Notes from Zombieland

I don’t see why West Coast playoff games can’t start at a reasonable East Coast time. Sure, a start at, say 4pm LA time would reduce productivity out there in the late afternoon, but all of New England are zombies today and there is another game tonight starting at 9:30.

So no post, just a few thoughts from my sleep deprived brain.

Obama Wins What?

It took a long time for me to process the news of the morning. I kept blinking and trying to focus on the screen better, because obviously I was still not fully awake.

I’ll be the first to admit I can’t think of anybody else who deserves a prize for peace this year. But seriously, Obama? For giving us hope? And bravely taking a stand in favor or nuclear disarmament? For real? To their credit, the folks in the White House are obviously just as head-scratchingly stunned as the rest of us.

They should be worried. Presidential Peace Prizes have a pretty grim record. In hindsight, Roosevelt’s 1906 prize was for prolonging the Tsarist regime another dozen years and Wilson’s 1919 prize was for the most disastrous peace settlement in history.

FTC v. Bloggers

For eight long years our nation suffered the unchecked ravages of capitalism as the Bush Administration did nothing. Now that the new sheriff is in town things are going to change. For example, the newly emboldened Federal Trade Commission is finally tackling that scourge of American consumers: the blogger who reviews an item without fully disclosing that he or she got a free sample for review. It’s about time.

Actually, the FTC released new rules on the broader topic of endorsements and testimonials in advertizing, of which the blogging bit was just a small and spectacularly ill-informed part. But it underlines a growing divide in America, between those of us who spend at least some time on line and at a minimum understand how new media works, and the idiots.

Citi Report Anybody?

Speaking of spending time on line, according to InfectiousGreed, there exists "a new Citi report" that claims that we spend an average of 21% of our time online, amongst some other barely plausible claims. I assume this is a brokerage report from CitiGroup. Does anybody out there have a copy they can send me? I’m sure I’d enjoy it.

Unforgettable Headlines

One of my favorite daily reads is the WSJ.com feature Best of the Web Today. It’s not that easy to find or even link to, but worth the effort. The political slant may be a bit heavy (right) handed, but the bitter humor and mischief never fails to make me smile.

For example, not only do they refer to Paul Krugman as "former Enron adviser Paul Krugman" but they use "former Enron advisor" as the link text to his column, which is funny if you know how search engines work.

But the best part is the links to headlines from around the world. Recent highlights include:

Extreme Squirreling Teams Sought

Know your limits: Australian race fans told to keep to 24 cans of beer a day

Survey: Miami Full of Hot, Dumb People

Dead deer in clown suit left on Iowa porch – Key quote is "Officers suspect it was a prank" which is reassuring. Other possible explanation is a very obscure Sicilian Mafia threat?

One gay man, two lesbians, a three-legged cat and a poisoned curry plot

Have I nice three day weekend, everybody. I think maybe I’ll take a nap now.

Musings | Frank Curmudgeon | October 9, 2009 12:29 pm

No Comments

By Kosmo @ The Casual Observer, October 9, 2009 @ 2:01 pm

The Phillies/Rockies game on Sunday is a 10:00 ET start time … heck, I’m in the Central time zone, and I’m glad I don’t have to pop up at 5:20 on Monday morning (blessedly, it’s my day off). Sucks for lots of PHI fans.

I’m a fairly liberal person, but I don’t under the Peace Prize thing either. Maybe the recession weakened the group of finalists?
By Jim, October 9, 2009 @ 3:16 pm

I think they could start games at say 5:30PM or 6PM pacific and that would work. Otherwise you’re starting before the workday ends here on the West coast.

I like Obama but I’m baffled by the peace prize choice too. I really can’t think of anything special Obama has done in the name of peace that would be worthy of the recognition. They must not have had very many good alternatives this year.

I think the FTC rule is a good rule though a pretty minor in impact. Bloggers or anyone else should really be stating if they were paid for an endorsement of any kind. Free stuff is a form of payment. Usually its obvious that someone got it for free but sometimes its not very obvious and can be a bit misleading.
By Buddy Rick, October 9, 2009 @ 5:20 pm

My Favorite Headline on Boston.com last week…until someone realized what an idiot they had been:

Erotic Dancer Killed by Apartment in Everett.

later changed to: Exotic Dancer killed near Everett Apartment.

Priceless….and Yes…I am Exhausted also.
As were the Red Sox Bats last night
By KC, October 9, 2009 @ 8:01 pm

I think it hurts that they have two west coast teams at home right now. But yes, it pains me to stay up late one night to cheer for the Cardinals and stay up late the next night to cheer against the Red Sox. Life was much easier (sleep wise) when I lived in the Central time zone – Monday night football actually ended on Monday night.
By abdpbt personal finance, October 9, 2009 @ 10:26 pm

Love this: “But it underlines a growing divide in America, between those of us who spend at least some time on line and at a minimum understand how new media works, and the idiots.”

So true.

However, re: baseball, we have to deal with a three hour delay and all of you east coasters posting Lost spoilers on Twitter half the year, so I say buck up, Frank!
By Phil, October 10, 2009 @ 6:11 am

On Obama: This is a brilliant move. Diplomats cannot come out and say directly, “America, you had super sucky twit as president for the past 8 years.” They have to imply it in some way. Obama did do something to deserve the peace prize – he shifted America’s political center of gravity away from the idiot Neoconservative thought that’s been so destructive and destabilizing from a world peace perspective.
By Keith, October 11, 2009 @ 11:01 am

@ Phil, On Obama: It seems like the American people should be awarded the peace prize then, since we (at least the portion of us that voted for him) actually caused the shift in CoG by electing Obama.
By Rick Francis, October 12, 2009 @ 2:50 pm

Humm… I’ve got some idea that could really change physics, and chemistry, and biology and economics… if they happen work out… say can I get a nobel or two as well?

-Rick Francis