Bone The Fish - Most Recent Comments!

Who said you can't coin your own term? What is "Boning the Fish"? It's a moment. A defining moment when you know that your favorite TV Show, Celebrity, Movie Series or Music Group has reached its peak. That instant you know from now on...it's all downhill. Some call it a climax of sorts. We call it "Boning the fish". From that moment on things will simply never be the same.

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Recent Comments

Rats - Random Topics
Mosquitoes are the most dangerous and deadliest animal on Earth. Not just against people (malaria, dengue fever, encephalitis, yellow fever, West Nile virus), but also animals. They infect dogs and cats (and other animals) with heart worms, among other diseases. I hate mosquitoes. You can't wipe them out, all you can do is keep them at bay with citronella and OFF! products. -- Submitted By: (Robert) on June 2, 2011, 12:57 pm

Snuggy - Random Topics
I don't hate or dislike the Snuggy. It makes wearers look like wizards. Where I live, it would be unthinkable to wear a Snuggy AND cover up with a blanket when you go to bed, unless your AC is at the coldest setting. In this tropical climate, you're more likely to see a tyrannosaurus sleeping on the front lawn than even one snowflake. -- Submitted By: (Robert) on June 2, 2011, 12:54 pm

Liberalism - Random Topics
JamesO...what does that make you? Balanced, of course. -- Submitted By: (Robert) on June 2, 2011, 12:38 pm

Telemarketing/Telesales - Random Topics
Dol, when I first had my number placed on that list, I enjoyed several months of telemarketer-free life. Then the calls started to come back, and now they are as much a raging torrent as those rivers you've had to deal with. -- Submitted By: (Soggy9000) on June 2, 2011, 12:36 pm

Hooters (restaurant) - Random Topics
No thanks. Eye candy is nice, but if the food doesn't cut it, the waitress's big cans aren't going to make up for it. (Unless she writes her phone number on them for me, in which case I'll choke down the aforementioned mediocre ribs and warm beer.) -- Submitted By: (Soggy9000) on June 2, 2011, 4:13 am

Ferrari - Random Topics
I'll take a Porsche over a Ferrari any day. -- Submitted By: (Soggy9000) on June 2, 2011, 3:54 am

Rats - Random Topics
Maskdt is correct: The mosquito has killed far more humans - indeed an order of magnitude more - than rats ever thought of doing. Besides, if it weren't for rats, the hero of the movie Willard would have had to kill his enemies with an army of gerbils. And the Deftones would have had to rename one of their more memorable songs "Squirrels!Squirrels!Squirrels!" And Dustin Hoffman's character in Midnight Cowboy would have been named Ferretso Frizzo, which just sounds stupid. -- Submitted By: (Soggy9000) on June 2, 2011, 3:52 am

Lisa Simpson - Random Topics
Wow, some great stuff here guys! ExplodingConsole sums it up though--Lisa Simpson is now merely a cartoon mouthpiece for the liberal writers to prosetylize. It's the same reason Family Guy BTF (Brian and Lois are the mouthpieces there). Makes me glad I was never into the Simpsons. Oh, and I agree about the paragraph thing. -- Submitted By: (DolFan316) on June 1, 2011, 8:05 pm

Telemarketing/Telesales - Random Topics
So I guess even though it's listed as a reason nobody commenting has ever heard of the do not call list? Or does it just not work anymore? -- Submitted By: (DolFan316) on June 1, 2011, 7:59 pm

Louisiana - Random Topics
Louisiana is the New Jersey of the South. -- Submitted By: (Stephanie) on June 1, 2011, 4:59 pm

Liberalism - Random Topics
Actually, it was me who submitted both liberalism and conservatism at the same time. :) So which one am I? -- Submitted By: (JamesO) on June 1, 2011, 3:25 pm

Snuggy - Random Topics
johnnydough, Yes, indeed, you may be the first to defend snuggy- but don't be surprised if you're the LAST! LOL -- Submitted By: (Pelirojo) on June 1, 2011, 12:44 pm

Snuggy - Random Topics
May I be the first one here to defend the Snuggy? It is actually quite comfortable and may act as an internal layer to using a blanket. Great for sleeping as well. -- Submitted By: (johnnydough) on June 1, 2011, 7:01 am

Radio - Random Topics
There's nothing special or unique about radio anymore. It used to be that every city had their own shows or personalities, but now with huge conglomerations owning multiple stations, the local flavor is largely gone. In favor there is the illusion that it's local, when it's really produced in New York or Los Angeles. Add to that all stations play about five songs an hour plus tons of commercials and stations have a playlist of about ten songs total and you have many reasons why now I just take my iPod and used that for my music these days. -- Submitted By: (kingbk) on May 31, 2011, 9:04 pm

Citizens Commission on Human Rights - Random Topics
Just because Galactic Emperor Xenu had a bad experience with his shrink 47 billion years ago doesn't mean the entire profession is screwy. -- Submitted By: (Soggy9000) on May 31, 2011, 7:43 pm

Body Piercing - Random Topics
It's for ugly people to distract from their ugliness, or to pretend they are ugly on purpose. -- Submitted By: (Poopsprayer) on May 31, 2011, 7:05 pm

Elmo - Random Topics
Elmo destroyed Sesame Street, I think I remember him being one of minor background charcaters before that Tickle Me Elmo made him popular. Besides pushing Glover ,Oscar and Big Bird into the background, they also cut most classic segments too, ethier shorter or not shown at all for that 20+ mins of crap they called Elmo World. -- Submitted By: (SSM) on May 31, 2011, 4:26 pm

Radio - Random Topics
The only time I listen to the radio is when I drive. Otherwise, I can easily live without it. -- Submitted By: (Robert) on May 31, 2011, 2:48 pm

