In Food News

SYDNEY - Some Australians are up in arms over a new kangaroo and emu flavored chip, horrified that people are encouraged to eat the nation's coat of arms which depicts the iconic Australian animals.

I... don't think that's the only problem with those chips.

Yes, we have no bacon

Shockingly, there was no bacon this weekend, as Dr. D was away and Cin, the Kiwi and I were seeing Leonard Cohen in concert. It was an excellent concert, for all that it was lacking in pork products. Cohen had a phenomenal amount of energy; the man played for three and a half hours. I think his encore set was six or seven songs long.

Less enthused: the fidgety kid sitting next to me, who had clearly been dragged there by his mom. He might have been 15, and was clearly so over it by half an hour in. I mention him because his hot dog may have contained a certain amount of pork in it, so the closest I got to baconesque items might have been the mustard he dripped on the sleeve of my leather jacket.

Also, desperation forced us to McDonald's for dinner, but I simply could not bring myself to order a bacon double cheeseburger. My arteries seized at the very thought. Apparently my compatriots felt the same way.

So, in lieu of recipe, I offer you this tidbit just lifted from my television:

Axe is now making a bath puff for men. Except they've called it a "shower tool." And it's red and black.



Now that is manly.

Advertisers creep me the hell out

MILWAUKEE - Watch an advertisement on a video screen in a mall, health club or grocery store and there's a slim — but growing — chance the ad is watching you too.

As much as I am concerned about privacy issues and government policy -- and I certainly am -- I am possibly even more concerned about advertisers, and the proliferation of companies collecting ever-more-detailed marketing information. Are there any corporations left around here that don't have "loyalty programs"? To obtain a small discount, all you have to do is provide your name and contact info, then let the company (through your reward/membership card) track every purchase you make at the store.

Now they're making ads with video cameras installed in them, to monitor who's watching and tailor content accordingly. Am I the only one wondering how long before they'll be wanting to install similar technology in our TVs?

A Public Service Announcement

So I saw The Spirit tonight.

Uh... don't.

I'm sure there's a paper in here somewhere

CHICAGO – With the economy in crisis, President-elect Barack Obama urged the new Congress to pass a quick economic stimulus bill, pledged help for the troubled auto industry and blessed the Bush administration's bailout of the financial industry.

I like Obama just fine -- but seriously, is he the Pope now?

"Barack Obama and the Second Coming: Messianic Elements in 2008 Media Coverage." Discuss.

Apropos of nothing

I just turned on my television, and Stephen Colbert is french kissing a bear.

I'm not sure life gets better than this.