not worked for three weeks. I have made endless calls to Comcast and they have proven incredibly ineffective. Each person they transfer you to (whether in Arizona or China) asks the same annoying questions. Often they hang up on you, whether accidentally or on purpose.And they cannot solve the problem. I don't have the energy or patience to call again. So here I sit with only my cell phone working, and knowing that at the end of the month Comcast will bill me for a land phone as if I had one.

Darrell Isis, errr Issa.

Darrell Issa can hardly contain his glee now that the Secret Service has been faulted for failing to provide competent security in the White House and lying about it. Of course Issa pretends to be concerned, but he is delighted that security was breached and the only thing that would make him happier is if the President and his family were hurt in some way by the intruder. Think I'm being unkind? Not at all. Issa a slimy ex car thief and arsonist dedicated not to the betterment of America but to vilifying our president to satisfy his own creepy little ego. Tomorrow there's a hearing. I doubt he will be able to contain smirking throughout the entire event.

Godzilla, Godawful!

Who is Gareth Edwards that someone authorized him to direct the multi-million dollar production of Godzilla? This is probably the worst job of directing I have ever seen. This film was confusing, messy, and full of flaws. The only two assets were Bryan Cranston and Juliette Binoche. I won't say what happens to her, but Cranston isn't seen for another 15 years during which time he hasn't aged a bit or grown a single gray hair. His son, played by the bland and forgettable Aaron Taylor-Johnson (why do so many mediocrities have three names?) takes over for the disjointed plot of this mis-titled film since the rarely seen Godzilla seems to have a supporting role to two other monsters. The non-director keeps things going in a loud and completely unclear manner. Where are we? Who is that? What's happening? Where's Godzilla? Is he a good or bad monster? The fact that every action scene is filmed at night adds to the viewer's inability to know what's going on. The non-plot is interrupted by the usual cliche sequences of the worried wife working in a hospital and the hero who gets knocked around but never put out of commission. There are two writers listed for this abysmally written non-screenplay. Both apparently think that an action film requires non-stop action.  (Few filmmakers today seem to understand that tension comes from moments of silence not endless chaos.)  The 1956 film Godzilla, King of the Monsters with Raymond Burr was more entertaining and far better directed than this noisy waste of time. If you have Comcast and are tempted to waste $5.99 on this trash, don't.

Note: The film clip that  have chosen for this post will give you some idea of just how clear the rest of the film is.

A nation of lucky bastards.

If you have a problem with President Obama, then I have a problem with you. Because we are beyond lucky to have a president as intelligent, personable, honest, fair-minded and reasoned as our brilliant president. And any carping you do has got to be related to something other than his ability to govern. So what's your problem?  Obama has saved us from financial ruin, he has created jobs, he has fought for the rights of women, and worked to raise the minimum wage. He has worked tirelessly for you and me against the incredible odds of a racist Republican congress ever eager to go to war and enrich their manufacturing pals.  He has been road-blocked constantly and kept his cool in a way few men ever could. He has been vilified constantly, had his wife ridiculed for her efforts to improve America's health and done far more for America than was ever asked of him.  Imagine what our country would be like with war-happy President McCain, especially if he died in office and we were governed by a petulant President Palin who doesn't even know the address of the White House. Imagine where we'd be with President Romney and Vice President Ryan, two men who have nothing but contempt for 47% of Americans. President Obama, by his own admission, is not perfect, but he's far, far, far closer to perfect than any of the wildly imperfect Republicans who are constantly finding fault with his minor and completely non-existent flaws.

The misguided millions.

There are just two things necessary for a major victory for the Democrats in the upcoming elections or any elections. One is convincing all the GOP-claiming morons who benefit from liberal programs and believe in liberal values that they are in fact liberals. They are Democrats though they insist in their utter stupidity and ignorance that they are Republicans.  Why? Who knows? Perhaps because their equally uneducated parents thought they were Republicans or maybe they ever were before the hateful and intolerant GOP got so damned down on people. The other necessary realization for a defeat by Democrats is educating Christians to the fact that Christ would have been a Democrat. There was nothing in his set of values that would have allowed him to be a Republican, a fact these magic-thinking supposedly Christ-loving dummies can't get into their heads. Being a Republican Christian is like being a Nazi Jew. If somebody could just prove to these right wing nuts that they are really left wing wackos we'll all be better off.

Daft and dafter.

