Winnie Cooper's New Book

Danica McKeller, Winnie Cooper on the Wonder Years and mathematician extraordinaire has a new book called "Math Doesn't Suck" coming out soon. As the picture shows, the 32 year old (older then me, always though was same age) McKeller continues to be the knockout that I had a crush on when was young. Difference is she isn't he typical Hollywood airhead but apparently a genius that could run circles around most of us. Doesn't get much sexier then that.

According to CNN.com, the book "includes tips to avoid mistakes on homework, ways to overcome test-day anxiety and profiles of three beautiful mathematicians." I do believe my childhood crush has been renewed.

XBox 360 Getting $50 Price Drop?

Various sites are reporting that the XBox 360 may get a $50 price drop to compete with the $100 drop the PS3 got. Thanks to that drop, the PS3 enjoyed around a 138% increase in sales, usually at the sacrifice of XBox sales. The rumor indicates the drop will occur around August 8. I wonder if that is the reason behind the $50 Toys R Us gift certificate with XBox purchase that is going on at those stores?

Special Comment: Bush's Scapegoating

Bush continues his streak of being "The Decider", but all leadership mistakes are the mistakes of everyone else. A leader responsible for nothing unless it goes well seems to be a constant with this administration. This special comment is about Bush's use of blaming anyone and everyone for the failure of the Iraqi war. He says the war is failing, but Bush needs a scapegoat. The only reason to need such a thing is because even he knows he failed utterly at his job of President. He has failed in every way a leader can fail, in every way a commander in chief can fail, in every way a President can fail. Simply put, Bush is a complete and utter failure. But Haliburton has its money, and really that's all that matters.

Click here to see video of Keith Olbermann's Special Comment on Bush's scapegoating.

2007 Emmy Nominations

Today the Emmy Nominatiosn where announced. Its was mostly full of the tried and true with very few suprises. If the show was getting alot of press, then chances are it got a nomination. Sadly, top quality shows, but low on the media radar got left out such as Veronica Wars. What few suprises include the nom in writing for Battlestar Galactica, usually everything on the Sci Fi Channel is ignored.

The main problem is the nomiations are decided by people that usually don't know what they are voting on. The opinions are mostly based not on their enjoyment of the programs (as they don't watch them) but rather what they heard critics, friends, etc say about a program. Also, nominations and voting is based on only 2 episodes of a submitted program. This is why you hear about "emmy episodes" such as the several ER does every year. Really, a show doesn't have to do an entire season of outstanding episodes, just 2 that are good enough. This is why 24 got noms, even though the season was horrible. Jean Smart should have been nominated last year, not this year, for instance. Its also why some actors get overlooked. The selected show might not be so good for some actors but better for others.

All this without Hollywood politics entering the mix which further complicates things. All this is why most (include me, see below) will do a "should win" and "will win". The should is based on belief of quality deserving the win. The "will win" is based on all the crap that goes with a vote, from it being a safe choice, press, popularity, maybe quality, and politics.

Main categories:
OUTSTANDING DRAMA - Wow this category is toast. Where is Rescue Me? Where is Special Victims Unit? Boston Legal? Its more comedy then drama. Not a great selection at all.
Boston Legal
Grey's Anatomy
Heroes - Should win. The most creative show on television.
House
The Sopranos - Will in. Lots of press for a show with only about 8 millions viewers and emmy favorite.

OUTSTANDING COMEDY - Where is Scrubs? Where is My Name is Earl? 2 and a Half Men? Monk? What the hell? Once again safe known choices. Frankly don't care who wins in this category.
Entourage
The Office - Will win. Press, politics, movie star in it, blah blah blah
30 Rock
Two and a Half Men
Ugly Betty

WRITING - DRAMA - Battlestar got a nom!!! As I live and breath. All those noms for Sopranos. I have watched it. Its over-rated.
Battlestar Galactica • Occupation/Precipice - Should win. Really was a great ep, but the Emmy's don't like Sci Fi.
Lost • Through The Looking Glass
The Sopranos • Kennedy And Heidi
The Sopranos • The Second Coming
The Sopranos • Made In America - Will win. Its really a toss up on which of the Soprano eps will win so guessing this one since the finale ep.

