TIME GOES BY... TOO SLOWLY

I was so I excited about NBC airing Madonna's "Confessions Tour" last week, even with the controversial crucifixion cut out. This was a horrible blunder on the network's part: more people would have watched, if only to be able to then voice their outrage. Don't believe me? Check out the ratings. Madonna, her roller-disco dancers and that strange horse-thing she humped pulled only pulled a 3.35% share. (That's about 3.5 million or so, kids.)

But the concert special had bigger problems, way beyond the missing cross and crown of thorns: it was just bad. Plain ol' stinky, yawn-inducing, "I own all her albums, all her remixes on vinyl and CD, and I don't recognize these clunky-arrangements," bad. The concert itself may have been fun to attend, and it featured the usual high-end tech and impressive theatrical production only Madonna can deliver/invent, but the way it was shot (and especially the way it was editing) made in nearly unwatchable.

Yeah, maybe I'm getting older -- or just too old to enjoy what's "hip" these days -- but, the stutter/jump-cuts, and whirlwind merry-go-round of camera angles made it hard for me to get a feel for the show. At one point, I actually counted, and there wasn't a single shot/POV that lasted more than 3 seconds... three freakin' seconds, I mean, COME ON! I've heard/read so much about how MTV generation, etc. are suffering socially and in the classroom because they have no attention span, and how A.D.D.-style entertainment (like this) is to blame.

I'm not sure about all that... all I know is I expected... well, more.

SCREENCLEANER PRO!

This is an actual, unaltered screen shot of an amazing application (well, OK, maybe it is more of a utility, but you get the idea). This little gem adjusts, well, cleans, your screen. The difference is SO noticeable, and it is actually fun to watch the little "cleaning rag" bounce around your screen as the adjustments are made. When you first start the program up, it doesn't do anything. To be honest, it doesn't do anything for quite a while (it's reading your settings, checking things out, etc.). But the, it leaps into action, and you actually have a better view than before.

Usually I can't stand it when people throw an exclamation (sp? I'm too lazy this morning) on the end of a service or product, as though shouting about it will make people more excited, or make the product, and/or service better. But in this case, Screencleaner Pro! deserves it.

BREAK WIND/WINDS OF CHANGE

It seems as though not much will change on the poli-landscape, which makes me sad. For all the ink they've earned, the Dems don't seem like they're really on the path to victory.

With Carl Rove, et. al., making sure that plenty of pork is flowing to the various battle-ground states, the Republicrats are going to hold on to power. Yes, in b/g states, projects that have languished for months are suddenly being fully-funded, and major ad-offensive (no, not offensive, like the Rush Limbaugh attack on Michael P. Keaton) may tip the power back towards the evil warmongers. No matter what side of the aisle you sit on, you have to vote this year...

more to come

PROGRESSIVE, INDEED

OK, so this is an ad from Progressive Insurance, my kick-ass carrier. What does he mean? What the hell? Why am I singing the prasises of my car insurance? Simple: they do what they say, no-hassles and take really great care of me. Period.

If you're familiar with my previous disasters and trials, regarding a certain insurance company, you'll understand. If not, feel free to familiarize yourself with the drama. And if you need new isurance, check out Progressive.

I love their ad campagins, too... this one was from a series of "imaginary insurance" services. Pretty cool.

SUCH AN ELECTION YOU SHOULD HAVE

There's been an interesting crop of stories about Jews in politics this election season, from candidates who deny/don't know their own Jewish background, to the guy in Texas running as the, "Good Ol' Texas Jew Boy," but this month's issue of Heeb offered what I found to be one of the more interesting historical bits:

Fiorello LaGuardia, often called the father of NYC (which makes Gulliani the creepy uncle, I guess), was once accused of being Anti-Semetic, during a campaign. LaGuardia, who's mother was Jewish, responded by challenging the critic to debate, in Yiddish... which was never accepeted.

Today's politicos could learn a thing or four from such a man!

NOVEMBER TUNES

Ch-ch-ch-check 'em out!


We Run This [X-Press 2 Remix] Missy Elliott -- You can't buy this track as a normal music customer, but you can get a listen over at the Dance Department podcast, available thru iTunes.

What About Us [Jacques Lu Cont / Original] Texas -- Unfortunate name for a band, but killer track. amazing remix from Mr. LuCont.

Fergalicious / Give It What U Got [Original Mixes] Fergie / AfroRican -- Normally, a cover track makes the original look lame, or vice versa... but in this case, they both rock

Speed of Sound [Remixes / Original] Coldplay -- I won't pretend to understand this song (or get past their pretentious attitude), but I love all the mixes I've heard of this one, and the original, t'boot.

Anything remixed by the Freemasons, including Deja Vu by Beyonce, Shine by Luther Vandross and Mesmerized by Faith Evans


I've got more picks, but I want to select better artwork, and it's my night to make dinner, and I'm running late as it is...

MY HALLOWEEEN

My Halloween sure has changed: from drunken nights on The Boulevard, to... well, this.

That's Thomas (the newest member of the family) in the "hunny" pot, and James, in a costume I wore 28 years ago. Things change, but stay the same, eh?

NEVER OFFEND PEOPLE WITH STYLE

uglybettykruger
Originally uploaded by MrPunkLJPics.

when you can offend them with substance — Sam Brown