Two of the world's dumbest bimbos have each had their moment of nuttiness this week, both at the hilariously named Values Voter Summit in Washington on Friday. The first comment was from goofball number one, Michele Bachmann. When asked about gay marriage, a subject which normally brings her to angry expletives (even though she is in half of such a union) she said, "It's not an issue. In fact, it's boring." Imagine how hurt Marcus's feelings must have been. But what did ditz number two (in every sense of the word) say that once again pegged her as a complete moron? Sarah Palin, in another of her leathery dominatrix outfits, said that truth is an endangered species at 1400 Pennsylvania Avenue. Which means that some stud lied to her about being married in the cocktail lounge at Washington's Willard Hotel. Or that she thinks that is the address of The White House, which every school child knows is 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Remember when?

There are very few singers any more. Today's vocalists could more accurately be described as screamers. Melody and harmony are a thing of the past. Vocal gymnastics seem to be the most admired talent among today's recording artists. The more strident, the better, preferably with a maddeningly repetitious background. I was in Ross today, a paradise for piped-in screaming and one young woman kept intoning, "This girl is on fi-ya." After she screamed it about 25 times, one could only wish it was true. Not only could she not sing, but apparently she could not pronounce the word fire. For some reason the American public has taken to this form of entertainment or at least that is all they are being fed in loudspeaker systems country-wide. Every company is guilty. But every now and then somebody slips up and a real song sung by a real singer with a real tune and real lyrics gets through. Today that happy accident happened at Starbucks where  I heard Ella Fitzgerald singing "My Funny Valentine." Rapture.

What Stephen said.

Being an atheist myself since age 12, I was pleased to see that Stephen Hawking has recently stated that he is an atheist. He argues that science offers, "a more convincing explanation for the origins of the universe and that the miracles of religion aren't compatible with scientific fact." He adds that, "Before we understand science, it was natural to believe that god created the universe, but now science offers a more convincing explanation."Of course the fact that one of the greatest minds of our time denies the existence of god will have no effect at all on the zillions of magical thinkers who, for whatever absurd reason, still believe there is a supreme being who gives a damn about every action in the transient  lives
of every human being who has ever lived.

Necessary evils.

For three weeks now I have only been able to make outgoing calls on my land phone. Despite many tiresome calls to Comcast, they have not been able to fix the problem. And as if they aren't irritating enough, they have plagued with me with a new problem the past couple of days. Every time I go to my e-mail looking to review something I sent or put in the trash, an ad pops up covering the left hand column that allows me to locate such information. Click the X and another ad appears. Keep clicking, and everything disappears. We all victims of these greedy and incompetent cable providers. I could switch to one of the others, but that would only mean different problems. On the other hand, they might be able to provide me with a working phone.

Ann's worthless two cents.

.

Ann Romney, she of the thousand dollar tee shirt, recently criticized Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz. Wasserman apparently had commented on the record of model turned politician Scott Walker, saying "he has given women the back of his hand." Romney, eager to defend any shallow Republican not associated with the 47%, said that Ms. Wasserman's criticism, "just doesn't fly."  But one must realize that after wealthy and spoiled Ann told us she and Mittzy were so poor they had to dine on their ironing board, nothing she says flies.

A thirst for blood.

I can't tell them apart!

I used to like HuffingtonPost, and I admit I still read it every day. But lately it has become the most peculiar on-line magazine. Many of its featured stories are incomplete, illiterate, illogical or just plain dumb. For instance, the photo above is from a feature that says, "21 photos prove we really do look like our dogs." I ask you, does this attractive women look anything like her jowly dog? I would say not even close. And that's pretty much true of the other 20 photos. So why does HuffPost run such an absurd article?  Because they believe it? Or because they have space to fill? Lately they have been filling space with any number of silly and often poorly written articles. But I'll probably still keep reading, and still keep getting annoyed.

Oh, the humanity!

It seems that nasty, neurotic, racist Republicans spend their days watching tv hoping to see Obama do something, anything, that they can carp about. The latest is what these nutcases call the LatteSaltute. It seems that President Obama stepped off Marine One in New York City on his way to the United Nations and gestured with his coffee cup. Naturally this unforgivable act has created another fake outrage among Obama haters, who actually welcome it as another opportunity to fault the president. The lazy media have, of course, fallen right in step and publicized this gaffe since it is another chance to  do a cheap shot story that requires no research or intelligence. Conservatives were once loyal Americans. Now they are becoming a party of prissy, unpatriotic whimpering simps who, like the cliched old biddy who lived next door, are finding fault with everything that uppity president does.

