OPINION: The Jeopardy Host Controversy

To be honest, I didn't keep track of the Jeopardy Host Succession War much. In my mind, Alex Trebek will always be the host to remember, and there are some BIG shoes to fill for the next host. 

Do I have a favorite? Yes, LeVar Burton, mainly because I know of him from ST:TNG, and a few episodes of Reading Rainbow. But let's be fair, Burton is not as SMOOTH a host as some of the other guest hosts. I think the excitement got to him. 

But Frankly, who is Mike Richards? Yes, he was the exec producer, but this seems to be his bid to get in front of the camera instead of behind it. And the whole thing just "smells" funny, even if he did not do anything funny. 

Mayim Bialik... Not bad, certainly SMOOTHER than Burton. 

But why NOT Ken Jennings, who had been guest hosting the longest? And former champ?  

The most surprising? Aaron Rodgers. Yes, the American footballer. I am not sure he wants to make a career of hosting Jeopardy, but he can be an interesting guest host from time to time, assuming he wants to spend more time off sports. 

Not that Richards is out, and Mayim may be in a bit of hot water regarding her previous unscientific views on certain things, I think Jennings is right behind Mayim. Burton... a distant third choice, IMHO. 

WTF?! -- you may have seen the crash, but this guy was ON the scene

Watch the driver actually got ejected as the car broke apart, flew off, BOUNCED off the road, slid across THREE LANES of asphalt, landed 10 ft in front of the guy's car as he slid to a stop!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18tKh9WX9rQ&feature=player_embedded

Is representative democracy obsolete?

Image by _ambrown via Flickr

Controversial Idea: Is Representative Democracy obsolete?

Thnk about it... the Greeks invented democracy, where any one who cares enough to argue policy can go down to the forum and join in the debate. But then, Greece back then are small city-states, each a government onto themselves.

Then comes the republic, when the distance prevents people from voicing their opinion directly, so representatives are chosen to speak for the people, so you don't have 10000 people stampeding into the capital just to get their voices heard.

Now, with the advent of telephone, TV, and advanced communications, it is possible to practice full democracy again... You no longer have to go physically to the government to be heard. There's e-mail, fax, phone, and so on. And if you care enough, you can always go physically.

So is representative democracy, i.e. republic, obsolete?