Offended by the Barack Obaba Interview on 60 Minutes

We want to see a solution in the United States, and that's why we elected Barack Obama. He stood for change (or ran on that idea), and it was clear that we needed change.

When I heard that Obama was going to be on 60 Minutes, I made sure to block out time to watch that. After all, 60 Minutes is an institution in the U.S.

This interview did not get off to a great start. Kroft, as part of the journalism establishment, ticked me off in the first few minutes when he suggested that some financial executives do deserve the extra bonus payments, and we're cutting them out. Boohoo. If someone can't make it on millions in base pay, then they ought to try buying some store brands and selling off those extra vacation mansions.

Come on. The top AIG bonus was 6.4 million. I don't care who the guy is or what he did (and it could not have been much given the state of the company), no one is worth that and just on the bonus added on top of top pay.

Our country is a mess - and no wonder. We think that a 6.4 million bonus is OK. Well, most of us don't. It takes a 60 Minutes newscaster who is part of the privileged class and a big part of the problem to point out that such pay is considered fair and the norm in the upper circles.

Oh no, "We are going to lose the talent."

Big whoop. We see where that talent got us. In the biggest mess since the Depression. And, rewarded for that.

Obama had a bit of chuckle out of all this. When called on his lax attitude, he explained that we have to have a little "gallows humor." I suppose so if you are the President and live the high life now. If Obama lost his job and home, then he might not make so light of it.

60 Minutes fell way short on this interview. The questions were not tough. They lacked depth. Kroft clearly is out of touch with the average citizen as is Obama. They had a good old boys club meeting on national television, and it might have been funny had it not been for the misery of the typical viewer who does not get million dollar bonuses or even a paycheck period.

Let's all chuckle about this when we're back eating high on the hog at the expense of the rest of the world. This model was bound to fail. But, rich television journalists and politicians just aren't going to "get it," because they don't get the lights turned out for non-payment and don't have to cancel cable and get a "box" to try to get the new digital signals. They don't buy day old or week old bread and call it good. They don't shop at Good Will, because the prices at Belks are too high.

Thumbs down on the fat rich cats who play the "every man" card but really do not have a clue.

New iGoogle Home Page and Gmail Sign In - What a Mess!

I opted to use the very basic Google page as my home page - for a reason. When I'm looking for information, I do not like clutter and distractions. I go (or went) to Google and put in my search term. At times, I'd use some of the tabs on the top. For example, I might check images or blogs.

Now Google has decided that I need a cluttered iGoogle home page rather than a clean and basic page for searches. In the words of Jimmy Buffett, "I do not need a 10-pound Nestles Crunch bar. Give me my Junior Mints." Or, give me a basic search page that does not bombard me with news, weather and all kinds of other junk that I check other places - not when searching for content.

To add to the annoyance, this new iGoogle hijacks my gmail sign in. I can't simply type in gmail.com and then check my emails. I get routed back to the ADHD iGoogle home page that I don't like and don't want. Then, I get to do an extra click to gmail after I scan the page to find the email button jammed on the page with all the Google junk I don't need/want.

This change came just as I was trying to get my Mom set up on gmail. That has been quite a challenge. Now she has the messy iGoogle page and a second step to get to her email. I won't be expecting any emails from her any time soon.

I'm sure some people will say or think, "Get with the program. Sites update." Yes. That's true, and that's fine. But, online companies do not have to force those changes on Internet users. Let people opt in if they want a junky home page with loads of information. Leave people alone who want the basic page and who like to go directly to gmail and not through iGoogle (which should be called theirGoogle).

If you do get on your new and not improved Google home page, you can search and find that many users who do like fancier home pages are not thrilled with the iGoogle set up either. A number of issues are noted like the placement of link buttons.

They say they test these changes before foisting them off on the public. I'd like to know where they get the Google test group. I can't imagine that everyone testing was thrilled with this content explosion. After all, those who wanted that could set it up. Those who didn't now must wade through the eye pollution to find the buttons to do simple tasks like check gmail.

Cell Phones Turn People Into Idiots

My friend calls. Terrific. I haven't heard from her in a while.

"Hi there!" I say.

"Hold a sec . . . "

TWO TACOS. HOLD THE LETTUCE. UHM. YEAH. LARGE DRINK.

"So, how've you been doing?" I ask.

YEAH. HOT SAUCE.

"OK. Yeah. Things have been going great. How about you?"

By this time, I'm thinking about hanging up. I do, however, stick it out as the conversation continues down the road with my friend driving, changing the radio channel, and crunching on a taco. This is, after all, someone I care about.

I'm thinking . . . "If you don't have five minutes to call other than while ordering drive through food and driving and eating, then why bother?"

I can only imagine how it feels to be the cashier at the fast food joint who gets to listen to part of the private conversation at the speaker and then at the window along with the yelled order and extra requests.

It never ceases to amaze me when I stop by the BP to get gas or quick items and the person in front of me spends the entire transaction on the cell phone gabbing with a friend as though the person processing the order does not exist. Seriously now, it would take a couple of minutes to pay for an item and GASP to say "Hello" and "Thanks" to the cashier. Then again, the cashier may be lucky that he or she does not have to interact with an idiot who considers such behavior appropriate.

Cell phones are great. You can call if an emergency comes up. You can check to see that a loved one made it safely to his or her destination. If you need to double check to find out if you need to get milk at the grocery, you can call from the parking lot and check about that.

Unfortunately, many people must think that having a cell phone conversation takes place in some personal little private bubble. They tune out the rest of the world, so perhaps they think the rest of us can do so too.

Frankly, I'm tired of hearing someone carry on an argument with a girlfriend or boyfriend in the check out line, gossip in the waiting room at the doctor's office, or gush about who knows what at the park.