I think we may end up as the final super-power. We're seeing with NAFTA and the EU, the end of nations as the top level units of government. Certainly nations will still exist, but just as we've contracted much of the Iraq War to private enterprise, other nations will take advantage of trans-national expertise to build military powers without any particular national allegiance.

It's already happening economically. Sure, Coke or Microsoft or Nike are ostensibly American corporations and Toyota and Honda are ostensibly Japanese, for example, but the real loyalty these economic giants have is to profit and to the market. Already Wal-mart is bigger in GDP terms than Switzerland and Exxon larger than Portugal.

The next superpower may be a brand and not a nation-state.

Who retained BGR to lobby for Alawi's return?

Republican Victory '08 - We're the ones counting the votes.

It should be noted that it will take plastic bags approximately forever to degrade if you bury them, but that in bright sunlight they photo-degrade in a relatively short time. The chemicals released from photo-degradation aren't entirely pleasant but it's just wrong to say plastic bags don't degrade and dissolve.

Yeah, I'm all for getting rid of plastic bags, but let's keep the facts straight.

Did you ever know that you're my hero?

Great comment!

No, really. Your mini probably stopped taking a charge, right? My wife's did as well and I was able to fix it with a kit I got online for $30. I'm a klutz and did put a nick or two in the top of the unit, but it works great now. Google "ipod mini battery replacement kit" for vendors.

It's no "Dick in a Box"...

Uh, a commodity PC maker made another commodity PC that'll be available soon. Maybe the IBM Open Office story today was worth writing about, but most PC industry news is really, really dull now that it's mostly just putting commodity parts together.

Better than many of the openings you had:

All in the Family - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hO239D5ljs (Honestly the most iconic opening of any American show)

Welcome Back Kotter - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMyC9dKjkrI

Mannix - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_1Ax4vliO8

The Saint - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phvZf6EHac4

Batman! - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQBobrCBTNI

Magnum, P.I. - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VIPlG8Xtq8

Police Squad - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLXyC1cuN3M

Three's Company - (Couldn't find online, but come on!)

Quincy - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08cXyrDewlQ&mode=related&search=

Odd Couple - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2be6jGwLoJ0

Laverne and Shirley -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mVKUpT4g5k (wave bye bye to the beer)

Star Trek

Doctor Who (any season, any Doctor)

and of course, the best opening credits ever - Twilight Zone - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzlG28B-R8Y

"Conservatives understand that cultural change is a long, gradual process of small but cumulatively deadly victories. Liberals want it all now. And that's why, in the culture wars, conservatives often win and we often lose."

You're correct that cultural change is a long, gradual process of small but cumulatively deadly victories but you're wrong about who wins. Liberals win in the long term. Look at America today and compare it to the 1950's or before. Or even compare the attitudes today to the 1980's. Is America more accepting of homosexuality today? Are prominent people out today who could not have been out in the past? Is it much less acceptable to "fag-bash" today than in the past?

The anti-progressives work towards short- to mid-term wins based on fear and their victories are short-lived. Liberals work towards long-term victory based on principles and though we always have to defend our ground, our victories become accepted parts of the American character.

I'm glad the Indians can, but I'll be pulling for the NL Rockies.

There's no debating that "Redskins" is a racist term and that the team ought to rework its name/logo. Maybe they can be the Washington "Freedoms" or "Liberty" or some other stupid name like the "Nationals" (really, what was wrong with Senators?)

But the Indians, Braves, Blackhawks are all fine names. The racist bits come in when fans dress up in warpaint and act like idiots. There's not the same level of vile-ness in grown men putting on long blonde braided wigs and Viking helmets because of who the teams represent.

But the potential for hurtful idiocy is too high with these other teams. Spiders is a great team name. I'd support changing the Blackhawks and Braves logos, though you could probably go with a bird logo for the Blackhawks and not have to change the name. The Braves will probably have to change. That, or they'll have to alternate names every year. One year they can be the Braves, the next, the Crackers.

It's shameful that this wasn't a race between Obama, Dodd, Biden an Clinton to be the first to place a hold on the amnesty.

Dodd has earned my respect and my vote in the primary today.

Someone buy a ticket to take a goat to Fenway or offer the rights to a new Broadway musical for David Ortiz.

I watched the first third plus a little of the debate (through Iran). Obama attacked Hillary quite a bit. I noticed it and she certainly seemed to notice it. I'm somewhat shocked it escaped your detection.

"in 2000 I had high hopes for President Bush"

You would have had to have been highly credulous to have had any hopes for this particular Bush, even back in 2000.

...is never hypocrisy, is always respectable, and their thoughts are always worthy of serious discussion.

It has to be true - you can read it in the newspapers they own.

What's next, King, references from "The Bickersons" on Westwood One?