Q1 - Legacy: Three famous people passed away this week. Former Tonight Show sidekick Ed McMahon died on June 23rd after fighting pneumonia, bone cancer, and other medical problems. Farrah Fawcett, best known for her stint on television's "Charlie's Angels," died on the 25th of June after battling cancer for the last three years. And last but certainly not least, Michael Jackson, regarded by many as the 'King of Pop,' died suddenly on June 25th after suffering cardiac arrest. Each lived storied lives full of highly publicized ups and downs. When thinking about their lives ten years from now, do you think you will remember each more for their entertainment-related accomplishments or their eccentricities?
Q2 - Listening In: On this date in 1963, President Kennedy visited West Berlin, where he made his famous declaration: "Ich bin ein Berliner" (I am a Berliner). If you could have been in the audience for any previous speech, presentation, or performance, which event would you have attended?
Q3 - Health Insurance: If your current employer provided a health insurance plan and you suddenly lost your job, would you make it a priority to find new health insurance?
Q4 - Trust: Most Americans, 75%, don't believe CEO statements surrounding the financial outlook of their companies. What do you think... can CEOs be trusted to tell the truth or are they just as bad as some elected officials who seemingly care more about getting reelected than they do about telling the truth and solving real world problems with workable solutions.
Q1 - Damage Control: If you damaged someone else's car in an accident and agree to give them money to repair the damage, would you be upset if you learned they used the money pay for something other than fixing the car?
Q2 - Sense of Humor: How do you think most people would typically describe your sense of humor: Goofy/Silly, Witty/Clever, Humble/Self-Deprecating, Dry/Deadpan?
Q3 - Wedlock or Deadlock: Fox TV stations in New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Tampa, Phoenix, Orlando and Memphis are planning a six-week test run of a new show titled "Wedlock or Deadlock," starting late-July. The show, according to published reports, features a well-known psychologist and life coach who each week determines whether struggling engaged couples should marry or split up. The couples reportedly share their hopes and fears with the show's host, who then gives them her blessing for marriage or literally tears up their marriage license. Based on this description of the show, would you take the time to watch an episode if it were playing in your local market?
Q4 - Access Denied: Taking the exact same position as the Bush White House adopted from 2001-2009, the Obama administration this week denied a Freedom of Information Act request seeking access to White House visitor records. According to the American Society of News Editors, disclosing visitor records--which were recently sought by MSNBC--poses no direct harm of any kind. However, according to a White House spokesperson, the administration ought to be able to hold secret meetings in the White House, such as an elected politician interviewing for a Cabinet position or a career diplomat visiting the White House for a discussion on issues that might possibly affect international relations. What do you think... should the White House's visitor logs be made available upon request? Why or why not?
How long before this dog shows up as a gag in a Will Ferrell or Judd Apatow movie...
Shout-out to the good folks up at Portland, Oregon's very own Green Dog Pet Supply for the tip about the video (which I found on their Green Dog Blog).
Q1 - Movies: As a rule, when you go out to watch a movie, do you try to make it to the theater in time to watch all of the previews? Related: Do you ever stay all the way through the credits?
Q2 - Pay For Free: Video calls via Skype, NPR, Facebook, Public Television, MySpace, Twitter, the online edition of The New York Times, and millions of other things in this world are available to you for free. What are some things you now use for free that you would gladly pay to use if charged a reasonable fee?
Q3 - Crime: According to the FBI's Preliminary Annual Uniform Crime Report, the U.S. experienced a 2.5 percent decrease in the number of violent crimes and a 1.6 percent decline in the number of property crimes for 2008 compared with data from 2007. The report is based on information that the FBI gathered from 12,750 law enforcement agencies that submitted six to 12 comparable months of data to the FBI for both 2007 and 2008. In 2008, all four of the violent crime offense categories declined nationwide compared with data from 2007. Murder and non-negligent manslaughter declined 4.4 percent, aggravated assault was down 3.2 percent, and robbery decreased 1.1 percent. Does it feel to you as though crime has dropped over the last year, stayed about the same, or gotten worse?
Q4 - Bring It!: If you could will any one thing to fall from the sky and harmlessly land in your lap -- aside from money, jewelry, precious metals, or a winning lottery ticket -- what would it be?
Q1 - Lost & Found: If you found a wallet or purse in a Starbucks or other public location, that was stuffed full of cash (we're talking lots of cash here, people) along with its owner's contact information, would you turn it in to the facility where you found it or--because of the outrageous amount of cash/the opportunity for a handsome reward from its owner--contact the owner directly for its safe return?
Q2 - Uniformly Slippery Slope: The Phoenix Mercury (2007 Champions of the Women's National Basketball Association) and LifeLock (a fledgling identity theft protection company) have entered into a marketing sponsorship agreement that replaces the words "Phoenix" and "Mercury" across the team's road and home uniforms with the word "LifeLock." Under terms of the agreement announced this week, the Mercury's team logo will now appear above the word "LifeLock" on the left side of the uniform. If your favorite sports team chose to enter a deal like the one the Mercury entered--which includes your team's jersey changing so dramatically--do you think your enthusiasm and support for the team would stay the same as it is now or change for the worse? (Note: In the case of the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury, existing fan jerseys with the Mercury's name will continue to be sold at retail outlets, but once they run out, only ones bearing the LifeLock name on the front will be available for purchase.)
Q3 - Ambassadors: President Obama this week announced eight new ambassadorial appointments, including three people with no foreign policy experience but who collectively helped raise more than $1,000,000.00 for the President's campaign and post election inauguration. While U.S. presidents have long rewarded big campaign donors, fundraisers and other supporters with ambassadorships, President Obama himself criticized the practice while campaigning for the Presidency and made the appointments nonetheless. Do you feel it's in the United States' best interests to allow the President to appoint whomever s/he wants to political posts, or should minimum standards be established for certain posts like ambassadorships?
Q4 - Washed Out Doubts: In an online survey conducted this spring, 94 percent of U.S. adults said they always wash their hands after using a restroom. However, when asked what percentage of other people they thought washed their hands each time after using a public restroom, 99 percent of U.S. adults felt that other people don't do so each time, and almost half (48 percent) felt that people wash their hands less than 50 percent of the time after using a restroom. What percentage of people do you think wash their hands each time after using public restrooms?
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