As one who is ahead of the Pacific Time Zone, I would recommend checking SNL tonight for a very funny sketch with cameos from Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Sir Paul McCartney that will air at about midnight PST. Glad to see SNL has not gotten too hip to bring back these legends!

Sorry, Paul, but I think the show is pathetic now, and the fact that they have to stoop to recycling yesterday's SNL stars/cameos like in this sketch (which was better than the awful sketches that preceded it, no doubt) shows just how far SNL has fallen. The show hasn't got a hint of originality left or much of a pulse. If Lorne Michaels were just breaking in today, he'd be parodying today's SNL for being so awful.

Andrew

yeah, that hotdog eating superhero cartoon was lame-o-city! still it was nice to see steve martin. that's all I watched though.

I didn't see the whole show, and agree it was much better in years past. Phil Hartman, Tina Fey, Rachel Dratch, Chris Farley, the list goes on and on.

Agreed!

I love what SNL used to be. It's a shadow of it's former self today. Haven't watched in years.

Hey Paul, what's the overall vibe in the media where you are at on the election in general. What are the locals saying? (Yeah, those few that can say it!)

Missing, I can tell you that having lived in the Chicago suburbs the past year has been very interesting from a politcal standpoint. The City of Chicago itself is a democratic stronghold, but many of the suburbs (especially the outer ring), is staunch republican. The sheer numbers give it to the dems.

The Chicago area is also known for a tremendous amount of government corruption, (if not corrupt), extremely shady to say the least. The incumbent democratic governor (Blagojevich) was easily re-elected despite some questionable dealings. A previous governer (George Ryan) was recently convicted in a bribery scandal and will be going to the slammer. Two other governers in recent history were also convicted. The funny thing is, many residents kind of look the other way because "corruption has always been part of Illinois government and always will be". Seems to be kind of a way of life.

Illinois is very liberal in providing government services to its residents. Taxes & fees, etc. are high. It is also a very regulated state. I guess it kind of depends what side you are as to whether that is a good thing or a bad thing.

If you missed it, it's under "Platinum Lounge"

http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/videos/

Depends on what they are regulating. If it's essential services and goods everybody needs, that's probably a good thing in my book. We've no need to allow any more cost, per capita, on those things than we have to, beyond that for some reasonable profit if run privately, or those necessary for upkeep and or innovation with some clear returns attached.

It's funny how the lower population densities end up being Republican and conservative in general.

I'm convinced it's a matter of education and a sharply diminished need to get along. Nothing like a crowd to teach the value of tolerance!


Are the services of good quality? If so, I would likely be ok with that as well. If not, then it's a bummer and probably going to the corruption you wrote of.