“A new poll shows that 66% of Americans think President Bush is doing a poor job of handling the war in Iraq, and the remaining 34% think Adam and Eve rode dinosaurs to church.” — Tina Fey, SNL Weekend Update Oct 29, 2005

Luckily, Bush doesn’t decide policy based on focus groups.

How to tame an inflated entertainment budget — CNet News.com/NYT

You probably spend more on entertainment than you do on groceries, clothing or gasoline.

If you don’t believe it, take a few minutes to total your monthly costs, starting with the services that have you locked in: basic cable television, and any premium channels, like HBO or Showtime; Netflix to rent videos; TiVo for digital recording; your high-speed Internet connection; and perhaps, satellite radio and streaming music like Yahoo Music. You are already up to about $200 a month, or $2,400 a year.

Don’t forget your iTunes music and video downloads, plus magazines, movie rentals, movie tickets, live shows and sporting events. Add in your cellphone and any of its video, data and premium content.

I haven’t added ours up, but I’m sure it’s pretty scary. I don’t know that DSL is really an “entertainment” expense; I consider it more of a “utility” like electricity or water. The article also includes mobile phones as “entertainment”; again, I would disagree. If you adjust the category to “entertainment/communications” then I could see these expenses included.

Eyre accepts 2-year contract with Cubs — SFGate

The Giants officially lost their best 2005 reliever Thursday when Scott Eyre agreed to a two-year contract with the Cubs that includes a player option for 2008 and is worth $11 million.

Eyre leaves a big void in the Giants’ bullpen. He pitched 86 times last season and emerged as one of the game’s top left-handed relievers. Although the Giants speak highly of rookie lefty Jack Taschner, general manager Brian Sabean likely will try to acquire a more seasoned arm.

This loss is going to hurt, and hurt a lot. In a season that even Giants management admits was a stinker, Eyre was one of the few bright spots.

SAN MATEO / Bride testifies about wedding night carjack — SFGate

Until they got to the Taco Bell, Steve Almanza and Valerie Zahn had enjoyed a typical and exhausting wedding day — she in a white gown, he in a tuxedo and about 100 friends and family members gathering for a celebration in his parents’ San Mateo backyard.

The young newlyweds — still in their formal clothes — were at the fast-food restaurant on East Fourth Avenue in San Mateo about 11 p.m. on their way to a hotel in Burlingame. Almanza went in for some takeout food, and a couple minutes later, while her new husband was inside the restaurant, the 22-year-old bride was the victim of one of the shortest and most unsuccessful carjackings in history.

We visted that particular Taco Bell many times when we lived in San Mateo. Never carjacked, though.

Two new reviews today: Yen Ching (Orange) and Al’s Fish & Chips (Redwood City).