Jack Nicholson Approved this Message for Hillary

Rudy Giuliani on SNL

Rudy Giuliani made an appearance at the Weekend Update desk.

When Seth Meyers asked him how his campaign fell apart, Giuliani blamed the time he hosted Saturday Night Live in 1997 and appeared in a dress. (It was a Thanksgiving skit. He played the mother of Cheri Oteri's Mrs. Delvecchio character. He was very convincing in the part.)


Giuliani said his Florida plan was solid. His downfall had nothing to do with that. It was all about the dress.

Giuliani likened his failed campaign to an SNL skit. You start out strong, but you really don't have an ending.

Hillary on SNL

Saturday Night Live started out with another Democrat debate skit.



Once again, Fred Armisen was Barack Obama and Amy Poehler was Hillary Clinton.

Darrell Hammond did a great Tim Russert and Will Forte played the too well-tanned Brian Williams.

Obama was treated with kid gloves by Russert and Williams. The moderators treated Hillary with hostility. In other words, it was quite true to life.

After the debate concluded, there was an "editorial response."

It was delivered by the real Hillary Clinton. The audience responded with enthusiastic cheers and applause.



Hillary began, "The scenes you just saw were a reenactment, sort of."

She also said, "I simply adore Amy's impression of me."

Hillary was speaking when Amy Poehler walked in. They exchanged compliments on each other's outfits. They were dressed alike.

Hillary told her, "I do want my earrings back."

When Poehler did the Hillary cackle, Hillary said, "Do I really laugh like that?"

Poehler hemmed and hawed.

Hillary said she was happy to be in New York. Naturally, she had the honor of saying, "Live from New York, it's Saturday Night."

The politics didn't stop there.

Watch "The Obama Files."



Robert Smigel's cartoon featured Barack Obama. Obama was shown working to keep Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton at a distance. He had Jesse Jackson holed up in a broom closet and sent him off on a mission to Africa. Obama fitted Al Sharpton with a shock dog collar to keep him away.

After Jackson and Sharpton realized that Obama had "bamboozled" them, they plotted to get near Obama's podium by disguising themselves as podiums.

Although they failed and ended up going on Spring Break with Bill Clinton and Chuck Norris, they sold their story to the Wayans brothers. It was made into a movie, Podiums.

Is it Real or is it Robot?

Study finds dogs, robots cheer elderly

Dogs may have a hard time wrapping their paws around this one: Robotic competition is nipping at their heels in the man's-best-friend department. A study by Saint Louis University found that a lovable pooch named Sparky and a robotic dog, AIBO, were about equally effective at relieving the loneliness of nursing home residents and fostering attachments.

The study, which appears in the March issue of the Journal of The American Medical Directors Association, builds on previous findings by the researchers that frequent dog visits decreased loneliness of nursing home residents.

Andrew Ng, who leads Stanford University's team in building a home-assistance robot and was not involved in the study, said the strength of the research is very encouraging.

If humans can feel an emotional bond with robots, even fairly simple ones, some day they could "not just be our assistants, but also our companions," he said.

This study was totally unnecessary.

We've known for years that humans can feel an emotional bond with robots. The Robinsons of Lost in Space were very attached to the Robot. The Robot was like a big brother to Will Robinson.

To test whether residents responded better to Sparky, a trained therapy dog, or the Sony-made robot dog, researchers divided 38 nursing home residents into three groups at a trio of long-term care facilities in St. Louis.

One group had weekly, 30-minute one-on-one visits with Sparky; another group had similar visits with AIBO; a control group did not visit with either dog. Their level of loneliness — determined by residents' answers to several questions — was tested at the beginning and near the end of eight weeks of visits.

Investigator Marian Banks delivered the dogs, but did not interact with the residents. In the end, both groups were less lonely and more attached.

Most of the elderly used Sparky, a 9-year-old, reddish-brown mutt with a white muzzle and floppy ears, as a confidant, telling him "their life story," Marian Banks said.

"He listened attentively, wagged his tail, and allowed them to pet him," said Banks, who adopted and trained Sparky after finding him in an alley behind her home seven years ago.

Those who visited with AIBO took a little longer — about a week — to warm up to the metallic creature. Over time, they grew more comfortable with AIBO, and petted and talked to him. He responded by wagging his tail, vocalizing and blinking his lights.

"AIBO is charismatic if you start to interact with him," said the study's author, Dr. William Banks, a professor of geriatric medicine at Saint Louis University. "He's an engaging sort of guy."

The research could mean that a world is possible where robots could substitute for living dogs and help people, William Banks said.

"They could be personal, not an intrusive crazy inanimate object," he said.

AIBO is an "engaging sort of guy"?

