Poop Boat Triumph Returns from Floating at Sea

The big story at the moment dominating cable news (as events sometimes do), is the return of derelict Carnival Cruise Lines ship, Triumph. But to be honest, the thing that cracks me up is the focus on poop. And the fact that it's called Triumph. First, it was anything but a triumph. And secondly, Triumph is the name of a famously crude puppet with a book called called Come Poop with Me. I mean, come on! I'm supposed to be empathizing, when all I can think of is sophomoric jokes?

I know it had to suck, but nobody died. It was a hellish experience, but the people on the boat will have stories for the rest of their lives, and maybe get a nifty settlement deal out of it. Well, assuming that they haven't absolved Carnival of all guilt by going on CNN or MSNBC talking about how great the crew was, and that there was nothing more they could do! Not thinking, these folks. 15 minutes of fame versus 15 grand? I dunno. . .

[Excerpt]

Carnival Triumph Docking: Disabled Cruise Ship Reaches Mobile, Alabama, Port

A cruise ship disabled for five nightmarish days in the Gulf finally docked with some 4,200 people aboard late Thursday, passengers raucously cheering the end to an ocean odyssey they say was marked by overflowing toilets, food shortages and foul odors. . .

Read more at: Huffington Post

Blast from the Past: Classic 70s TV Themes

In an effort to make my blog a little less top-heavy with political posts, I try to lighten the mood occasionally with some good old-fashioned frivolity. And what better way to do that than dive into 70s pop-culture? These old 70s shows always make me smile--well, at least their theme songs do. Actually watching some of them, years later, can be something of an ordeal. But the show openings still bring a warm glow to my heart.

#1 - The Love Boat - One of the fluffiest shows of the 70s. Still, the show provided B-list and past-their-prime celebrities a showcase. Today, they have to rely on CSI, and usually they get murdered. At least on The Love Boat, they got some action that didn't involve an autopsy.

#2 - The Dukes of Hazzard - Even emptier than The Love Boat, this show still provided escapism. And as an 11-year-old, the car chases were a real highlight. And am I the only one who kinda liked the Coy & Vance season?

#3 - The Incredible Hulk - A little more somber and serious, The Incredible Hulk provided thrills, and made this comic book fan (even if it was Marvel) very happy that it was Friday night.

#4 - Hart to Hart - A more adult adventure series, this show was still entertaining enough to thrill a kid. Even then though, I wondered how the Harts didn't get suspected for any of those murders, considered that they were involved in one every friggin' week. Anyway, dig the disco theme song!