Fatherhood

The Ad Council has several PSAs running, including two promoting good parenting by fathers, but this one is my personal favorite. Actually, this is one of my very favorite commercials, period. Who wouldn't love to have a father like this?

I hope this ad inspires a few guys to get over themselves and not be embarrassed to be good parents in whatever form that takes.

Iowa caucases

Finally, a candidate who is inspiring enough to get the young voters up off their sofas and out to the polls.

There are a few things about Barack Obama that must be admired by anyone with two brain cells to rub together. He is clearly intelligent. He looks Presidential. And when was the last time you saw a candidate stand up and speak for thirteen minutes without stopping every third or fourth word to check his notes. This man can deliver a speech. He may well be an idealist, but isn't that better than being a cynic? Maybe he really can get people to work together. He sure can get people excited and inspired.

John Edwards will have to come out hard against Obama now, and that's a shame. Actually, they'd make a great team, imho, and Edwards is young enough to be around to be elected President in eight years. So is Hillary, as far as that goes, and she'd be effective as the big stick to Obama's walk softly. Unfortunately, the Democrats are known for making their strengths look like positives for the Republicans. Let's hope they don't screw the pooch this time.

As for Obama's inexperience, we've seen what eight years of ignorant inexperience can do. I'm willing to take a chance on some intelligent inexperience.

Joe Biden and Chris Dodd have dropped out, and no doubt Mike Gravel and Dennis Kucinich will drop out next, as they got 0 votes between them. Bill Richardson got some votes, but not enough to be viable much longer.

Mike Huckabee won big for the Republicans, although he was outspent between 17-20 to 1 by the weaselly Mitt Romney. He's not doing nearly so well in NH, where I'm hoping John McCain will open a can of whupass on Romney.

What isn't getting any air time, so far, is that our man Ron Paul got 10% of the votes. Rudy Giuliani got 3% and should do about that well in NH, where he is pretty much universally disliked.

9/11

It's been six years since the World Trade Center in NYC was destroyed, and while I don't want to dwell on all the feelings that brings up, I was reminded of another favorite commercial.

Budweiser did a beautiful job with this NYC tribute ad. Without one word of dialog, they pay their respects very effectively. I'm a fan of the Clydesdale series anyway, but this one never fails to bring a tear to my eye. Sentimental fool, perhaps, but so be it. I have to say I try not to watch the "Spot" ad, where the homeless dog gets sprayed with mud and ends up on the wagon. That one reminds me too much of the "Feed the Birds" old woman in Mary Poppins. I can't watch that movie because I can't get around the sadness of that scene.

Trivia note: the actress who played the Bird Woman was Jane Darwell. It was her final role of almost 200 film appearances. She was also Mrs. Dolly Merriwether in Gone With the Wind.

Liberty Mutual

I've been trying to think of a commercial that pisses me off, but frankly I haven't been watching a lot of TV lately, so I decided to go with another one of my favorites. It doesn't hurt that these Liberty Mutual commercials are using music that I think is beautiful. The band's name is HEM.

I've said for years that I don't expect to change the world, but I think I can change MY world. I believe that's a good goal to have. Do the best you can, every day; be completely conscious of how what you say and do and think affects others. Lead by example. Take nothing for granted. Now I know I'm not successful at this every day, but I do make the effort and I do think about it all the time.

And that's what I like about these Liberty Mutual commercials. People are doing the right thing for someone else because it's the right thing to do, not because they expect a reward or anything in return. Someone sees someone else helping a stranger, and it rubs off, and they help someone in turn, and it goes around. It isn't just the person helped who is affected, it's someone who witnesses the act who absorbs the message and acts accordingly. I'd like to believe that the Golden Rule really could work, if only we would all pay attention and walk our talk.

I may not be the shining example I'd like to be, but I do try.