Lookin

#5, Bulwar-Lytton contest "Although Sarah had an abnormal fear of mice, it did not keep her from eeking out a living at a local pet store."

Sad to say, I think you're right. I think I understand the system. Nike pays him a hundred million dollars because they think we'll pay them more than that in higher prices. None of the extra dollars we pay go into a better product. We get nothing for our money, except possibly the fantasy that we're going to play a better game of golf, or pick up a Swedish model in the clubhouse, because we're wearing ol' Tiger's brand. But it is a fantasy. Multidimensional perhaps, and probably different for each person. We pay our extra ten bucks for Nike, and we get our Tiger fantasy. And then Tiger does something tacky and our fantasy is blown to hell. Ten bucks down the drain. The best we can do is try to get a few bucks worth of schadenfreude out of it as we slip off our Nike's. No question that Nike packaged the fantasy, and did their best to encourage us to buy in to it. And no question that Tiger tried to play his part, even though the role was beyond him. But I can't tell Nike what to do, and I can't tell Woods what to do. I can only tell myself what to do. And what I'm telling myself is: Don't buy a product on the say-so of a paid endorser. It's money down the drain. If we all stop paying extra for a fantasy, then the endorsement industry will collapse. If we don't, it won't. The ball's in our court. Disclosure: There's only one product I've ever bought because of the face on the package, and would do so again in a heartbeat. I just know he's not the cheatin' kind. http://www.jimgoad.net/images/brawnyguy.jpg

You called the problem a "smudge", which sounds to me like it's a larger artifact than just one bad pixel, or even a few. Some monitor manufacturers tell you that they won't be responsible for a bad pixel or two; that it's just part of the draw. But a "smudge" sounds like a component or manufacturing flaw, and they should be responsible for that. Actually, they should be responsible for bad pixels too, in my opinion, but you may have to be a bit more determined in your request. I'd suggest checking your specific model number on Google, searching for "smudge problem" or "pixel problem". If you find other owners with the same problem, it may help you in getting a satisfactory resolution from Best Buy. For example, if your monitor model has lots of problems with dead pixels, you may want them to exchange it for a different model. Or, if you see a bunch of issues with smudges, it may be a specific serial number range that has the problem, and you'll want a replacement from a newer serial number range. I have a Sony TV model that was reported to have an issue with "clouds" in dark scenes; the problem was limited to units produced before December, 2007, so I made sure to get one manufactured after that date. Just a few bits of hard-won experience, and all good wishes. As always, it pays to be an informed shopper!

A source close to Woods tells me that the links legend's spouse is being paid a hefty seven-figure amount -- immediately transferred into an account she alone controls -- to stick with her husband. How very civilized! http://anchoredbygrace.com/smileys/mgtophat.gif

Rumor is, his putz will never be the same.

Good points. Well said. Nice rant! http://www.cool-names.net/msn-emoticons-smiley/thumbsup.gif

http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z310/MerionMom/Miscellany/hand-raisingsmilies.gif Me! Me! Because the advertisers know that many people do look up to product spokesmen as role models. It helps them sell more product at a higher price. In fact, it seems likely that advertisers encourage this public behavior, as it gives them a competitive edge and allows them to sell more and charge more for a product that's basically just like everyone else's. It's hard to fault them for trying to encourage and take advantage of this time-tested human foible. So I won't. But I will fault myself if I buy into it. Or if I tell a child that Wheaties is better just because Tiger Woods eats it. Or if I join a gym just because Taylor Lautner works out ther . . . OK, bad example. :o http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab232/Memory105221/taylor-lautner-shirtless.jpg

Not necessarily, in my opinion. "They" didn't decide the paycheck should be millions of dollars. "We" did. We're the ones who decide to pay an extra ten or twenty bucks for a Nike shirt with Woods' face on it. And we're the ones who decide that he's a "role model". If we didn't go along, he'd have wrecked an old Chevy instead of a new Caddy. I have no control at all over whether or not he sees himself as a role model, but I sure as hell have control over whether or not I see him as one.