WRITING - COMEDY - Hmm, actually seen all these eps. Extras was funny but not that funny. Probably hoping Daniel Radcliffe will show up to help the ratings. I have no preference on who should win.
30 Rock • Jack-Tor
30 Rock • Tracy Does Conan
Extras • Daniel Radcliffe
The Office • Gay Witch Hunt - Will win. Just cause about gay stuff and was funny.
The Office • The Negotiation

WRITING - VARIETY, MUSIC OR COMEDY - Ooh this category is tough. All excellent programs, all funny, all well done. Really its the Colbert Report vs the Daily Show as far as I can tell. Both are equally outstanding and its a shame that both can't win.
Late Night With Conan O'Brien
Late Show With David Letterman
Real Time With Bill Maher
The Colbert Report- Should win. Because of the snark and the like, actually a much more difficult program to right, also much more biting. Because comes across as almost off the cuff I don't most voters will recognize the difficulty in doing this program.
The Daily Show With John Stewart - Will win. Has lots of TV and media folk on to help in the voting.

ACTOR - DRAMA - Again, lots of safe choices, with others left out. Any cast member from Lost, Heroes, Law and Order, and so forth would be better then Kiefer Sutherland and James Spader, who both are just in neutral in their roles.
James Gandolfini - Will win. A send off for this years of Sopranoes service.
Hugh Laurie
Denis Leary - Should win. Really is one of the best performances on television.
James Spader
Kiefer Sutherland

ACTRESS - DRAMA - Sigh. Again with the safe choices. Again, pic a women from Lost, Heroes, Battlestar Galatica, etc. Patricia Arquette? The women can't act. Changing your pitch and looking constipated isn't acting. Sally Field is just playing the same roles she has been for the last 20 years. Krya Sedgwick is good on the Closer, but not this good. The role simply hasn't given her much range to work with. This category is an excellent example of how safe choices and lots of press can fill out the roster. Don't care who wins, so no should win choice.
Patricia Arquette
Minnie Driver
Edie Falco - - Will win. More goodbye Soprano love.
Sally Field
Mariska Hargitay
Kyra Sedgwick

SUPPORTING ACTOR - DRAMA - Some Lost love here. Michael Emerson was good, but he was better a few seasons ago. Same for Terry O'Quinn who should have won about 2 years ago. Knights angst is just dull and not really that spectaular. Masi Oka, I want him to win but honesly not sure if he deserves it, at least not yet. William Shatner is the man, but he is playing it in neutral. Nothing outstanding comes to mind.
Michael Emerson
Michael Imperioli
T.R. Knight - Will win. All the press about being gay will help, not hurt him.
Masi Oka
Terry O'Quinn - Should win.
William Shatner

SUPPORTING ACTRESS - DRAMA - Again, another Sopranos nom. Eye-roll. More nods for Grey's, none deserved. Rachel Griffiths is here cause familiar name due to Six Feet Under, but not deserved for Brothers and Sisters. Once again, press and safe known choices has resulted in better choices being left out.
Lorraine Bracco
Rachel Griffiths
Katherine Heigl
Sandra Oh
Aida Turturro
Chandra Wilson - Should win. Will win. Enough Soprano love by this point. The women is the best actor on the show.

ACTOR - COMEDY - Charlie Sheen? Really? Where is Zack Braff, Jason Lee, and so forth? Lots of better choices left out. Monk is great entertainment but enough with the win. Alec Baldwin did nail it out of the park.
Alec Baldwin - Should win. Will win.
Steve Carell
Ricky Gervais
Tony Shalhoub
Charlie Sheen

ACTRESS - COMEDY - I just don't find Desperate Housewives or Weeds all that funny. Cute and silly perhaps, but not funny. Again, safe, known choices. None particularily outstanding. Ugly Betty is a bit two note - hurt or happy and not that funny.
America Ferrera - Will win. Just a guess.
Tina Fey
Felicity Huffman
Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Mary Louis Parker

SUPPORTING ACTOR - COMEDY - Not liking half the noms. Repeat of many comments said before. However, Rainn Wilson and Neil Patrick Harris do deserve the noms and wins. But only one can.
Jon Cryer
Kevin Dillon
Neil Patrick Harris - Should win. Nails it everytime and makes it effortless.
Jeremy Piven
Rainn Wilson - Will win. Lot more press for the Office.