Elmo - Random Topics
So someone submitted Elmo as a random topic. Well, Lisa Simpson has her own topic, why not Elmo? What can best be said about Elmo? He ruined Sesame Street. Lisa's motto is "I am always right", but Elmo's motto is: "PAY ATTENTION TO ME!" Who's more annoying? I say Elmo, and here are some reasons. 1: Because he's front and center when it comes to Sesame Street merchandise. For Simpsons merchandise, it's usually Homer or Bart, not Lisa. 2: In most situations, you can ignore Lisa's soap-boxing, and she's mostly ignored by the other characters. You can't really do the same for Elmo, who demands your attention for the last 15-20 minutes of Sesame Street. The added bonus? This doesn't stop Elmo from appearing in the first 40-45 minutes of the episode, usually with Abby Kadabby and Baby Bear. 3: Lisa doesn't put her name in every sentence. Elmo says "Elmo this" and "Elmo that" when talking about himself. 4: Elmo ruined Sesame Street. I know I said that before, but it's really that important. -- Submitted By: (Robert) on May 31, 2011, 12:15 pm

Radio - Random Topics
Commercial radio is good for call-in talk shows and little else. And public radio is not much better. The proliferation of podcasts, of every conceivable variety, and create-your-own-music-station services, pretty much makes conventional radio a quaint anachronism. -- Submitted By: (Soggy9000) on May 31, 2011, 11:59 am

Citizens Commission on Human Rights - Random Topics
Psychiatrists caused 9/11? I've heard people accuse Jews of causing 9/11, I've heard people say Americans brought it onto themselves, but psychiatrists? BS like this is one of countless reasons why few people take $cientology seriously. -- Submitted By: (Robert) on May 31, 2011, 11:16 am

Telemarketing/Telesales - Random Topics
Man, you unload on them and they STILL keep coming back. I gotta admit, I'm tempted to do it, but only for those who are extremely persistent. You know, the ones who keep pressuring you even though you said no. -- Submitted By: (Robert) on May 31, 2011, 11:07 am

Telemarketing/Telesales - Random Topics
I have, and they probably HAVE called back sometime later in spite of it. One company calls almost every day at about 6:15 p.m., in spite of the things I tell the rep on the rare occasions I answer the phone. (It's my bank, or rather the massive corporation that owns my bank; they want to offer me a home equity line of credit, despite my never having applied for one. They always mispronounce my name too. Sometimes they will also offer me a service I already have with them, which tells me that the various departments of the corporation are not communicating with each other very well - or, more likely, that they just don't give a shit. The first dozen times they called, I politely asked them not to call me any more. That was at least fifty calls ago.) -- Submitted By: (Soggy9000) on May 30, 2011, 3:57 pm

Lisa Simpson - Random Topics
I haven't watched the Simpsons in some time to be honest. As for Bart being a jerk, remember the vacation episode where Bart embarrassed Lisa in front of the new friends she made. He did it because he was jealous of her, he felt she was a nerd and was faking being cool or, I dunno, some other reason that seemed logical at the time but was in reality stupid. Granted, he felt genuinely bad when he realized he'd hurt her. Yes, he took action to fix things but it still, his initial actions were wrong. Or, in the Thanksgiving episode where Bart ruined Lisa's centrepiece, didn't care and got all upset when the adults yelled at time. He eventually ran away, still not seeing the error of his ways. It wasn't until Lisa finally sat him down and talked him that he saw it from her point of view, realized what a jerk he'd been and apologized. Granted, teaching someone to not do bad things out of 'how would you feel if someone did that to you?' is worlds better then making them not do it out of fear of someone retaliating. And yes, Lisa also felt terrible when Bart ran away. IIRC, feeling that it wasn't worth losing her brother over a centrepiece, even when he was in the wrong. In the Science Fair episode, remember that Lisa did make her experiment "Is my brother dumber then a Hamster?". Although Bart did ruin her previous experiment, so, he kinda deserved it. Also remember in the episode where Bart lost out on the trip the chocolate factory, Lisa was smug about Bart missing out on the bus and even felt he deserved to miss out on the trip. Her attitude was it was the only way he'll learn. I don't recall him doing anything to her in that episode. One thing I've noticed about Lisa vs Bart. When Bart is the villain, it's usually more sibling rivalry stuff. The kinda stuff one looks back at as an adult and wants to smack themselves for doing. I think part of the issue with Lisa is that we're supposed to sympathize with Bart, even when he's a jerk. So, when he's a jerk, we cringe at how he can be such a jerk. However, they don't glorify it. They take the attitude that he's being a jerk and it's wrong. With Lisa, they've turned her into the annoying teenager (even though she's a kid) that's learned a bit about environmental stuff etc. that demands we do things the way she think is right. She doesn't take into consideration that if changing things for the better were so easy and worked just as well as the bad for the environment ways that we'd have all done it by now. However, as I've said before and want to elaborate, Lisa is also the victim here. They're using her as a puppet for those views. Btw, is there any way to get paragraphs working? Posts would look much better if they weren't all one big block of text. -- Submitted By: (ExplodingConsole) on May 30, 2011, 3:54 pm

Rap (music) - Random Topics
I think the East coast vs. West coast rap wars were both the climax and decline. Rap was at a peak talentwise, but the songs started entering the now familiar territory of demeaning women, talking of drugs and money. Once 2pac and Notorious were killed in the late 90's, the creativity, heart and soul disappeared. -- Submitted By: (kingbk) on May 30, 2011, 12:59 pm

Don Bluth - Random Topics
Looking at his filmography, I think you may be right. His last great movie was All Dogs Go to Heaven (1989). His final film was Titan A.E. (2000). We really need more traditionally done movies. Compare one of Bluth's 1980s movies to the dime-a-dozen CGI movies of today and see for yourself. -- Submitted By: (Robert) on May 30, 2011, 11:35 am

Telemarketing/Telesales - Random Topics
You are so bad, Soggy! Have you ever really done that? And if so, have they ever called you again? -- Submitted By: (Robert) on May 30, 2011, 11:19 am

Lamisil - Random Topics
Ugh, I'm glad I just finished lunch when I read this. The Mucinex snot family is pretty gross, but the toe fungus barely beats them for worst mascot ever. -- Submitted By: (Robert) on May 30, 2011, 11:16 am

