Monday, September 04, 2006

Returning to normality

Mediaweek has an interesting article about cable news ratings. CNN was up 21% in August, thanks in part to the British terror plot and the goings-on in Lebanon. But here's the interesting part, Fox News is DOWN 28%! Fox is still #1, but those are big shifts.

It appears that the gains are coming from Anderson Cooper, which grew 53%, and The Situation Room and Paula Zahn, which both grew 32%. Meanwhile, O’Reilly and Hannity & Colmes saw respective drops of 15% and 21%.

Is the US finally losing its taste for the harsh, partisan lies that FNC spews for its evil corporate paymaster, Third Reich Minster of Information Rupert Murdoch?

Power to the People (Mover)!


Sign this petition to bring back the People Mover at Disney Parks!

Popeil

One of the businesses I manage is small appliances, and I have always admired the creativity of Ron Popeil. Forbes has an interview with The Man himself and gives a rundown on his best inventions.

1. Showtime Rotisserie
2. Flip-its
3. Solid Food Injector
4. GLH - Great Looking Hair
5. Dial-o-Matic
6. Food Dehydrator and Beef Jerky Maker
7. Pasta Maker
8. Pocket Fisherman
9. Bagel Cutter
10. Inside-the-Shell Electric Egg Scrambler

Nerd Alert

New season of BSG on October 6. Season 2 of Doctor Who on September 29th. Sweet!

Close the SUV tax loophole

There is loophole in the Gas Guzzler tax meant to exempt small businesses who need their employees to drive trucks that winds up applying to all SUVs. Its one of the things that have made SUVs so attractive and fueled their boom. The loophole will cost taxpayers $2.6 billion next year. Massachusetts Congressman Ed Markey wants to close the loophole. I have an SUV - Hey, 3 kids! – and I'm all for it. Its the only way this class of vehicles will ever get remotely fuel efficient.

Hilton Remixed...whether she likes it or not

A "guerrilla artist" in the UK named Banksy has remixed Paris Hilton's vanity album re-titling the songs Why am I Famous?, What Have I Done? and What Am I For? and has slipped CDs of it into Virgin and HMV stores in the UK. Its like getting a golden ticket Wonka bar if you find one.