SUPPORTING ACTRESS - COMEDY - Slightly better filled out category. Jaime Pressly outstanding as is Jenna Fischer.
Conchata Ferrell
Jenna Fischer
Elizabeth Perkins
Jaime Pressly - Should win. Will win. A little Earl love.
Holland Taylor
Vanessa Williams

To Dems: Time to Grow A Pair

Congress back in session and its now time for the Democrats to actually do something. Because of how close in numbers the two houses are it may be impossible to actually pass bills but its high time they tried and its high time they make every attempt as public as possible. Force filibusters, force public discussions, force every vote. Make is so that those Republicans that vote against the public will have to spend their election explaining their votes. Pass clean bills that have one goal and one goal only.

Grow a pair and stop playing nice. Nice has got us in a pointless war. Nice has allowed the republicans to beat you at everything for the last 10 plus years. Nice accomplishes nothing. Set up the dominoes so you can get the majority in '08. Prove to the American public that you are not spineless but you can fight for what you believe in. The cowering has to end, the indecisiveness has to end. Its time to lead.

Senator Ted Stevens Under Investigation

That Whore Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) is under investigation for corruption. Ted is the man behind the "bridge to nowhere" that costs $500 billion to build for an Alaka island of maybe a few dozen inhabitants and refused to kill the project to help with Iraqi War effort he supports. Basically its a gift to companies that have supported him. He is also the man behind the famed "the internets are made up of tubes" basically embarrassing himself by confusing the world wide web with plumbing. That is just off the top of my head. Pretty much if you are a major corporation with an agenda, Ted Stevens is the goto man to sell it. No amount of scummery is too much for that Whore Ted Stevens. I doubt anything will come of it but I sure hope it costs him a re-election in '08. He might be good for businesses in Alaska but he sure as shit isn't good for America.

Keith Olbermann Special Commentary: Robert Chertoff's Gut

Keith Olbermann tossed out another special commntary yesterday, this time about Department of Homeland Security chief Robert Chertoff and the value he places on his gut rather then real information. A kind of thinking that is indictative of how the Bush administration is run. "Facts? That don't support are preconcieved viewpoint? Don't want em." Below that is also his interview with Michael Moore.

Special Commentary

Michael Moore Interview

E3: Super Mario Galaxy

Yesterday Nintendo announced multiple titles of interest. The one I am most looking forward to is Super Mario Galaxy which pretty damn wild based on the trailer below. The game is supposed to come out November 12th, just in time for the Christmas sales.

LEGO Dioramas

Click here to check out some sweet LEGO dioramas. (source)

Michael Moore vs Wolf Blitzer

Michael Moore appeared on CNN recently to promote his new documentary Sicko. CNN started the interview off by having a brief report from Dr. Sanjay Gupta that is supposed to be a "reality check" for the film. However, it seems that the film is less about proving his facts wrong and more about how some facts where not mentioned in the movie. Basically Moore commits the same act that the press does everyday, cherry picking information.

This report was viewed by Moore who went ballistic. He used that "reality check" to tear into CNN's failure to check for facts leading up to the Iraq War. A similar "reality check" was used for Fahrenheit 9/11 which later turned out to be mostly accurate in its predictions even though at the time the press agreed with Bush's "greeted as liberators" plan and did nothing to question it and any of his other decision.

The end result is a very interesting interview that shows the tactics that the press and Moore uses when it comes the sharing (or lack of) information and also an amusing insight on how flustered the media gets now when things go off script.

To get the whole story, watch the videos in order below:
Dr. Gupta Sicko Reality Check


Moore vs Blitzer Part I


Moore vs Blitzer Part II


Update: Turns out Gupta was notified of an error in his report a week before its first airing and his producers chose to ignore it. Its one of the main "facts" of the piece about the $25 vs $251 per capita spending by Cuba. Without that fact, it just becomes a report about information left out rather then a report about inaccuracies. Below is the attempt to spin it, probably not aware the emails would get out.

