Mad TV offers a spoof of the much publicized Apple iPod...one that they call the iPad. It's one of the funnier spoofs I've seen in a while.

The Daily Show takes Bill O'Reilly to task on his racially insensitive remarks. O'Reilly's comments followed his visit to Sylvia's Restaurant in Harlem with Rev. Al Sharpton. After Jon Stewart sets the table in the first video clip, Larry Wilmore cleans the plate.

Wilmore provides a "man on the street" report which takes the apparent ignorance of O'Reilly to its extreme in order to emphasize the absurdity of Bill's blundering blabber. It is one of the funniest Daily Show correspondent reports I've seen this year.

As I watched the Wilmore report, I kept imagining Bill O'Reilly sitting in front of his TV, his jaw locked down on a loofah, growling with rage at the ridicule being directed at his fragile, yet fully inflated ego. Yes, I confess...I then laughed hysterically at the possibility that it may well be true.

Despite his admitted sexual indiscretions, David Vitter remains a poster boy for family values...as well as an apparent champion for funding the programs of evangelical groups through the use of government earmarks.

The Times-Picayune reports that Vitter has included an earmark of $100,000 in recent legislation for the Louisiana Family Forum, a group which challenges the theory of evolution...seeking to have it characterized as an unproven theory and to introduce intelligent design as a viable scientific alternative.

From The Times-Picayune:

WASHINGTON -- Sen. David Vitter, R-La., earmarked $100,000 in a spending bill for a Louisiana Christian group that has challenged the teaching of Darwinian evolution in the public school system and to which he has political ties.

The money is included in the labor, health and education financing bill for fiscal 2008 and specifies payment to the Louisiana Family Forum "to develop a plan to promote better science education."

The nonprofit Louisiana Family Forum, launched in Baton Rouge in 1999 by former state Rep. Tony Perkins, has in recent years taken the lead in promoting "origins science," which includes the possibility of divine intervention in the creation of the universe.

The group's stated mission is to "persuasively present biblical principles in the centers of influence on issues affecting the family through research, communication and networking." Until recently, its Web site contained a "battle plan to combat evolution," which called the theory a "dangerous" concept that "has no place in the classroom." The document was removed after a reporter's inquiry.

"Using an earmark to dictate that the Louisiana Family Forum receive the funding to develop a science education program ironically ignores a hallmark of scientific research, making decisions on the basis of competitive, empirical research," Ellis said.

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The fact that a sitting Senator is using the earmark provision to fund efforts to undermine existing scientific evidence with religious ideology seems a complete misappropriation of funds and a breach of the separation of church and state. Many educators have not opposed the discussion of intelligent design in non-scientific classes. However, most educators are strongly opposed to the teaching of intelligent design as part of a science class.

The following video is from the Louisiana Family Forum and it focuses upon the distinctions between the actions of David Vitter and Larry Craig. Apparently the Council believes that the Vitter's apology is sufficient reason to support his continuance in the Senate while Senator Craig's efforts to overturn his guilty plea fail to strike a sufficiently contrite tone. They avoid mentioning the fact that the Larry Craig situation involves a same-sex indiscretion.

Note that the speaker in the video incorrectly identifies Senator Craig as being a Senator from Colorado. I also find it interesting that the speakers are so certain of Senator Vitter's contrition and rehabilitation. I wonder if a $100,000 earmark helped them reach that conclusion.

Time and again we hear the argument that liberals hate America...or that they support the terrorists...or that they lack patriotism. The accusations are often made because of their opposition to the war in Iraq...fully lacking any real substantiation.

Well we now have a body of evidence that values voters may be the ones who hate America...primarily because it doesn't support their narrow version of religious ideology.

Comparison is a useful tool, and in this instance, it provides some much needed perspective. The same people who assail liberals for exercising their basic constitutional right to free speech seem more than willing to blur the lines of the constitution in order to impose their particular religious views upon the entire society.

At the GOP Values Voters debate last week, The Church Of God Choir opened the event by singing a rendition of God Bless America...one where the words have been changed to instead asks "Why Should God Bless America?"...continuing on to state that America has "turned her back on everything that made her what she is". While liberals may disagree with specific U.S. policy, one would be hard pressed to find an event of this stature...one with candidates for the presidency in attendance...where the sponsorship is issuing an across the board condemnation of their country.

In fact, I suspect that such a brazen defiling of a cherished patriotic song at a Democratic debate...in order to spew one's displeasure with the state of our nation...would draw calls for a Congressional resolution of condemnation similar to the one issued against MoveOn.org.

To further make my point, I've included a defiling of the same song by Fred Phelps' Westboro Baptist Church. If you're not familiar with this group, they travel the country protesting at funerals of U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan...asserting that the deaths are little more than god's punishment for America's sins.

The Westboro version of God Bless America is called God Hates America, and while it uses arguably harsher language than the one at the Values Voters debate, they present a similar message...a message that America isn't acceptable because it has failed to adopt the religious beliefs of a certain segment of society.

I would suggest that liberals adopt a tactic frequently used by the GOP...one that takes every possible opportunity to repeat the following meme..."Why does the GOP hate America?"

Bill Maher offers his typically witty and gritty new rules...from a sarcastic demand that our next President have lips so that he can tell where the lies are coming from...to a clear and concise statement on the problem with religion being a political litmus test in this country.

Maher offers a much welcomed observation that non-believers are rational beings who are also entitled to impose a test when selecting a candidate. He closes by pointing out that a President who didn't believe in heaven might be less willing to put our soldiers at risk in ill-advised wars and suggesting that while non-believers are only twenty percent of the population, a majority used to also think the world is flat.

