Last week I was listening to one of the local morning babble shows on the way into school. They were talking about global warming and a story about the founder of the Weather Channel calling it a hoax (I don’t know the exact details of the story, but I doubt they did either). One of the hosts said that maybe global warming is a lie, but that’s OK with her because then people will be more likely to do things for the environment. This is a sentiment that I’m hearing from more than one source. Not just that man-made global warming might be crap, but also that it’s OK because it will help the environment. It’s just astounding to me.

[Joe]

With the writers strike continuing, a bunch of the shows that I enjoy are running out of episodes. The Office has already gone dark. House ran out tonight. Heroes ends its run next week. Life has this week and a two part episode next week (Monday/Wednesday) and after that I assume it’s done. (TV IV)

According to reports, the WGA and the AMPTP are meeting again, but haven’t come to an agreement. I have to wonder if the strike will end anytime soon, as the studios have at least some interest in prolonging the strike a few more weeks due to the force majeure clauses that would allow them to kill or suspend projects pretty much at will.

In this strike, I don’t really support either side. What I’ve seen of what the WGA is demanding doesn’t seem all that unreasonable. I think performance based payment is a good idea, but I don’t think the studios are evil for not giving it to them. The studios are evil, but not for that reason. (Fox, for one, is evil because they canceled Firefly). It’s not like the writers have a right to that form of payment. Certainly I don’t get paid any residuals for the work I do. I’m pretty sure that I sign away all rights to whatever I create (possibly even my first child) before I get my first paycheck each year.

So if this strike continues (or maybe even if it doesn’t), what do I have to look forward to? Well, thankfully Doctor Who is immune to the strike, so that should be out on time. There’s some interesting casting news for the upcoming season, but I won’t spoil anybody. You can find out on your own if you like. The “Children in Need” mini-episode is out and available on YouTube. There will be the usual Christmas episode and then sometime next year the full season will get underway.

We’ll also get 8 episodes of Lost, which will likely lead up to a cliffhanger that was never meant to be. It’s been said that ending after these 8 episodes will be like ending season 2 on the Michael incident. Ouch. In the mean time, Lost is also doing the webisode thing with Lost: Missing Pieces. They’ve been kinda blah so far, so only check them out if you are so desperate for Lost that you’re willing to sit through those damn Juke commercials.

[Joe]

These new ads for World of Warcraft are awesome.

“Tom Glavine is coming home.
The 303-game winner returned to the Atlanta Braves on Sunday, agreeing to an $8 million, one-year contract.” – ESPN

This means the Mets are going to have to find another starting pitcher, but I don’t think that’s a bad thing. Glavine may have won a good number of games, but the Mets need pitchers that can go deep into the season (and games for that matter), something that Glavine seems incapable of.

Another spot they’ll have to worry about filling is the catcher’s position. For whatever reason the Mets didn’t bring Lo Duca back, and instead tried to sign Yorvit Torrealba of the Rockies. Then this weekend they stopped negotiating with him (ESPN). At least they still have Castro.

Also, there had been talk that the Mets would try to sign David Eckstein of the Cardinals (MLB), but it looks like they’ll be sticking with Luis Castillo for the second base position (ESPN). Hopefully he manages to stay healthy this year.

[Joe]

One of the best political ads ever: Huckchuckfacts

My previous favorites are Heads Up! and this Vernon Robinson ad (I believe this is one Paul posted a while back).

Man, YouTube is great for finding these sorts of things. I saw someone talking on a political show about how the candidates will have to watch what they say because people will keep track of it via YouTube videos. It made me wonder why we still have the traditional news media if they don’t even do that much.

[Joe]