Rate your Palm Centro

Great phone for the price

I just picked up a Palm Centro. It's not the phone I really wanted. I wanted an iPhone-like cell phone that allows access to the file structure, which Apple does not allow. Good old Apple - always so proprietary!

Anyway, I'm thinking about the Voyager, but I'm on Sprint and I don't want to switch just yet, so I thought I'd give the Centro a try. I've only had it a couple of days and I've only tapped into a tiny bit of its functionality. Yesterday, however, I watched the Packer-Cowboy game on my phone while out running errands - the screen on the phone is beautiful. Thus, I've decided I will give this phone a full work out and really see what it can do.

I can't wait to start using the voice controls, particularly doing things like dictating e-mails and Palm docs, etc, via the voice add-on application. Aside from not having a cool phone browser like Safari, I think I could fall in love with this phone. We'll see.

Rate your Palm Centro

Who blew Pack-Cowboy game: NFL or Cable?

Thursday Night Football: Who cares?

There has been a lot of hype about the Green Bay Packer and Dallas Cowboy football game. With home advantage through the NFC playoffs possibly on the line, this is one of the biggest games of the season.

Yet, most of America won't be watching. Not because they don't want to, but because the game is ONLY on the NFL Network. So, people with the Dish and some HD cable users will receive the game, but most of us will not based on failed negotiations between the NFL and the major cable providers.

Rate your anger: Is it placed on the NFL, the cable providers, both?

Would you try a Cafe Mocha from McDonald's?

Ready to take on Starbucks?

McDonald's has significantly improved their coffee, so much so that it was given favorable reviews by Consumer Reports. Drip coffee is a pretty easy thing to make and serve, but what about lattes, mochas, cappuccinos and espressos?

Well, soon you'll be able to try your favorite type of latte from a McDonald's near you. So, will trust your local burger flipper/barista for your next speciality coffee?

Rate McDonald's new coffee venture: Can it succeed?

Did Madonna go too far by dyeing sheep pink?

Dyed sheep a big deal

At a recent photo shoot for Madonna, a number of sheep were dyed with a temporary dye that did not harm the animals in anyway. Nonetheless, animal activists are up in arms.


An RSPCA spokesperson said: "Why is it necessary and what are they trying to prove? It is an irresponsible publicity stunt. It sends out the wrong message about how to use animals."

Rate how is crazier: Madonna or the animal rights activists

Proof the NYTimes protects the Clintons?

Is there any such thing as media objectivity?

I'm a blogger and I'm not objective. I usually report an issue and then offer my perspective. I'm not really reporting the news. I'm commenting on the news.

Should the NYTimes be considered the same as just an opionated blog, or should they be held to a higher level of objectivity?

Case in point. Bill Clinton is now trying to claim that he was anti-war, as was his wife, from the beginning. But the facts are far less convincing. Covering this story, the NYTimes chose a quote from a 2004 Time article that goes, "I would not have done it until after Hans Blix finished the job,” referring to the weapons inspections there before the war.

So, maybe he did or did not support the war according to that article. The NYTimes is questioning Bill on this point, but is it objectively reporting the facts?

There are other quotes in the same article cited by the NYTimes that offer a much more convincing perspective. "That's why I supported the Iraq thing. There was a lot of stuff unaccounted for. So I thought the President had an absolute responsibility to go to the U.N. and say, "Look, guys, after 9/11, you have got to demand that Saddam Hussein lets us finish the inspection process." You couldn't responsibly ignore [the possibility that] a tyrant had these stocks. I never really thought he'd [use them]. What I was far more worried about was that he'd sell this stuff or give it away. .........So that's why I thought Bush did the right thing to go back. When you're the President, and your country has just been through what we had, you want everything to be accounted for............"

Ultimately, Bill claimed he didn't agree with the "timing of the attack", not the attack itself.

That certainly sounds much more supportive of the Bush's position, and it also sounds far from anti-War. So, why did the NYTimes choose the soft quote? Why not call Bill out on this? To protect Hillary Clinton?

