Why?

I was watching tonight's episode of that pitiful excuse for a TV drama called CSI:NY, when I came across this ad, which was a spot for BASF. Yes, the chemical company. I'm afraid the ad is in Spanish, because I couldn't find one in English. But it's exactly the same ad, with the ice climbers, but the comment is in English.

Now, why is BASF doing ads at 10pm? To Joe Public? It isn't like there would be potential clients watching it. Or does that happen?
Does a family guy who is watching CSI:NY because his daughter likes watching Don Flack's fabulous tie collection, sees the ad and goes "hmmm, yes, my company needs a chemical supplier, and maybe I'll talk to my superiors about BASF"?

It's not like they're pushing people to buy a drug or anything. And anyway, those kind of ads (drug ads to the lay person) might be plentiful Stateside, but is non-existent over here...

Sleepless nights

Every year, I start watching baseball in the postseason, then get really into it, and then my team gets kicked out. Not this time. At least I'll have another 4 more games to watch. If I can stay awake for it all.

Having said that, I was surprisingly calm throughout Game 7 of the ALCS. Maybe it's because it was the second time since 2004. That breaking the curse thing sure worked. The game, it's important, but I can be a bit more laid back about it.

Am so looking forward to the World Series.
I've never watched any team play in Coors Field. All that I know is it's a pitchers' graveyard...

Spin spin seroxat?

An interesting Panorama programme was aired this evening, relating to the GSK Seroxat "scandal".

How much can you put into a 30 minute programme?
There are so many aspects to this story. Medical writers, doctors/physicians, researchers, journal editors...and the companies themselves. I wonder what the pharmaceutical company people thought of this story?

Another evening

I couldn't help but watch CBB post-Jade Goody, and it made interesting viewing. Several points noted:

(1) Jo is evil, truly an evil woman at heart.
(2) men vs. women.
(3) English vs. foreign.

(1) Jo smacks as one of those "if is't ok for me, I don't care types". She is selfish and cunning. Don't like her at all.
(2) That's apart from the under-thumb stupid twat, Jack. H, Dirk and Jermaine I would love to share a house with, they are so nice, mature and interesting to talk to. The fact that the others don't seem to think that is peculiar - I mean, between the two of them they surely have enough stories to tell about showbiz to fill the entire month.
(3) This, I thought was what was happening when Jade was there, but is now more pronounced. Cleo will be in the English category for me, as she has been around so long. But what I noticed, especially after tonight's episode (Dirk getting pissed off with Cleo) was that English humour nowadays, can be summarized thus: "pissing people off and laughing at them". The whole beautiful English humour of wit and sarcasm seems a lost art at best. Nowadays, laughs are gained by making fun of people, and laughing at them - which of course is what bullying is, if stretched.
It is all "them and us" attitude. This exclusionism is quite sickening to see.

Is this what British culture has come down to? Unable to shake off the glorious colonial past, the present being so hard to bear, this is the only way to feel superiour to other people.

From my limited exposure, somehow, Americans always struck me as being happy in their shell (whether that is good or bad is another thing). I was amazed when I was in Zurich that no one batted an eyelid (even kids) when I was the only East Asian in the village. The British are a queer folk...

The aftermath?

So Jade has been booted out of the house. There were some points I found interesting, like:
(1) 80% voted to get rid of her.
I thought maybe after the sobbing afterward might have done some good for her, and it was going to be a closer contest. Guess I was wrong.
(2) Davina wasn't half bad in her interview.
I thought she might have been more sympathetic. I am so glad she wasn't.
(3) We now know how stupid she is.

Several thing. Firstly, she only apologized because BB told her about "racist" remarks. What I noticed in the post-booting interview (and interviews within the house) was that Jade always referred to the poppadum incident. She didn't realise it was everything else she had said as well. Does she think we are all as stupid as her in thinking it was just that one comment that branded her? She is just vile.
Also, shame on Channel 4 for letting Jade know about the lack of audience. Did they seriously think she would "act" surprised? She knew, and all the more shame. If they really were to take this reality TV seriously, they should have just left her alone to see what she has done.

We now know that Danielle and Jo are also as shallow, pathetic and stupid, totally self obsessed.
Shilpa came out as an intellectual, really thinking and analysing what was happening. She also is a truly good person as she bore no overt ill will towards the other three. Would the other three be like that, if the tables were turned?

I think if Jade wasn't included in the first place, it would have been more interesting from an intellectual point of view - just imagine the kind of conversations Dirk, Shilpa, Cleo, H and Jermaine can have without all the screeching and bullying.
What I also found was that I actually like Jermaine...he's so funny...

Oh, My, Gawd

I can't believe they have got Dirk Benedict of all people to join Big Brother. I really can't. What shall I do now? Should I bend my beliefs and watch this damned programme? Decisions, decisions...