Lisa Simpson - Random Topics
People still watch because...I don't know. I stopped watching regularly around 2000, vowing never to watch a new episode again after "That 90s Show". You know, I did some deep thinking after reading these comments. I come to the conclusion that maybe it's not Lisa we hate, but instead, we hate what she's become. As ExplodingConsole pointed out, Bart can be a jerk too. After ruining her babysitting service, Bart apologized, and I remember thinking, "That's nice, but saying you're sorry isn't going to bring back Lisa's babysitting service." But all was forgiven when she got two calls asking for her help. Before that, Bart ruined her science fair project (I know, who can resist throwing a tomato that size at the principal's butt when he's bending over?) then hijacked her hamster experiment and took first prize. I felt bad for her. When an aptitude test pegged her as a homemaker, she went bad, then stole the teachers' editions. Bart had a great chance to turn his life around, but took the fall so Lisa could have a bright future. This was possibly the biggest sacrifice Bart ever made for Lisa, and I felt bad for him. But at least Bart becomes chief justice of the supreme court when he grows up. Lisa's not the only one who's taken a turn for the worse: while she's gotten self-righteous, Bart went from a menace with some good in him to a jerk who's almost as stupid as Homer. Homer's gone from a dopey dad who at least cared for his family to a selfish jerk and a complete idiot. The reason Lisa's singled out is because her holier-than-thou attitude is more annoying than stupidity. Nobody likes a mouthpiece character, which includes Brian from Family Guy. We want to be entertained, not told what to think! Marge and Maggie are the only ones who haven't really changed. For now... And PYLrulz, you're right: I think the only time South Park refused to see the other side of the issue--and rightfully so--was the NAMBLA episode. When the leader says he "learned something today", Kyle replies: "Dude..you tried to have sex with children!" And Stan says something like, "We're all for tolerance, but **** you!" -- Submitted By: (Robert) on May 30, 2011, 11:02 am

Rap (music) - Random Topics
There is no denying that the genre has been important in terms of its influence on other musical forms, and for that I appreciate it. In fact, it's spawned some interesting hybrids like rap metal and rapcore. But I agree with most of you that when the artists set aside the social commentary and just became all about drugs and guns and pimping and the shallowest sort of materialism, rap lost its heart. -- Submitted By: (Soggy9000) on May 29, 2011, 10:35 pm

Lisa Simpson - Random Topics
And folks still watch this cartoon because. ..why again? -- Submitted By: (Pelirojo) on May 29, 2011, 8:53 pm

Lamisil - Random Topics
I think whoever pitched[and bought] the fungus and muccus 'character' ideas ARE fungal snots. Just gross- and not in an entertaining or clever way. -- Submitted By: (Pelirojo) on May 29, 2011, 8:51 pm

Rock music - Random Topics
And there always will be. Those who proclaim "Rock is dead" remind me of the mid-19th-century head of the U.S. Patent Office who declared his job to be no longer necessary since, according to him, everything that could possibly be invented had been by then. -- Submitted By: (Soggy9000) on May 29, 2011, 11:02 am

Liberalism - Random Topics
You're right, of course. Nor is anyone under any obligation to explain why he/she chooses a particular subject to submit. However, the matter is open to conjecture, and I suspect that the number of BTFers who are most interested in submitting subjects they hated from the get-go explains the presence of quite a few subjects on this site. (All those far-left acronym activist groups, for example. There are lots of them here, including some that are quite obscure - yet there are no far-RIGHT activist groups listed, for some reason.) -- Submitted By: (Soggy9000) on May 29, 2011, 10:55 am

Rock music - Random Topics
There are alot of bands in rock that have boned (Metallica) however, there is always a new rock band that keeps the genre going. -- Submitted By: (Chubby Rain) on May 29, 2011, 5:48 am

Liberalism - Random Topics
You are hearing crickets because there is no answer to your question. There isnt a form to fill out for "why" you are submitting a topic to BTF. Keep on waiting.... -- Submitted By: (Chubby Rain) on May 29, 2011, 5:46 am

Trolls (internet) - Random Topics
I could see though about the people responded to them, it's hard to resist to not tell them off, but at the end of the day that excactly what they want from you, a response to their madness. -- Submitted By: (SSM) on May 28, 2011, 7:37 pm

Varenicline (trade name Chantix) - Random Topics
Damn! Smokers are better off to continue to smoke! -- Submitted By: (Stephanie) on May 28, 2011, 2:27 pm

Varenicline (trade name Chantix) - Random Topics
Usually when these products run TV ads warning about 27 different potentially scary side-effects, viewers are bound to chuckle. In this case, those warnings are clearly no laughing matter. I sure hope nobody I know is taking this stuff. -- Submitted By: (Soggy9000) on May 28, 2011, 5:58 am

Varenicline (trade name Chantix) - Random Topics
Smoking-pill suicides overlooked in missing reports Hundreds of reports of suicides, psychotic reactions and other serious problems tied to the popular stop-smoking drug Chantix were left out of a crucial government safety review because Pfizer Inc., the drug’s manufacturer, submitted years of data through “improper channels.” Some 150 suicides — more than doubling those previously known — were among 589 delayed reports of severe issues turned up in a new analysis by the non-profit Institute for Safe Medication Practices. -- Submitted By: (lrbloom) on May 28, 2011, 3:16 am

Telemarketing/Telesales - Random Topics
When my phone rings, I will not answer it if no return number is indicated on the screen - UNLESS I'm in an evil mood. Then I'll answer, let the person get a few seconds into their sales pitch, then interrupt them to say: "You know, if you'd only stayed in high school and gotten that diploma, you'd have a REAL job today, and far fewer people would fantasize about ripping your tongue out of your head and sticking it up your big fat ass." -- Submitted By: (Soggy9000) on May 28, 2011, 2:29 am

Lamisil - Random Topics
Of course, we mustn't forget the Musinex Mucus Family.... -- Submitted By: (Soggy9000) on May 28, 2011, 1:59 am

Chick Tracts - Random Topics
Apparently I've lived a sheltered life because I've never heard of these things before now. They seem to beg the question of how to evaluate their fish-boning status. If taken as a serious evangelizing aid, it's probably fair to say they boned from the moment of their creation. (Has anyone actually converted to Mr Chick's odd strain of Christianity as a result of reading them?) If the tracts are taken as the sort of unintentionally amusing propaganda that characterizes, say, the film Reefer Madness, I'd say they provide too many chuckles to have boned. -- Submitted By: (Soggy9000) on May 28, 2011, 1:41 am

