LETDOWN at the Get-Down

Where do I start? Last night's Prez debate was set up to be a "Town Hall" meeting, where our choices-to-be would interact with real people like the you's and me's of our great Country. It also had tremendous anticipation of how each candidate would address the filthy, negative campaigning that has poisoned the rhetoric over the last week. Then the candidates were introduced. Suddenly, here comes Peaches and hear comes Cream. They weren't candidates. No, they were Candy Dates! It was like watching two boys dressed up for the prom, who tried to stay on best behavior while Mom and Dad were watching. McCain weighed in with a new additional bailout plan that just rang hollow, and Obama just stayed pleasant, content with citing his standard litany of talking points. Guys, I've seen more fireworks on Oprah! If you're going to use the taped media (ads) to call each other terrorists and senile geezers, you owed the American people an explanation using LIVE media, during the debate.

Actually, it wasn't a debate. It was the latest comedy series in the Must See TV Fall lineup, "He Said, He Said". Two zany, big-city types who crave attention try to re-create the same adversarial chemistry as Felix Unger and Oscar Madison (The Odd Couple), while gallivanting around the USA to see who can out-mudsling the other. Hilarity ensues. Well, not so much. You gents are fishing for new voters, but they're not going to take de bait, if you don't debate! Who is to blame for this posing-statue show? Certainly not the hand-picked 80+ souls dressed in their Sunday finest to be on television. I'll put 70% of the blame on the Candy Dates themselves, but a full 30% needs to go to Tom Brokaw. Nice man, nice career as a Talking Head. But there's a reason he's retired, and it was obvious he was pitching softballs underhanded, when America needed someone who could bring the heater. Why these two were never once confronted on the ethics and reality of their advertising charges is beyond me. You think Chris Matthews would have let that slide? Or if he were still with us Tim Russert? Honestly, if you're going to pick moderators who don't moderate, what you're really looking for is a Master of Ceremonies. I'm sure Pat Sajak would have been a better choice...at least he might have ad-libbed a gem or two. For all the hype of the debate, we got nuthin'. NUTHIN'! The worst part is that I know when I go up to the bridge this morning to turn on my TV, those same attack-dog lying cheating good-for-nothing ads will be right back on to try to sway my vote. Personally I know my vote and I'm disappointed in my Candy Date. But I'm worried about the segment of voters who really do listen to trash (as was obvious by the fact that GW Bush got a 2nd term). It's a sad day. In fact, I'm calling for renaming WEDNESday as SADday. What the heck is a "wednes", anyway? That day never made sense to me, but I think we all understand Sadday.

One final note on the debate, and news coverage in general. This is the 1st election in my lifetime that there is no neutral, round-table discussion after the fact. Maybe Tim Russert took that with him when he left, which does not bode well for us in the future. Instead of people with neutral views talking facts and facts only, each network brings on a far-right-wing "Republican Strategist" and a far-left-wing "Democratic Strategist" to tell us what we just heard. Eh, NO THANK YOU! We're smart enough to make our own decision without a 180-degree bias being thrown in our faces. And by the way, we're not on the far right or left -- the reason you see so many undecided voters is because you're not addressing the Middle. That's where we are, smack dab in the Middle. Come find us, if you can....

HEY MOUSEKETEERS! There is some big news from Disney Cruise Line. They just announced that in the Summer of 2010 (not next Summer, the one after for those of you who are date-challenged), they will run a 5-month Europe season which will include four Northern Europe cruises for the 1st time. Those four 12-night sailings will be in June and July 2010, and will include numerous Scandinavian countries and St. Petersburg Russia, cruising roundtrip from England. On their Mediterranean sailings, they will do the typical ports of call but are also adding 3 new ones, Corsica, Malta and Tunis (Tunisia) on the North African coast. Of course you have to get the ship over there and back, meaning two 14-night Transatlantic crossings as well. Yes, it's true Disney comes with a price tag. Some would say a whopping price tag at that, but it's ultra-high Disney quality, and absolutely the greatest family product out there. Do not be fooled by thinking you can wait for deals later. Wrong! The name Disney is not just a draw in the USA, it has world-wide presence, and these European itineraries will sell out at WHATEVER PRICE TAG THEY PUT ON THEM, in very short order. Mann Travels will always have the best possible price on these cruises, and of course you get our great service and abundant knowledge absolutely free. Call or email me for details on these, and we'll get your family booked on a once-in-a-lifetime cruise vacation to Europe!

An update from Norwegian Cruise Line on their new "F3" ship. Due to cost over-runs the F3 Class may not happen at all. The shipyard in Europe was ordered by NCL's parent company to shut down building operations, as it appears the costs of completing the ship may outweigh the potential future financial gains. At least that's what they are considering. At this moment we don't know if the project is permanently shelved, but prospects aren't bright. F3 was going to be NCL's answer to the new Royal Caribbean & Carnival feature-laden ships. It had things like wavy-shaped cabins and an Ice Bar, which only holds about 20 people with a $25 cover charge, and the temperature would be held below freezing, with people wearing fur coats. Yeah, I never got that either. That may work in Vegas, but as Skipper of a ship myself, when a room gets too cold I turn the darned heat up. Cap'n Bob's gettin' some old bones.

And now some health news. In September, Glen Kusak entered the 4th annual "Big Tex Choice Award" contest, which is a pre-cursor to the cooking and baking contests at the Texas State Fair in Dallas. It's a contest for best tasting new food entry, and this year's winner Glen decided he was going to go a little more health-conscious, instead of the typical State Fair fare of Corny Dogs, Cotton Candy and Funnel Cakes. He had seen previous-years' entries that were not very heart and health-friendly, and he decided to just go for maximum flavor, while combining an unusual variety of tastes no one had ever seen before. So what was his winning entry?

Chicken-Fried Bacon

Fast food restaurants are already lined up to get the recipe, and it'll come with your own beeper, which will automatically dial 911 when you hit the ground. Yummmo!