Easter Sunday. I'm dining alone at a nice restaurant. I'm having a steak and a glass of Cabernet. Here's to resurrections, and the greatest Jew in showbiz there ever was or will be!

Driving over here I was listening to a discussion on the radio regarding the obvious fascination, and in many cases a desire bordering on addiction, of watching war coverage. In as much as there's always an armed conflict taking place somewhere on the planet, and the state of technology now facilitates "real-time" from the most remote locations, how soon can we expect "The WAR Channel"?

Here's reality TV at its very best: unscripted and absolutely live ... and dead!

Of course, after a few seasons there will doubtless arise charges of staging or even fomenting conflicts for the sake of ratings, but until the venture is sullied by such scandal, we'll be amazed and ennobled by experiencing our humanity at it's very best and worst.

"Embedded" journalists will get us up close and personal with the combatants, while overhead, unmanned drones displaying Network logos will give us pinpoint locations of every breaking scene. Combine this with state of the art 3D mapping and graphics and we're talking about a global audience 24/7!

The advertising potential is nothing less than awesome! Orwell would be impressed (sort of) and in the minds of the more astute is the potential for investments. Just how does a savvy investor reposition his portfolio in light of the emerging world of entertainment? Of course the defense industry is a no-brainer, but what of the ancillary sectors such as casket manufactures, graveyards and body bags, electronics giants like Sony and Phillips, and then of course there's the pharmaceutical companies - who will be the first to patent the perfect battlefield speed? Of course that brings to mind the very lucrative nutritional supplements industry. After all, professional warriors of the future will always be seeking that important edge on their opponents.

Consider also the agency and management opportunities created by the inevitable rise of combat "Stars"; endorsements, testimonials, brand recognition, T-shirts!

Good gosh, the mind reels from the implications that flow like a river full of spawning salmon!

Is the future exciting or what!

It's not that I'm particularly fond of Bush; Indeed, I thought it was remarkably silly to use the word "Crusade" when characterizing the invasion, ("Liberation") however, I find his detractors even more contemptible, and many more times hypocritical. In one breath, they call him an idiot and in the next accuse him of duplicity. Bush has said out right that he "doesn't do nuance".

I think he's telling the truth. If he doesn't do nuance then how adept would he be at duplicity?

Walking to the coffee shop this morning, I passed by the Santa Monica Sunday Farmer's market. Here's where all right-thinking, friendly fascists gather to remind themselves what fine folks they are and just how awful the world's become since Bush stole the election.

There was as per form, a table of flyers calling attention to the many crimes being committed by the Republicans, and even a comic strip that's shows just what a simple-minded boob the president really is.

Alas, if only Al Gore had persevered in his lawsuit to unseat the demon usurper, how much better off we'd be right now, and certainly in better favor with France, Germany, and Russia. After all it's hard not to well regard a victim, but that aggressive stuff and unilateral confidence is really beyond the pale!

It's a tragedy; the countries that spawned the two most awful dictatorships, and greatest slaughter of the last century, as well as the biggest loser, think ill of us.

I've lately been reading a few missives regarding just how much horror and suffering the Germans were subjected to by allied bombing. People are finding the "courage to finally speak out." I guess it's now time for the Germans to claim victim status as well. Maybe reparations are due?