Monday's Random Thoughts

ANNOYING BARBIE: Please make her go away.
Sarah Palin has worn out her welcome on my TV, Internet and wire services. Isn't there something she needs to be doing in Alaska?
The whole flap with David Letterman is just a distraction from the real things that need to be done in this country. Instead of worrying about health care reform or job creation, we're discussing the merits of a joke on a late night television show.
The joke, which I didn't see delivered, was marginal at best. It was an easy shot at a couple of easy targets. Let's face it, the joke was just as much a jab at Alex Rodriguez as it was at Bristol Palin.
But no, she's contorted it to be all about HER, to help play to her easily outraged base. The people who think that President Obama's a God-hating, socialist-leaning, cream puff who isn't going to protect America from a terrorist attack.
The same people who normally would look at a teen aged, single parent and judge them as a slut. A waste of space. A drain on society. But since it's Sarah's little girl, everything's OK, because she's going to make sure that all the other teens NEVER have sex and make the same mistake as her daughter.
It's that sort of double standard that the people making noise about the Republican party revel in. Don't judge us by our ACTIONS, judge us by what we SAY. And it's that act that's getting old.
More importantly, its those "acts" that are blockading real reform. Reform that many in the Republican party say they want and need to stay viable.
It's just another example of over-reactionary politics. Over a JOKE. You going to outlaw jokes next? Just because something says something marginally funny doesn't mean they really believe it. It's exaggeration. It's going for a laugh. It's FUNNY.
And if we can't laugh, then what do we really have?

RING-A-DING: Well, one week in, and I'm hooked.
My new phone is every bit the device I was looking for. Solid phone (after all, that's what it's SUPPOSED to do). The music player is great (keeping me from having to get a MP3 player). The texting with the QWERTY keyboard is great (and big enough for my big fingers). And the video/touch screens are beautiful.
Well worth the purchase price. Of course, ask me again in a year (when I soured on my last phone).

HAPPY NOW LAKER FAN? Thank goodness it's over.
The Lakers got their ring. Kobe got his legacy. And the fans in LA got to have their mini-riot.
I've never understood the need to destroy things to celebrate a championship. What's wrong with, I don't know, being happy with your fellow man? Quiet reflection? A little cry?
A team of guys who make more money than you in a two months than you earn in your lifetime win a championship, and you celebrate by setting mini-fires, tearing up landscaping and moshing?
Sigh.