Not saying I’ll make a regular thing out of this, though I got some other products I find ridiculous, but I saw an ad for this one product last night (twice) on GSN, and it just baffles me people would waste money on this.  It’s that No-Touch Soap Dispenser by Lysol.  The ad tries to make a point in that a regular soap pump would harvest tons of icky bacteria.  Not a surprise, since you need to wash for hand of germs, so the first thing you touch is the top of that pump, so yeah, most likely germs are gonna have a party on it.  Okay, I get that.  But…here’s the thing.  You.  Are.  About.  To.  Wash.  Your.  Hands.  Anyway.  Sorry, for separating those out like that, but I was trying to make a valid point.  True, lots of germs, but unless you feel the need to touch the top of that pump after you washed your hands of all those germs, you don’t have a problem.

I had to go find video of this, so I hunted one on YouTube:

After watching it though, I though of something else.  They show the hand go to the No-Touch System, but not when they turn the faucet on.  Turning the faucet off, is the last thing you touch.  Think about that.

I think I’ll just stick with my regular old soap pump.  And after looking at the comments for the YouTube clip, I am not the only one who seems to acknowledge this.

Coast Guard - April 21, 2010

Corporate Greed: The End of Us All

All religions have their ideas to the end of the world; and it’s some invisible supreme being of some sort that will decide when all will cease to exist (or whatever). They can’t comprehend that people can do the damage that can lead to the destruction of the world (or to our very livelihoods). And corporations are at the highest on a list of those that just don’t give a damn about hurting people or the environment.

You hear it. Pharmaceutical companies have a special drug, pay off the FDA in some way in order to get it to the market because it has some pretty serious side effects, such as liver failure (which can cause DEATH). From their own research they know the dangers, but when they see the potential to make billions, they don’t care about what it can do, (with the only downside is a few million bucks in lawsuits which would be just pocket change that they would normally have just wiped their ass with).

But this year is where it’s really starting to show, in terms of what happens when the government regulations that were in place are lessened because Republicans are lining their pockets with money from the Coal Mining industry or Big Oil. What Cheney did in terms of the energy policy is what caused the shit that has happened just this year. From the Coal Mine incident in West Virginia earlier this year to the largest environmental disaster in US history, the Deepwater Horizon explosion in the Gulf of Mexico. Nearly 90 days into it and reports that show negligence on BP’s part continue to pile up.

The oil industry is one that continues to profit, even with the economy like it is. They make billions and billions each year, and whatever profits they have been making, they invest in research to drilling deeper, but not smarter. Last year, BP didn’t pay one time into safety research and response plan for worst case scenario. And BP isn’t the only culprit, they are just the ones in the spotlight now because it was their rig (well, Trans Ocean’s rig, but BP contracts out to them, therefore, responsible for it). The other oil companies could just as easily have had that happened to one of their deepwater rigs in the Gulf, as they are practice business the same way. They even put out the EXACT emergency response plan that promised they can clean up and deal with the situation (which clearly they can’t), listing the mystical walruses of the Gulf of Mexico as potential animals that would be affected, and all even listed the same expert to contact who has been dead for several years before those plans were submitted. It is clear as day that they don’t give a rats ass about what would happen with a major oil spill.

And you’d think now they would be on board with actually investing in making rigs safer, but I doubt it. Not if you have Republicans apologizing to BP. Not if those same politicians are against cap and trade and anything to do with moving forward with newer energy technologies, instead of standing still with polluting and OLD technology. They support BIG OIL as BIG OIL supports them, as they stroke each other and laugh at the livelihoods they destroy, the wetlands that have been impacted, the birds and fish coated with oil, the beaches smelling so bad that no tourist would go to them, destroying businesses that rely on tourism and the jobs in the fishing industry. More importantly, the loss of lives, the eleven workers that were killed in the explosion, must not be forgotten. These people are trying to make a living, but the companies don’t care one bit about the safety and lives of their own employees.

As I said, yes, there are people that depend on these dangerous jobs. These energy industries that are polluting the world, trapping heat on the planet causing weather extremes (on both sides). But, we need to move away from oil. It’s not just the whole move America away from foreign oil (which is a flawed statement, as all oil goes to the same place, so, in fact, we can put as many oil rigs as we want, we’ll still be getting oil from somewhere else (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)). WE need to get rid of our dependence on oil. Replace these outdated industries and move into the future, creating new jobs. It’s the only way to guarantee complete independence.

