Barack Obama, Bill Gates retires, habanero salsa
Thursday, January 10, 2008
On the heels of Hillary Clinton’s huge comeback win in the New Hampshire primary over Barack Obama, ESPN columnist Bill Simmons reports that he is “leaning toward voting for the Clintons (and really, they’re a package deal)” for the following three reasons:
- They’ve been in the office before and made all their mistakes the first time around.
- I miss Bill Clinton and want him back in my life on a regular basis for comedy and entertainment purposes.
- Obama smokes cigarettes. I can’t get past this.
Simmons continues with the following observation, which cracked me up:
Obama might win me over if he keeps ripping off Cyrus’ act from “The Warriors.” Check out this YouTube clip of Cyrus’ speech, as well as Obama’s speech in Iowa, and tell me Obama isn’t about six months away from ending every speech with “Cannnnnnn youuuuuuuu diggggggggg ittttttttttttttttttttt???” What an electric speaker. You have to hand it to him.
I agree. I like Obama. He actually seems presidential . . . an MLK/JFK hybrid . . . you know, someone you can respect and actually feel comfortable knowing he represents your country. Someone who can speak eloquently, passionately and coherently. That would be a lovely change. On a related note, I was underwhelmed by Hillary Clinton’s victory speech after winning New Hampshire. Blah.
Bill Simmons also featured the following hilarious YouTube video in his latest article: Norm MacDonald ripping on Courtney Thorne-Smith on Late Night with Conan O’Brien, circa 1998.
I love this: Someone adapted one of my favorite interview clips from David Lynch’s Inland Empire extras disc into a fake 30-second iPhone commercial. See it on YouTube: David Lynch on iPhone.
Also, you should watch this funny video from CES 2008 of Bill Gates’s last day at Microsoft.
After consuming something like five jars of the stuff over the past few months, its staying power tells me I have a new favorite store-bought salsa: Mrs. Renfro’s Mango Habanero Salsa. One of my main criteria when selecting salsas is low vinegar content. I’ve determined that vinegar has to be at least the sixth ingredient (or lower); otherwise, I’m pretty much guaranteed to get limited enjoyment from the salsa.
Also, over the holiday season, I was compelled to buy these little soy candles being sold in one of the organic/natural aisles of the grocery store I frequent. Standing in the aisle, the mix of scents was overwhelming good and even nostalgic. At first I couldn’t figure out where it was coming from, or what it reminded me of. But then I found a little display of candles near the floor at the opposite end of the aisle. And I now have three of these little Aroma Naturals candle tins on my desk: Relaxing (Lavender & Tangerine), Wish (Peppermint & Vanilla), and Peace (Orange, Clove & Cinnamon). The pine-scented one was nice too.
Note: I don’t burn the candles, I just smell them . . . and I pretend I’m Jean-Baptiste Grenouille from Tom Tykwer’s Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (2006). Collecting pure essential oils.
Speaking of cinnamon, have you taken the Cinnamon Challenge?