WTF: NON-PUBLIC NOTICES?

An editorial.

It has come to the attention of The Free Choice E-zine that the state of Connecticut is considering, if not has already made a decision upon, the possibility of limiting the posting Public Notices (such as foreclosures, meetings, votes, etc.) on a central web-site instead of newspapers; presumably to save the state the advertising costs of posting said notices wherever.

BAD IDEA!

Despite how much of a technological society the world is becoming, not everyone currently has access to a computer 24/7, nor stays up to date on the Internet considering it is the WORLD wide web.
It costs a state nothing to notify local TV and Radio stations, which carry such information as news.
The Free Choice E-zine supports keeping public notices in newspapers, as well as within whatever other media such notices can be placed, to keep the public informed and (hopefully) active within their local government.

SUPER BOWL XLIV/44

Reviewed by Lee Houston, Junior

Once again, the National Football League concluded its season with a championship game, including all the pomp and circumstances that one has come to expect from such a spectacle.
So let's see what happened.

THE GAME ITSELF
While fans have complained in the past of the outcome being a foregone conclusion before half-time, the last few competitions have been bucking this trend.
Although the Indianapolis Colts scored first and led for quite a well, the New Orleans Saints in their first Super Bowl appearance WON their first Super Bowl. Final score: Saints 31, Colts 17.

THE ENTERTAINMENT
Queen Latifiah sang the National Anthem before the coin toss, an event in itself. Then during half-time, The Who's Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend performed a brief set of their hits.
Starting out with the opening verses to Tommy, the duo segued into Baba O'Riley, Who Are You?, See Me/Feel Me, and Won't Get Fooled Again.
If some of those songs seem familiar, remember that the game aired on the CBS network. Baba is used as the theme to CSI: Miami, Who Are You? is the opening song to CSI: Crime Scene Investigations, and Won't is in the title sequence to CSI: New York.

THE COMMERCIALS
Whether or not you watch just for the half-time show or the game itself, there is no denying that advertisers pull out all the stops for a Super Bowl ad. A brief thirty second spot was alleged to go for an average of $2.3 MILLION dollars, several times higher than the average price for a commercial at any other time during a broadcast week.
Considering its importance, the United States government even bought commercial time to promote the 2010 Census. But I hope CBS gave the government a break on the price since this was basically a public service announcement.

In any event, a common theme amongst several of the advertisers seemed to be "How to be a man", with ads for Snickers, Dove for Men, Flo TV, and the Dodger Charger automobile amongst them.
The other common trend seems to be celebrity guest stars within the commercials. During the game, one could see:
*Pauley Perrette walking down the streets of LA and encountering Chris O'Donnell and LL Cool J as Abby met Callen and Sam in a brief NCIS/NCIS: Los Angeles commercial.
*The Simpsons doing what is becoming an annual ad for Coke-Cola.
*Betty White and Abe Vigoda appearing in the aforementioned Snickers ad.

But now, my PERSONAL COMMENTS.
*Most surprising guest star(s): David Letterman, Oprah Winfrey, and Jay Leno sitting together on a couch watching the Super Bowl, although I'm not sure who or what they were supposed to be promoting.
*The most straight forward (tie): The "Fiddling Beaver" for Monster.com and the "Sad Robot" for Intel.
*Best inspired commercial: Whoever the Monty Python fan is behind the "Docker's Free Pants" promotion. And...
*Worst commercial: The Budwiser "Human Bridge".

At least, that's how I see them. Most of the entire collection is available for viewing (and voting) at www.youtube.com

THE SUNDAY FUNNIES: FEBRUARY 7, 2010

Hello Everybody! Ms. Waxy Dragon here.

Today is a big day for sports fans with Super Bowl 44 (XLIV for the purists in the audience), but being a lady and a baby dragon, all I can think of if you want to discuss football is that classic routine by Andy Griffith called "What It Was, Was Football". And believe it or not, it's available on YouTube at www.youtube.com

But while there is no way I could ever dare top such a comedy classic, I do have some football related jokes to tell you lucky people!

Why did the football coach go to the bank?
He wanted his quarter back.

How do football players keep their cool during games?
They sit on benches in front of the fans!

Why can't Cinderella play football?
Because she always runs away from the ball!

Is it a compliment or an insult when your football coach calls you one of the team's greatest drawbacks?

That's it for now everybody. Enjoy the game. Save me some snacks, and we'll be back next weekend with more Sunday Funnies! -wd.