Couldn't find a good photo of this despicable act. Just as well since it seems that it's just too disturbing to even visualize. I imagine many Republicans had to take to their beds to recover from the shock and horror of that moment when President Obama raised the offended styrofoam cup.

What is completely overreacting?

I don't particularly like Ken Jennings. Either I find him unctuous and smug, or I'm just jealous that he's so smart and rich. But regardless, I think he's getting a terribly bum rap in the media. It seems he tweaked the following, "There's nothing sadder than a hot person in a wheel chair." Give me a break! This is not the most insensitive comment ever made. And it's not without some truth. I think it is sad that a person who is very attractive cannot benefit or take total joy from their gift of beauty because of some crippling illness. I wouldn't say "nothing sadder" but give the guy a break. It is not the kind of comment that marks you as an insensitive prick. And what hypocrisy. I'm sure the loudest complainers have made equally insensitive, or even worse, comments. I suspect those bitching about Ken Jennings are probably as jealous of his success as I am.

A brief mention.

The lazy and incompetent media is at it again.  This past Sunday more than 400,000 people turned up for the People's Climate March in New York City. This, just days before the world's leaders will debate environmental action at the United Nations climate summit. I would call this a huge, important story. But apparently the broadcast news media wouldn't. They were much more involved in reporting which NFL players had abused their wives or hit their children. And why not?  It's juicier and much easier to cover. How can it compare with the largest climate march in history? They did give it a kind of mention, a few shots of the crowd, a few comments about its importance. But nothing to compare with whether Ray Rice will be welcomed back on the playing field. After all, how can the approaching dangers of global warming possibly compare to debating about the few seconds possibly snipped from the elevator video?

Shame.

We must never forget that these two men are mass murderers. They are responsible for the deaths of thousands. Their hubris and heartlessness resulted in the slaughter of thousands of innocent men, women, and children as well as the deaths and maiming of their own deceived citizens. In addition they opened a Pandora's box that is resulting in more deaths and displacement every day. Just because they didn't approach their crime with the same sadism as Stalin or the same racism as Hitler doesn't make the myriad deaths any less horrific, any more forgivable. As Americans we should be ashamed that we have not only allowed two war criminals to escape any form of punishment but we have stood by while the irresponsible media has ignored their crimes and, in many cases, treated them as respectable patriots, which they are not. They are killers.

Scott-free.

It appears that very soon now, Florida was be rid of its, and America's, very first Martian governor. I don't know how it happened that Grock, who calls himself Rick Scott, managed to get elected when he so obviously is not an Earthling. I don't even fault him (if it is a him) for all his Medicare fraud as I don't think, having no knowledge of money or anything else, he was inspired by greed so much as a Martian rascality. The same is true when he took the Fifth 75 times. Having no actual reasoning power, he just kept repeating the same sentence with robotic playfulness. This is not to say he is blameless for his attacks on education and overtaxed homeowners. No.  There is no question that he is an evil creature, and quite a nasty extra terrestrial. But soon the Sunshine State will be rid of him, though I doubt he will return to his home planet and expect that we will see this cadaverous creature creating havoc in some other American environment.

Group think.

Having no interest in contemporary music, names like Kanye West mean nothing to me. But I must admit I was fascinated to hear—true or not—that he commanded his audience to stand, including the wheelchair-bound fan. I can't imagine following the orders of any pop entertainer, especially after paying a fortune for a ticket to his concert (a term I still find comical). I'm not surprised however since I have noticed today's audiences are desperate to be part of the show, whether it's standing up, waving their arms, or calling out unwelcome comments to comics like Bill Maher. It's rather odd that at a time when everyone claims to want to be an individual, they are so quick to take part in a group action like the wave or a chant.  I guess if you can't get your fifteen minutes of fame on your own, you're tempted to go to somebody's star vehicle and steal some of theirs.

$%##@#$$#@@%$#@^^##@@

There's no question about it. Comcast is the most incompetent company in America. I have spent hours and hours dealing with them this past week with very little satisfaction. Yesterday my Comcast phone service went out—the latest Comcast failure—jusr when I'm expecting important phone calls. I spent an hour on the phone with Comcast today. Naturally they asked me my phone number, name, address, and the last four digits of my Social Security number about eight times. The cheerful incompetent (thank you, Dave Barry) assured me she had made the necessary repairs and bid me a fond goodbye. But two minutes later, I realized I didn't have any phone service. I could go through hell all over again, or give up and use only my cell.Hmmm

"I couldn't be more shocked."

