Hail To Pitt!

I used to speak passable German, but that doesn't stop me from understanding every word in this video. Skip in to the 2 minute mark, then if you get bored, to the 7:30 mark...

Ever since the invention of Gutenberg's Printing Press in the 1400's, information has wanted to be free. Be it the Bible, free to the people and un-restricted control by the Priests, or the Unabombers Manifesto admonishing the world against technology.

Recently, the Royal Society out of London has been scanning some of its greatest works to display for all to see on the Internet. You know, every day that goes by, I think this whole Internet & World Wide Web thing might just catch on with folks.

I am sure the list will grow with time, but for now, you can see the writings of Thomas Paine, early illustrations of plant life circa 1600's, Constitutions in the hand of John Locke (not from Lost ftr). But the greatest one I've actually sat and read a bit of is a Memoir of Sir Isaac Newton by Stukeley. Good stuff, all of it.

Without advocating for the loss of copyright and proper payment for creativity, I wish all the great books of antiquity could be scanned and put on-line for all to see. What a wonderful world we live in, even if I don't yet have my jet pack or flying car!

Get started right here

I've been following the whole Leno / O'Brien situation with a snicker on my face for the past couple of weeks. I remember back when I used to watch the late night shows and Dave Letterman was given the shaft and didn't get the Tonight Show gig, forever changing the late night landscape.

Back in the day "everyone" under 30 watched Letterman and everyone over watched Carson. Leno was well known, but certainly not an heir to the throne.

Well, Conan O'Brien is no Letterman in my book and, well, in my advance age, even with the advent of DVR's, we just don't watch the late night comedy shows. We watch late night *news* - meaning The Daily Show & The Colbert Report. I guess our tastes have changed from the revolving doors of who's promoting what to silly takes on the news. I must say, Stewart/Colbert today beat Letterman of the 80's.

But back to the point. Leno / Conan / NBC - it's all a big mess. Leno's maching is trying to portray him, Leno, as not being the bad guy. But he is. Regardless of NBC's desires in this situation, Leno could say, "hey, it's O'Brien's show, I'm not re-taking the Tonight Show, we're done, we'll pack it up and go home." But by simply being willing to take back the Tonight Show on NBC, Leno is an accomplice to the process and Conan is being, well, screwed.

This great piece of video, props to TVBarn.com, shows how Leno is violating his own previously stated conscience by his latest actions:

As one who recycles so much, his family of 4 produces at most 2 trash bags of garbage a week, I am appalled when I read stories of what happens in the reclamation process sometimes.

Today's post isn't anything new, I've seen numerous reports, including one long ago that aired on HDNet World Reports. Today's comes to us from CBS News' 60 Minutes and their on-line arm, CNet News.

The video is 12 minutes long, but a worthwhile view. Throw it in full screen mode and sit back and take it in. What astonishes me most is the attitude of the business owner at the end claiming 60 Minutes is just trying to hurt the small guy. Un-freaking-believeable

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If you have a remote control, you know that if you or your family is non-standard, you can get a reality show: "little" (formerly midgets) people have I believe now three shows, families who work together (i.e. building motorcycles, etc.), it you have MANY children (i.e. 18 of them), pageant coordinator, reception organizer/party planner. If you can sell yourself, then you can get a show.

In a recent bid to counter-act the 3 "little" person shows, TLC has a new show, "One Big Happy Family." All 4 of them are well over 300 lbs each. It's funny because the reason I believe shows such as The Bachelor and American Idol are popular is fantasy based - people want to shed their lives for a few moments each week and pretend to live those of some good looking, likable and talented people, even if just for an hour. They live vicariously through them - be it on the Jersey Shore, a beach house in Hawaii or the Bachelorette bungalow.

What dumbfounds me is this "big" show - there is no escapeism in watching morbidly obese people walk around ruining their own lives. Yeah, we have the whole "train wreck" thing going on, but that gets old quick.

In an article at CNN.com this morning, they wrote about the people writing about the show. I was finally offended.

The best example of my offense is this: Jerry Barrow, senior editor of The Urban Daily.com, said he has mixed feelings because he doesn't want to appear to be criticizing the Coles.

Let me be clear right here, right now - I am being critical of the Coles. They are fat, ugly, self-centered people who are single-handily destroying this country! And no, I am not exaggerating my point.

I read during this health-care debate that obesity is responsible for over a third, a frakkin third of all health care dollars spent in this country. We're looking to overhaul our health care system while 4 morbidly obese people prance around eating funnel cakes while walking in a neighborhood park to lose weight! This isn't funny folks, this isn't entertainment and this isn't exploitation. This is the here & now why people like this should be dropped from health care roles immediately!

Between diabetes, heart disease & joint issues - obesity is the #1 cost to our health system nationwide. Making fun of it doesn't help the matter. Showing how flippant people are on the subject shows how little they "get" it. If we could put this country on a crash diet and exercise program, our health care woes would disappear overnight!

All those complaints you have about the high cost of your prescription drugs - you can stop taking them if you'd get yourself into better shape. I'm not saying you have to look like a Greek Adonis, but just get your BMI down to a respectable range.

Mark my words, as soon as health care becomes "more" nationalized/socialized, obesity will become a big issue, and this is good. Why should I, Joe Taxpayer, be paying for Fat Taxpayer's decision to pig out on Krusty Klown Donuts all frakkin day? While health is a private mater with private insurance companies, 'we' can't do anything about it. But now that I'm paying your bills, it is my right to tell you to lay off the potato chips and shed some pounds!

So Cole family, than you for embodying all that is wrong with America - gluttony - gluttony of food, gluttony of luxury, gluttony of material possessions. And to Mr Barrow who doesn't want to criticize the Coles, grow a pair and call it like it is. Why have we become to darned sensitive in this country that a public figure on a nationally televised television show can't be called out for being unhealthy and a burden on the system?