While we live in a fully visual world, it is often dominated by what is spoken. Rarely do we communicate without words...and when we do, it can frequently demonstrate the most poignant expression of our humanity...be it a smile, a tear, or two people holding hands. Meaningful moments of silence are rare...and with the passing of Marcel Marceau, they become even more infrequent.

My first memories of Marceau date back to my childhood. I can recall the first time I saw Marcel Marceau perform on television...and I remember being mesmerized by the silent images. Today, as an adult, it seems clear that his appeal to me and all children is as it should be.

Children first learn to understand the world through visual observations. As such, the world is a limitless source of fascination. In seeing Marceau perform, the visual world was suddenly transformed into a cognitive experience...a morphing of the obvious into the sublime.

In a world where words have become pedestrian, pantomime remains an art of refinement...an effort to simplify and exemplify...yet clearly an equation whereby less becomes more. If death is the silencing of a loved one, what are we to conclude about the passing of a silent one? I'm not sure I can answer my question...but it crossed my mind to wonder if he who spoke less leaves more?

Colbert draws an interesting connection between the recent bagged salad recall and the Russian directive for its citizens to take a day off to make more babies. Stephen first argues that salad cannot be eaten bareback for fear of e-coli bacteria; only to change his mind and call for all out salad "tossing" to combat the Russian threat.

Keith Olbermann offers his acerbic observations on the President's assault on the MoveOn.org advertisement. Olbermann dismantles the President's condemnation of the Democrats for not "properly" supporting General David Petraeus and our military...pointing out that the George Bush bears the responsibility for making the General a political operative ("pimping" as Olbermann defines it).

Olbermann is particularly animated in this iteration of his must watch Special Comments. Clearly, Olbermann has had his fill of the hypocrisy routinely demonstrated by the Bush administration.

Mika, born in Lebanon and living in London, like so many other aspiring singers, has made his pop debut in the UK. Trained in opera, he has an amazing musical range. The following video clip is the latest single release from his album, Life In Cartoon Motion. The song is called Happy Ending.

Earlier this year Mika released Grace Kelly, a song which reached number one on the UK singles chart. Check out more about Mika at his MySpace.com page here.

Conan O'Brien and Dr. Phil have a little fun with the fact that Leona Helmsley left 12 million dollars to her dog, Trouble, an eight year old Maltese.

In the sketch, Triumph, the dog reportedly suing Trouble, explains to Dr. Phil why he is entitled to a share of the money...offering photos of his trysts with the mischievous Maltese as well as introducing Dr. Phil to their alleged offspring.

In the process, Triumph takes doesn't miss an opportunity to take a number of pot shots at Dr. Phil...and Leona...and Sally Jessy Raphael...and society.

Chris Crocker, following up on his tearful defense of Britney Spears on YouTube, is interviewed by Jimmy Kimmel in the following video. For some reason, I'm getting a big kick out of this completely bizarre situation...and Kimmel's quick wit simply adds to the intrigue. I'm not sure how long Crocker's moment of fame will last, but I have to admit I've enjoyed every minute of it.

Bill Maher offers a montage of observations...from a little fun at Britney's expense to a screed on the recent whining about the price reduction on iPhones and the tech nerds who insist on standing in line to buy the latest gadget...at whatever price.

Bill ends with a diatribe on public breast feeding and our nations preoccupation with petty issues...a shift which Maher contends has turned activism into narcissism.

Bill Maher spoke with Senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska last night. During the appearance, Hagel offered perhaps his most open criticism of the Bush administration, the Republican party, and the failed war in Iraq.

Hagel's remarks were a refreshing deviation from the standard GOP talking points and some may feel Hagel is still considering a rumored run as the vice presidential candidate with Mayor Mike Bloomberg. While that seems doubtful, Hagel certainly has positioned himself for a break with the party.

Hagel closes by calling the war in Iraq the biggest foreign policy blunder in history...stating that the U.S. has and will pay a high price for the terrible mistake.

By now everyone should have heard about Chris Crocker's "Leave Britney Alone!" moment...his fifteen minutes of fame...an impassioned and tearful plea to lay off the troubled celebrity following her less than flattering performance on MTV's Video Music Awards. If you haven't seen this video, you must.

I know it's wrong to laugh at others, but each time I watch this video, I find myself virtually hysterical...and not in a manner similar to Chris...more like laughing my you know what off while rolling on the floor (think a smaller version of Britney...wearing a respectable outfit).

Well, it didn't take long for the copycats to come out of the woodwork. The second video included below is supposed to be our dear President pleading with the American people to "Leave General Petraeus Alone!". While its not as funny as the Britney video, you have to give the guy props for the idea. Besides, I'm in one of those moods where I'm looking for something to laugh about...and these two videos are just what the doctor ordered.

I don't often watch Dan Abrams on MSNBC but I recently caught a segment during which he and his panel...which included Patrick Salmon of the Log Cabin Republicans, Joan Walsh of Salon, and Pat Buchanan...were discussing the inconsistencies in the GOP's reactions to their recent spate of sex scandals. Specifically, they address the apparent hypocrisy in the handling of Louisiana Senator David Vitter and Idaho Senator Larry Craig.

Abrams argues effectively that the GOP simply cannot deal with homosexual sex. Look, the bottom line is that David Vitter admitted he had sex with a prostitute, an obvious crime while Larry Craig plead guilty to disorderly conduct for allegedly soliciting an undercover police officer in a public restroom. The fact that the GOP gave Vitter a standing ovation while treating Craig like a pariah speaks volumes about the "family values" party.

The recent actions of the GOP suggest that if one is a Republican politician, one had better not be caught tapping one's foot in a men's restroom...that's teh gay...on the other hand if one is tapping a hooker...that's tres chic.