Rate the NYTimes: Should they be held to a higher standard of objectivity?

How much would a Volt be worth to you

The lightning hot Chevy Volt

How much would you pay for a Chevy Volt that could achieve 40 miles on electricity and use gasoline to extend its range further than most conventional vehicles?

Take the Volt poll.

Rate the Volt and electric vehicles: Do they have a future?

Shopping: Did you find any good deals today

Did you go shopping today?

Black Friday, as the day after Thanksgiving has become to be known, sets the Holiday shopping season into full gear. People get in lines at their favorite stores hours before they open hoping to find an unbelievable deal. However, are there really that many unbelievable deals? Or, has Black Friday become just another over-marketed, over-hyped shopping event?

Rate your Black Friday shopping: Any unbelievable deals out there?

Democrats, not Republicans, party of the rich?

Does either Party represent the people?

"Democrats like to define themselves as the party of poor and middle-income Americans, but a new study says they now represent the majority of the nation's wealthiest congressional districts." More....

Rate Party Politics: Do Republicans, Democrats or neither Party really represent 'The People'?

Kill all the pregnant people!

Kill all babies!

"Having children is selfish. It's all about maintaining your genetic line at the expense of the planet," says Toni Vernelli, 35, a self-described eco-warrier whom had an abortion to save the planet.

"Every person who is born uses more food, more water, more land, more fossil fuels, more trees and produces more rubbish, more pollution, more greenhouse gases, and adds to the problem of over-population." (more)

If Toni is so concerned about over-population, maybe she should stand up for what she believes and kill herself! Or, maybe Toni should become a terrorist and kill as many people as possible to protect the planet!

Rate Toni Vernelli: Is she an idiot or just a fool?

What do you think about $4.00 gas?

$3.50 this winter?

Now that oil is heading back towards $100 per barrel some energy analysts told CNBC's Bertha Coombs this morning that gasoline prices could easily hit $3.50 per gallon this winter and $4.00 per gallon by this Spring.

Imagine gas prices if Israel or America take any sort of military action against Iran. OUCH!

Hybrid vehicles might not be the greatest way to save money, but over time most hybrids do pay for themselves. Moreover, if you keep your car more than 5 years your car might actually become an investment, a hedge against rising gasoline prices.

Rate the price of gas: Are you worried about $4.00 gas?

Also, have a hybrid car? Rate you favorite hybrid car.

Thanksgiving horror stories

Sometimes too much family can drive you crazy

Do you have an aunt or uncle that always gets drunk at the family Thanksgiving dinner and puts on an embarrassing show?

Ever had a badly cooked Turkey? How about a good 'ole fashioned Thanksgiving fistfight? Or, an 'I'm pregnant' shocker?

Rate your favorite Thanksgiving horror stories

What is environmental hypocrisy?

What's worse: gas-guzzling or eating meat?

Recently Heather Mills showed up for a photo shoot to make the connection between global warming and eating meat in a gas-guzzling SUV. While Ms. Mills is right about the meat eating and global warming connection, there is also a big connection between gas-guzzling and global warming.
So does Mrs. Mills have a leg to stand on? Sadly, she does not - no pun intended.

Nonetheless, the point Mills is trying to make is a strong one, one that shows just how much of a hypocrite many environmentalists, such as Al Gore, are in the real world. Gore talks about how dangerous global warming is and buys carbon credits to offset the massive amount of pollution his mansion and jet-flying causes, but he could probably have a bigger effect on global warming by going vegetarian, yet this isn't part of Gore's inconvenient truth. Why?

Maybe the goal to being a good environmentalist is to do less lecturing and more living by example?

Rate environmental hypocrisy: Are most environmentalists hypocrites or is it just the stars of the environmental movement - those from Hollywood, etc - that give environmentalists a bad name?

Is America going to "crash"

Will the declining dollar bring down America?

"Soon we will not talk about dollars because the dollar is falling in value and the empire of the dollar is crashing," Chavez said in comments translated into Farsi from Spanish.