Well, thankee, KMEM. You are quite special as well. And I couldn't agree more with your sentiment: I think we all have admirable qualities that others like. But we all have some not-so-admirable qualities too. Otherwise, we wouldn't be human. For me, it's a lot nicer hanging around close to ground level with my fellow humans. I'm sure as a pilot, with other peoples' lives in your hands, you are often looked up to as a hero when you bring people safely home. But I'm also sure that you work extremely hard to make sure you do, and acknowledge that, every once in a while, you have a little luck on your side too. (I think of that "unofficial" side trip you made into Pakistani airspace. ) Money's not a huge issue for me. Sometimes people have lots of money and few friends. Or the other way around. It's the folks who think they are way above others, and the folks who put other humans way above themselves, that give me cause for concern. I think there are people who like to have heroes in their lives, or to be a hero for someone. There's nothing wrong with that. But when a human hero turns into a superhuman godlike caricature, it gives me the willies. Too many unhappy endings lie at the end of that story. http://www.culturejamforlife.com/nobama2008/images/HitlerAddressesRallyAtDortmund1933.jpg

Gotta admit, this whole role model thing leaves me scratching my head. Does someone actually sign up to be a role model? Maybe fill out an application and pay a fee? And is there a committee somewhere that issues a certificate? Does it need to be renewed every year or two? Role Model seems more like an honorary title that some folks lay on other folks whether they want it or not, along with a set of ill-defined obligations that are rarely agreed to by the honoree. If somebody ever tried to sign me up as a role model, I'd tell them thanks I'd love to, but I just washed my hair. Perhaps another time. There are people I admire, of course. (many right here on the Message Center ) But I sure don't think that gives me the right to put any unilateral expectations on them, and look down my nose when they don't live up to them. All Tiger Woods ever committed to do was play a good game of golf. If Mom wants shove a bowl of Wheaties down Junior's throat because Tiger's on the box, fine, but she's going to have to be responsible for explaining "feet of clay" to the little nipper when the time comes. As it usually does. If somebody falls off a pedestal that he climbed up on, that's his responsibility. If I was the one that put him up there, that's my responsibility. Personally, I think it's easier if we all just keep our feet on the ground. Unless, of course, we really are a little extra special. http://pixyland.org/peterpan/Imagezz/peter_flies1a_small.jpg

Thanks for the kind offer but allegedly those ripe melons belong to Mr. Forte himself. I guess we'll have to wait until May, when our Esteemed Colleague from Brooklyn will be giving them the official once over. http://forums.tvgasm.com/images/smilies/001_tt2.gif

Right behind you! http://images.rentboy.com/EZRENT5/82XAXXWJBX964?pre=detail&wm=www.rentboy.com http://www.clipartguide.com/_named_clipart_images/0511-0801-1017-4353_Bi-Plane_Pilot_clipart_image.jpg

Finally had to go check out what all the fuss is about, and all I can say is "Yowsah!" http://images.rentboy.com/EZRENT5/7Q8F7PBQNDL5R?pre=detail&wm=www.rentboy.com Had to keep reminding myself that not only is that thing still soft but it's hanging off a guy who's 6'5" and 265 pounds. http://www.rentboy.com/listing.aspx?lid=186309&scid=22190656&sp=1&pos=0 Sure hopes he finds a box of giant condoms and gives Chicago one more reason to be a toddling town.

RE: and they found.... High Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions Glad you dodged a bullet, tealady! Many thanks to you and the other posters who have passed on such good info. After hearing of a couple people who had cancer diagnoses when it was too late to do anything about it, I asked my GP what kinds of cancer screenings were available to catch it early on. She said that some of the tests were not without risk, so they're usually done based on risk factors. For men over fifty, screening for prostate and colon cancer is a no brainer. I guess mammograms and PAP smears are pretty standard for women. Are there any other cancer screening tests that folks are familiar with?

Whatever you do, stay away from XXXXXXX & XXXXXXX!

> Does anyone else have this guilty pleasure? Not yet, but I'll fix that! Thanks for the - er - heads up.

Bump! Some of these are real, and some I made up. I can't remember which is which. Story of my life. Rutha Day Tawdry Meadows Fonda Greencheese Merry Ann Bright Nellie Wilson Lana Caine Hedda Lyce Lotta Bling Any more?