With his selection of the underqualified and relatively inexperienced Governor Palin as his running mate – because of her conservative credentials and (probably more importantly) her gender – couldn’t you say that “McCain would rather win the election than put the most-qualified person just a heartbeat away from the presidency”?

With his medical history and at his age, this is a valid question. But will Obama-Biden have the fortitude to ask it?

Congrats, Mr. Senior Account Executive at MZD Advertising!

Blue screen of death at Beijing Olympics opening ceremony.

The latest reports of Apple’s penchant for silently removing iPhone applications is quite disturbing. This should give any software developer pause before investing any time or energy in developing for the new platform. While I think that the concept of the iPhone App Store is worthy (having a centrally managed, easy-to-use repository for applications with easy installation and updates), Apple needs to take a step back and look at the message their actions are sending to their potential developers.

• Why is there an NDA required in order to use the SDK?
• Why can’t apps with “objectionable” adult content be distributed in the app store?
• Why can’t other app stores be created for those who don’t want to play by Apple’s rules?
• If any application could be capriciously removed by an Apple censor at any time without explanation, why would anyone choose to develop an application of any significance for this platform?

In case you hadn’t heard.

Comcast customer disservice is the reason I switched to Dish Network, but alas I have to keep Comcast around for Internet (or settle for much slower DSL).

Good thing that violence isn’t as easily transmitted over the airwaves. Otherwise, could just one network bear the responsibility of broadcasting all these shows within the same week?

COLD CASE – Lilly and her team set out to find a 1962 suicide victim’s killer.

NCIS – When a reserve officer is killed in Iraq, his wife suspects all is not what it seems.

CSI: MIAMI – A body in a sinkhole leads the team to a robbery, whose target holds a shocking secret.

CSI – The CSI team investigates several cases, including victims who have green blood.

CRIMINAL MINDS – Conflicted by his own sexual identity, a serial killer targets gay men as his victims.

WITHOUT A TRACE – A lottery winner who wants to do good with her money vanishes after a camping trip.

NUMB3RS – Members of a cult refuse medical assistance after being mass poisoned.

I guess I shouldn’t be critical, though. After all, I haven’t noticed an increase in crime being reported on the evening news (and you can read that sentence again, with an appropriate sarcastic tone).

But in a nation of gun owners, apparently our television shows just reflect our preferences and priorities. And that’s probably for the best. So please, join me in repeating our new national mantra:

“GUNS DON’T KILL PEOPLE. NIPPLES KILL PEOPLE.”

Now don’t you feel better?

I’m not sure why, but the NCAA men’s basketball tournament is so much fun to watch. Is it the promise of a new Cinderella story? Is it the wild upsets that nobody could ever possibly predict? Or maybe it’s the earnest and up-tempo spirit of the game that somehow gets lost in the NBA?

Nah, it’s the chance to win $300 in the office pool. Maybe next year. Damn you, Duke!

Well, just take a look at some of CNN’s top stories from today alone:

Newborn falls through toilet onto rail track

Boy George denies chaining escort to wall

Son’s spirit saved me from fire, dad says

House full of feces, filth may be leveled

CNN, elevate your game! Maybe read msnbc.com or bbc.co.uk from time to time. There’s so much important news around the world that doesn’t involve babies, pets, or white girls gone missing — why do you need to lower the bar and plumb the depths of society on a daily basis? Are the ratings really that good??