I find many of today's new stories disturbing for the same reason. For instance a headline today reported that," Robin Thicke Reportedly Admits to Drug Use, Lying...". My reaction to this news is,"Who is Robin Thicke?" It seems to me that recent years have welcomed in thousands of new celebrities because they hosted a game show; had a part, any part, in a major movie; dated someone who was significant; had a few popular songs; or played a game, any game. Of course the ever-lazy media is thrilled to have an array of shining new luminaries whose every move can be reported instead of more difficult-to-cover news stories. Why would I want to know about the current condition of the shrinking polar ice cap when I can learn that Robin Thicke admitted to drug use?

"I see Boss Hoggs everywhere!"

I don't see why former Arizona state Senator Russell Pearce should resign as Arizona Republic Party's first vice chair because he said women on Medicaid should be sterilized. It seems to me that all Republicans hold that opinion. I'm sure Paul Ryan would be thrilled if that were the law of the land. And it certainly would brighten Transvaginal Bob's day as he contemplates his time in prison. In fact male GOP members far and wide would rejoice and so would a few Republican women who have shown very little loyalty to their own sex. In fact I'm very surprised by this blobular politician's resignation; I would have thought his misogynistic partywould have thrown a dinner in his honor with a real live sterilization right on the dais.

Note: This nice, clear, though no less repulsive photo of Russell Pearce was obtained from Bing images, which are far superior to the small fuzzy images now available from Google.

"Are you talking to me?"

In case anyone wants to see Sarah Palin in her tough broad,"bring it on" pose, here it is. I imagine this is how she looked during last week's brawl when she and her unevolved family squared off with one of the ex-boyfriends of Maple? Sycamore? Hickory?...Willow. I guess they were celebrating because it was Todd's birthday. He was wearing his patriotic tri-color sneaks even though he wants Alaska to secede from the Union. It seems somebody tried to get into their stretch limo and Snack? Flack? Trick Track tried to stop him. Then the whole clan got into it. Anyway we should all be grateful that Sarah is finally ready to reveal her true self. Not the wildlife enthusiast, not the politician, certainly not the author, but the lusty brawling, nearly illiterate, small town bimbo who made good through the gullibility of a state and the stupidity of one old man.

Chillbillies at it again.

When Sarah Palin came out today and said she owed American an apology, she meant for being such a screwball that McCain didn't have a chance in the election, not the he had a chance anyway. I thought she was about to apologize for the trailer trash exhibit she and her family gave during their drunken brawl Saturday night near Anchorage. Apparently every low-brow member of the Palin clan showed just how classless they are during the melee. But it seems Sarah is ignoring the feuding for another opportunity to attack the president in her usual vitriolic, petulant, and thoroughly ignorant way.

Poor baby. He's suffered so much.

South Africa has some very weird laws. It seems Pistorious was cleared of murder charges because he didn't know that Steenkmap was behind the locked toilet door when he shot through it and killed her on Valentine's Day last year. Does this mean it was all right to shoot through the door and kill a burglar? Is death really a suitable penalty for someone who is stealing items from you and who is already trapped in inside a locked bathroom?  Or is this another example of how a celebrity and sports figure avoids severe punishment while an ordinary person would suffer the worst consequences?

To my friends who may be reading this: If you don't get an e-mail from me it's because my e-mail seems to have disappeared, replaced by a promotion by Apple. Being a Luddite, I haven't a clue how to restore it.

Moe

Once upon a time in Miami a cat named Lucky gave birth to four kittens. The last one to be appear was more than just the runt of the litter, she was dead, or so it seemed. The observers of this quadruple birth felt that at least there were three healthy kittens, which they quickly called Larry, Mo, and Curly. But suddenly there was a sign of life from the fourth kitten and with a little feline CPR she began to breathe. This happy occurrence changed the names of the quartet to Eeny, Meeny, Miney, and Moe—Moe being the tiny new survivor. Moe was quickly adopted by one of my closest friends and grew into a loyal one-man cat and a formidable foe to just about everybody else. As she got older however, she became much more agreeable, and one couldn't help admiring her sense of regal authority made even more so by her dense black-and-white-as-ermine coat. The irony of this story will surprise cat lovers  everywhere. Because while each of the other three healthy, robust kittens found loving homes—and new names— none of them lived especially long  But Moe, the runt of the litter, the near-dead kitten with the least optimistic prospects, endured and thrived and had more than her share of admirers. Sadly, for all those admirers, Moe died yesterday, Monday, September 28. She was 22 years old.