Lisa Simpson - Random Topics
There are two trains of argument on this board. One, that the character has become excessively, irritatingly strident and self-righteous over the years; and two, that these traits are being spun in a positive way by the show's producers because she is voicing their own views. From what little of the show I see these days, I can see plenty of evidence to support the first claim, and rather little to support the second (at least insofar as the more sharply leftwing stances are presented as how we viewers ought to think). And if the second claim were in fact accurate, the fault rightly belongs with the producers rather than with their mouthpiece character. -- Submitted By: (Soggy9000) on May 27, 2011, 7:35 pm

Lisa Simpson - Random Topics
Robert described it best. When South Park pushes something, they either rip on something that everybody knows is whacked out, or if its something more sensible, and you disagree... hey, fine, thats cool, we all have opinions. When Lisa does something, its "My way or the highway". -- Submitted By: (PYLrulz) on May 27, 2011, 6:28 pm

Lisa Simpson - Random Topics
I consider myself fairly left when it comes to environmentalism and far-left when it comes to animal rights-- and she even annoys me at times. I think it's the snobbish arrogance that she frequently displays. It's not always political. On South Park, Stan and Kyle would say, "You know what guys, maybe..." whereas Lisa has said things like, "When will these fools learn that..." -- Submitted By: (Travoltron) on May 27, 2011, 2:51 pm

Lisa Simpson - Random Topics
Remember though with the wacking day episode, Bart helped as well. Remember that it was Bart that pointed out the inconsistencies in the history books that proved that wacking day was a sham. And yes, Bart was acting like a jerk (beyond jerk) in the babysitting episode. While I can understand why he was so upset, it doesn't make his actions right or acceptable. He was justified in his indignation. However, acting as he acted only served to show that he *really* needed a babysitter. Notice however that when Bart goes with Lisa as an equal that his behaviour and intellect are often considerably better. Also don't forget what Bart did in the episode where Lisa was rebelling and took the teachers copies of the text books. I've also noticed that there is one word that can often sum up why Bart misbehaves when he misbehaves: Homer. Notice that when Lisa uses her indignation and morals for good and Bart is on her side and they work together that they make a pretty kick-ass team? Then again, Homer is the same guy that said "Bart can kiss my hairy yellow butt" when Marge expressed worry that Bart would be jealous of Lisa (i.e., when Lisa was born. Homer also declared Lisa to be wave of the future when her intelligence was blooming. When Bart was at the same time starting to have issues, Homer took an attitude of writing Bart off as a failure. Bart Simpson strikes me as the kind of person that could be a good kid. Heck, he could be a damn good and smart kid (let's just forget that Simpson gene garbage they came up with in that one episode) if it wasn't for bad influences like Homer and the bullies. Lisa in encouraged to be the best she can be while Bart is encouraged to be an ass. Notice that in early episodes, they had Bart and Lisa being successful as an adult? Later ones have Bart being more of a failure and Lisa more successful. Perhaps the problem with Lisa isn't Lisa per say. It's that they're making Bart and Homer look increasingly worse to make Lisa look better. Everyone has become caricatures of themselves. Lisa is a victim of the same issue Homer is once you get down to it. -- Submitted By: (ExplodingConsole) on May 27, 2011, 12:56 pm

Public Libraries - Random Topics
I have no problem with people going on the internet at libraries. Except when they hog it for entertainment when people need to use it for research and school/college projects... -- Submitted By: (Robert) on May 27, 2011, 12:45 pm

Lisa Simpson - Random Topics
Lisa wasn't always bad, but they made her that way. She used to be the voice of reason, just like Marge. I think another reason people resent Lisa could stem from once liking her as the voice of reason and seeing she's de-evolved into a crazed activist. Stan and Kyle (usually) don't ram their ideas down the viewers' throats, they just "learned something today". Speaking of South Park, I see a comparison between Lisa's vegetarianism vs the South Park boy's vegetarianism: Lisa ruins Homer's BBQ, the boys steal calves from a veal farm. Both Lisa and the boys disrespect their parents (Stan even tells his parents to "kiss [his] ass"). Lisa's still a vegetarian, the boys stopped after Stan got sick from it. Lisa was never punished for what she had done. The boys, however, were punished despite "learning something today". When it comes to their opinions, Lisa is hyper-left, while the boys are more balanced. If they were to suddenly tilt hyper-right, there's a good chance they'd be hated as much as Lisa. Perhaps more so. Also, considering how awful the Simpsons had gotten in the past decade--and STILL being kept on the air--it's not hard to see why people have more respect for Parker and Stone than they do for Groening. When Parker and Stone do an episode with a political message, I hear: "Here's what we think about it. If you don't agree with us, OK, fine." Unlike Lisa, in which disagreeing with her means you are "wrong, wrong, WRONG!" -- Submitted By: (Robert) on May 27, 2011, 12:38 pm

Lisa Simpson - Random Topics
PYLrulz: "When Parker and Stone usually portray their opinions through South Park, they are usually sensible..." Sure, they are sensible to you, and they are sensible to me - but they aren't sensible to everyone. Again, I want to establish whether the complaints on this page are about producers of animated shows who give us their political opinions, or about producers of animated shows who give us LIBERAL political opinions. -- Submitted By: (Soggy9000) on May 27, 2011, 1:01 am

Public Libraries - Random Topics
I go there mostly for internet access, lol. No, I also go there sometimes to rent books, dvd, or cds. Thank god for the public library though, it's save me from buying a bad movie and if the movie is very good , I go buy it. -- Submitted By: (SSM) on May 26, 2011, 6:54 pm

Lisa Simpson - Random Topics
P.S I don't hate Lisa herself because she's just a cartoon and she's 8 years old but I find her some quirks very annoying like some of Brain (from Family Guy) quirks is annoying from time to time. -- Submitted By: (SSM) on May 26, 2011, 6:44 pm

