Dear readers, I could spend time rehashing politics, or I could spend time discussing the real issues facing America today.

Issues like, is it wrong to think a whole bowl of Cool Whip is a dessert all by itself?

Or, if a fat woman asks me my opinion on her weight, is it wrong for me to give her the honest truth as long as I preface it with "I'm just sayin'"?

Or, is it wrong for me to spend every Thursday night in front of the television watching The O.C.?

Readers, that last admission is what I'd like to talk to you about tonight. The soap opera viewer has long been stereotyped as a young, weepy girl-- or an older woman, way past her prime. If men watch soap operas at all, they are, well. . . homosexual.

Now, I'm not homosexual-- not that there's anything wrong with that. In fact, I would be willing to learn, if that would get me posted someplace special.

So, what excuse does a thirty-year-old, relatively mature, responsible single heterosexual man have for watching The O.C.?

Well, there are hot chicks. And the writing is pretty damn funny. Plus it's got Peter "The Kosher Ham" Gallagher.

And. . . did I mention the hot chicks?

I will not apologize for asserting that, during its finest moments, The O.C. can be pretty cool. Even fatality cool.

Welcome to the O.C., bitch.

The reason I bring this up is not to talk about guilty television pleasures, but instead discuss THE MOST AWFUL TELEVISION SHOWS EVER. For instance, earlier today I brought up the classic un-hit show Manimal.

In the comments to that post, readers Skinbad and Pinky offered some suggestions for even worse shows, bringing up greats such as M.A.N.T.I.S., and The Man From Atlantis.

While I don't have a Patrick Duffy leg, I do have at least a working knowledge of bad television over the years.

So, what could top even Manimal as history's worst idea for a television show?

Street Hawk? Nope. Wishman? Nuh-uh. The Golden Girls? Perhaps. . . nah.

And, while we can all agree that the continuing adventures of the 4077thÂ’s Radar OÂ’Reilly as a New York City cop meets the definition of awful in anybodyÂ’s book, I still believe that there was one show out there worse than all the rest.
more...

Posted by: Ace at 07:06 PM | Comments (4)
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Sorry for the multiple posts. My internet connection is still not the greatest.

Zelda The Urban Grind

Posted by: Ace at 06:58 PM | Comments (6)
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Have you ever wanted to just say "leave me alone" to people who tell you to stop fidgeting or pacing because you're making them "nervous?"

I know I have.

But the next time anyone says that to you, you can tell them that you're simply exercising.

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic believe itÂ’s not the trips to the gym, but the everyday pacing, fidgeting and restlessness that may play a bigger role in whether someoneÂ’s fat or thin, according to a small study of self-described couch potatoes.

The scientists found that the obese people they studied sat for about 150 minutes more a day on average than their lean subjects, and that meant they burned about 350 fewer calories a day.

If the overweight subjects could match the behavior of their lean counterparts, that could work out to a weight loss of about 33 pounds a year, the study said. And itÂ’s not necessary to go to the gym to do that.

I also read someplace else a while ago (sorry, no link) that you can burn up to 800 calories a day just by fidgeting.

Sounds like more fun than the gym or an exercise dvd.

Zelda - The Urban Grind

Posted by: Ace at 06:57 PM | Comments (3)
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"The U.S. military presence has become part of the problem, not part of the solution...We need a new plan that sets fair and realistic goals for self-government in Iraq, and works with the Iraqi government on a specific timetable for the honorable homecoming of our forces."

One guess.

(via drudge)

UPDATE

Here's the genuine article:

Forty years ago, America was in another war in a distant land.  At that time, in 1965, we had in Vietnam the same number of troops and the same number of casualties as in Iraq today.

We thought in those early days in Vietnam that we were winning.  We thought the skill and courage of our troops was enough.  We thought that victory on the battlefield would lead to victory in the war, and peace and democracy for the people of Vietnam.

We lost our national purpose in Vietnam.  We abandoned the truth.  We failed our ideals.  The words of our leaders could no longer be trusted.

In the name of a misguided cause, we continued the war too long.  We failed to comprehend the events around us.  We did not understand that our very presence was creating new enemies and defeating the very goals we set out to achieve.  We cannot allow that history to repeat itself in Iraq...

Fucking bleck.

the UNPOPULIST

Posted by: Ace at 06:22 PM | Comments (4)
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Popular writers complaining that they are published by Harper Collins.

Harper Collins is of course a subsidiary of you-know-who, and tonight you-know-who helped pay for the wine.

For me, of course, that made it all the sweeter.

the UNPOPULIST

Posted by: Ace at 06:09 PM | Add Comment
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What's up with you?

Posted by: Ace at 05:57 PM | Comments (27)
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Dave from Garfield Ridge, one of my fellow guest-bolggers here, posted on Barbara Boxer's upcoming novel here, and wonders if more literary powerhouses are waiting in the wings of Congress.

Over at InDC Journal. Bill managed to get his mitts on a couple of excerpts.

"Mrs. R' at Are You Conservative has discovered that the feisty California Senator is also hawking a script (hey, maybe Ace will run into her at Sundance). Here's an excerpt from her post. See the whole thing here.

Warning: This preview is rated 'DU', for Democrats Unhinged.

Posted by John from WuzzaDem

Posted by: Ace at 04:46 PM | Comments (2)
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Hey everyone,
I'm glad to be posting again.

Due to a power outage in Manhattan, my cable modem was down. And let me tell you, being without internet access in NO FUN whatsoever. Neither is having a cold and a sore throat.

At least I got to rest.

Anwway, I'm glad to be back.

Zelda The Urban Grind

Posted by: Ace at 02:55 PM | Comments (5)
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Duh, I know, but this RCP Commentary is really sharp, with easy-to-follow visual aids.

See here for latest elction news and analysis.

Viva Iraq.

UPDATE: Viva Iraq.

the UNPOPULIST

Posted by: Ace at 01:13 PM | Comments (5)
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Well, there's been a month to think about it now, and I still haven't seen a definitive list, so here for your consideration:

the UNPOPULIST "Things I Thought/Hoped Would Not Survive 2004"

Carter

Castro

"Best Week Ever"

Terry Jones

Andrew Heyward

"Red Carpet" Interviews

Macintosh

SNL

VH-1

"Heh."

"the UNPOPULIST"
.......

Amendments considered in comments.

the UNPOPULIST

Posted by: Ace at 12:35 PM | Comments (12)
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