So you can call those that want regulations on such companies that can cause these HUGE disasters a bunch of treehuggers all you want. It’s not gonna change that this is more than just polluted water (we drink, bathe, swim in) or smog covering the landscapes of major cities (hey, we have to breathe too). The spill proves that when it comes to drilling for oil, if something goes wrong, it’s not just the fish that pay, the people in Gulf states pay too. When either disaster occurs, there is loss of life (coal mining is still among the most dangerous jobs). But as long as big companies can keep getting by (when fines for not having a certain safety device is cheaper than said safety device), they’ll continue to say “screw safety” in order to maximize profits.

And Corporate greed is not just in energy, as stated earlier, drug companies put profits ahead of safety; Insurance companies turned down people with pre-existing conditions; car companies, if they were regulated like they should be, the whole Toyota brake thing probably wouldn’t have happened; Wall Street (don’t think I need to say more on that).

The more recent political news is the extension of unemployment (which I am now unemployed), where Republicans are going on say that can’t be done unless it’s paid for, but then turn around and say tax cuts don’t need to be paid for (Washington Post). They say we need to reduce the deficit, but support tax cuts on rich people, without PAYING for it. Rich people can afford to pay their normal taxes, they shouldn’t get a cut. This trickling down thing is bullshit, ’cause we all know when the rich get a tax cut, they don’t spend it and help stimulate, no, they pocket it, save it, hell, hide it in the Caymons. As for big businesses, they don’t create jobs. Seems more like their CEOs enjoy having jets and stuff. Give executives big ass bonuses, while the hard working Americans see nothing. In a perfect world, if a big company sees major profits, it should trickle down, but it don’t.

These are the things that need to be changed. This is what Obama wants, but the Republicans, the minority party, are blocking things that need to be done. So, stop deep water drilling, completely; extend unemployment; don’t bring back the Bush era tax cuts that helped turn a surplus to a deficit; push for cleaner energy; regulation is in order; oh, and can someone just dismantle Fox News, or at least duct tape their mouths shut?

Thank you for actually reading down this far, and I apologize as I’m not a professional writer in any sense.

[NEWS: as I was finishing typing, I went to MSNBC.com and saw that there is initially no leaking oil in during test of new cap. So if pressure holds, it should contain the oil 'til plugged. This would mean no more NEW oil in the water, but there is still TONS of it already out there, but if this does stick, then maybe there can be more focus now on cleanup. MSNBC.com Oil Coverage]

[EDIT AGAIN: thank you Scott Brown of Massachusetts and Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins of Maine for being Republicans with brains. They helped secure a 60-vote pass in the Senate for a Financial Overhaul bill. One Democrat opposed, saying it didn't go far enough (which would be the case just to get 3 Rep. in on it). The Dodd-Frank bill will make independent consumer bureau within the Federal Reserve to protect borrowers from lending abuses, establishes oversight of the vast derivatives market and gives the government power to seize and wind down large, troubled financial firms Washington Post article]

A week ago, I picked out my choice new series premiering in the 2010-2011 season for NBC, ABC, and FOX. Now, CBS and the CW step up to the plate.

Starting with CBS, I want to point out that they have probably the most change to their schedule. Having surprisingly canceled Ghost Whisperer (which I didn’t watch, but like many, thought it was gonna be back), and also canceling everything from their failing try at a Wednesday comedy block (Gary Unmarried, …Christine, and Accidentally on Purpose), plus canceling dying Cold Case and Numb3rs, and failing new dramas Three Rivers and Miami Medical, let’s just say, they have a lot of room to fill. For starters, Monday, where is their new biggest show, Big Bang Theory? It’s moving to Thursdays making room on regular Monday comedy block for a new comedy. And CSI: Miami? It’s going to Sundays so CBS can premiere the new Hawaii Five-O, starring Alex O’Loughlin (of two previously canned CBS dramas, Moonlight and Three Rivers) and Danial Dae Kim (Lost). Hope this former CSI: Miami slot, which was solid in ratings, means Alex O’Loughlin might have a show go onto at least a FULL season (Moonlight was 16 eps, Three Rivers never even finished airing, though, FYI, CBS will burn those eps off this summer starting on June 5th.)

