Here's another Miller High Life commercial.  Love the opening line: "This is enough to put a High Life man off his lunch."  I really wish Miller would have stayed with these commercials.  The current High Life campaign is pretty good, though.  Here's an example:
"$11.50 for a hamburger!  Y'all must be crazy!"  Hilarious!

Ah yes, Berkeley, California.  That bastion of open-minded education and enlightenment.  Well, apparently not the free speech part.  It seems so-called civic leaders of that miguided city have actually voted to tell the United States Marine Corps to get the hell out.  In fact, the official message from the City Council is as follows:  "The Marines' Shattuck Avenue recruiting station is not welcome in the city, and if recruiters choose to stay, they do so as uninvited and unwelcome intruders."  Read the story here.  What's even more offensive is Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates, who actually served as a captain in the Army Reserves many years ago, added his two cents by saying, "The Marines don't belong here, they shouldn't have come here, and they should leave."  How nice.

Whether you are in agreement with the war in Iraq or strongly opposed, this should concern you as a matter of 1st amendment rights. Apparently Mayor Tom Bates is vehemently opposed to the war. That's his right. Does this give him the right to shut down a Marine Recruiting Office?

If Berkeley was attacked tomorrow or suffered a natural disaster, I wonder if the Mayor would expect the Marines help or if he would still say "The Marines don't belong here, they shouldn't have come here, and they should leave."

Perhaps it's Mayor Bates who doesn't belong here. He shows disrespect for the Armed Forces and an utter disregard for the First Amendment.  His words actually made my blood boil so much that I had to send him an email as follows:

Mr. Mayor,

Boy I'm glad you're not my mayor because I would be calling for your resignation along with all the other members of your so-called city council who feel the same way as you.  In making this statement, you show how much you truly feel about the brave men and women of our Armed Forces:

"The Marines don't belong here, they shouldn't have come here, and they should leave."

I'm incredulous that someone like you could actually make such a disrespectful, hateful statement against the United States Marine Corps.  They have all the right in the world to have a recruiting office in Berkeley or anywhere else in this country.  Do you understand how Marines everywhere must feel for you to make such a horrible statement?  Especially, since I see from your biography on your website that you served in the Army Reserves for a time. 

Personally, I served my country in the Navy for 20 years and am extremely proud of my service and am grateful to this great nation for allowing me to serve.  I am also proud of all our brave men and women who serve and have served in our Armed Forces and fully support them in the war to eradicate terrorism and threats to our freedom and way of life.  You've obviously declared what side of that war you are on, and I truly hope the residents of Berkeley, especially the Veterans of Berkeley, have the good sense to jettison you out of office for the next election.

Neil F.

Here's Mayor Bates' email address in case you feel like sending him a note and sharing your views:  mayor@ci.berkeley.ca.us

I sincerely hope the law shuts down this small-minded group of hypocrites who enjoy our freedom but close their minds to the very people who guarantee that those freedoms remain intact.  I also wonder if the city council and mayor would feel the same if any and all federal funds were pulled from Berkeley, including the university. If they don't want the Marines, then they don't want the government, which includes its funds.

Of course we don't have to really worry about the United States Marine Corps.  They've handled and beaten far more reprehensible foes than the dimwitted Berkeley Mayor and City Council.  Today they announced that they will be staying at the Shattuck Avenue Recruiting Station.  I like what Gunnery Sergeant Pauline Franklin has said: "We take an oath to defend the Constitution of the United States, and part of the Constitution is the right of free speech, and the fact that they are exercising their rights solidifies our resolve to continue what we are doing,"  You see, that's the Marines and the Armed Forces - taking the high road when certain miscreants what to disrespect them.

While my heart says the New York Giants will upset the New England Patriots this Sunday in the Super Bowl, my head says the Patriots will win by a comfortable margin.  As a Steelers fan, I'm not keen on seeing the Patriots win any more SB's.  Also, my Dad was a big Giants fan back in the days of Charley Conerly, Frank Gifford and West Virginia's own Sam Huff so in honor of him - GO GIANTS!  Here's hoping Michael Strahan (pictured above) is planning to plan a like kiss on the Vince Lombardi Trophy.  Enjoy the game!

One of the most successful, entertaining, and consistently watchable beer ad campaigns has been the Miller High Life campaign, produced by film documentarian Errol Morris. Since he's a documentarian whose name isn't Michael Moore, his movies don't make a ton of cash, and so commercials are his day job. Of all his commercials, the High Life campaign is his greatest triumph: he has created a portrait of manliness as a "Higher Path" according to the Miller manifesto in 30-second installments.  These commercials ran on US television from 1998 until 2003.  These are some of the funniest commericals ever made, and the "Salad" one here is my favorite. 
 
I'll be posting a bunch of these going forward.  "That's the right idea, Chief."