The Soapbox

NBC's Today Using Germ Warfare

Fortunately, I left my house this morning before seeing what I consider irresponsible journalism. Just before leaving, I caught the teaser on this morning's Today show for their piece entitled Dirty America. From what I could gather, it was a piece about the prevalence of germs.

Are you kidding me?

First off, that there are germs around us should not be news. Secondly, and perhaps most importantly, so what? All this story will do is make an increasingly serious problem worse.

With the introduction of antibacterial this and antibacterial that, we have created and continue to create superbacteria--bacteria resistant to agents used to kill them. Furthermore, not all bacteria are harmful. However, antibacterial agents don't discriminate and the result is the killing of the benign and benficial bacteria thereby cutting down the competition for space and resources the harmful bacteria encounter.

If Today was going to do a story entitled Dirty America, they should focus on the irresponsible journalists bringing us these stories which at their best are misleading and at their worst dangerous.

British Woman Sails to Record

Unless and until you've sailed, you'll never appreciate what a feat Britain's Ellen MacArthur accomplished by destroying the around-the-world solo sailing record. MacArthur took a little over 71 days and 14 hours to circumnavigate the world. MacArthur's time was more than 32 hours faster than previous record holder Francis Joyon's time.

Man Proves He Has Them by Cutting Them Off

The irony of this, of course, is that it really takes a set of balls to cut them off.

Telecom Think Tank Claims no Bias in Study Questioning Wi-Fi

A study commissioned by a council created by consultants to the telecommunications industry released a study questioning the wisdom of a city-wide Wi-Fi network.

The New Millennium Research Council claims it didn't pay the study's authors for their work.

So, let me get this straight, a group of people with mortgages to pay and kids to feed decided to author a purportedly comprehensive study without being paid. Oh, and the group releasing the study, who claim not to have paid the authors, was formed by an industry who would lose a lot of money if the city built and ran a Wi-Fi network.

I call bullshit.

This study, which, by the way apparently never contacted any of the people connected with Philly's wireless network, is a lame attempt to try and influence those who would most benefit from a city-wide network.

Limited Posting Today and Tomorrow

It's month-end at the salt mine. That means only sporadic posting today and tomorrow.

Six More Weeks of Winter Forecasted

GOBBLERS KNOB, PA -- This morning, at 7:31 am, Punxsutawney Phil made his annual assessment of winter's endurance before thousands of weather aficionados. Unfortunately for those of us who prefer our temperatures well north of 40, Phil saw his shadow which means six more weeks of winter.

"I'm sorry to say I have seen my shadow today," Phil is reported to have said through his interpreter, Rusty Johnson.

Man Shovels Snow for 30 Hours Without Gloves, Surprised He Will Lose Fingertips to Frostbite

It's hard not to feel sorry for this guy.

[James] Phillips, of Marcus Hook, worked for 30 hours shoveling snow at Lincoln Financial Field the night before the Jan. 23 NFC championship game against the Falcons, and then, as a reward for his hard work, stayed to watch the game. And he did it all without wearing gloves.

But I have to ask, what were you thinking?

Phillips says that if he had thought his fanaticism would cost him his fingers, he would have used precaution. It was 17 degrees and he was shoveling snow for 30 hours -- without gloves, what the hell did he think would happen?