Dr. Banks describes the robot as charismatic. That's a little weird coming from a professor.

This research is silly. It doesn't deliver any groundbreaking information.

Inanimate objects have given comfort to people for ages.

Teddy bears, dolls, even blankets have been people's companions and eased loneliness. Owners of these items become attached to them. The things are hardly "crazy" or "intrusive. "

Why would a robot dog be any different?

And what about imaginary friends?

The human imagination has the capacity to tend to personal discomfort. So what else is new?

Sara Kiesler, professor of computer science and human-computer interaction at Carnegie Mellon University who was not involved in the study, said the results of the study are encouraging but not completely convincing.

The problem is inferring it was the robotic dog that reduced the loneliness, and not the human who brought him into the room, she said. She said another study could compare a visit from AIBO with someone stopping by with a stuffed animal or even just a candy bar.

Exactly.

The study doesn't control for the human interaction involved.

Bottom line: When necessary, we adapt; but there is no substitute for life.

Milwaukee a Second-Tier City?

Milwaukee is not the place to be. Ask John Berglund, executive director of the Bowling Proprietors Association of America.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Any chance that the U.S. Bowling Congress will keep its national headquarters in Greendale appeared remote Friday, especially after one top bowling official made comments that implied that Milwaukee was a second-tier city with a subpar airport.

The comments by John Berglund, executive director of the Bowling Proprietors Association of America, during a meeting with bowling congress staffers Wednesday brought an immediate reaction from County Executive Scott Walker and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett.

Both Walker and Barrett said the Milwaukee 7, a group formed to bring business to the Milwaukee region, had made a compelling presentation to USBC officials. That proposal includes two possible sites - in Cudahy and Milwaukee - for a new USBC headquarters. The latest proposals were hand-delivered to USBC officials Friday.

"I remain guardedly optimistic that . . . we will be the last pin standing," Barrett said.

The USBC, the sport's governing body, has plans on the table to move its operations to Arlington, Texas, to partner with the bowling proprietors group, which is already based there. The two groups have spoken about building a new testing and training center in Arlington, and they are working with officials in Arlington for additional tax and development incentives.

On Monday, the USBC's board of directors is expected to meet and make a final decision on the move, which would affect 230 jobs. In both public and private comments, top USBC officials, including Jeff Boje, the president of the USBC, have shown a clear preference for moving to Texas.

On Wednesday, Berglund appeared to drive home that point, implying that Milwaukee was a second-tier city and complaining about the cost of airfare from Dallas to Milwaukee.

...Jack Mordini, a USBC vice president, said Berglund explained that he tried to book a flight from Dallas to Milwaukee on American Airlines and found the fare to be more than $600.

Instead, Berglund flew to Chicago and took a van the rest of the way to Milwaukee.

Walker said one USBC employee then pointed out to Berglund that he just booked a flight to Dallas on Midwest Airlines for about $200.

"The reality is that U.S. Department of Transportation statistics show that Dallas-Fort Worth ranks 22nd highest in airfares, while Mitchell ranks 48th in average airfares. We are consistently better when it comes to rankings," Walker said. "I hope that the members of the board of directors of the USBC look at the facts and not just one person's comments."

Score one for Walker.

It appears that won't be enough.

...Mark Miller, a spokesman for the USBC, said Berglund did not call Milwaukee a second-tier city. He said Berglund merely said Milwaukee was not a first-tier city.

"He really loves Milwaukee," Miller said.

Mordini said Berglund's comments about Milwaukee were in response to a question whether the BPAA would consider moving its operations to Milwaukee rather than the bowling congress moving south.

Did he say Milwaukee was a second-tier city?

"He implied that when he said he wouldn't move to Milwaukee," Mordini said.

Spokesman for the USBC insists that Berglund did not call Milwaukee a second-tier city. However, he confirms that Berglund did not say Milwaukee was a first-tier city.

There is no tier between first and second.

Does that mean Berglund would place Milwaukee among third- or fourth-tier cities?

Berglund supposedly "really loves Milwaukee."

He probably would at least put Milwaukee on the honorable mention-tier.

Barring a miracle, it appears that losing the Bowling Congress will be the latest indication of the exodus from Milwaukee.

Joe Wineke: Another Super Delegate for Obama

Wisconsin State Democratic Party chairman Joe Wineke took a bold step today.

He declared his support as a super delegate for Barack Obama.

Wow. That's going out on a limb at this stage.

I wonder if Obama's stirring speech on how to feed your kids convinced him that Obama is the man.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

"Today, I announce my personal endorsement of Senator Barack Obama for President of the United States," Wineke said in a statement released by the Obama campaign. "When this campaign started, I was deeply impressed by the talent level of our Democratic candidates. I still am. I was an early supporter of John Edwards and continue to have great respect for Senator Hillary Clinton."