Next drama, is of course the spin-off to Criminal Minds, which won’t premiere until midseason, has yet to have an official title. One series, that I initially thought of not checking out, but after watching the preview trailer, I think it might be pretty good, and that is The Defenders, starring Jim Belushi and Jerry O’Connell. The Defenders will replace CSI:NY (which is moving to Fridays, see a lot of big changes) on Wednesdays at 10PM.

As for comedies, there is the much talked about Shit My Dad Says (title currently written as “$#*! My Dad Says” or “Bleep My Dad Says”), but is starring William Shatner and is based on the Twitter feed of the same name. But, this will be part of CBS’s new comedy hour on Thursdays, on 8:30pm (after Big Bang Theory), essentially moving Survivor to the 8pm hour on Wed. that CBS has been failing in (hope this means low enough ratings to say “Sayonara.”)

View more trailers/previews: CBS New Series Trailers – the futon critic } CBS 2010-2011 schedule press release – the futon ctiric

Next up, the little itty-bitty network, the CW. They’ve renewed practically all they have, including my faves, Supernatural, Smallville, and their new biggest hit, Vampire Diaries. So, they only have one itty-bitty series, and its another reboot/follow-up (just not a soapy one like 90210 and Melrose Place). No, this is Nikita, a reboot to La Femme Nikita, starring Maggie Q, Shane West, Aaron Stanford, and Melinda Clarke. The CW is putting this on after Vampire Diaries in the Thurs. 9pm slot, pushing Supernatural to Fridays after Smallville (wish they moved those 2 to Tuesday, and put the ANTM crap to Friday and LUX and OTH to Wednesday. Oh well, it’s confirmed that the 10th season of Smallville is the last, and Supernatural has to end at some point, might as well go out on a high note).

CW Schedule – the futon critic

And these last two posts consists of just the broadcast nets.

I currently work at a small little (well, not small small, but just not a chain store of any kind) retail store. No, not saying what store and where (I’m not stupid), but it sells home decor stuff and bedding, but after 2008, along with actual merchandise, the owner acquired shit from like those liquidation people (stores have a bunch of shit people don’t buy for a reason, yet there are companies that buy off stuff from them and re-sell to dumbasses. These “seconds” aren’t always bad (such as the extra random fabric he got, or some decent mirrors, etc), but when it just random stuff thrown into boxes, you’re talking broken stuff, half-emptied bottles, or just completely leaked chemicals that got on everything, so nothing is even sell-able. The store has gone down the toilet. Now of course, it’s going out of business, since people with money decided to not buy stuff, causing people trying to work for a living, to either get laid off or have their hours cut (thanks, BTW).

Of course, we get these people who say, “oh, I’m so sorry you’re going out of business,” or even, “I like coming in here to look around,” which makes me want to say, “yeah, well, looking around doesn’t pay the bills.” It’s bad enough that I have been working in retail (and I know I’m not the only one who has to put up with the stupidity of customers, found a great little site nicely called Retail-Sucks.com). But what sucks, is that we’re going out of business, and it was decided months after he opened a similar, yet much smaller, and more beachier, store, only about a 15min drive from the “main” store. They did well in the summer, but, in the off-season, saw a few days where they did even make any money (had some sales, but more returns). They’re staying open. Now, it’s spring-time, and we’ve been going out of business for about 4 months now, and they have only just started to pick up decent numbers, yet he’s not hiring any extra help. I feel sorry for them, working 50-60 hours in a week, because there are only 2 full-timers there, and 2 part-timers. While at our store, there’s 4 of us full-timers, and 2 part-timers (one of which has really low hours, and the other who has to go pee a lot, seriously). We have a manager who doesn’t always show up on time, and another who talks on the phone A LOT (mostly on her own cell phone). The other one sometimes uses the store phone, and has to take a cig break at least every hour. Not saying I’ve always came into work on time (5-15 min late, not a morning person), but I take no breaks, and lately, with business seeing some busy days, I sometimes don’t even get a lunch break, and if I do, it’s 10-15 min, just enough to eat a sandwich.