Lisa Simpson - Random Topics
Lisa can have some good points and a good reason to complian or protest like the time Marge was in the hospital and Bart and Homer is too lazy so Liza tricked them to believe they were sick because they never done housework. Or the time when she babysat Bart and Bart is acting like a jerk (even though it was funny), or when she wanted to create a doll to insirpe little girls to be more than to be some bimbo housewife. Also like Robert said before the wacking day episode but she is annoying when pushing her views down everyone throats like the infamous BBQ Episode with the pig or when Ned just wanted the schools to teach creativism but she doesn't want creativism at all, they were teaching both (evoltion and creativism) at least to have a comprimise and a open mind but Lisa doesn't think both should exist just one, she even wants Marge to choose one she Marge doesn't see what wrong teaching both. It backfried on Lisa however and got rid of evlovtion instead. -- Submitted By: (SSM) on May 26, 2011, 6:32 pm

Lisa Simpson - Random Topics
I've said it before. When Parker and Stone usually portray their opinions through South Park, they are usually sensible, and anybody on the other side they are goofing on are usually the nuts to begin with anyway. Lisa on the other hand, as I have said, started out ok, but now can't stand because of her portrayal of some super left whacko at times (note, I am neither right or left when it comes to politics, so I'll get that out of the way right now) -- Submitted By: (PYLrulz) on May 26, 2011, 2:42 pm

Lisa Simpson - Random Topics
Granted, I don't watch the show as much as I used to, so maybe I'm a bit behind the times here. But in the past, Lisa usually HAS been the voice of reason. (Except when her idealism proves unrealistic.) But then, so are Stan Marsh and Kyle Broflovski of South Park, at least by the end of each episode (when one of them gives us the "I've learned something important today" speech). How many of you who gripe at Lisa Simpson being positioned as a fount of wisdom have the same complaint about Stan and Kyle? Could it be that Parker & Stone are worthier than Groening & Brooks of feeding us their opinions because their opinions are closer to ours......? (Just a thought.) -- Submitted By: (Soggy9000) on May 26, 2011, 1:01 am

Lisa Simpson - Random Topics
True, Lisa's just an annoying cartoon character, and she's supposed to be a self-righteous holier-than-thou type, but they rarely portray her as that. Most of the time, she's portrayed as a hero whose beliefs are never wrong (OK, she's RARELY wrong). It's that part which we don't appreciate: Nobody likes having other people's opinions rammed down their throats, hence why many dislike/hate Lisa. In her defense, there were times when she was right: like protesting Whacking Day and trying to find out who shot Mr. Burns. As for the future Wilma Flintstone trial, she doesn't ram her opinions down our throats. We the jury find Wilma Flintstone: Not Guilty! -- Submitted By: (Robert) on May 25, 2011, 9:03 pm

Lisa Simpson - Random Topics
Let's face it, it is indeed true that Lisa Simpson is a fictitious character. She's a figment of the writer's imaginations. The only difference between her and any other imagined person is that they've animated and publicly displayed her. It is indeed silly to be jealous of or to dislike Lisa when everything about her is imagined. She's as smart as the writers decide she'll be for that episode. Everything she says and does is all part of a script. Perhaps we should also take another thing into consideration. If Lisa is indeed a parody of intelligent/prodigy type kids then remember that her behaviour and/or making Bart/Homer look bad in order to make Lisa look good makes Lisa look bad too. The sad fact is, Lisa is as much of a victim of being an annoying character as the other characters (and viewers) that need to put up with her crap are. -- Submitted By: (ExplodingConsole) on May 25, 2011, 4:37 pm

Lisa Simpson - Random Topics
I disagree that she is supposed to be annoying. I think the idea, in the beginning at least, was that we were supposed to feel sorry for Lisa for being born into the Simpson family. The thing is, Lisa actually has things pretty good-- especially by today's standard of living. -- Submitted By: (Travoltron) on May 25, 2011, 3:27 pm

Rock music - Random Topics
(more crickets) Dol, you're good at drive-by criticism, but you have a habit of bugging out when called on to back it up. A mere statement that something sucks, with no effort to elaborate, carries all the weight of a feather. Surely you must have a persuasive - or at least thought-provoking - defense of your assertion that rock is dead. Why withhold it from us? -- Submitted By: (Soggy9000) on May 25, 2011, 3:09 am

Liberalism - Random Topics
(.....almost a month later and I'm still hearing nothing here but crickets.....) -- Submitted By: (Soggy9000) on May 25, 2011, 2:49 am

Lisa Simpson - Random Topics
I'm with Irbloom here. In fact, Irbloom's first March 16 post, which I voted up, is by a wide margin the wisest post on this page. (And his/her last post is the funniest.) I might add that getting in high dudgeon over an annoying cartoon character who is SUPPOSED TO BE annoying is one of those things that separate a well-fed American from a resident of, oh, let's say the Congo. -- Submitted By: (Soggy9000) on May 25, 2011, 2:44 am

Obesity - Random Topics
Robert, you make a damn good point about the stigma of being fat vs say, being alcoholic. As an example, if someone is fat, society tends to make fun of them and seems to consider it acceptable. It's as though with obesity or simply being a little overweight, people seem to attack the person rather then the issue. If they drink too much, society often seems to treat them like a hero or at least laughs at them but in a way that seems to consider the habit funny rather then dangerous/foolish. Society indeed seems to view drinking as 'it's a very bad habit to get into and/or you need to cut down before you end up killing yourself.'. That or 'you have a problem. This is why AA exists. Please, get help.' It's not the person they're saying is bad, it's the drinking they're saying is bad and is the issue. While with being overweight, it sometimes feels more like 'you're fat because you're a bad person and/or being fat makes you a bad person." Instead of (if indeed, over eating is to blame) 'You're overweight because you eat too much and/or are too inactive. If you want to lose weight you need to make some lifestyle changes. Help is available but you need to admit and accept that you have a problem.' What makes it worse is that we all need to eat while we don't need alcohol. It's easy to over indulge when it comes to something we do every day out of a biological need. As for the medical system stuff. I was speaking from the point of view of someone that lives in a country with socialized health care. Although even with an insurance system, wouldn't it be like car insurance where everyone ends up paying more if some people cost the company more money for whatever reason? -- Submitted By: (ExplodingConsole) on May 24, 2011, 4:15 pm

