Fire Mike Rounds!

Mike Rounds has signed into law in his state of South Dakota a bill that declares all abortions a felony except for when the mother's life is in danger. Even the president supports abortion in the case of rape and incest. Mike Rounds? Nope, he supports rape and incest. He could f***ing care less about the welfare of women and children. I expect that someone will file a lawsuit right away. Seriously, who wants to see young girls raped and then to find out that because they were raped, they cannot have an abortion?!? I don't like abortions as much as the next person but I believe in the right of choice especially when it comes to rape, incest, and when the mother's life is in danger. Now excuse my rant because I have a lot of letters to write now...which prevents me from focusing on other work but this is very important. Sometimes, you win some and lose some but Mike Rounds has just lost his next campaign over a very decisive issue.

In gaming news, alternative gaming has failed in our neighboring state of Indiana.

You know, at first I was upset with NBC with regards to taking videos off of YouTube but then, I started thinking when my own video was pirated onto youtube.com. When Natalie Portman starred in a gangsta rap this past Saturday, it went onto YouTube.com. YouTube is clearly on the way out. I don't link to videos on YouTube from this blog unless I know the owner of said video. But if I link to a Revver video, I know the owners will get paid if it is viewed from start to the advertisement at the end. When I upload in the future, they will be exclusively for Revver.com! And it will say so in the credits!

Last week we documented CBS News's efforts to get YouTube to take down video of an "Evening News" report on the triumphant performance of autistic basketball team manager Jason McElwain. (YouTube took the video down at CBS' request, but someone posted it again a few hours later. It now seems to be gone from the site.) NBC had previously had a similar conflict with YouTube over a video of the "Lazy Sunday" skit from Saturday Night Live. (YouTube eventually removed that video as well, in addition to other copyrighted NBC content.)

Well, here we go again: Over the weekend numerous people uploaded video of a Saturday Night Live skit involving Natalie Portman rapping. At least 100,000 people have watched the video on YouTube. This time it looks like YouTube (and, in all likelihood, NBC) was quick on the draw: By 1:15, YouTube had taken the video off its site. In its stead disappointed searchers found a message reading "This video has been removed due to copyright infringement."

Just another reason why this year's Pi Day song will be original and maybe I should start applying at ASCAP.

Emails are circulating again with regards to drafting State Auditor Crit Luallen for Governor. Can we please focus on midterm elections first?!?

Opposites do not attract in this case.

"But the much-trumpeted effort by the Bush White House to make deep inroads on the Democrats' historic claims on Jewish voters -- and, even more important politically, the campaign contributions of Jewish donors -- has not materialized in any convincing fashion, according to poll data, fundraisers and campaign finance reports."

The pep rally for the Kentucky Wildcats will be held at the Wildhorse Saloon on Thursday.

One review of Jon Stewart.

Stewart also had the good sense to start off poking fun at himself.

"Tonight, we're here to celebrate excellence in film," he deadpanned. "With me. The fourth male lead in Death to Smoochy."

Another review.

I have to say that I did enjoy the Oscars last night especially the opening montage.

The first scene, showing Chris Rock and Billy Crystal peeking out of a "Brokeback Mountain" tent saying they were too busy to host the show, was great, as were the bits with Whoopi Goldberg ("Oh, hell no"), David Letterman and Steve Martin, and, for some reason, Mel Gibson.[...]

Stewart's midshow joke about dying to see "Oscar's salute to montages."
The "attack commercials" for and against certain nominees were funny.
Amid the broadcast's awkward insults about those who watch films on DVD, Stewart's joke about video pirates stealing from actresses who "can barely afford enough gown to cover their breasts" was a winner.
As was his joke that one of the goals of "Capote" was to prove that "not all gay people are virile cowboys."
His spontaneous jokes worked best: He asked, after the best-song winners from "Hustle & Flow" left the stage, "how come they're the most excited people here tonight?"

Don't download illegally.

Joe at TMV has good stuff as usual even if the first paragraphs quoted here are taken from MSNBC.

Coming back from one break, Stewart pretended to be in mid-sentence. "And that is why I think Scientology is right, not just for this city, but for the country," he said, clearly mocking some stars' commitment to Scientology. Hollywood sat silent.

An admitted and unashamed progressive himself, Stewart later made fun of the film industry's perceived liberalness, telling viewers the Oscars are a chance to "see all your favorite stars without having to donate any money to the Democratic party." Our favorite stars barely chuckled.

My numbers are in for the past week--you know the one where hits were crazy.

Monday:486
Tuesday: 387
Wednesday: 1,001
Thursday: 1,220
Friday: 790
Saturday: 421
Sunday: 793

Right now, it's in the 700s.