Somehow, I think that airing versions of The Daily Show on CNN's International feed will lead to more international confusion, as opposed to making the rest of the world understand us any better.

I mean, can you blame me? Even our own media doesn't always get the joke.

The Internet cracks me up. Where else would you find A complete list of Bryan Adams covers?

And look at that list: Kiss? 38 Special? Ted Nugent? I had no idea.

King Kaufman at Salon makes my point about the All-Star game. This guy can write.

OK everybody just needs to calm the heck down about the All-Star game.

It ended in a tie. This does not presage the crumbling of our nation, or even of baseball. I'm really struggling to figure out why this incident has so enraged sportswriters across America.

The game is meaningless. OK, technically, yes, all baseball games are meaningless, it's not like we go to war and then say "well, if the Allies can make this double-play then its freedom for Poland!"

But this game is meaningless even within the strictures of baseball. It doesn't decide anything, it doesn't count for anything. It's not even chosen fairly - fans pick players they like, not necessarily the best players. And the coaches try to be fair, but come one, they favor their favorite players as well.

The criticism seems to be, if we're going to have the game, let's play it. And if that means ruining players for the rest of the season, then so be it. I just don't get that -- we should have a minor enjoyment for one meaningless night even if it ruins the rest of the season?

I think a lot of this comes down to this idea out there in sports that everything was always better in the past. It's prevalent in all sports (football commentators act like turf is second only to ebola as a deadly force. If it's that serious we should be dropping astroturf in Iraq, not bombs, and we could watch Saddam fall to the ground clutching his knees). But baseball is the worst. Maybe it's because I only started following baseball as an adult, but I just don't get it. I have no problem with the designated hitter, night games, inter-league play, whatever. It's a game we're not talking about editing Shakespeare here. Life evolves, and baseball should too.

For an even better rant about this, see Sarah Bunting's Tomato Nation. (Although I think I completely disagree about Pete Rose, and I totally support Jim Gray.)

OK, now this is embarassing.

I'm out walking with the baby the other day, and I decide to stop at the liquor store to buy a gift for a friend (Godiva liquor. Yum. Try it in coffee.) So the baby picks this moment to decide she never wants to go into a store again, and begins howling: "No, Mommy! No! Nooooo! No store!"

As passers-by stop to look at the alkie who's traumatizing her child and forcing her into a life of booze, the baby decides to grab onto the door frame, so I have to drag her into the store.

And of course, they were out of the Godiva.

Lately, I've been reading Tom Tomorrow's blog. Sarcasm and cartoons, what more could you ask for?

The sky has been decidedly weird in Boston of late. Apparently, forest fires in Quebechave produced a haze that turned the sky a dull yellow. The sun is a hazy orange blob, and the air looks like you can reach out and take a handful.