These are a few of my favorite things....

Stephanie Miller, Facebook and Breasts


Dr. Phil had a segment on his show about whether people should be able to put photos of themselves breastfeeding on FaceBook. While I like the topic, I think Dr. Phil is making a joke of the whole thing. The one mom who he had on was pretty good but not the most articulate person to speak in support of breastfeeding mothers. By putting up Stephanie Miller, who is a comic and the dork who put a picture of him he created by taking photos of his nipples, he turned the whole issue into a joke.

I love Stephanie Miller but I don't think she should have gone on Dr. Phil to talk about whether people should put photos of themselves breastfeeding up on Facebook. While her point -- it is fine to nurse where ever you want, why would you choose to put a photo of you doing it on the Internet -- is reasonable, she is not a mother and doesn't have a lot to add to this topic.

The bigger topic is not nipples on Facebook, it is broader acceptance of breastfeeding in our society, the stigma, etc. I am glad the mom got in the line, you would not want to eat in the bathroom to Dr. Phil.

What do you call someone who writes a blog post about an article about using facbook?

I am not sure what you call them but here goes. I am not sure if we should expect to see more articles and even fiction about social networking issues in the future or not. There is a lot of interest, I heard that 150 million people are on FB and this article is a top article on the NY Times website. The article is about deleting friends on FB. Someone once told me, you don't talk about FB and it seems until now you don't really hear or see much about it on TV and Radio.

One observation is that different people with different types of lives and relationships use FB in different ways. Some include lots of professional colleagues to somewhat do PR for themselves. Other's try to friend anyone they ever met and others use it to keep up with old friends.

Regarding the topic in the article, I have only deleted one person and she noticed and invited me to be a friend again. Ugggh. The reason in my case is that she seemed like a lonely person who was using FB in part to get clients and I was never friends with her, she was an old HS acquaintance.

One other thing that did not make sense to me about the article was the story of Henry Blodget. I may be missing something about how FB works but after he left Merrill Lynch he started a blog and got lots of requests to be his friend. I am with him so far but the article goes on to say:

he publicly begged Facebook for a solution. Apparently, being barred from the securities industry doesn’t keep a guy from being inundated with friendship requests from complete strangers.

“I’ve occasionally thought about trying to solve this problem by ‘unfriending’ everyone who isn’t actually my friend, but that’s too horrible to contemplate,” Mr. Blodget wrote on his Web site, Silicon Alley Insider, on Sunday. “I don’t know how I’d get through the day if Facebook kept sending me e-mails about how people I didn’t even know were ‘unfriending’ me.”

Mr. Blodget asked Facebook to develop new friendship levels that would let users sort their acquaintances by degree of separation. He suggested categories like “ ‘personal friends’ or ‘work friends’ or ‘extra special friends’ or ‘BFFs’ or ‘friends you want to hear meaningless trivia about all day long,’ ” and implored, “Please give me the ability to put friends in these groups without telling them I have done so.”

I can somewhat see the need for different classes of acquaintances but I understand why FB would not install such a complicated system. What I don't understand is why this would help him and why he had to unfriend anyone at all. If he got lots of request and didn't want to have fans as FB friends, he should not accept them. Did he accept everyone and then just want to change his mind later? I don't get it. Possibly the reporter mixed up the story a bit.

This reminds me of some crazy story/ novel/ screenplay I have been thinking about regarding a facebook romance which I may write up the basic plot for some time and put it on the blog.

nice quote

"You guys just say feminest stuff like that to get laid" Stephanie Miller in response to a call from Kevin from DC who was supportive of Obama's move to sign law aimed at fair pay for women, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act.

Whoopi Salad

Have you seen the TOO HOT FOR TV ad from PETA? Publicity stunt from PETA is about an ad claiming that "Vegetarians Have Better Sex". (NSFW) Supposedly NBC said they would not run the ad during the Superbowl.

Well the topic of this ad came up on The View. This is really funny. Whoopi Goldberg brought it up, watch this clip (which I saw on Althouse).
Personally as a dad of young kids, I do think that the ad is probably too racy for a family show like the Superbowl, but it is not too bad. I don't think it is nearly as bad as the action drama show promos that often run during the Superbowl which show cops/crime shows and are often very violent - last year I remember some CSI clips that were very disturbing. I give PETA a thumbs up for getting some attention on the topic of being a vegetarian and trying to bring it beyond the hippy granola college student and make it part of a mainstream healthy life.

