Friday, June 26, 2009

Today's Video Link

Vince Waldron told me about this and it should be fascinating...but so far, neither he nor I have had the attention span to make it all the way through.

It's a never-broadcast promotional film for Desilu Studios, from back in the days when Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball owned half the television industry. Westinghouse was one of their biggest sponsors so Desi and Lucy starred in this tour of their operation that was designed to show appliance dealers how Westinghouse was going to be selling washing machines like crazy. I think this was done in early 1958 and it runs a little less than half an hour. It's been posted to YouTube in three parts and they should play, one after the other, in the window I've embedded below. Thanks, Vince.

• Posted at 11:23 PM · LINK

No Census, No Feelings...

Congresswoman Michele Bachmann is complaining about the Federal Government gathering information about U.S. citizens, suggesting that what you tell the census takers might somehow be used against you. This is the same Michele Bachmann who was a fervent supporter of every wiretapping and domestic spying program that the Bush administration wanted. Apparently, it's fine for the government to listen in and hear everything you and your friends and lovers say to one another...but no one had better ask how many flush toilets you have in your home.

She was just on the news complaining that the government is asking for everyone's phone number. I guess it's okay to tap your telephone just so long as they don't try to call it. Then she asked just what they planned to do with all those phone numbers. I'll tell you, Madame Congresswoman...

They plan to add them all together. Then they'll divide by the total U.S. population. And then, at long last, we will finally know the average American phone number.

• Posted at 10:43 PM · LINK

Recommended Reading

Question for Fred Kaplan: What exactly will happen when U.S. forces start leaving Iraq?

• Posted at 9:45 AM · LINK

Recommended Viewing

Dick Cavett offers more memories and another delightful video embed of Dr. Jonathan Miller.

• Posted at 2:12 AM · LINK