Furthermore to the annoying DVD ads and warnings, many of the DVDs that I get from Netflix are labeled "Rental only", and just have the movie without any extras (gag reels, deleted scenes, etc).  The main menu might have an Extras selection, but when you select it, it simply says that this disc contains only the movie. 

But, it contains more than the movie, as it still contains the FBI warning, ads for other movies and "the BluRay experience". 

Annoying DVD ads and warnings

So, why is that when I buy or rent a DVD, I have to sit through several minutes of commercials, FBI and Interpol warnings and the like before I can view what I paid for. If the commercials could just be fast forwarded (and most of them are blocked from fast forward or "go to menu"), I can live with that, but why do I have to sit through the FBI warnings on a DVD that I legitimately purchased or rented.

So, corporations want to be treated like people and be allowed to buy political favors in the form of campaign contributions.

I say, let's make corporations even more like people:

• A corporation, through its action or inaction, causes a large catastrophe or many deaths, should be (after a proper trial) subject to execution. Once found guilty, the corporation is to be dissolved with all its assets transferred to trust funds to those adversely affected and to non-executive employees.
  
• A corporation, through its action or inaction, causes some lesser catastrophe, should be (after a proper trial) subject to imprisonment of its executive officers. The officers like to get large salaries, bonuses and golden parachutes -- take the rewards without the risks. Now, they get the risks, as well.
• Just as people are not permitted to buy other people, corporations are not permitted to buy other corporations. If you want your corporation to grow, make a better product or price it better than the other guy. Buying out your competition is inconsistent with market forces.

Any other attributes that corporations should be endowed with?

Today's events:

• First lawn cutting of the season
• Update financial software and hookup to new accounts at PNC
• Floss teeth and pop a gold crown
• Visit Target to get free reusable shopping bags
  

At the local sporting goods store, I was browsing through the racquetball rackets, when I noticed a deal:

The Store Special! price was $49.99, while the original price was $44.99. Such a deal. I thought, "oh well, people make mistakes."

Then, I continued looking and found that they were at least consistent about their pricing:


Sigh . . .

More supermarket shoppers

At the local supermarket again yesterday.

• Elderly couple in motorized wheelchairs (with large baskets mounted in front) stop and block an aisle to move groceries between baskets. One of the people on the motorized wheelchair walks between the baskets moving items.
• Two exit doors, one of which is out of order, leaving one exit door. Shopper pushes her cart to the door, and while standing in the doorway of the only exit door, decides she needs to put her coat on and make a cell phone call, oblivious to the people behind wanting to leave.
  

Oh my, I inhaled my tooth

Last night, we had dinner with some friends. While there, we ran into another couple of friends, who explained that they had just gotten home from the hospital. Apparently, the man was recently at the dentist getting a crown installed on one of his teeth. While doing a test fit, the dentist noted that it was a bit tight, and had to use a tool to extract the crown. When the crown popped free, it was at the same time as when our friend breathed in. And, of course, the dentist dropped the crown. Thinking that he had swallowed, he wasn't concerned, figuring that the crown would just pass.

Fast forward a few days, and it had not yet passed, and our friend was coughing a lot more than usual. So, off to his doctor he goes, gets an X-ray, and the doctor finds a blurry object in our friend's lung. Off to a CAT scan for a closer examination, and sure 'nuff, there's the crown -- in his lung!

Using an extraction tool (with fiber optics for illumination and picture taking), they were able to extract the crown, and all is well. Sorry, no pictures to post.