Stuff I want to get off my chest.....

terror test
I had an MRI today to figure out what is wrong with my back. Reactions:

1. Super freaky

2. Tight Squeeze - if you were obese or a football player it would not be easy

3. Super loud

4. Did not like when the tech says, if you scream we will not hear you.

5. Could have used a few more seconds between scans to breath and relax.

6. Liberal paranoia and mistrust of science - the thing that made me the most freaked out was that I kept thinking, how do they know this thing is harmless. It is so powerful and I am the type that thinks there are risks out there every day from chemicals and drugs that we will discover cause some health problems in the future. I kept thinking I will read a story someday that says, "MRIs, once thought to be perfectly safe and safer than an X Rays, have been found to cause some rare cancer." How could something so intense be harmless. Also, all the 50 questions you hear about in advance made me freak out that some penny I ate as a toddler would come ripping out of my stomach.

6. Glad I could listen to the radio and I picked my gal, Stephanie Miller which helped me relax.

I Am All Over the Nation
Speaking which, I actually called into the show on my way to work from the MRI and got on the air. Like the other 3 times in my life when I called into radio shows, I got totally nervous and sounded like an idiot and Steph assumed I had a brain tumor or something. All my witty banter I thought about saying just evaporated from my head when I got on the air. So far no one told me they heard it or figured out it was me. I basically told her thanks for comforting me while I was in that thing. How do most people who call into radio shows seem so calm and relaxed on the air?

One Pound Monkey
Went to the Dr. with my wife and had ultrasound and check-up, 22 weeks, I am happy to say that we have a happy and healthy little alien. For those friends who don't know, we are expecting baby number 3 in May. Maybe I should have had my head examined instead of the back. "Mommy, why are they putting that stuff on your tummy?"

Look At This
We have a new employee starting in my office soon. This is something that happens all the time in typical workplaces but not in my office, we have hire a new person approximately once every 2 years. Is it wrong to check out her facebook photo? This is a different person that the intern who I recently interviewed who had her whole FB pages open for the world to see. At least this new employee had the sense to have it private.

Lastly, is it wrong, appropriate, normal that our babysitter wears low rise jeans with a serious thong for all to see and I am wrong for noticing?

215-888-0203

I am a fan of FOUND magazine. I have heard their man Davy Rothbart two times and seen him on Letterman. He is really funny and a great entertainer. I get their email from time to time which includes a funny found item and today's actually includes a phone number. A classic inauguration find- a note found on the mall. I wonder if Rebekah will get any calls?



Cutie in the red jacket--
I'm too shy to say hi. But what ya doing later? There's a party I
know about. You should come. Call me or text I'll tell you where.
Bring your buddies. HOPE you call me.
Barack my world, I'll be your Michelle.
(My name is Rebekah)
215-888-0203

Smart Hip Girls are for Obama

see

Republicans Don't Breastfeed

According to the Mooks on Stephanie Miller.

Clear Channel TheMic Update

Clear Channel fired the program director and producer at our local AirAmerica station, The Mic 92.1,

Those who lost their jobs include The Mic 92.1's program director, Brian Turany, and producer Sam Roecker.

What I want to know is how do you have a radio station without a program director or producer? Does this mean that The Mic will not have any local shows? Probably not good news for the only talk station I listen to.

The Lost Albatross: Can't keep a good broadcaster down

The Lost Albatross: Can't keep a good broadcaster down News on what our local progressive radio guy, Lee Rayburn is doing now that he is off The Mic 92.1. I hope it works out well but I don't see how an on-line radio station like that could make enough money to pay staff.

Great Inaug Photos

Great set of Inaugeral Preparation photos on the Boston.com website include a LEGO Inaugeration (Thanks Chuck)- Totally cool; but Michelle was wearing red. These are the best photos I have seen on-line from the big day.

Why Crack?

When my grandchildren ask what I was doing when Obama was sworn in as the 44th President of the United States, I will say, having my back cracked by a chiropractor. I heard most of the speech after the appointment on the radio but it did not occur to me when I schedule the appointment that it was at the exact time Obama was being sworn in.

good bye W! What is next?

This montage of Bush babbling from Letterman is too funny, and sad. Even though I am glad to see him go, I am still a bit upset that so many Americans elected him - TWICE! While we saw something good in this country with Obama's election, we still have a seriously divided country and many who are not excited about this election.

I think we will see a true side of who W is once he is out of office. Will he try to do anything good? will he take a low profile? Will he play golf? Will he try to make money by some sketchy consultant gig? He has years of life left in him.