"Naturally, by the crash of the dollar, America's empire will crash," Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said at a joint news conference with Ahmadinejad.

Rate America: Is America set to crash or is Chavez just a loud-mouth?

Is 'gringo' a racist term?

The Gringo Gazette can be found in some parts of Mexico

A furniture store in the U.S. that caters to Spanish-speaking customers is offering credit "without gringo papers". This, the store claims, means no social security papers, etc.(more)

Rate the term, gringo. Is it offensive or racist?

Is Hillary being treated unfairly

Poor Hillary being picked on?

Critics complain that Hillary Clinton flip-flops on most major issues and never really takes a stand on anything. Even worse, critics also complain that the Clinton Campaign is putting extreme pressure on journalists - via Bill Clinton - to not say anything unflattering about Mrs. Clinton.

Supporters claim that all these criticisms are being generated by Republicans and Democrats that are afraid of powerful women.

Rate Hillary Clinton: Is she being treated unfairly, or is she just a flip-flopping cry-baby?

Do you re-gift?

Is re-gifting cool?

Re-gifting is pretty common, especially in workplace environments, and as long as the gift fits the person, then I say it's a fine practice. However, some people just give trash when they re-gift, and that's not too cool.

Rate re-gifting: Is it cool if done right, or is it always wrong?

Despite polls will Americans really vote against incumbents?

Time to fire your Congressional incumbent?

"A record number of Americans say that most members of Congress do not deserve to be re-elected, according to new CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll."

So, will Americans actually take real action? Or, is this just more blah, blah, when it comes to voting? I bet more Americans just won't vote rather than vote against Congressional incumbents. In the end, most incumbents will win. Little will change, and polls for the next election will again demonstrate a new record number of Americans that feel most in Congress don't deserve to be re-elected. Blah, blah, blah. Of course, I hope I'm wrong?

Rate voters: Will they vote out a significant percentage of incumbents?

Is the government hiding the truth about UFOs?

Is there a government UFO cover up?

It seems like everyday politicians are taking their turn to talk about their UFO experiences. The latest is Former Arizona Governor Fife Symington who was one of the thousands to view the well-known Phoenix sighting in 1997.

Having also experienced one very convincing UFO sighting, it seems obvious to me the government is involved in some kind of cover up. Either the government has developed almost unbelievably advanced spacecraft and they are trying to hide that fact, or another country, alien community or whatever, has developed such spacecraft.

Rate UFOs: Is the government involved in a cover up?

Can you be addicted to sex?

Are you preoccupied with sex?

According to the DSM, which defines psychiatric diagnoses, there is no such thing as sex addiction. Nonetheless, some therapists believe there is such a thing.

Do you believe in sex addition? Do you have a sexual addiction, or do you know someone whom has a sexual addicton?

Rate sex addiction: Is it real?

Why do dolphins save people?

Are dolphins smarter than we think?

Over the years I have read numerous stories of how dolphins have saved the life of humans. Earlier this year, dolphins saved surfer Todd Endris.

Why?

Are dolphins smarter than we realize? Do dolphins, for whatever reason, feel an affinity towards humans versus other animals? Are many animals more than just dumb animals?

Rate dolphins: Why do they save humans?

Do you lie about sex?

How often do you fake it?

Do you fake an orgasm? Do you lie about the number of sexual partners you've had? Are you afraid to discuss your sexual fantasies with your partner?

Experts say the best sex is honest sex. When you are honest with your partner about sex, then you'll have a better sexual relationship with your partner, which will make both of you happier.

Rate sex: How often do you lie about sex?

Democrats or Republicans: Does it really matter?

Lou Dobbs: Both parties run by the rich

Has anything really changed since the Democrats took office after the 2006 midterm elections? Has this Congress passed any real legislation aimed at helping this nation's middle class versus corporate America and the wealthiest among us?

