Paul From Minneapolis

Wednesday, May 31, 2006

Polling problems at CNN today: “Will you watch Katie Couric anchor the ‘CBS Evening News’?”

First of all, the only options offered are “yes” and "no.” I would guess most people would fall somewhere else on this question: like “Leave me alone, I refuse to put any thought into this whatsoever."

But let’s break down the 77% coerced “no” response. What does it really mean? Who’s included in it? Possibilities:

No – I don’t watch TV.
No – Since you’re forcing me to answer, I’ll just say “no” to convey general resistance.

No - CBS is all fuzzy on my TV.
No – I watch Seinfeld at 6:30.
No – I watch another network.
No – I don’t watch news.
No – I hate women.
No – I hate Katie Couric, and it’s kind of a long story.

And that’s only scratching the surface. It’s just so hard to trust polls, when you dig into them.

Friday, May 05, 2006

Sometimes things are just cool.

Like: "If the skies are clear as forecast, volcano watchers who turn out for the reopening of the Johnston Ridge Observatory on Friday will get a spectacular view of a hulking slab of rock that's rapidly growing in Mount St. Helens' crater...

"The fin-shaped mass is about 300 feet tall and growing 4 feet to 5 feet a day, said Dan Dzurisin, a geologist at the U.S. Geological Survey."

Cool photos, too.

Thursday, May 04, 2006

It's impressive to realize...

…that things we must do will be received by our haters as blatant and brutal.

Moussaoui’s mother:

"Now he is going to die in little doses," she said. "He is going to live like a rat in a hole. What for? They are so cruel."

Yeah, whatever. Nice "parenting job."

Tuesday, May 02, 2006

I'm a lowlife.

Which also happens to be a song I'm working on, so it's convenient.