YES WE CAN!

I am very very happy that today is finally here. Goodbye W hello Obama.

Incumbant Electronic Electioneering

Our Mayor, Dave Cieslewicz, has started a blog about city stuff which is up on his city of Madison, taxpayer supported webpage. A short piece in the Isthmus points out that some are not so thrilled about this. Alder person Brenda Konkel, who blogs a lot and if very busy sharing her thoughts on forums and blogs, says it is unfair for the mayor to us city time and money to do this. She says that the city actually has a rule against blogging on a city website and thinks that the Mayor is electioneering because "Every post you'd have to think, is this something intended to help my next campaign?" she says. "There's going to be a chance for a conflict of interest." I agree that this method is a way to help support your ideas and build support for you as a politician. But that is mostly the case for everything a politician does publicly. If they do a ribbon cutting at a new library, issue a press release on something, hold a budget hearing, they are trying to get positive PR so that you will like them next time an election comes up. That is the unfortunate power of the incumbent. They get their name out there and that is enough to get some to vote for you. I am surprised and impressed with Brenda in all the public statements and dialoge she engages in on the Isthmus forum, on her blog and other places. Most politicians keep their public voice very limited to a few press releases and public events. She shares her ideas for all to see and most do it behind closed doors. I see no problem with a Mayor having a blog on the city webpage to share his thoughts on things he is working on, issues coming up in town, etc. A good pol should know not to get into partisan name calling and such and he should not say much about election issues I guess but besides that I like it. The article points out that it is not really a blog in that no comments are allowed.

Obama's Fix Bush's Blunders Bounce

After hearing a short NPR story about closing the prison at Guantamo Bay, it occured to me that Obama has a great opportunity to get some good positive press for many months as he overturns and undoes the messes of Bush. The can get on the top of the news every week for months by issueing exective orders to fix things that Bush broke and to appoint people that are better than those Bush had and by signing laws that undo laws passed by Bush. As long as the White House PR team explains the dumb, unfair, mean thing was from Bush, it will make Obama look good for a long time. I know that the right has been working each day to undermine him this will be a good counterpressure move but it will not last 4 years unfortuatnly.

There you are

I have had a first time experience that you read in the day of MySpace and Facebook. I have an interview with a grad student interested in an internship with my agency. I figured I would be able to see the thumbnail of her on facebook, I looked her up and taa da - the whole page was open for anyone to see. No privacy at all, silly halloween photos, etc. I don't really understand why anyone would make their facebook pages open to the world to see, seems weird to me. Do they not know they can make it private? I almost felt imbarrased looking at it as if I was looking through her purse.

Bad News For Allied Drive

Grocery store closest to Allied Drive is closing. I often see people walking there from the neighborhood. I think that the city should consider any incentives it can think of to keep them there.

Dutch Treat

Sad that folks in the country that has produced some of the best olympic speed skaters rarely get a chance to skate on the canals any more. When I studied abroad in the Netherlands, the canals froze and the students were so excited and had a blast on the ice between glasses of Grolsch.

MC

"The title 'MC' means 'Master of Ceremonies'. Some people who MC don't know what this term means."

....tribe called quest

While This Will Not Get Them to Shut Up

I love the title of this Joe Conason piece on Salon "Al Franken stole the election? Prove it or shut up - The recount shows that he won the Minnesota Senate race. The lying liars who say otherwise have no evidence of cheating." It is a good clear description of the recount effort which concluded that Franken won by a little margin. It is sad that the right in this country and even some uninformed on the left will beleive the lies by Rush and O'Reilly that Franken stole the election when it was a fair recount.

The facts and the truth don't matter and Franken will have to deal with this monkey on his back as he tries to do good things in the Senate. I think they are working so hard to discredit him because of the ability he has to call a spade a spade and get attention as he exposes the right wing crap that goes on in Congress.

Just Build It....

I am excited that the city of Madison is reviewing two competing plans to build a new mixed use central library. For years the library has talked about remodeling or building a new one but did not have the money. Now the city has realized that a private public partnership could result in a new library with other uses that would have a much lower tax payer cost.

Both proposals would be a huge improvement. The current space is a dump and inadequate for the needs of the city. We should not keep pushing people to the branches. The main criteria for evaluating these would be which is strongest financially and which group has the best proposal to get the financing to get the thing actually built. Like all things in Madison it would be a shame if this took years to be done because of analysis paralysis and adding more and more requirements, strings, etc. It is a shame that we have a fancy Overature Center next door which has only a few free things for the public and lots of very expensive performances and the free open for everyone library is a 1970s wreck.