But back to what is sucking, and that is trying to find a job. I’m trying to look for higher paying jobs, or at least those similar to what I make now (~20,000 a year), but come up empty. The problem, there are TOO MANY damn restaurants now in the area, not that many places to shop, so staying away from restaurant jobs (which I’m reluctant to go back to) and finding a possible retail store where I may do some of the same stuff I do now, is hard. So, as for higher paying jobs, I’ve been looking into government jobs, but experience is a factor (I have an Associates in Internet Technologies, so I was looking at some tech jobs, but typically, that doesn’t seem to be enough).

I thought of maybe adding an ad to this blog, but if anyone actually views this and clicked on it, it wouldn’t be enough (though still, I’ve considered LinkShare, since they do the affiliate links with iTunes). I hate ads, but I may need to start monetizing this blog (the main site has some affiliate links, as does this blog already, from Zazzle, but I am having a hard time thinking of something truly original for a design to go on shirts and mugs that people may actually want to buy). If I can finish writing my story ideas, I thought of seeing if I have a writing future, but, as evidence of this blog, I don’t think I’m much of a writer.

Come to think of it, I don’t know what it is I’m really good at, except for watching a bunch of different TV shows, but I feel there are enough TV bloggers out there, and I think I’ve been real good about lessening TV talk on this blog. Although, I’ve been using this blog less and less now.

Oh well, felt the need to vent a little, plus my arm is tired and I need to finish Legend of the Seeker from my beautiful DVR that makes it possible for me to watch the amount of shows I do.

Oh, did I mention that job sites like Monster and HotJobs are useless, since I live in a tech-challenged county that are least likely to post job openings online.

Health care reform has passed, and signed into law. But those pesky Republicans want to repeal it (or at least try to). But why? Sure, I wouldn’t mind that one provision requiring all citizens to have insurance (of course, if that public option were in there, maybe it would be easier to do, or if it was more like a tax credit to those that do, then it’ll be okay), but everything else is badly needed. Insurance companies have completely lost their purpose. Insurance is there so when a person gets sick, they can get treated, not DROPPED. It’s sad that Republicans don’t like for kids who had cancer, got treated and now as adults, can’t get their own insurance, b/c of the RISK factor involved.

It pains me, there are people who support Republicans who actually want old people to die, since they don’t want to help seniors pay for their medication (this whole Donut Hole thing). Simply put, senior citizens, once they fell into this hole, felt the need to cut their pills a make a refill last, since it was simply too costly to take their meds as prescribed and refill when needed.

Do Republicans want our children to die? Because, if they are against this, then they do, as this reform is there to help cover children and make it illegal for insurance companies to not cover treatment for a pre-existing condition. (That has been said a lot, pre-existing condition). Now, it’s not a perfect law (Gap in health care law’s protection for children), but that’s what amendments are made for.

I may not know much into this, I do watch Rachel Maddow almost everyday though, and I have got to say, Republicans look pretty dumb on this. Do they really want to be known as those opposing HEALTH CARE reform? You have those that say there are Americans that don’t deserve help because they are obese. Sure, people who eat at Burger King everyday are a heart attack waiting to happen, but that doesn’t mean they deserve to die from a lack of care. (Maybe there should be laws on food companies to lower use of ‘bad stuff’ and help make food that’s actually good for you a little more affordable (seriously, those little Healthy Choice frozen dinners are tiny and cost more than those Hungry Man dinners, which I eat).

Now, I don’t have insurance, so again, maybe my opinion doesn’t really matter. I simply can’t afford it, haven’t been to a doctor, in, well, about 18 years (yeah, before I went into Kindergarten, seriously). I have had some dental stuff done, which has always been out of pocket, because as I was in 12th grade I was under my dad’s plan, but it didn’t cover dental. But, December I stopped going in for teeth cleanings, and can no longer think of getting some partial crown. It doesn’t help that where I work now is going out of business, and there aren’t many job openings (believe me, I look). I blame the shitty high school I went to. There wasn’t one career counselor, and never a career day. They only thing they were concerned: getting kids into college, not necessarily what the fuck they were gonna do when they got out. That’s how people with four-year degrees are probably flippin’ burgers. I have another beef. I was an honor student (BTW) yet only went to a Community College, whereas a bitch (spoiled rotten) cheated off everyone and managed to get into a 4-yr University. And, BTW, she weren’t too bright, she just had a rich dad. Is it my fault the rich are favored over people with brains?

