Bits & Pieces

(via Mashable)

At least according to The Awl. Check out this video compilation of Apple products’ appearances in movies and on TV.

Apple’s Greatest Cinematic Achievements from The Awl on Vimeo.

The best of Russian television. (h/t BoingBoing)

Featuring none other than Steve Jobs.

(h/t Very Short List)

Stephen Colbert defends Sarah Palin’s defense of Rush Limbaugh:

As the New York Times is reporting, there is currently an international effort underway to negotiate a new treaty primarily aimed at protecting intellectual property.  And it is being done in secret.

Behind a veil of secrecy, the United States, the European Union, Japan and other countries are forging ahead with plans to coordinate an international crackdown on illegally copied music, movies, designer bags and other goods that change hands in sidewalk souks and Internet bazaars.

Negotiators, under intense pressure from media companies, luxury brands and other corporate victims of piracy, are scrambling to complete a so-called Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement by the end of the year.

But the process is running into growing criticism from Internet campaigners, lawmakers and even some people involved in it.

Since when is it good policy to negotiate law in secret and primarily for the benefit of private parties rather than sound policy reasons? One of the possible approaches apparently being considered would mandate some sort of regulations that would require ISPs to disconnect customers who content provider claim have engaged in illegal file sharing. Where is the due process? Why isn’t this just a way for a private industry to get law enforcement for its own protection for free?

More from the EFF, Public Knowledge and James Love.

YouTube has a site set up that allows viewers to vote on their favorite Superbowl ads. Right now the site features videos about the Superbowl and entertaining.  The actual commercials will be available after they are televised during the game.

I have never understood why every “middle” of the road Democrat isn’t so much a moderate but just seems to switch sides on issues to get re-elected or to get attention.  Republican moderates always seem to have some sort of centrist beliefs.  And we get stuck with the Joe Libermans and Harold Fords of the world.  Colbert does a good job mocking Harold Ford below.

Isn’t it funny when you walk into a investment firm, and you see all of the financial advisors watching CNBC — that gives me the same feeling of confidence I would have if I walked into the Mayo-clinic or Sloan Kettering and all the medical doctors were watching General Hospital…

–Senior portfolio manager, UBS, quoted by the terrific Barry Ritholtz on his blog The Big Picture.

This is great.

Apparently, MadTV knew all about Apple’s new product to be announced next week several years ago. This video from 2006 proves it. (via Daring Fireball)

And he is back with a new stage show. I loved is TV show and his movies, back in the day.

You do recall, don’t you, that the regulars on the TV show included Laurence Fishburne and S. Epatha Merkerson, late of Law & Order fame.

Last night Kimmel was a “guest” on Leno. I bet Leno was surprised at how it turned out if he expected a love-fest.