Smug, scot-free mass murderers.

Let's get this straight. Dick Cheney and George W. Bush are war criminals. They are mass murderers. Their deliberate actions and lies resulted in the deaths of thousands of men, women and children, far more than even the hated Isis is responsible for. George Bush is not a kindly grandfather as portrayed on the ABC news last night. Dick Cheney is not the wise elder statesman as he is so often shown in newspapers and on network broadcasts. Their actions have resulted in torture, blindness, disease, homelessness, hopelessness, in the crippling and maiming of otherwise secure and established individuals and families. They are evil. They are unrepentant. And they are getting away with murder. Not only escaping retribution, but enjoying lives of luxury and comfort, of admiration and recognition.
They deserve no less respect than such murderers as Hitler, Stalin and Idi Amin. Yet there they are: quoted darlings of the media. And they will remain so if more people don't start speaking up and demanding justice for all the crimes these two monsters and their accomplices have committed.

Death is so amusing.

For some reason I cannot download (upload?) the TWIX candy bar commercial that I find especially offensive. So I will have to describe it. It opens with a spokesman boasting about the introduction of bite-sized TWIX. He goes on to tell us why they were not introduced before. Cut to two women in front of a powder room mirror. They are spraying copious clouds of hairspray as they talk. One woman says she is going to presentation where she will recommend bite-sized TWIX. No sooner does she say this then both woman collapse from the hairspray fumes. This says to me that women are not only vain, but stupid. We can also assume that since the bite-sized TWIX were not introduced the intention of the commercial is that both women died. How hilarious is that for a candy promotion? I am amazed at what misogynistic concepts creative teams come up with that misanthropic clients buy. Note the fuzzy new visual now that Google has changed how I can search for visuals.

The year's dumbest remark.

The ever-delusional Mitt Romney has come out this week to state that there is no question in his mind that he would have been more effective in the White House than President Barack Obama. Bu he adds he has no plans to run again. Does this twerp have any idea of how idiotic a comment that is? Only the lowest kind of moron would suggest such an unprovable achievement. It's pathetic. Particularly coming from a loser who showed not a scintilla of evidence that he could have outshone someone as hard-working and brilliant as Obama. Romney might as well have said he would have been better as the lead in The Wolf of Wall Street or would have made an even smoother landing in the Hudson River than Sully did. Mitt Romney is fool and this latest absurd comment proves that fact. 

Up, up, and away.

It seems like every week a private plane crashes into a mountain, highway, or private home. This week is was into the ocean on the east coast of Jamaica. The two persons aboard who both died were real-estate executive Larry Glazer and his wife Jane. What is it about wealth that makes these arrogant doctors, lawyers and business executives feel they are ace pilots? They picture themselves to be government test pilots when they're more like Buddy Hackett in Its a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.  Sadly they not only kill themselves, but often their families, friends, and in this case their wife. I'm sure some readers will feel that if they trained and got their license they have just as much right to the sky as pilots who work for major airlines. I don't agree. These are Sunday drivers who see their expensive planes as privileged toys. And while most are flying merrily about without incident, every week one one or more of these "trained" pilots makes a fatal error or loses control of their toy through no fault of their own and either they, or someone on the ground, dies.

Does Nike even care?

I see where Nike has resigned Basketball champion Kevin Durant to a contract worth $300 million over ten years. Forgetting the fact the nobody is worth $300 million for being able to bounce a ball and get it in a hoop, wouldn't it nice to give him $100 million and use the rest to help out the child slave labor who actually make the shoes that make the money that make it possible to pay endorsers the insane amounts of money that let them live the kind of exalted life that those abused, exhausted and hopeless children can't even imagine? 

Why aren't you at your desk?

I never understood how politicians who are hired to do a certain job can take so much time off to pursue another job. Why are they being paid for something they're not doing? When I worked for an ad agency, I don't think they would have allowed me a paid leave to pursue a better position at another agency. We know that all our Congressmen and Senators are parasites as it is, sucking up all kinds of free perks in addition to good salaries. And if there's something they're not getting, they vote it in. But it's ridiculous that we pay them so much and they take so much time off to campaign. More and more I think the American people are absolute saps.

