• So I was listening to some commentaries from season one of “The Shield” last night, and in the episode dealing with the migrant workers someone (I think it was series creator Shawn Ryan) was talking about how they managed to get all points of view regarding the illegal immigration issue expressed in that broadcast. Interesting to me was when he said the “right-wing” perspective on illegal immigration was that they (illegal aliens) provide cheap labor to businesses. Being a proud member of the right-wing conspiracy, I had always thought the “right-wing” take on illegal immigrants was that they shouldn’t be in America doing anything, whether it is construction labor or collecting welfare. I always considered the whole “cheap labor” argument to be the businessman’s perspective, and although Democrats are the party of the poor and illiterate, there are still many in this group who contribute to the public coffers, rather than take from them.

Another thing I learned from the commentaries I listened to last night was when Ryan said that his wife plays the role of Vic Mackey’s wife. Interesting. I can’t wait to hear the commentary (if there is one) of the episode where she is filmed walking around in her panties.

• The 2006 NFL Hall of Fame inductee class includes quarterbacks Troy Aikman and Warren Moon, along with the now-deceased defensive end Reggie White. One quote I found funny regarding this story was from White’s wife, Sara, who said, “Every city embraced Reggie as a player and as a person.” I’m not so sure San Francisco took Reggie in with open arms, but who am I to question a grieving widow?

Another person elected to this year's hall of fame class was John Madden. Among his accomplishments include an extremely short-lived NFL career (he got hurt in his first pre-season as a Philadelphia Eagle and never laced up for another game), a successful coaching career with the Oakland Raiders that saw him as the winningest coach of the 1970s, a broadcasting stint that never seems to end, and a dominant video game franchise to his name. Madden is one of those people you either love or hate, and while his best days in the broadcasting booth are long behind him, I’m still a fan. It’s true his insights aren’t that, well, insightful, but let the man do his thing until he decides to call it quits.

• For all you New Hampshire bitches that voted against taking Supreme Court Justice David Souter’s house in order to build a hotel that would bring in more revenue for “the greater good” of your area, don’t start whining when the State confiscates your land to give to some developer wanting to build condos or a strip mall. Maybe Souter could rent you out a room at his place.

• Castro is going after the “new rich” in his communist utopia. In other words, those who can afford microwave popcorn and peanut butter. That's some crazy stuff; I didn't even know they had microwaves in Havanna.

• Well, it’s nice to know Bush is no longer being compared to Hitler. According to Hugo Chavez, he’s now worse than old Adolf.

• Oh, and speaking of Hitler, not only did he want to kill those people in New Orleans affected by Hurricane Katrinia, he also wants them to stay in jail.

• Two of Britain’s candy makers are now putting warning labels on their products that tell consumers these products should be part of a balanced diet. This of course means these warning labels will be appearing soon across the Pond in the United States. That is if lawsuits by 500-lb. plantiffs who didn't know eating a dozen Hershey bars per day was bad for them don't sprout up first.

• I’ve had steaks languish in the freezer for a few months before; I’d shudder to think what this 20-year old meat would have looked like. Also, how exactly was this meat discovered after 20 years anyway?

• And finally, on Super Bowl Sunday, here’s another example of why Steeler fans are different from me and you.