Take, for example, the Senate Democrats who for some reason can't decide whether to close the hedge fund tax loophole that allows executives at private equity firms and hedge funds to pay a tax rate of only 15 percent on most of their income. Closing the loophole would be the best way to reform the alternative minimum tax and provide relief for millions of middle-class families, but these Senate Democrats are being guided by the almighty forces of campaign contributions and lobbying dollars. These Senate Democrats, like their Republican colleagues, are serving a few wealthy folks at the expense of our working men and women (more).

Rate America's politicians: Are both Democrats and Republicans failing the people?

Do you hate Hollywood?

The people we love to hate?

I just finished reading Beware: Next comes the Oscars' 'smear campaign'? in the LATimes. I'm not sure why I read the article. I don't watch the Oscars. I frankly find them pathetic, and I think most of the garbage coming out of Hollywood is a waste of time.

When a movie as crass, obvious and stereotypical as Crash can win an Oscar for best picture with its John Grisham-eque expose of racism, then it's obvious the Oscars cannot be taken seriously. Just because a movie is about a serious subject does not make it a serious movie.

Certainly, many great movies do come out of Hollywood - diamonds in the rough. Nonetheless, the comments to the Beware story seem to display a deep hatred of Hollywood. If true, why even comment? Why pay attention to Hollywood?

Rate Hollywood: An institution we love to hate?

It's hump day: How's your day going?

Almost over the hump

So, how's your damn day going?

I feel like I'm on the verge of a cold, probably thanks to the hangover I was nursing all day yesterday. Getting drunk just isn't worth it, especially when you forget to eat dinner.

Damn, the world is annoying. Politics, politics, politics. Does it ever end? Now that the Hollywood writer's strike is on, TV is going all reality and all politics, or reruns. Hopefully, all of this will build up Internet entertainment?

Speaking of which, anybody see any good Internet videos, shorts, etc? I'm gonna check out some of my favorite web video portals later today, so check back later.

Oh yeah, and how's your day going? Anybody need to bitch about anything?

Liar! How often do you lie?

Everyone lies once or twice per day

Lying is one of the great facts of social life. Most people lie sometimes—about once or twice a day, as often as they brush their teeth. And some people lie often. People tend to lie more in phone calls than face to face (more).

Rate lying: How often do you lie per day

Bad job review? What should you do?

Is it you or your boss?

O.K. Your boss gave you a bad review. The experts say, stay calm, reassess your review, try to improve communications with your boss, and make a plan for improvement.

I say nonsense, unless you really like your job and your boss.

Too many bosses just are not very good managers in the first place, nor are they competent at their job. Even worse, too many bosses play favorites - too often its all office politics. Unless, you love your job and your boss, then a bad review is the first sign that it's time to leave your job - one way or another things simply are not working.

Kissing the ass of a bad boss is simply going to make life more miserable.

Rate bad job reviews: What should you do?

What color is Michael Jackson?

Is it real or makeup?

Could Michael Jackson really be this white? Wow.

Rate Michael Jackson: Is he a wacko or a victim?

Has Prince lost his mind?

Well, its small, skinny and purple - so it's almost like Prince

Prince is threatening to sue some of his fans for posting images of the rock super star online.

His lawyers have forced his three biggest internet fansites to remove all photographs, images, lyrics, album covers and anything linked to the artist's likeness. A legal letter asks the fansites to provide "substantive details of the means by which you propose to compensate our clients [Paisley Park Entertainment Group, NPG Records and AEG] for damages". (more)

Rate Prince: Has he lost his mind?

Hugo Chavez: Hollywood's freedom-loving King!?

Long live the King! Long live freedom!

"Soldiers used tear gas, plastic bullets and water cannons to scatter tens of thousands who massed Thursday to protest constitutional reforms that would permit Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to run for re-election indefinitely. Led by university students, protesters chanted "Freedom! Freedom!" and warned that 69 amendments drafted by the Chavista-dominated National Assembly would violate civil liberties and derail democracy."

Why have so many celebrities recently visited Chavez? This is the vision of so many in Hollywood? Is this Sean Penn's better world? Crush civil liberties, prevent free speech, cancel elections? I always thought liberals embraced free speech and civil liberties?

Rate Hollywood: Are they really liberals or fascists?