Math

Mt. Dew + toothpaste = Gross mouth.

Hard rain = bad allergies the next day.

Me/Two projects = Busy.

Map Quest

Get used to seeing this map, especially after the last two presidential elections. In 2000, Al Gore won the 'popular vote' but lost the election to George W. Bush. Many people were confused on how more Americans could vote for Gore but have Bush win. That's because America isn't a true democracy, as many people believe. The United States of America is in fact a republic - or a representative democracy at best. Which means the majority does not always rule.
A lot of people cringe at the words 'electoral college'. But its something that every single person should understand if you plan on voting this year. How do you know if its important? Well, it decides who becomes president, not your popular vote. Karl Rove understands the importance of this, and has kept maps updated for this race. (see first link) And Rove has Obama winning as it stands now.

Re-hash

Man, the guy who does XKCD.com is too funny. I know I just had a post on it, but here's another one. Remember my post from back in April about how much YouTube comments suck? Its like there's a sign that says "Are you stupid? Want to type hateful things that don't make sense? Post a comment here!" Seriously, don't read YouTube comments. Your brain will die.

Well, the kid behind XKCD came up with a great idea to stop some of the dumbest comments.

'False Hope'

Had another instance of someone snidely shrugging off Obama's message of 'Hope'. Saying "Yeah, you're young and impressionable." Which made me madder than if he would have slapped me in the face. I didn't miss a beat to reply, "Which makes you what then? Old and cynical? Don't tear me down for being optimistic just because you aren't." Sounds like a more heated exchange than it was. I think they were just conservative, but didn't have any valid arguments to make on policy issues, so they chided me for being a young voter and 'not knowing better.' Hey man, its not my fault you don't know enough to argue the issues. I'll write down your candidate's platform FOR you if you want and come back later to have a legitimate discourse.

"We've been told we cannot do this, by a chorus of cynics, who will only grow louder and more disciplined.
We've been asked to pause for a reality check.
We've been warned against offering the people of this nation 'false hope.'
...But in the unlikely story that is America -
there has never been anything 'false' about hope."
-Barack Obama

XKCD love

Ah, XKCD, you read my mind. I personally hate 'ringtones' that do not actually 'ring.' It's just one of those technological advances that made me go, "Okay, we CAN do it, but why would you WANT to?" It would repetitively play the same 30 seconds of your favorite song in low-fi quality, until you get sick of it. Plus you have the chance of confusing it with actual music. Or it just blends in with the music you're playing and you miss the call. Or it goes off in some inopportune time and you look much stupider than if your phone just rang. I guess it just feels really tacky to me. (Roscommon is going to KILL me when he reads this.)

I think I'm getting old. ...Now where'd I put my Worther's Original hard candies?

**edit** someone at work pointed out that I might just be mad because no one ever calls me. That might be true. Still... ouch. Back to The Cave.

Oh Snap!

Wow. I usually read about ads before I see them, but I saw BOTH these ads yesterday and was so pissed off by McCain's ad that I actually threw something. McCain is racist. Or at least, is playing on racism in this election. Read this blog for all the backstory and links to both ads. McCain's ad repeatedly showed a black businessman who was connected with Fannie Mae and fraud as advising Obama. (many shots of the 'bad black guy') Followed by a shot of a scared old white woman. Nice, McCain. Nice. Not subtle. You're a bad person making the world a worse place, John. Shame on you. Shame.
McCain's ad was called 'Advice' and not even 4 hours later, there was an Obama ad in response. The SAME DAY there was a response, called "Who advises." Obama's ad is one of his best yet. Starts out by showing the McSame ad as an outright lie (something we're used to by now). Then ends by some subtle touches of its own.

Brilliant.


Here's a great breakdown of the 'issues' for each candidate, put together by the BBC, and is the most non-partisan breakdown I've seen. Great primer for the 2008 candidates.

Civil Disobediance

This is great. Republicans lied about (or grossly exaggerated) the number of people at one of their rallies last week. There were 8,000 people. They said 23,000. Oops. That's more than a margin of error. Anyways, they've had to be lenient with their screenings, since they need bodies to show up at these rallies. There most recent stop was in IA City. I was hoping Iowa City would carry the liberal activism banner high (before it was torn from their hands and crumpled up by a staffer). Iowa City did not disappoint.

