Yeah...I know... I still have some of their music on my iPhone, and yeah, I love their music, and I still think they are totally cool. To listen to the entire album, use the widget on the right-hand side of the page. It isn't available in the U.S. until April 11. (Just click the song title to listen, there is also small controller after song 11 that allows you to pause the song and begin play.)

What do you think?

If you need even more, here is the Official Pet Shop Boys website.

It's about time that people be held accountable for their actions. Finally, Washington has asked General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner to resign as a condition of additional financial help from the government. (Incidentally, he has been CEO at GM for 8 years and with the company for 30).

"On Friday I was in Washington for a meeting with Administration officials. In the course of that meeting, they requested that I 'step aside' as CEO of GM, and so I have," Wagoner said in a statement posted to the GM Web site.

Now if we could only make the same, simple choices about the heads of the banking industry.

More here.

Okay. Now I understand that there may be challenges when group singing on live TV. I also understand that the premise of a singing talent contest is to sing. What I do not understand is how Idol can throw a singing competition where the contestants are lip synching their group numbers.

The blogs have all kinds of ideas, from blaming it on Scott, to lack of quality rehearsal time, to just a flat-out lack of talent.

Whatever the reason, I think it sucks. What do you think?

Always arguing the wrong side of every argument, Tony Perkins and the FRC have a problem with a new study that links spanking and physical punishment to bad adult behavior. The Family Research Council thinks hitting bad kids is okay, as long as it is viewed "in its larger context".

To quote, "The key both to the effectiveness of parental discipline (including spanking) and its effect on the child (whether positive or negative) lies in how the discipline is undertaken in its larger context, not simply what disciplinary tool is used. Studies have actually shown that a disciplinary style that balances firm control (including spanking) with positive encouragement results in the best outcomes for children."

What studies? Can you name one?

Disgusting. Rationalize beating children any way you want, Tony Perkins. You are slime.

More

This made me more than a little nauseous this morning. Experienced male-prostitute buyer, cheater and meth user Ted Haggard is actually going on Divorce Court (with his faghag wife) and speaking with Judge Lynn Toler. They claim the interview is all part of an effort to show how a marriage can survive even the worst of times...

But wait, there's more...

"This is part of Ted's journey," Gayle Haggard said. "It's made him a better man. I see what has happened as a divine rescue."

Divine rescue? OMG. This woman needs to get a clue and her husband needs to just go away. By the way, they are being paid an undisclosed amount of money for the interview. Sheesh.

More

The revelers were out in full force over the noon hour today in downtown St. Paul. I managed to avoid most of the drunks, (although there were a lot of them). I just wish I was feeling the same alcohol-induced intoxication that I observed. I also wish I didn't have to wait until 5 to join them.

One last thing...we all know the cops are going to be out in full-force tonight, so keep your drinking at home OR just take a cab.

I have been waiting to see how this unfolds, and it does not look good. Despite the chiding Obama gave AIG, it appears that they are under no legal obligation to listen.

If the American people truly own 80% of this "company", how can our hands be tied? Let's just get this over with, declare bankruptcy, fire all the incompetents who did this, and start over.

There are a few petitions being circulated, please sign them and pass along the info.

This one at MoveOn says "Under no circumstances should the AIG executives who helped create the financial crisis receive bonuses. That's our money and you should do whatever it takes to get it back."

And here is the petition at FireDogLake that needs your signature.

Get writing!

UPDATE:
More links to relevant info:

Bailout King AIG Still to Pay Millions In Bonuses

AIG employees should return bonuses or face high tax

NY AG issues subpoena to AIG

As you may have already noticed, I made some substantial changes to OpenCitizen over the weekend. The whackjobs and heroes sections have been incorporated into the main page and I added sections on some of my favorite interested - legos and origami. I have also expanded the about me section to reveal a little bit more about your favorite blogger, Troy.

Please let me know what you think, I welcome all comments, suggestions and gripes.

We knew it was a lie from the start...Bristol and Levi are not getting married, despite the fact that as recently as last month the wedding was still on.

This is what happens when young loose girls get pregnant and moms tell them the only birth control they should rely on is abstinence. How did that work out for you, Bristol?

Stand up and accept responsibility for your actions, Mother Palin should have raised her kids right, obviously she was more concerned with her career than her family. Sheesh.

Full story...

President Obama signed the Stem Cell Executive Order and Scientific Integrity Presidential Memorandum today, simultaneously, the U.S. joined the ranks of the scientifically enlightened.

He said, "By doing this, we will ensure America's continued global leadership in scientific discoveries and technological breakthroughs. That is essential not only for our economic prosperity, but for the progress of all humanity."

"That is why today, I am also signing a Presidential Memorandum directing the head of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy to develop a strategy for restoring scientific integrity to government decision making. To ensure that in this new Administration, we base our public policies on the soundest science; that we appoint scientific advisors based on their credentials and experience, not their politics or ideology; and that we are open and honest with the American people about the science behind our decisions."

WOW. All I can say is that it's about time.

Full statement on the White House website.

Michele Bachman, the joke of Minnesota and the House of Representatives, once again placed politics over the good of our country.

In an interview yesterday with Bill Bennett, she summed up her beliefs this way:

"We need to do everything we can to thwart them (Democrats) at every turn to make sure that they aren't able to, for all time, secure a power base that for all time can never be defeated."

She is sounding more and more like Rush. I wonder if she also pops pills and cheats on her partner like most Republican politicians. What a horrid woman. What's next? Taking candy from children and beating small animals? Sheesh.

More info at Think Progress.

Tatiana del Toro, the Idol wannabe that many love to hate, was given another chance by the judges Wednesday night. Tatiana was selected as one of the 12 finalists in the competition. Her over-the-top mannerisms and unusual laugh make her a front runner, or "dark horse" as the judges like to say.

Glad she's back, aren't you?

(and I KNOW I am going to hear about this...)

And I couldn't be happier. His twenty minute speech at CPAC turns into 60, and the crowds cannot get enough. A bigoted, drug addicted, adulterous liar. PERFECT for the Republicans, and yet, just more of the same.

If this keeps up, the Democrats will have no problem gaining seats in both houses, and will continue to aggressively promote our progressive agenda. Long live democracy!

At 4:30 this morning I heard a vacuum cleaner running in the hall of my building. I got out of bed and stepped in water on the way to the front door. A waterline burst, and flooded the hallway AND the storage locker - MY storage locker - so I am spending the morning day going through wet cardboard boxes and salvaging all I can.

*UPDATE: They are now ripping apart my place looking for water damage. Not the way I was planning on spending my day off.

This week my friend Theresa asked me if I wanted to go with her to see Britney Spears and the Pussy Cat Dolls in concert. Her husband didn't care to go, and she thought of me right away. Of course my immediate reaction was a resounding YES, then I found myself slightly embarrassed to respond in the same fashion as a 15 year old girl, not a 40-something year old man (not that I really care).

Tickets are sold out, but we can find them on Craig's List for $150 each. Aaaargh...what to do...?