The Good News is All Bad ...to some

Saddam is dead, hanged, as it turns out. And now, finally, Amnesty Interational is really pissed off! It seems that no matter how many thousands of people he made sure were tortured, killed or mistreated, the death penalty is too severe a sentence. These Amnesty guys are tough to get riled.

But, then, they're in good company.

Hybrids are NOT the silver bullet...

...but some of them, at least the Prius, are pretty ugly. Maybe you save gas just by avoiding driving so no one sees you in it. In any event, the hybrid technology, at this stage, is not delivering as promised, according to the EPA. It looks like we'll have to try old fashioned ways to reduce our fuel bills - driving less, perhaps by biking, or shopping around for the best price.

Drive safely - or else!

"Schmoe" checks out.

Peter Boyle has died. Well known as the Ray's dad in "Everybody Loves Raymond", and for roles in movies like "Taxi Driver" and as Frankenstein's monster in "Young Frankenstein", to me, he will always remain "Schmoe".

My first encounter with Peter Boyle was in the pages of MAD Super Special #18 from 1975, where they featured a parody of his movie "Joe", called "Schmoe". The comic, reprinted from 1971, was full of jokes about hippies, Vietnam, Spiro Agnew - stuff that made sense when written, some of which was already dated by 1975, and little of which was fully grasped by this 10 year old reader. Even so, I always loved the MAD stuff, and still crack up when I see certain movies and characters they parodied. Like "Schmoe".

Boltin' Bolton

I'm very disappointed to see John Bolton out at the UN - his presence there was one of Bush's few decisions that I saw as unquestionably right. In the face of all the anti-american and criminal activity taking place there, it was good to see a straight shooting watchdog - which, I suppose, is why he's gone.

John Gibson's linked column from Fox News suggests that we'd be better off if the UN moved to Paris or Africa; and how that ain't gonna happen. I remember reading a suggestion that they move the UN to the top floors of whatever gets built at the World Trade Center site - always loved that idea!

Any thoughts on JB for President in 2008?