THE WATER COOLER

Here are a few things in news, entertainment and popular culture that we've been talking about lately.

* More than 30 advertisers pull out of pundit Glenn Beck's TV show after Beck calls President Obama a racist. More advertisers expected to pull out on the grounds of Beck being "just really creepy, you know?"

* Researchers at Stanford University find that people who do the most multitasking are the worst multitaskers. Ringing confirmation of the "people who talk on the cell phone and drive at the same time aren't smart enough to do either alone" hypothesis.

* Reality bimbo Heidi Montag performs during the Miss Universe telecast. Worst dancing on TV since the Immodium A-D Ballroom Dance Classic.

* The next round of rebates will go to consumers who buy high-efficiency appliances. The rebate train then continues with "cash to replace the Oreos you've hidden in the cupboard with a low-cal snack" and "cash to kick out of the house layabout relatives who need to just find a job already."

* Test prep guru Stanley Kaplan dies. Unfortunately, the one test in life nobody gets to prepare for.

JOHN PRZYBYS (jprzybys@reviewjournal.com)