Bolting away from Bolton

Have you read any or all of the news coverage about the nomination of John R. Bolton for the USA's UN Ambassadorship? There seems to be no end to the controversy. Even Colin Powell won't recommend him (he remains silent). GW, cut your losses and find a better qualified candidate.

DMB

I am no fan of the Dave Matthews Band, but I have to admit I like the first release, American Baby, off the upcoming album, I like the opening line that sounds like a plucked guitar, and it continues throughout the song. The song has a good melody to it

I guess I haven't like DMB music before, because I can't stand his phony, affected style of singing. Man, he should just sing. Cut out the raspy, heavy-breathing, mumbling delivery. He sounds like an idiot like that. And that's the one thing I don't like about this song. Too bad I can't get it as an instrumental.

What is the Matrix?

Well, if you've seen the movies, then you know what it is. Are you already in it though?

Sony wants to create it. This just gets a little strange for me. They wouldn't use invasive implants but ultrasound.

Of course, this is strictly for entertainment. It seems like it could have better application as a medical device.

Whatever happens, I don't think I'll be participating. If they find a way to transmit that data into your head, you know they will find a way to receive feedback from you. And your mind is still the most private of all places.

What time(zone) is it?

Indiana cannot get its act straight when it comes to time. Currently, most of the state follows EST year round. Pockets in the NW, SW and SE don't, because they're more tightly coupled with goings-on of their border state, which may be in a different timezone and/or follow daylight savings time. If you're confused, great. Tell the Indiana legislature, which is as stiff-necked and unbending group as you'll ever meet. I should cut them some slack; they are politicians. :))

The new governor wants the whole state to follow daylight savings time. But the legislature's partisan forces managed to kill any chance of that happening in the first session. Somehow, thought, it was reborn. This bill would allow each county to decide its fate. The bill's sponsor is just trying to get something that will pass.

But, oh no, the federal government says that kind of proposal is illegal. It has to be an all or nothing sort of deal.

But, hey, we may get to drive faster :-<

"57 channels and nothing on"

Have you heard the Bruce Springsteen song? That's the way I feel most nights flipping through most cable channels. It's one reason why I won't switch to satellite (the other being trees blocking my southern sky exposure). It's just the same old channels (with a clearer picture granted).

I asked my wife if we were just more tolerant of the network entertainment when we were kids with only five channels. It seemed like I could always find something on. I guess I just don't belong to the demographic that TV advertisers want.

I can understand why devices like TiVo are so popular. It allows you to aggregate the content that you want much like RSS readers do for you on the Web. The problem for me with cable and satellite: is there enough content available that makes using TiVo worth it? And you have to consider that Web content can be consumed much faster than TV. I suppose I should scan the channels for a week or so to see if a TiVo or other DVR would be worth it.

Battlestar Galactica on Sci-Fi

OK, I've watched this a few times. Wow, what is the big deal? It is the best original Sci-Fi series that I've seen. But it's lacking some originality and a budget.

Originality: Humans create an AI that decides it wants to unshackle itself from humanity AND destroy mankind, too. Geez, couldn't they have thought of something a little more original than that? Oh, some of the Cylons look just like humans (although the non-human Cylons are very cool), too. How about Cylons want to destroy humanity, because a small segment of humanity did something wrong to the Cylons?

Wardrobe: What is up with people wearing glasses and dressing exactly like we do? And the names, too. Everything seems so American.