AT&T iPhone Bill Sticker Shock

Comsumerist is reporting a little surprise coming in for iPhone adopters in the form of pretty high bills. Part of it is due to the $36 activation fee and tax charges. Also some will experience the shock of a pro-rated account from switching plans mid-month. As a whole though, I am thinking most are going to be anger and annoyed. Mark my words, in a few months, the iPhone will take a hit in sales not because of the hardware but because of the crappiness that is AT&T and their "its us or nobody so you'll like it" attitude.

Human Pizels Pull Off Real-Time Animation

Through the marvel of clothes and cards, the South Koreans pulled off an amazing program that is damn near perfect synchronization. Most impressive. Info from Gizmondo.

Olbermann Special Comment: Libby Pardon

Olbermann aired another special comment on July 3rd, this time regarding the Bush pardon of Libby. Basically for him its the straw that broke the camel's back. He demands Bush and Cheney's resign for a litany of crimes against America. A list that is quite extensive. As Olbermann pointed out, its pretty clear, Bush thinks he is law and therefore above it. In regards to Bush and Cheney, "...Which is the ventriloquist, and which the dummy, is irrelevant. But that you have twisted the machinery of government into nothing more than a tawdry machine of politics, is the only fact that remains relevant."

King Bush and Emperor Cheney need to go. Sadly I don't see the Republicowards doing it as they have their illusion of security to maintain by using fear and the Indecisocrats are so scared of making a wrong decision or a decision without assured victory, have chosen to make any decisions at all.

For full transcript, click here and expand the description field on the right for the video.

AT&T Death of iPhone?

Maybe the blog title is a bit premature but I have a feeling before its all said and done, the monolith that is AT&T will play a large part in the post iPhone frenzy. Right now its lots of noise and happiness but thats the early adopters. Its the john q public that the money is made and if recent early reports are true, it might be AT&T that costs those sales due to craptastic customer service. However, customer service takes trained dedicated employees who generally like their job. That tends to cost money and cuts into profit margins and AT&T is a company where every that is simply intolerable..especially when have exclusive deals that don't make it necessary. You want an iPhone, you will eat their shit and you will like it. Just wait till those monthly bills come in, I get the feeling that eBay is going to have lots and lots of people trying to opt out early.

Stop Motion Millenium Falcon Build

Slick video of the building of the Millenium Falcon from Legos using stop motion. Man this thing must have been a pain to put together. Enjoy!

Supreme Court OKs Price Fixing

From CNN:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- The Supreme Court on Thursday overturned a nearly 100-year-old precedent that some price-setting agreements between manufacturers and retailers are automatically illegal under federal antitrust law.

By a 5-4 vote, the justices overturned a 1911 Supreme Court ruling that minimum prices set by manufacturers on what dealers can charge customers for their products are unquestionably illegal.

The decision was a victory for U.S. business groups that had argued the agreements are often pro-competitive. The groups had urged the high court to adopt a less exacting standard that examines each agreement on a case-by-case basis.

Antitrust authorities at the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission also had urged the top court to overturn the precedent, while 37 states and a leading consumer group had urged that the precedent be preserved.

The ruling stemmed from an appeal to the Supreme Court by a company called Leegin Creative Leather Products Inc., the manufacturer of the Brighton brand of women's accessories.

In 1997, it adopted a policy stating it would do business only with retailers that followed its suggested retail prices and would not sell to retailers that discounted its products.

PSKS Inc., operators of a retail store known as "Kay's Kloset" in Lewisville, Texas, placed the entire line of Brighton products on sale below the suggested price in 2002. Leegin then stopped all shipments of its products to the store.

PSKS sued under the antitrust law, alleging illegal price fixing. A jury awarded PSKS $3.6 million in damages and $375,000 in attorney fees, an award upheld by a federal appeals court.

The Supreme Court's majority opinion, written by Justice Anthony Kennedy, reversed the appeals court's ruling.

Justices John Paul Stevens, David Souter, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer dissented.

Large retailers impacted by the decision include Wal-Mart (down $0.23 to $48.23, Charts, Fortune 500), Target (down $0.17 to $63.58, Charts, Fortune 500) and Lowe's (down $0.40 to $30.85, Charts, Fortune 500).