Things started off great! Palin came out, said she was "thrilled to be in Grand Rapids." Good start. Then while she was introducing McSame, a group of FEMALE protesters held up an anti-war sign and started chanting about womens' rights and anti-war sentiments. The republicants there rallied to their candidate's defense by creatively chanting "USA! USA!" as if that somehow excluded the protesters. If the Mighty Ducks/Team USA are on the ice against Russia, I could understand. I would have started chanting "Aaaacorns, Aaaacorns" just to confuse people. Hey, its not any more pointless than chanting "USA!" at an American activist group. They know where they're from, guys. Thanks though.

Since I'm ranting.... I'm sure everyone's seen by now that someone hacked Sarah Palin's Yahoo email account and posted a few things on the internet site Wikileaks. That's not okay, I'm not condoning cyber-crimes. But a few things were instantly obvious. Palin used her personal email accounts to conduct state business extensively.
GOPers were concerned because its not as secure as the email accounts she's SUPPOSED to be using for state business.
What wasn't said was the REAL REASON she does that. Why anyone does that. Because any emails you send/receive via corporate or governmental email accounts DON'T BELONG TO YOU. They're a matter of record, and for good reason. (say, if someone tried to have their ex- brother-in-law fired. There would be evidence of those misdeeds.)
Personal email accounts are just that. Personal. They're yours. They require a subpoena. You can do some shady stuff and not have a trail.
The Bush Administration did this a ton, and even Republicans said the fact she's already mastered that trick is 'alarming.'

**edit**
Another news site has that stop in Cedar Rapids. I have a feeling that to majority of the country Iowa is Iowa. I just know that some commentor on TV tonight is going to say she gave the speech in a cornfield. Addressing cows.

Troopergate

I had blogged recently about the scandal involving Sarah Palin and her abuse of power while Gov. of Alaska. Some people mentioned that they had not heard about it. Well, its starting to come to light, and it doesn't look good. Even better, Sarah has said she will be 'unlikely to help' in the ethics probe. Furthermore, people in Alaska have reported that the Republican presidential campaign is doing everything in its power (and wallet) to "stall and smear" the investigation.

Here's what happend. Sarah's little sister is involved in a rough divorce and child custody battle with her ex-husband, a state trooper. Sarah Palin requests that Alaska's public saftey chief fires her ex-brother -in-law. (The ex-husband not having a job would have GREATLY helped Sarah's sister's case in the custody battle.) However, the Public Safety Chief refused to fire the ex-husband, saying there was no cause to remove him. Sarah Palin then fired the Public Safety Chief. Palin's people said she fired him over budget dissagreements, but many people directly involved say that was laughable and the real reason was plainly obvious to anyone involved. A bi-partisan inquiry was authorized by the Alaska state legislature in July, before Palin was a blip on the McCain VP radar. This isn't new news.

Also, more and more people in Alaska are speaking out. And its not in favor of their 'beloved' Governor.

"I am Jack's dissapointment..."

*sorry for the horrible Fight Club reference in the title... it was a quote of mine from this weekend..

First there was a really awesome show at a tiny venue. I was very excited. Then, somehow, the tickets were sold out before they even went on sale. I was very sad. (see title) Then, a Ticketmaster friend-of-a-friend pulled some kind of jedi-mind trick and produces tickets! Makes for a happy resolution...

Even Dave Hearts the Black Keys

I've noticed a few things about Dave Letterman that I like. To name a few:

• 1. The pencil thing he does. He hits his pencil on the table and then bounces/flips it really quickly and catches it. Watch sometime for it. I used to practice it in class. (sorry homebase) Here's the only video of it I could find, but its of him doing it really huge and not catching it. He usually keeps it real low and 'tight' and it looks like the pencil tries to jump away but he stops it.

• 2. His company or some affiliate is called "Worldwide Pants" and when the logo flashes at the end of every show, the red-headed announcer guy always says something different. And its always weird. Like... really weird. And really random. And really awesome.

