Palin's Catching On!

I’ve noticed a trend in politicians’ behavior during the conventions. When they walk out in front of a crowd, they smile really big and begin pointing at people in the crowd like they suddenly recognize someone they know and are overjoyed at seeing them.

I doubt seriously if they’re really pointing at anyone in particular. I think this is a gesture to show that they’re connecting with the crowd or it’s to show a really friendly familiarity with their constituents.

Whatever the case, this gesture has definitely caught on. I don’t know who started it, but these folks really love doing it.

Hillary seems to be the best at it.

Here she is, apparently ecstatic over seeing a friend in the balcony:

Oh, there's someone off to the side she knows:

Barack's got the point-and-smile thing down pretty well:

McCain's picked up on it too:McCain adds a twist: The double-point. He definitely looks presidentular. .

Clinton is about to explode, she's so excited.

And lookie here. Palin's learned to do it too. She's not up to Clinton's standards yet, but she's definitely one of the gang now.

All in the Family

Check this out. According to the New England Historic Genealogical Society, it turns out that George W. Bush and Barack Obama are distant cousins.

Also, Hillary Clinton and Angelina Jolie are ninth cousins, twice removed. Brad Pitt and Barack Obama are also ninth cousins. Both are linked by a common relative back in the early 1700’s.

Oh, and Clinton is also related to Celine Dion and Madonna.

When you think about, we all probably have thousands of ninth cousins. Still, it’s a bit disconcerting to know that we are still probably going to have a Bush relative in the White House next term.

Who's Your Candidate?

Here's a cool little test for you all to take.


http://www.votechooser.com/

Click on the answers (and be honest) and it will tell you which candidate you actually favor.

Clinton was my winner. Big suprise.
I had zero points for Huckabee (which bathed me in relief).

Try it!

Obama Country

I'm in Springfield for a couple of days. (Again).

Whenever I come here, I'm always tied up with business-related matters and have yet to visit the Abraham Lincoln museum and and Mary Todd Lincoln exhibit.

And, again, this time I have to scoot back to Chicago as soon as our meetings are finished.
Am I ever going to have the opportunity to pay tribute to one of my favorite insane, tragic women?

Question: Why can't all hotels place CNN on the same channel? In every hotel I stay in, I have to hunt for CNN. Why can't all hotels place it, say, on channel 10?

Anyway, I'm watching the primary results. I have to say this -- I'm no longer on board for Obama.

Clinton has busted her butt for the past 30 years and yet, this white guy comes along and steals the show.

Yes, I'm referring to Obama as a white guy. I'm tired of him being referred to as African American when he's just as much a white guy.

It's time we have someone besides a white guy in the White House.

There. I said it.

Politics - - Here We Go

Okay, I’m going to do something I don’t normally do.

I’m going to express some political opinions about the candidates.

Seriously. Just quick-n-dirty.

Clinton: She has the most experience and it would be soooo comforting to have The Clintons back in the White House where they belong.

Obama: Elegant. Articulate. Charismatic. I can’t imagine him doing anything scandalous or effing anything up.

Edwards: I really admire someone who’s come from poverty and who has also experienced affliction like he has. (the death of his 16 year-old son in an auto accident). I think he’d make a fine vice president. My bet? He probably will.

Richardson: An even better vice president.

Romney: Absolutely revolting. ‘Nuf said.

McCain: Not revolting. But, sadly, we already live in a militarized nation and a military man is the last thing we need in the White House.

Huckabee: Are you kidding me? This guy is a Southern Baptist minister who barely attended divinity school. He’s not even qualified to be in a pulpit, much less a public office.

Guiliani: I’ve seen New York City before and after his reign. I admire anyone who can do what he did for New York.

But who am I to give political observations?

If I had my choice, our next president would be a socialist vegan whose political platform included universal food subsidies to Whole Foods Market.

Billy Mays is Evil

Billy Mays is the Devil.

You know who I’m talking about; that guy on TV with the high shrill voice that peddles Ka-boom, Oxy-Clean and the like.

First of all, that VOICE makes me want to thrust a corkscrew in my eye. Awhile back, I wrote a satire article about him that was published. You can read it here.

His most recent item is a knife sharpener called the Samurai Shark that features tungsten-carbide blades and will sharpen any knife.

I thought, “Hey! I could use that!”

But wait!!!! If you order now, you get a second one FREE!

“But I only need one,” thought I.

But wait!!!! If you order now, you also get some poultry shears.

I thought, “OOooo! I need some poultry shears!” (I’d recently almost de-fingered myself trying to butterfly a chicken with a dull knife).

You also get a pair of super-scissors with the deal. All for the low price of only ten dollars!

Two Samurai Sharks, poultry shears and super-scissors for ten bucks. I almost called the toll-free number.

Then, I went on a site called As Seen on TV Reviews where one can read customer reviews of all these products.

So, here’s the catch:

There’s a $7.95 shipping-and-processing fee for EACH ITEM. Every one of those four items actually jacks up the price eight bucks. Every reviewer was complaining about being socked with an extra thirty-two bucks.

There’s also no way to call the Samurai Shark people to talk to an actual person. I tried to call them and ask for ONLY one sharpener, just to mess with them, but there’s no way to get through to an actual, live person.

Isn’t that just the smarmiest thing you’ve ever heard of?

A friend of mine’s mother buys ALL that stuff and gives him the “free” one. Egg peelers, tongs-that-double-for-whisks, pots that have colander lids; you name it, she buys it. He's given some of that stuff to me but it's all amazingly worthless.

(Ka-Boom is great, by the way. I love the stuff, but I can get it at the Bed, Bath and Beyond just down the street)

I know everyone has strong feelings toward some of the presidential candidates right about now. Clinton, Huckabee, Obama, whatever.

But for me, that Billy Mays guy is absolute evil incarnate.

Bill and Hillary. Twice!

Have you seen the new dollar coins that the U.S. Mint has been issuing? Every three months, a new dollar coin is issued that features each of the presidents in order, beginning with Washington. (I think they're up to Madison by now).

Here is Washington and Adams:

The U.S. Mint is also issuing commemorative "First Spouse" dollar coins which coincide with each of the presidential coins.

Here is Martha and Abigail:

Now, this is cool: If Hillary gets elected president, then both Bill and Hillary will each be represented on a presidential and a First Spouse coin.

Might we have those four Clinton dollars jangling in our pockets someday?