Basically the very very very pro-Bush administration pushed for a law that allows businesses to get together and fix prices, reducing competition. If a competitor wants to compete in price and the supplier doesn't like it, then its just to bad so sad. The door is open for price fixing and underhanded agreements.

The reasoning behind the decision, in the usual Bush admin non-logic: "Minimum price agreements can benefit consumers, Kennedy wrote, by enabling retailers to invest in greater customer service without fear of being undercut by discount rivals. The agreements also could make it easier for new products to compete, he added, because a retailer could recoup the costs of marketing a new good by charging a higher price."

So it helps business by giving them money to increase customer service? Seriously? that is the legal grounds? What the hell does that have to do with anything.

From the Consumerist:

"....s Justice Stevens put it slightly more eloquently in his dissent, "The only safe predictions to make about today's decision are that it will likely raise the price of goods at retail.''

Under the old system, manufacturers could send pricing signals to retailers by way of a Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price (MSRP,) though retailers were free to compete by selling products below MSRP. Under the new system, championed by Justices who promised to respect stare decisis at their confirmation hearings, manufacturers can now use resale price maintenance (RPM) agreements to ban retailers from offering
discounts.

Leegin is the 15th ruling this term that harms consumers by shielding businesses and corporations from lawsuits."

I see it going one step further. Semi-exclusive agreements. For example, Wal-Mart could sign a deal with company A. They will sell a product at the companies desired price of $19.99. In return, the company agrees that it will require other competitors, say Target, to sell that same item at $24.99. I think this will be the dawn of a new method to screw consumers. You want to say businesses wouldn't do that, but honestly why wouldn't they? Its win-win for everyone but the consumer.

MSNBC Mika Brzezinski Says No To Paris

MSNBC morning anchor basically was fed up with Paris Hilton being the story of the day for what is really non news being made news by the morons of America. Egged on by Joe Scarbourough, she attempts to avoid reading the copy, then tries to burn the copy and then just tears it up. Link from excellent Buzzmachine.com.

iPhone Voice Plans, Reviews

The iPhone is almost out and there are reviews and new information coming out everyday. Of note is the recent voice plans which are about what was expected. Engadget has posted a nice little summary of what the overall cost of the iPhone will be over the course of the two year agreement compared with other smart phones and blackberries. They offer a series of breakdowns that can help the fence sitters decide if the phone is really worth the purchase.

Basically it comes down neck and neck in cost. However there are sacrifices. With the iPhone you get the features of the iPod, pretty interface, and better web experience (but no flash support). With the blackberry you can actually use it for business. Of course the thing is most people are not using it for business, but for personal use and on that I guess it depends on need.

As for some of the review, its comes down to being a pretty good phone. Mossburg writes "Our verdict is that, despite some flaws and feature omissions, the iPhone is, on balance, a beautiful and breakthrough handheld computer. Its software, especially, sets a new bar for the smart-phone industry, and its clever finger-touch interface, which dispenses with a stylus and most buttons, works well, though it sometimes adds steps to common functions."

Another point of interest though is "The iPhone is missing some features common on some competitors. There's no instant messaging, only standard text messaging. While its two megapixel camera took excellent pictures in our tests, it can't record video. Its otherwise excellent Web browser can't fully utilize some Web sites, because it doesn't yet support Adobe's Flash technology. Although the phone contains a complete iPod, you can't use your songs as ringtones. There aren't any games, nor is there any way to directly access Apple's iTunes Music Store."

At this point, the cost of the phone over two years (about $2500) combines with its limitations (flash, personal music as ringtones, etc) makes this a huge pass for me.

Superman vs Doomsday Trailer

The upcoming direct to video release of Superman vs Doomsday finally has a trailer. Sadly its not good enough to make a decision on whether its worth a buy or rent.
Superman Doomsday - Official Trailer

Computer Simulation of 9/11 Attacks

Scientists with Purdue Univervisty has posted a computer simulation of the 9/11 attack that shows what probably happened when the first plane hit the north tower. It covers just 3/4 of a second in realtime and shows what might have happened as the plane tore into and through the building. It also seperated out the jet fuel to show how it was spread thoughout the two floors helping with the eventual collapse of the building.

Click here for the CNN article about the simulation.