Check out the proposals:
T Wall Properties
Fiore Companies has teamed up with Irgens Development Group

I am not sure if it was pain or pleasure that actually did it.....

"This particular show happens to be the type that you very rarely run into and the most you can hope for is that someone out there had an audio cassette so I am getting a big laugh out of the fact that this thing is actually video taped.... I hit one note that actually made me levitate about half a foot, I think I am not sure if it is pain or pleasure that did it, it was such a strong sound it was feeding back and I was following its angle as it were."

Lou Reed describing how he just played a good show that was videotaped where he performed my favorite Velvet Underground Song "Rock and Roll"

won't you be my.....

great little article about the ice ring in my neighborhood park....a rare thing it todays walmart, interstate highway, world.

Any person who could hold a statewide office in IL

and not end up in jail should be able to serve as a senator from my home state. Also, the Senate does not have a strong legal basis not to seat him.

Ask not what your country can do for you.....

I found it funny that the front page of the NY Times webpage had an ad to encourage people to work for the CIA. "National Clandestine Service Careers" - would people who are surfing the net reading the NY Times be the type to work for the CIA...even more funny is that I clicked on the link to see what they had for me....too bad I don't live in DC.

Do you have an aptitude for solving challenging puzzles? Are you able to focus on technical details while maintaining a “big picture” perspective?

Sounds good huh?

Big Three are Not Hip

Gen X Does Not like the boring American cars......it is amazing that even despite significantly lower prices folks still want the cool cars. I wonder if this whole big three bail out will lead to any more "buy American" feelings resulting in more market share for the big 3.

Thoughtful Look at How to Jump Start Economy

Slate published a very thoughtful essay by Elliot Spitzer on why Obama's approach to spend money on infrastructure like roads and bridges will really shift and stimulate the economy. While I am not sure I his ideas to install smart electric meters and change gas stations to handle alternative fuels is the best approach, he raises good concerns about whether the ready to go roads and bridges approach is the best way to go. To build on his points, if we do infuse a large amount of cash into these type of infrastructure project, who will benefit from that, the construction companies, engineering companies, steel companies, concrete companies, etc. there will be trickle down of the benefits but it will not really help many being hurt by today's economic woes.

I am glad that someone on the left is starting to ask important questions about how we will turn the economy around before we approve some trillion dollar plan that may not do the trick.

This moment presents the administration with what is likely to be its best—and perhaps only—opportunity to have essentially unlimited capital (both fiscal and political) to spend on a transformative economic agenda. It is a unique moment to build a new foundation. It would be wise to ensure that a significant portion of the stimulus package is spent on new investments that may not be quite as ready to go but are surely more important to our long-term economic viability.

Holocaust Love Story

I am not sure what to make of this story about a south Florida resident who apparently made up his personally story about surviving the Holocaust. This man, Herman Rosenblat told this story about how he was in a concentration camp and how his wife to be threw him apples over the fence and the story was so compelling it got turned into a book, a movie, a children's book and he got on Oprah 2 times. But it turns out the story was mostly made up. They guy was in a camp but the other parts are not true. The guy has had a hard life not only because of the experience in the war but he and his son were shot and his son ended up paralyzed when someone was breaking into their shop in NY.

A couple of reactions -

- it is sad that people would question the creditbliby of a holocaust survivor's story. are there holocaust denier types who are reading every story by survivors and trying to disprove them.

- this will be used by the deniers who will point to this and say, how many other people's stories are made up or exacgerated.

- what brings a person to do this? how can you go up in front of a group of people and tell them this deeply personal story that is not true?

- how did he really meet his wife?

Them's Fightin' Words

Good NPR profile of Somali Rapper K'Naan in "Somali Rapper K'Naan Schools American MCs" This guy lived in Mogadishu until he was 16 and then moved to the US.

I liked the music and his story but this guy is pretty brave to take on the US Gangsta Rappers. He basically says that the American rappers growing up in the 'hood are not that tough and that their life is not that bad. I am sure it is worse growing up in Mogadishu in terms of violence and poverty but the life of many rappers who grew up in public housing or inner city neighborhoods with drugs, single teenage mothers, and gangs is pretty bad and to completely paint them all with a broad brush seems a bit unfair.

"Where rocket propelled grenades are fired around you on a daily.... a guy bragging about how gangsta he is on TV....more like a comedy.... it isn't that hard core, it isn't that bad, let's get things in perspective."