‘Becky, I don’t need your vote’

October 29, 2008 | 2008 campaign,Advertising,Barack Obama,Economics,Media,Politics,PR,Television

Ding, ding, ding, ding!

Oh, wait. That didn’t happen, did it?

Coldplay’s Chris Martin rocks for Barack Obama

October 28, 2008 | 2008 campaign,Music,Politics

Coldplay was on Saturday Night Live last weekend. They performed four times. I can’t claim to have seen every SNL episode, so this is just a guess, but most musical acts usually perform twice, right? I figure someone at SNL really loves Coldplay.

Chris Martin said at the end of one of the songs, “Barack Obama.”

Wait. Isn’t he British? Yeah, OK, he’s married to an American. But … isn’t he British?

Apple and sausage pie?

October 22, 2008 | Apples,Food,Stuff

Yummy.

“Apples? Well, that’s weird.”

[Bite]

“But, mmm, that’s good.”

Thanks, Simply Recipes!

Next up: Norsk eplekake, by special request.

I agree with something Alec Baldwin said?

2008 campaign,Alec Baldwin,Media,Politics,Sarah Palin,SNL,Television

Wow. These are End Times.

In case you missed it, Gov. Sarah Palin, R-Alaska, appeared on last weekend’s Saturday Night Live.

My only criticism for Alec Baldwin is, hey, we know she’s not Tina. Quit calling her Tina. As if we didn’t hear you the first three times. Oh, and, “Everything WE stand for,” you said to Lorne Michaels? Even though you’ve given twice as much money to political candidates, Michaels has supported John McCain for years. Just sayin’.

Other than that, I don’t know what kind of heat Baldwin is getting about the whole thing or to whom he’s responding, but he had this to say yesterday.

Saturday Night Live is a comedy show. It’s not Meet the Press. It doesn’t “ask the tough questions” or “set the agenda.” It attempts, with varying degrees of success, to make people laugh. That’s it.

Exactly.

Same thing for Comedy Central and others, no matter how much someone might want to convince me of the political relevance and deep meaning of comedy shows. Their job is to make people laugh. That’s it. If they get politicians they skewer to “be good sports” and participate, that’s gravy.

Beyoncé Knowles as Etta James

Music

Really? Maybe I underestimate Beyoncé Knowles’ talent. Or maybe it would be different if Etta James didn’t have such a distinctive voice that nobody can touch. Because this certainly doesn’t touch it, blond wig and warm sentiments aside.

Etta James recorded At Last in 1961 when she was 23. Just listen to that voice.

Even James, with a voice worn with time, does Etta James better than a 27-year-old Knowles.

I don’t know. Just seems that Knowles singing James is as jarring as if, say, Barry Manilow started singing with AC/DC.

Devra: I said, “Mark my words,” didn’t I?

October 17, 2008 | 2008 campaign,Barack Obama,Ethics,John McCain,Lorne Michaels,Politics,SNL,Television

It’s official: Sarah Palin will appear on Saturday Night Live.

As an elected official — still in office — she will be in good company.

Sigh.

AC/DC sells their souls to …

October 16, 2008 | Music

… Wal-Mart?

What’s next? Viagra commercials?

Oh, and, what? Brian Johnson lives in Sarasota?!? How did I not know that? Wonder if he hangs out with Stephen King.

It’s a miracle … a true blue spectacle

October 15, 2008 | Customer service,Economics

I just got the final bill (that I was supposed to get in August) for the security system/service we had in Florida. I was told in July that the final bill would be $30. This one was $80. So I called, and they reduced it to $30. Then I started thinking about it … why did I have a balance due anyway since I canceled it before the next quarterly payment would have been due? I called again. Apparently, I was supposed to give 30 days’ notice, and the final bill was the difference. But then Dan in the billing department said this,

“You know what? You’ve been a loyal customer for many years. I’ll just zero that out for you, and you won’t owe us a thing. Thank you so much for being our customer, and have a great day.”

Blink, blink, blink.

Wow.

Thanks, Dan with ADT in Jacksonville, Fla. Thank you!

…

Two telephone calls and $80 down, 248 more calls to go …

Free falling

2008 campaign,Economics

I baked 96 muffins and lost more than $20,000 in retirement savings yesterday.

And how was your day?

Dear Ringo Starr,

I'm kidding

Can I call you Ringo Starr?

I never had the urge to write to you … until now.

Can I have your autograph?