I know I’m not the only one who feels the same (or similar).

Now, if only the Republicans can do what they were elected to do, and work with the Democrats, on a jobs bill. No more shouting “Baby killer” during a session, or obviously pushing people who favor you to through bricks into Democrat offices, or to ‘RELOAD.’ All this hate (let’s not forget the racial and homophobic slurs protesters shouted during the whole health care session on Sunday (well, outside the building), and no Republican saying anything about how distasteful that is. (The ‘baby killer’ thing is like the ‘you lie’ thing, it’s childish, and can only hurt your chances for re-election if up for it, the ‘Reload’ thing: Palin hunts people, figuratively – MSNBC, is just Sarah Palin being, well, Sarah Palin.)

And what is wrong with a near Universal Health Care system? The US has the most costly health care system, yet it underperforms that of countries that do have such a system. Hmmm? Mirror, Mirror on the wall: International Comparative Performance of American Health Care

Now, typically something like this wouldn’t really be worth talking much on, but this one in particular isn’t disgraceful. The ad from ManCrunch.com (a dating site for gay men) was denied airing during the Super Bowl. I have seen it, found it kind of funny, though I would understand that it was pulled if it was the quality of the ad (very low budget), but no. Their reason: Football fans don’t want to see that (by ‘that’ I mean where two dudes watching football touch eachothers hands slightly when reaching chips and then start making out while another fan sitting on a chair is shocked).

Okay, but they want to see an ad against abortions. Despite CBS saying they wouldn’t air advocacy ads, this one on Focus on the Family (a really Christian, very anti-Choice) will air, while six years ago, an ad that was critical of Bush and the war was denied. Hmmmm. (Source: watching the Rachel Maddow Show now while typing this).

But back to the gay dating site. With Football fans not wanting ads like that, then I hope eHarmony (and the like) will also not be seen, ’cause I’m taking it as football fans don’t want to see dating ads at all. Fine, as long as it’s fair.

However, Focus on the Family ad, which brings up a woman who went against doctor’s order on having an abortion and risk her life. Well, sure, it worked out for her, she got lucky, but it isn’t always gonna work, so this ad (which CBS possibly contributed to it) is advocating that all women in a similar position RISK THEIR LIVES for a small chance of survival to both the mother and child. But, that’s not the issue as much as CBS airing it, despite the ManCrunch ad is rejected because it didn’t “comply with the company’s Standards and Practices department,” or simply, they were uncomfortable with it ’cause, like CBS viewers as a whole, they are a bunch of old people living in the stone ages (my words, I don’t apologize, since everyone knows that CBS has more older viewers than the other broadcast nets).

I will go on the record that I’m a straight female, but I support gay rights and the woman’s right to choose, therefore I felt the need to point this out and give my opinion on the subject. I also want to point out that a 30-sec spot during the Super Bowl runs at about $2.5 MILLION, so if a company if willing to pay, why deny it? Also related, another ad for a video game “Dante’s Inferno” had been edited because the tagline “Go to Hell” CBS felt was “too extreme” for the Super Bowl, I find that interesting as well (thought major Football fans would be okay with violent games, though I get these are family events, but shouldn’t the Super Bowl be held differently, being live and an American Institution, that anything “offensive” should slide, then again, the Super Bowl seems to be slimming to an almost female event, with family watchdogs bitchin’ and compain’ that a LIVE sports event may have some F-bombs and the like). Obviously, I am very much against censorship too.

Now, the GoDaddy ads are in a completely different field, with sexual references, family groups may hate them, but guys love them, but even those ads get edited down, or banned as well (one this year won’t air, but that is a more legal issue with movie rights, not anything “offensive”).

Gay Dating Site Rejected – NY Daily News

Gay dating site may air elsewhere – Digital Journal

CBS Loves God, Hate Gays – Technorati
CBS rejects Dante’s Inferno ad – Kombo.com