The Tedder P. Schoenhopfer Policy Exchange

I don’t know what channel Lou Dobbs Tonight is on, but I’m going to be in the studio audience tonight! So watch out.

This annual event is unique, as far as I know. The powers-that-be get together and make fun of themselves, make fun of each other, and usually do it in a jabbing but not mean-spirited way. Here is the article from CNN.

I accidentally bought a “media package” from Microsoft — instead of some themes for my computer –it was $15 — I must have clicked on the wrong picture. So when I got the wrong thing, I thought, oh well, maybe it’s neat so I started installing it. Then, when it it asked me to sign the EULA and threatened to cancel the installation if I didn’t, I thought, “no.” So I clicked “no” and it installed it anyway and works. Then recently I got a microsoft update that seemed like it was really for microsoft to prevent counterfeit software, so when I got the EULA I clicked “no” and cancelled it. We’ll see what happens.

It has been a real pleasure for me to follow Jim Webb’s performance in the Senate. Before the election there were worries (even from some Democrats) that he would be combative, and would not tolerate the “rarefied” atmosphere of the Senate. But he is no governmental neophyte, and he is a smart and thoughtful man, and in fact he is not only getting along just fine, but he is doing a bang-up job. Eleanor Clift wrote a nice article which you can, if you’re interested, read here.

Happy birthday Susan. I hope you are having a wonderful day.

HBTY, HBTY, HBDS, HBTY!!

You know, I don’t see anything impeachable in what Bush has done so far, but doesn’t it seem like this administration is just skipping from one scandal ’til the next, until one finally brings them down? I had never really thought it before, but who knows what is going to come out next.

I don’t know what it was like to be alive during the end of the Nixon administration, but it seems like it’d be something like this.

I never read The Onion anymore, but maybe I’ll start again after someone pointed out this week’s issue, “The War in Iraq: Celebrating Four Years of Winning.

I especially like the Opinion articles and “Bush Quietly Rolls Back Iraq Death Toll To Zero,” but all of it’s pretty funny.

What happened to breaking news?

On my car ride home from Rochester, I was talking to my friend Aaron about things in society that I would change if I had the power to do so. Mostly things that are just dumb, but people have been living with for a long time because they haven’t really given it much thought.

I don’t remember most of the points we brought up, but I remember a few:

1. Speed limits are dumb. They should raise speed limits but enforce them strictly. In other words, a residence speed limit should be 35, and if you go 36 you get a ticket. Doesn’t anybody realize how idiotic it is that you can go between 5-10mph over the “speed limit” without getting a ticket, but the exact amount depends on how lazy the cop is feeling? On highways, you should be able to go 80mph, and at 81 you get a ticket. 65 is way too slow for long trips on really straight highways with 3 lanes.

2. My fraternity every year has an “alcohol awareness” meeting with someone from university health services that gives this long (and really interesting/fun) interactive presentation on alcohol consumption. They try to be pretty neutral and just give us the information, give us warnings, but don’t do the typical “never drink” because they know that fails miserably (as does abstinence-only education, but that’s a different matter). Anyway, one of the statistics surprised me–only 12 students die every year from alcohol poisoning. Does anybody realize how absurdly low this is? More people probably die from drowning in the sink than from alcohol poisoning! This is the most overhyped issue ever. In my years at college, I’ve unfortunately heard of a few people my own age dying–probably about 10–from various causes ranging from suicide to car crashes. But never alcohol poisoning. I think most people are duped into thinking that it’s way more of an issue than it really is.

I really enjoyed the Free Hugs video from Aunt Julie, so here is a post with links to great videos.

I betcha can’t do this.

and here is a basketball video that Marshall e-mailed to me a while back, but it is such a great video that I’m posting it here. Note that the game is tied with 0.6 seconds to go, and the other team on the free-throw line…

Here’s another classic animal story about a baby tiger and a baby orangutan being best buddies.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,255381,00.html