Nicely done, Trent!

I do wonder if this sales model can really be feasible in a larger sense, though. After all, for Radiohead and NIN - two multiplatinum acts that have already made enough money for life with the traditional album model - the financial risk they are taking in shaking things up this way is minimal to none.

In other words - if Trent turns 2 bucks of profit from however many "Ghost" tunes/albums are sold today, he's still not going hungry tonite, y'know?

Fair enough - but what about upstart bands? Can they try to market a promising debut album in a way analogous to Radiohead or NIN, and still make a living wage profit out of it...without any built-in fan loyalty, etc.?

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At the end of the day, I believe there remains only one solid way for a young band or new musical act to make a living out of rock & roll: Tour, baby. Stay on the road, play everywhere that'll have you...and hope that you build a responsive fan base.

Tiger - with his charisma, popularity, likeability (especially now that he is a doting young father) and phenomenal talent - is in that 'Oprah Scenario*'...he could wield immense political clout given his social standing, but he (wisely?) will not subject himself to that kind of fray.

{*-Then again, this election season Oprah did actually come out for the first time ever to openly/publicly voice support for a candidate. So, maybe it isn't unthinkable that Tiger one day breaks out of the Michael Jordan-esque "No comment/opinion" holding pattern and lends his clout to a future candidate of some kind...maybe even himself??}

For some reason, the video is no longer on YouTube - but Obama's cameo in the opening sketch of the Halloween 2007 SNL episode was excellent. He showed up to the Democrat candidates' costume ball wearing his own caricature mask, and gently poked fun at (Amy Poehler's) Hilary for not being true to herself. Made me laugh, anyways...

Venus has Grey's Anatomy, The Gilmore Girls & chick lit...

Mars has the Red Green Show, South Park and Chuck Palahniuk...

Raving idiots and ravishing geniuses are sprinkled quite liberally among both genders. To suggest anything differently is to be delusional.

I could say more - but I'm gonna go read The Onion now.

{Why, yes - I am male. How did you guess? =}

She shares her husband's views and platform - and has a natural likeability that, say, Hillary could only dream of...

Furthermore, nobody would mock her for being a 5-foot tall, UFO-witnessin' elf.

But sadly, I believe she is not yet (the Presidential minimum) 35 years old; ah well...maybe in 4 (McCain) or 8 (Obama) years she will make a run for it!

Actually, I love South Park myself...and not merely as a guilty pleasure, but as a show which is the TRUE heir apparent to The Simpsons' throne of satire.

(No offense, "Family Guy" fans...but you know this is true.)

But I've heard many of my female friends & acquaintances basically say South Park, like The Onion, is a guy's-only thing which is alien to them. That's why I listed it in my tongue-in-cheek post: it wasn't meant as a rip on SP, but just an issue of the perception that it's a guilty pleasure for men.

{Similarly, Chuck Palahniuk is, IMHO, one of the best writers out there...but he is looked upon as well by many women I know as a guys-only guilty pleasure.

Does he - or SP - deserve that perception? Nope...but it is there, at least among some groups.)

Give your baby up for adoption.

There are so many infertile couples out there desperate for the chance to "put up" with your baby, crying and all.

If you genuinely believe having the baby was a mistake, and feel you are in hell, there is no shame in giving the baby to a loving, nurturing adoptive family.

You're not a bad person or mother for doing this. In fact, you are ensuring that your child will have a better life with parents who genuinely appreciate its presence in their life.

Plus, who knows when you might reach your breaking point and do the unthinkable - like shake your crying baby to death?? I'm not saying you would ever consciously choose to do this...but we all have our limits.

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For your sanity, your baby's safety and BOTH of your long-term happiness: give her up for adoption, Vicki.

They tend to be veeeery sensitive when told that their show pales in comparison to South Park!

Btw - the 2-episode SP storyline on Cartman versus the Family Guy "writers" is one of the most delicious pieces of critical satire ever! It put manatees in a whole new light. =)

Whereas South Park is self-aware enough (as a good satire should be) to actually mock itself when one of its formulas becomes tired and beaten to death...e.g. Kenny dying in each episode.

Kstone, you're right that Family Guy does have at least one or two LOL moments in each episode; but overall, the story arcs in South Park are - for me at least - a much more hilarious experience!

I just saw the "Killer whale to the moon" SP episode in a local TV rerun last nite - it was the kind of comic/satirical gem that Family Guy (even with its best Stewie moments) simply cannot rival.