Obesity - Random Topics
I don't understand how treating people's obesity costs America millions of dollars. If I need a root canal, I pay the dentist's bill. Nobody else. Or is it based a faulty statistic tweaked to make fat people look like a drain on society? Since we don't have socialized medicine (or whatever it's called), how do fat people cost others money? Fat people pay for their own insurance and medical bills. I agree with ExplodingConsole on the obese kids thing: Parents who let their kids weigh as much as a minivan should be investigated, and their kids should be helped immediately. I also agree with Dolfan that there are plenty of other unhealthy lifestyles out there, WAY worse then obesity, yet less condemned: promiscuity risks STDs, excessive drinking causes alcohol-related illnesses, and so forth. Unlike other TRUE diseases, obesity can be cured with diet and exercise. No amount of pushups will undo a person's HIV infection, and eating tofu instead of potato chips will do nothing to cure an alcoholic's liver cancer. I think the reason obesity is the new villain is because fat people are an easier target and still have stigmas against them. I sigh in relief that they don't have an ultra-powerful lobby (in which calling a person "fatso" is considered a hate crime). As for fat people who blame others for their plight, they have nobody to blame but themselves. It's not like Ronald McDonald barged into their home and crammed big macs into their mouths. -- Submitted By: (Robert) on May 24, 2011, 10:57 am

Cigarettes - Random Topics
Cigarettes are a gross, expensive habit. Smoking has many bad side effects (yellow teeth, wrinkles, cancer, etc.) that have been well documented, so I won't go into them. Even the whole smoking a cigar every once in a while thing is gross. I think cigars are worse than cigarettes. You can put lipstick on a donkey, but it's still a donkey, if you know what I mean... At the same time, if a business wants to allow smoking, it should be able to do that. I understand certain smoking bans (the workplace, airplanes) as second-hand smoke sucks, but private businesses should be allowed the freedom to make that call, but that's the Libertarian inside of me talking. -- Submitted By: (kingbk) on May 23, 2011, 6:58 pm

Obesity - Random Topics
I can't make them and I know I don't have the right to. In the end, it's their life and their body. And yes, it's also a case of don't judge others unless you prepared for others to judge you. The problem is that, a lot of people sometimes fall into the trap of seeing others not as separate people with their own lives, motivations, feelings, thoughts, influences etc. It's easy to see someone else behave in a way we consider less then acceptable and to imagine ourselves in their position and wonder how 'we' could do such a thing. Sort of how someone that is obese might not understand why someone else has an issue with it while the other person might not understand how the obese person can live like that. I think it's also the issue where it can be very hard to change one's lifestyle. I'm sure there are a lot of obese people that want to (perhaps badly) lose the weight and life a healthy lifestyle. Actually doing it however is a whole different thing. And like with so many other things, it's often not a matter of only eating less bad for you type food, not eating bad for you food anymore or walking to the store/work/school a bit more often. Losing weight and keeping it off can be one of the hardest things to do. Although, as others have said, I think that the so called obesity epidemic is way overblown. People talk as though half of the kids out there are obese when I doubt it's any worse then it was 20-30 years ago. Everyone seems to say how when they were kids that they were more active, ate less candy and less fast food and all this that and the other and how they lived so much better then the kids of today. If parents think there is an issue then I think they need to use their position as parents to do something about it. Only complaining about it isn't going to change anything. -- Submitted By: (ExplodingConsole) on May 23, 2011, 3:03 pm

Austin, Texas - Random Topics
One left-of-center city in an otherwise solidly conservative state, and our resident righties bitch and moan about it. (eyeroll) Personally, if I had to live in a country where EVERY city was Provo, Utah, I'd jump off a bridge. (Are beer or rock music or HBO even allowed in Provo? Are women allowed to show more than their ankles there? Do they let black folks live there?) -- Submitted By: (Soggy9000) on May 23, 2011, 2:02 pm

Cigarettes - Random Topics
And it's a very nice dream too. Public displays of obnoxiousness bother me vastly more than cigarette smoke. -- Submitted By: (Soggy9000) on May 23, 2011, 12:34 pm

Cigarettes - Random Topics
If only society treated immature douchebag behavior the same way it treats smokers. (Sighs.) What can I say, it's a dream of mine. -- Submitted By: (DolFan316) on May 22, 2011, 6:23 pm

Obesity - Random Topics
I'm with Robert all the way on this one. What people weigh should be their business. The same people who want to force everyone to weigh the same are the ones who keep saying you can't legislate morality. You can't tell people how to act but you can tell them what to weigh and what to eat? Puh-lease. And the medical system is drained anyway by malpractice suits, insurance companies (that doctors HATE having to deal with) and drugs for diseases I never heard of 10-20 years ago whose side effects can KILL you. And someone 5-10 pounds overweight is NOT "obese". I think the whole thing is driven by excessive shallowness to be honest. Everyone *knows* exercise is good for you and the people who want to do it will while those who don't, won't. It's as simple as that. How about addressing the far bigger issue of rampant societal amorality that's led to political corruption, celebs making a mockery of the justice system, and crime being worse than ever? After those issues are dealt with THEN people's body shape can maybe get worried about. It's not as if people who don't have the right look aren't already shunned by society anyway. If that's not enough motivation for them to lose the weight how are YOU going to make them? -- Submitted By: (DolFan316) on May 22, 2011, 6:11 pm

Obesity - Random Topics
Normally, I'd agree about the idea that it's their body and if they choose a lifestyle that leads to them being overweight or worse that it's their right. However, being overweight can lead to any number of health issues, which puts a drain on the medical system. It's also the issue of overweight parents tending to raise overweight kids. When one's bad habits start effecting the health of others, then I think it's no longer a private matter. The ultimate problem is that people want to blame everyone else but themselves for their problems. It's that and everyone wants a quick fix. Staying healthy can sometimes be a full time job that requires a lot of effort and honestly will not always be all that fun. It's often so much easier to just go to McDonalds or another fast food place to get a meal. Likewise, it's often so much easier to watch TV or play a video game then it is to exercise and/or take a walk. I think the bottom line problem is that it's become so much easier and perhaps even far more tempting to live a lifestyle that leads to being obese that it's of little wonder its become an issue. I'm not sure what the solution is because it seems that human nature could perhaps be the root of the issue. -- Submitted By: (ExplodingConsole) on May 22, 2011, 1:02 pm

