I've not read Steven Johnson "Everything Bad Is Good for You".

With that qualifier, I buy much of blueskies' argument against Steven Johnson's that video games and reality TV are only (or mainly) good for children (in terms of making them smarter and so on). At most, there may be a few positives (improved hand-eye coordination, prthspd) amongst many negatives (which have been amply covered and discussed - snd, I believe, proven.

However, we really do need to get over our mistaken notion that "science, science and more science and only science can get us out of the hole we have dug for ourselves (the hole having been made immeasurably deeper by the Jesus-lunacy of the soon-to-be ex-POTUS, GW Bush, War Criminal). It has been, after all, the unbounded demands of the earth's human population on the limited planetary resources available that has brought us to the crisis we face now - and it was indeed our apparent 'power' over nature's forces gifted to us by our commend of science and technology that has brought us to our present sorry pass. (There are few signs thus far of us becoming any 'wiser' - can Obama help us here? Interesting question: There have been indications of "Yes, he could (perhaps)" - and there have also been several indications of "No, he can't"!!)

We do need to think seriously of how we (the human species) can put our undoubted huge reservoirs of knowledge (including science and technology) together more effectively to create true wisdom in the way we handle our impact on earth - and we have to do this in a GREAT hurry. If we do not succeed in becoming at least a little wiser pdq than we have been in the past, nothing will save us from hurtling over the abyss that lies just ahead for us.

Obama should simply set out, in clear and unambiguous terms, his 'Mission for the US over the next four (/eight) years' - and then work out, what are the things he and his team should do (starting from Day 1, Jan 20th, 2009) from day to day in order to accomplish that Mission. (Or even should have done right from Day minus 60-something, Nov 4th/5th, 2008 when election results were known). [To a fair extent, Obama has already set out quite lucidly his 'Vision for the US' during the past couple of years: he has already shown a remarkable grip of many of the day to day things he should be doing to accomplish his Vision]. Now he needs to convert that Vision into a real Mission and get it done in all its dimensions. It's by no means easy - but it is entirely possible to do, I firmly believe.

That's it. There should be NO special running around after GOP support at all!! Let those in the GOP support the Mission if they will - his team could spend some time (but not a great deal) in explaining why they are recommending certain things and advising against certain other things: other than that, nothing special for the GOP, which has had its chance over the past eight years and totally blew it.

Obama has already got the support of a very sizable majority of US citizens, which is the only thing he needs (apart from the clear thinking that would enable his team to set out the Mission and start doing the things that would enable accomplishment of that Mission).

GSC

...through global warming, depletion of energy sources, implosion of the economic engines that have kept society going...and we have to endure this vision of the penis of GW Bush (a.k.a. 'Charlie' in the 'fictional' version):

"...saw his penis ... I felt a great devotion to Charlie when I first got a look at his, the ruddy-hued, upward-pointing shaft, its swollen veins and cap-like tip"

Eheu! fugaces labuntur anni...and there will no escape from the fate that is upon us.

GSC

Question: Who has caused more damage to the US and to the world economies and other parts of our societal systems? -

Alan Greenspan or GW Bush?

Answer: Good question.

-- GSC

...BUT, on the other hand:

Calif. family finds $10,000 in box of crackers

Dec 27th, 2008 | IRVINE, Calif. -- The box of crackers Debra Rogoff bought from the grocery store had some crackerjack in it -- an envelope stuffed with $10,000.

Yet the Irvine woman was more curious than ecstatic about her daughter's find. After all, who would leave money in such a place?

"We just thought, 'This is someone's money,'" she said. "We would never feel good about spending it."

Rather than go on a shopping spree, the family called police and was initially told the money could be part of a drug drop.

Police later heard from store managers at Whole Foods in Tustin that an elderly woman had come in a few days earlier, hysterical because she had mistakenly returned a box of crackers with her life savings inside. In a mix-up the store restocked the box rather than composting it.

The Lake Forest woman, whose identity was not released, had lost faith in her bank and decided the box would be a safer place for the money.

Luckily for her, the box of Annie's Sour Cream and Onion Cheddar Bunny crackers were bought by the Rogoffs, who discovered the crisp $100 bills in an unmarked white envelope on Oct. 10.

The Rogoffs never heard from the woman and didn't receive a reward, but Rogoff did return to Whole Foods a couple weeks later.

"I asked them if I could have another box of crackers," she said with a laugh. The store obliged.

+++

GSC

"It's no doubt in my mind that Obama has, since young, been crafted & groomed for this position"

like most mixed race kids of single mothers growing up in indonesia.

not like that Bush feller, he was jes' folks who rose above his humble origins to become such a fine leader. --gzuckier

Beautiful!

GSC