THE WEEK IN REVIEW: JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 6, 2010

*February is Black History Month.
*The mid-Atlantic states are in the midst of a blizzard. People living within the affected areas are advised to take the appropriate precautions.
*Toyota's troubles continue, as advance warnings have been leaked that the automaker will soon start a recall to repair a brake problem it allegedly knew about long before actually addressing.
*While Congress ponders the weighty matters before it and the Obama administration hopes to continue with their plans for economic recovery, the President has not given up hope on seeing a positive Health Care Reform Bill soon.
*The United States Mint, after its recent program celebrating the fifty states and spending 2009 acknowledging the allied territories (the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands) will be initiating a new coin program on the back of quarters called "America the Beautiful" celebrating national parks and landmarks.
*The 2010 Census is fast approaching. Conducted every ten years, the results will allow states to plan better for their communities in the present and future.
*As reported earlier this week, the Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences have announced the nominations for the 2010 Oscars to acknowledge the best in film. Meanwhile their counterparts, the Golden Raspberry Committee, has announced the nominations for the 2010 Razzies, acknowledging the worst in movies, as well as special awards for the worst of the past decade in Hollywood.
*Representing her home state of Virginia, Caressa Cameron has won the 2010 Miss America title.
*Sports fans look forward to Super Bowl XLIV (44) tomorrow as the New Orleans Saints, representing the National Football Conference, make their first game appearance ever against the Indianapolis Colts, who won Super Bowl XLI (41) representing the American Football Conference. The game will begin at 6pm Eastern Standard Time on the CBS television network.

For more news at any time, just scroll down to the IN OTHER NEWS feature at the bottom of your screen.

THE PUZZLE CORNER: FEBRUARY 6, 2010

Another weekend is upon us, and in a lot of places it's too cold to venture forth outside unless absolutely necessary. But let's keep our wits sharp and our minds warm with some new brain teasers.

WORD PLAY
Ah, amour. Love is in the air as Valentine's Day approaches. The definitions to four words are below. All have the letters L-O-V-E within them, but not necessarily in that order. Do you know them?

1. To climb up the genetic ladder.
2. One in a series of books.
3. To create, like an idea.
4. The act of opposing your oppressors.

HOW SMART ARE YOU?
Our question is: What member of the United States is surrounded by the most water?

The answers will appear next weekend.
But for now, let's peek into THE ANSWERS BOX for the results from the January 30 Puzzle Corner.

IN OTHER WORDS...
The Harrison Ford movies are:
1. Star Wars (Stellar Battles) 1977-1983
2. American Graffiti (National Wall Tags) 1973
3. The Mosquito Coast (Gnatty Shore) 1986
4. Morning Glory (Dawn Greatness) To be released later this year
5. Presumed Innocent (Assumed Not Guilty) 1990

TRIVIA TIME
The Las Angeles Police Department retired badge number 714, worn by actor Jack Webb in the original Dragnet series.

THE 2010 RAZZIE NOMINEES

As surely as night follows day, if you celebrate the best in something, there has to be a worst of the same thing.
While not winning an Oscar in the movie industry does not mean that you or your production were amongst the worst Hollywood had to offer during the previous year, winning a Golden Raspberry, more commonly known as a Razzie, does.
Started in 1981, these (dis?)honors are presented to films and their performers the night before the actual Academy Awards to note that while Hollywood may have some great moments, there are also some clunkers out there.
Amongst the nominees this year are:
*All About Steve, G. I. Joe: The Rise of COBRA, Land of the Lost, Old Dogs, and Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen for Worst Picture of the Year.
*Will Farrel (Land of the Lost), Steve Martin (Pink Panther 2), Eddie Murphy (Imagine That), and John Travolta (Old Dogs) for Worst Actor.
*Beyonce (Obsessed), Sarah Jessica Parker (Did You Hear About the Morgans?), Miley Cyrus (Hannah Montana), Megan Fox (Jennifer's Body and/or Transformers 2), and Sandra Bullock (All About Steve) for Worst Actress.

In addition, since this is 2010, the nominees for the worst of the previous decade were also announced, culled from all the previous nominations and 'winners' between 2000-2009.
Those nominees are:
*Ben Affleck, Eddie Murphy, Mike Myers, Rob Schneider, and John Travolta for Worst Actor of the Decade.
*Mariah Carey, Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, Jennifer Lopez, and Madonna for Worst Actress of the Decade.
*Battlefield Earth (from 2000), Freddy Got Fingered (2001), Gigli (2003), I Know Who Killed Me (2007), and Swept Away (2002) for Worst Picture of the Decade.

For a complete list of the nominees or more information on the Razzies, visit their website at www.razzies.com

THE PRESIDENT AND THE FEDERAL BUDGET

An Editorial.

Well, even after publicly announcing his plans during the State of the Union address last week, you can't be surprised that President Barack Obama's proposed 2011 Federal budget is being analyzed by everyone for everything with a fine toothed comb and an electron microscope.
Although it does weigh in at a hefty 3.8 trillion dollars, none of the decisions made into what is and is not within the plan were made lightly.
Small businesses, along with low to middle income Americans will be receiving most of the tax cuts and programs, while big business and those in the upper income brackets will be (as one pundit pointed out) "finally paying their fair share".
Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Homeland Security, and the military also are well covered in the proposal, which still has to receive Congressional approval.

But seriously folks, something does need to be done to help this country back on the road to (economic) recovery.