Hi-C - Random Topics
I don't remember Hi-C being available in my part of the country before the mid-to-late '60s, by which time I'd have been more focused on its qualities as a mixer. (Cherry Hi-C and Wild Turkey, the breakfast of champions....) -- Submitted By: (Soggy9000) on May 21, 2011, 8:15 pm

Hi-C - Random Topics
Is it me, or does Hi-C taste different now than from when I was a kid (about 20 years ago)? And I love the "No more Ecto-Cooler" reason. That was a great flavor. -- Submitted By: (Robert) on May 21, 2011, 11:34 am

Cigarettes - Random Topics
"Hey, you, the one blowing smoke in my face and tossing cigarette butts on my lawn! How many butts have you tossed on my lawn?!" "Uh...I forget." "I'll tell you: FORE!" *whacks the inconsiderate guy in the head with an iron* -- Submitted By: (Robert) on May 21, 2011, 11:10 am

Obesity - Random Topics
I've done some research on high fructose corn syrup: I heard it's not the villain people make it out to be. Your body can't tell the difference between it and cane sugar. Sugar is sugar. It's probably like saying the Vitamin A found in sweet potatoes is unhealthier than the Vitamin A found in carrots. The reason it's not "natural" is because it doesn't come from cane sugar. I agree people should eat healthier and take better care of their bodies, but it's none of our business. People have no right to impose themselves onto others. You see what happens to those who try to impose themselves onto gays or women who want abortions. Besides, when it comes to the people in my neighborhood, obesity is HARDLY the epidemic it's made out to be. There are a few fat people here and there, but it's their bodies and their choices. -- Submitted By: (Robert) on May 21, 2011, 10:40 am

General Mills - Random Topics
When Golden Grahams were invented, the world became a little bit brighter.... -- Submitted By: (Soggy9000) on May 20, 2011, 7:26 pm

Kellogg's - Random Topics
I live about 5-10 minutes outside one of their plants in Lancaster, and sometimes, when I drive by it, I can always smell the cornflakes. -- Submitted By: (PYLrulz) on May 20, 2011, 4:09 pm

General Mills - Random Topics
I still occasionally eat some General mills cereal. -- Submitted By: (cartooner) on May 20, 2011, 3:30 pm

Miss America Pageant - Random Topics
Beauty pageants are the lamest competitions ever devised by the human mind. They seek to make virtues of attention-whoredom and narcissism. -- Submitted By: (Soggy9000) on May 20, 2011, 3:57 am

Cigarettes - Random Topics
I'm not into anti-smoking nazism by any stretch, but I would appreciate it if more smokers had the sense not to blow their toxins in my face or toss their butts on my lawn. One of these days I might just have to take a golf club to one of them (and I'm not talking about a putter). -- Submitted By: (Soggy9000) on May 20, 2011, 3:43 am

Kellogg's - Random Topics
Apple Jacks and Froot Loops, baby! -- Submitted By: (Soggy9000) on May 20, 2011, 2:53 am

Saturday Morning Cartoons - Random Topics
I agree with the comments about the do-gooder groups forcing the watering-down of Saturday morning TV fare. That actually started in the late '60s. The same hand-wringing goody-goodies were responsible for the de-sugaring of breakfast cereals, which began at about the same time. (Stinking bastards.) -- Submitted By: (Soggy9000) on May 20, 2011, 2:41 am

Obesity - Random Topics
I'm going to have to disagree with the majority here. Any time I go into public I see tons of morbidly obese people waddling around. The USA is said to be the fattest nation on earth. Obviously Americans are incapable of making dietary decisions on their own. The question of why Americans are so fat also needs to be answered. I have heard that "Americans are lazy" explanation and just don't buy it; I don't think our lifestyle is that much different that Europe. Personally speaking, I have no idea about nutrition and I suspect many others in my age group are the same. That's because they stopped teaching nutrition entirely in my schools sometime in the '80s to make room for AIDS/Safe Sex and Drug Education programs. There are also all sorts of weird genetically modified foods here and crap like high fructose corn syrup that are banned in other countries. All this needs to be studied and perhaps certain kinds of foods and oils need to be banned outright. -- Submitted By: (Travoltron) on May 19, 2011, 8:18 pm

Vikings - Random Topics
Considering that the population of Norway in the early Middle Ages was no more than a few hundred thousand (and that of Denmark, including the south of what is now Sweden, was not much greater), it really is astonishing how influential these people became. -- Submitted By: (Soggy9000) on May 18, 2011, 12:18 pm

Dear Abby - Random Topics
I agree. One letter written to Dear Abby pretty much said "my boyfriend thinks I am fat, what should I do?". Any idiot should know the answer to that. -- Submitted By: (PYLrulz) on May 15, 2011, 1:41 pm

2012 doomsday prediction - Random Topics
Travoltron, you'd be a lousy 2012 hustler because you have integrity and a conscience. -- Submitted By: (Soggy9000) on May 15, 2011, 12:13 pm

2012 doomsday prediction - Random Topics
The way I see it, if something happens that's as serious as some are worrying about, most or all of us are going to be dead. If nothing happens, life will go on and anyone that worried about it will be probably be embarrassed. Either way, we're not going to have to worry about it anymore once that day come and goes. In my opinion, if you want to have at least a small stockpile of non perishable food and water just in case something happens then that's fine. Heck, it's a good idea to always have one on hand just in case. However, I think making bomb shelters and such is going way too far. -- Submitted By: (ExplodingConsole) on May 15, 2011, 11:49 am