Suddenly Saint Joan?

While I don't wish Joan Rivers ill, I must say I am surprised at all the prayers and well wishes that have been directed at her during this sad event. Are we forgetting that this is a woman who has made a career out of insulting, ridiculing and humiliating people? Suddenly society is acting as if this were some kind of benevolent celebrity whose warm and generous spirit has inspired generations. Come on, America. As Joan herself might say, "Get real!"

Just tell me the number.

If you asked me what I consider to be the most maddening and incompetent service in America, I would have to say. INFORMATION. Dialing 411 is an absolute nightmare. First of all they deluge you with promotions before they even address your need to look up a phone number. Then, they are invariably unable to recognize a voice command to find such number and always say, "We'll connect you with an operator." Once you reach the operator, even if she has the number, she will connect you to a robotic deliverer of same. At this point, you will get the phone number you need in a manner that makes it very difficult to remember it or write it down. So, they will not say, "Your number is 441-362-9147, but rather "Your number is 4      41   3    62     9  147."  Huh? This is so they can charge extra to connect you. We're stuck. Phone books are a thing of the past. The computer doesn't always provide phone numbers. And 411 is useless.

Paul Ryan is scum squared.

Paul Ryan is scum squared. He had he nerve to hlame the Obama administration for contributiing to the circumstances that led to the swift ascent of the Islamic state, the savage militant group that is wreaking so much havoc. Anyone with a brain—which leaves Ryan out—will know that Bush and Cheney opened this Pandora's box with their unjustified war on Iraq. It has been nothing but chaos ever since. If  Bush hadn't lied us into a conflct that took thousands of lives and still continues, these groups would never have gained so much control. And they certainy wouldn't possess all the weapons of destruction which they amassed because we fucking left them there. Obama inherited this nightmare, just he inherited so many other disasters which he has dealt with calmly, effectively and bravely For a pampered, privilged priss like Paul Ryan to attack him this way is unfair, unversed and unpatriotic.

Two thirds inescapable commercials.

I started to watch Houdini tonight, the new bio of the famous magician on the History Channel. It was quite good, but I stopped watching after about 30 minutes. Not because I was bored with the film. But because the film was interrupted about every eight minutes to air about 20 commercials. Not only was this incredible deluge of ads unacceptable, but many of them had magic themes.If there's anything I don't want to watch while watching a film on magic is commercials featuring magic. At any rate, I am not interested in watching a program where the advertisements take up more time than the film. This still seems to be the one area where Americans don't complain, and one area where they should. Television is no longer free, and we are all suckers to not only pay for cable, but continue to allow ourselves to be suckered into watching hundreds and hundreds of unnecessary ads since the networks would make a huge profit even if they only aired half of them.

America's thugs.

The Republicans,to nobody's surprise, had a summit this week at the Dallas Omni Hotel. Apparently much of this summit was devoted to a "hate fest against Harry Reid." I don't doubt that it was successful since Republicans are experts at hate. In fact, it's probably the only thing they're really good at. They're brilliant at hating women and have found so many ways to express that hate: lower wages, creating humiliating medical tests, withdrawing lifesaving medical tests. They're fabulous at hating African Americans, starting with President Obama who has been the recipient of most of their fury. They hate children and prove it with their constant attacks on welfare and education funds. They hate all non-Christians, notably Muslims and atheists. And, sadly, they hate America. Because if they loved it they would work toward making it better, stronger, and fairer. Instead they stubbornly cling to every position that is guaranteed to weaken our government and demoralize the majority of its citizens. Yup, the Republicans are the party of hate, no doubt about it.

Ah yes, I remember it well.

It seems that there are at least 47 new tv series coming next season. "New" is kind of a misnomer since almost all of them are pretty much series you've seen again and again. Most of them will fail, of course and rightly so. I know I can be very critical of how unimaginative Hollywood can be. But this time I have a good argument. You see one of the new series is called The Flash, about a—wow—superhero.This one was struck by lightning, which, after nine months in a coma, has given him the power of super speed, allowing him to protect the innocent of Central City. Reading about this creative new series reminds me of when I was creative director in 1990 for an agency in L.A. that did all the TV Guide advertising for CBS, I remember especially writing ads for one of their promising series that flopped. That series was, hey, whadda know, The Flash.