Wisconsin has 18 super delegates. Two will be named at the Dems' convention. Of the 16, only two support Hillary Clinton -- U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin and Democratic National Committee member Tim Sullivan.

A few of Wisconsin's super delegates remain uncommitted or refuse to announce, but the vast majority have already backed Obama.

Wisconsin's Democrats are definitely in Obama's corner.

Lawyers and the Texas Roadhouse Steak

UPDATE, August 13, 2008: Ryan Kropp Sentenced to Six Months, Probation
__________________

Kevin Hansen is preparing to sue Texas Roadhouse. The lawyers are circling.

Ryan Kropp, a cook at the West Bend restaurant, tampered with Hansen's steak last Saturday.

Kropp is no angel. A public case search reveals that he has had a number of run-ins with the law -- disorderly conduct, bail-jumping, repeated charges of underage drinking, and possession of marijuana.

Now, he can add placing foreign objects in edibles to that list.

From TMJ4:

The West Bend man who found hair in his steak is preparing to file a lawsuit against Texas Roadhouse restaurant. His lawyer says the man hasn’t been able to eat since the incident.

A restaurant cook is out of a job and facing a felony charge after being accused of hiding hairs in a ribeye because a customer complained the first steak served to him was overcooked.

Kevin Hansen, who dined at the steakhouse with friends and family Saturday, said he ordered a 16-ounce ribeye cooked medium rare, with a warm, red center, according to the criminal complaint filed against cook Ryan Kropp.

When restaurant service manager Michael Liberatore stopped by the table, Hansen told him the steak was cooked medium, not medium rare.

Hansen declined an offer of a new steak, but Liberatore persisted and offered a new steak he could take home, the complaint said.

Liberatore then took what was left of the first steak and showed it to Kropp and the other cook on duty "so that they could both learn what a medium rare steak was supposed to look like," the complaint said.

Hansen went to police Sunday to complain of hair in the second steak. A police officer observed "several strands of what appeared to be hair coming out of the middle of the steak," the complaint said.

Kropp, 24, of West Bend, was charged Wednesday with a felony of placing foreign objects in edibles, carrying up to 3 1/2 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. He was released on a signature bond.

Kropp admitted to police he put a few of his facial hairs on the steak, saying he was angry the customer sent the other steak back and thought he was "just trying to get free stuff," according to the complaint.

According to the complaint, a second kitchen worker told police Kropp put a slit in the steak and pushed something inside, then stated, "These are my pubes," referring to pubic hair.

Travis Doster, a spokesman for the Texas Roadhouse chain of 288 restaurants in 44 states, said Thursday night that Kropp and the other worker were both terminated.

"Food safety is our number one priority and we will not allow anyone to compromise that," Doster said. "As a company, we're not only shocked, we're angry that someone would pull such a reckless stunt as putting facial hair in a steak.".

This is so disgusting.

Kropp's act has hurt a lot of people. Other staff at the West Bend Texas Roadhouse are innocent, yet they'll suffer the fall out from the incident and the lawsuit.

He said the West Bend restaurant has an excellent inspection record. "I just feel for the staff because they really work hard, and one silly stupid stunt impacts everybody," he said.

I wouldn't call what Kropp did "silly" and "stupid."

This wasn't just a prank. It was a crime.

Because of what he did, Kropp has lost his job and he was charged with a felony. He could spend time in prison and pay a large fine for his "one silly stupid stunt," as spokesman Travis Doster calls it.

Texas Roadhouse will probably also end up paying, now that Hansen plans to sue.

A lawsuit will bring even more unfavorable press about the restaurant. This local situation could impact Texas Roadhouse restaurants across the nation. Weaker business means less hours for workers. They earn less. Wait staff certainly receive less in tips when there are fewer patrons. There's a ripple effect.

According to his lawyer, Hansen hasn't been able to eat since the incident.

Wow. That was a week ago. Hasn't he been able to eat at all? That's a really dramatic reaction. He should see a doctor and get something for anxiety. Some nice pills might help him relax so he can get some food down.

I can understand why he'd have trouble stomaching any restaurant food, anything prepared outside his own home. However, I'm surprised he can't eat food prepared at home by his wife or another family member. Maybe if he made himself something to eat he'd be confident that it wasn't tainted in any way.

I'm sure Texas Roadhouse and Hansen will reach some sort of out of court settlement. Kropp might cost the restaurant and its employees a lot of money.

Eventually, whatever this costs Texas Roadhouse will be picked up by the consumers. It always is. Way to go, Kropp.

Once this thing is settled, I predict Hansen's appetite will return. A sizable check does wonders to stimulate the appetite.