2012 doomsday prediction - Random Topics
If the world doesn't come to an end in 2012, they'll say 2013 is when the world comes to an end. If the world doesn't come to an end in 2013, they'll say 2014 is when the world comes to an end. And so on. "The end is near" types have been around since forever, so this 2012 prediction is nothing new. Just the most over-hyped. -- Submitted By: (Robert) on May 15, 2011, 10:43 am

Dear Abby - Random Topics
Alas, Soggy, there really ARE that many clueless people out there. Speaking of busted moral compasses, I recall one letter: the writer was in love with a guy who was already taken and wanted to break up their relationship. She asked Abby how she could do it. Abby replied that she should read her other columns: it was a nice way of calling her an idiot to ask for such advice. -- Submitted By: (Robert) on May 15, 2011, 10:40 am

2012 doomsday prediction - Random Topics
If I had more business sense (i.e. was an opportunist), I'd find a way to make money off these kooks. And these people are selling all their possessions cheap, too. -- Submitted By: (Travoltron) on May 15, 2011, 1:23 am

Dear Abby - Random Topics
It's hard to believe ANY of the letters this woman replies to are real. Are there truly so many clueless folks out there who write to her for advice? I mean, some of these letters appear to be written by people who would need advice on the best order in which to arrange their morning bathroom routine. ("Dear Abby, should I shower first and then brush my teeth, or the other way around?") We all know that there are plenty of our fellow citizens whose moral compass doesn't always point north, but how many of them, in this 21st century, are likely to get the idea to write to an advice columnist? -- Submitted By: (Soggy9000) on May 14, 2011, 10:04 pm

1960's - Random Topics
Pelirojo, I can agree with your comment on the "decline of civility". What I have a problem with is the insistence by others that America itself is in some sort of decline which started in that era. That view is based on a very limited historical perspective. Your reference to the Civil War era demonstrates you have a wider view of things than those who measure the nation's dynamics primarily from the moment of their own birth. -- Submitted By: (Soggy9000) on May 14, 2011, 9:48 pm

2012 doomsday prediction - Random Topics
I just saw some nut on the street handing out some papers with a sign judgement day, I can't wait til May 21 when absolutely nothing will happens and these people believed this crap will come up with a next date or year for their bored and miserable lives. -- Submitted By: (SSM) on May 14, 2011, 5:06 pm

1960's - Random Topics
Interesting point, Robert. Drunken flappers and frat boys in coonskin coats DID kick up a bit of dust to Jazz, though. BTW, flappers got their name due to carrying around illegal gin flasks in their loose, FLAPPING galoshes! Still, I can't help but think that the 1960's was somewhat the beginning of the decline of civility but maybe I'll save that for anothe time. -- Submitted By: (Pelirojo) on May 14, 2011, 3:37 pm

Mr. Potato Head - Random Topics
Soggy, you're lucky you got to have one of those at all! *I* never got to play with one of those because my parents grew up in the Depression and, having seen breadlines and Dust Bowl dust raining down on the streets of his East Coast city, my father in particular couldn't abide the idea of wasting a perfectly good potato for a TOY! OK, they're now plastic but I honestly can't see the appeal of putting the odd ears,noses,etc. on a potato-shaped 'head'! I guess we should be lucky no one has marketted a 'Mr. Tofu Head'. -- Submitted By: (Pelirojo) on May 14, 2011, 3:33 pm

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, The - Random Topics
I second everything Eugene said. There is definitely such a thing as being "too hip for Hollywood", and this is a clear example. -- Submitted By: (Soggy9000) on May 14, 2011, 9:34 am

2012 doomsday prediction - Random Topics
@MacFan95 - Yeah, I heard of that claim as well. There was a billboard in my hometown proclaiming it, even had the words "The Bible guarantees it" in the lower left. It made me facepalm thinking the one behind it (Harold Camping, the guy who runs Family Radio) honestly believes his prediction is correct when it contradicts a good amount of the Bible. Camping and his bunch are in for a rude awakening, of that I am certain. -- Submitted By: (BigAl) on May 14, 2011, 8:54 am

Woodstock - Random Topics
Every American generation's actions and creations are an attempt to refute those of the generation before. The Baby Boom generation is only notable for the enthusiasm with which those refutations were attempted. Here's a thought: If the generation preceding the Boomers had been so very perfect, the Boomers (of whom I am one) would have seen no need to break with them. So why did they? (And forget those glib but shallow excuses like "drugs" or "laziness"; the answer is nowhere near that simple.) On a related track, I must recommend a couple of books here: Generations, by William Strauss and Neil Howe, and its sequel The Fourth Turning, by the same authors. Go to Wikipedia and type "Strauss-Howe generational theory" in the search box. The authors make a compelling case that this country's history (and by implication the history of all societies) has been a series of cycles, each of four distinct (and recurring) generational types. It makes for fascinating reading, and it might deepen your view of the interplay between the Baby Boomers and neighboring generations. -- Submitted By: (Soggy9000) on May 14, 2011, 3:07 am

Communist Party USA - Random Topics
There's two camps: the silent majority who aren't Communists and Fascists (the electorate as you mentioned, and the average Joe), and the vocal minority who--sadly--are (the radicals and their followers). I should have been more specific. But, I digress, it's not a pretty picture when the radicals attain high ranks in any government. Their oppressive ideologies become law. -- Submitted By: (Robert) on May 13, 2011, 8:54 pm

Major League Soccer (MLS) - Random Topics
Ties never bother me, though there should be incentives to try and avoid them as much as possible (see the NFL having sudden death overtime during the regular season back in the 70's. Ties have now become a once every few years type thing) -- Submitted By: (PYLrulz) on May 13, 2011, 6:21 pm

Communist Party USA - Random Topics
To quote Robert: "Not all Democrats are Communists, like not all Republicans are fascists. I know people who prove both points." That's almost a case of damning with faint praise. The fact is that THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY of members of both parties, and of the overall American electorate, are not communists or fascists. Robert again: "But why anyone would want to make a party based on a group that killed millions is beyond me." I assume you're referring to the American Communist Party, and your question is a good one. Why DO some people embrace a philosophy that has such a murderous track record? My answer: Beats the shit out of me. -- Submitted By: (Soggy9000) on May 13, 2011, 6:13 pm