So, we set the TiVo to tape the Democratic Convention on CNN. It started coverage at 5:00pm, so I figured it would be the most comprehensive. Several hours into the replay, all I'd gotten was Wolf Blitzer yapping for hours, John King playing "Master of the Map," and a bunch of bit players trying to get the scraps of airtime Wolf would throw out. Oh, and James Carville looking like he'd swallowed something really bitter (which actually made me happy).

The "best team in politics" routinely talked over speakers (including Nancy Pelosi), only grudgingly allowed that people might want to see any of the video montages, and then bitched ad nauseum about how the Democrats offered no "red meat" on this first day. Considering that I don't think the "best team in politics" listened to any of the convention going on behind them, I'm not surprised they felt that way.

So, after a while of this, when we'd caught up to live TV (just as Ted Kennedy was ending his speech) we started flipping around. We settled on two channels, PBS, for unfiltered coverage (with just the occasional and well-placed explanatory comment, like who that was on stage), and NBC, for political punditry. ABC was a candidate, but I couldn't take much of Diane Sawyer trying to be relevant again (where has she been?).

Tonight, we'll watch PBS and NBC, and we may give ABC a chance again. But, and this is all I have to say on the matter, poor Katie Couric. And is it just me, or is Brian Williams starting to turn into Peter Jennings? Look at him around the eyes. That's not a bad thing.

How's your Convention Coverage going? Do tell.

Million Miles, by J.Ralph (then going by the name SPY), just cycled through on iTunes, and brought to mind my second favorite VW commercial ever, called "Big Day," in which the song is prominently featured. The commercial is a gem. It tells a spellbinding story, unspooling perfectly, with an unexpected twist and an uncertain ending. The breath she takes right before it ends could mean so many things. I have a copy of the video on my computer somewhere, but you can watch it on YouTube.

(Get your own crappy Quicktime version from Volksfolks, or read a discussion of the commercial, mostly full of "This is Awesome!" but still interesting, at Tevis.)

We've just started watching a new show, courtesy of our renewed membership with Netflix, that is proving both entertaining and educational. The characters are interesting, the situations in which they find themselves are eye-opening, and we're learning a lot of new vocabulary. Even the title implies an educational experience. And you thought this was going to be about politics.

Been obsessed with Feist's song, "1234," lately, and then this passes across my feed reader. Thank you, Entertainment Weekly. That said, is that a wee French (Canadian) accent I hear?

No, it doesn't exist, not that I could find. But it should. And quick. Anyone? Lazyweb? Bueller? Make a service that matches people buying Macs this summer via the .edu discount, and people who would be willing to fork over $20 for the "free" iPod touch the first party will get. Make it and they will come.

And I'm not the only one.  Sure, she's my type (as is my wife, I hasten to add), but she's also the least showy of the American Gladiators.  When asked if they are ready, most Gladiators give some sort of hyped-up response.  She just says, "Yeah," and then knocks the poor contestants into the water.  I like that about her Crush character.  The real person behind Crush is Gina Carano, a current Mixed Martial Arts competitor (interview).  You know, when she's not trying her best to keep a straight face or being serenaded on set.