• 3. He's very obvious about whether he likes the musical guests or not. Sometime its hilarious. Sometimes its awkward. But what's cool is when he obviously digs the band at the end of the set. Watch waaay till the end and see a 'Worldwide Pants' example.

Answers Requested

Flight or Invisibility? One or the other. No one else in the world has a superpower. You're the only one. Invisibility means the ability to turn transparent, your body and whatever clothes you're wearing, but not objects you pickup and you still have mass. Flight means the ability to levitate, within the earth's atmosphere, at speeds of up to 1,000 miles per hour. No super strength or invulnerability, just flight.
Which would you choose and why? No, wait. Think about it.


Which one?

"Speed and Ferocity"

The McCain campaign aired an ad a few days ago that was so dishonest and misleading, multiple stations who fact checked it refused to air it and other groups (including those with heavy GOP ties) demanded the McCain people stop airing it. They did. CBS even removed their ad from their YouTube account. It was that bad. Even bow-tie wearing pundits were ashamed of it.
What was McCain's response? Put up another dirty attack ad, skewing truths and intentionally trying to paint Obama as sexist, even though the RNC were the ones who called Palin 'hot', and the fact that she did in fact lie (or at least didn't know better) in public about Obama's record. You want to avoid sexism, right Palin? Want to be treated equally? Well, if you say something blatantly dishonest or stupid on the campaign trail, you get called out for it. Do they have politics in Alaska?
Anyways, Roscommon and I were discussing how Obama needed to ramp up his ads. Maybe not get crazy dirty, but there are several points that I feel people in America don't realize and should. That McCain has NO IDEA how 85% of Americans live their lives. He's said he, "doesn't really understand economics." that he's "still trying to learn how to use a computer to send email" and that "you're not rich in amercia until you've got $5million.'" What planet do you live on, John? (Earth.) Okay, but WHEN? 1978? How can you expect to be president when you've got no idea how to use the internet (the BIGGEST security threat in America, not terrorists....), no idea how the economy works (the BIGGEST concern for voters this term), and are completely out-of-touch with the majority of working Americans (you can just call them 'poor people' John).

Anyways, the Democrats have finally found their cajones. Thank God. (No, not that one. Ye... no, the one to the left... little more tolerance... okay, little higher, yeah that one!)

edit* The new ad is being watched so much its usually unavailable. Watch his recent speech addressing the ridiculous levels to which the McCain campaign has stooped.
People often say, "all politicians suck. They just get in office and to the same old thing either way, so who cares?" - I'll tell you why I care. The difference is this: I honestly believe in my heart that Barack Obama WILL do the things that this country needs but the powers-that-be haven't allowed. I think he'll fix our horrifically underfunded public schools. I think he'll fix our pissing-contest style foreign policy. I think he'll fix our CRIMINAL tax codes that hardly tax the rich while providing NO loopholes for the middle class. I think he'll actually break our dependence on foreign oil and fossil fuels. No, he may not be able to fix the whole world. But I think he'll try.

Paging Dr. Freeman....

This is a pretty cool story. Intriguing and worrisome and the same time. I think its a little ridiculous to think that it'll destroy the world, but you can't help but hesitate... Too many books and movies about scientists getting in over their heads and ending their civilizations.

Plus this particular (ha, puns...) scenario especially creeps me out. Its EXACTLY how my favorite computer game series started. With a particle smasher trying to create a black hole or 'singularity.' Lets just say, they succeeded with unintended consequences...

McCain = Charlie Brown

This is too funny. Nobody likes you Charlie Brown. And, apparently, nobody likes McCain, either...

The GOP used the song "Barracuda" by Heart to promote Sarah Palin before her speech, it has been used twice now. Heart called that same night with a cease-and-desist order. "Sarah Palin's views and values in NO WAY represent us as American women. We ask that our song 'Barracuda' no longer be used to promote her image..." Ouch. Heart-less. (athankyou)

But the reason this is blog worthy to me is because this is not the first time McCain's camp has tried to use a song and had the artist call them up and say, "Don't ever use my songs again." John Mellencamp told them to stop using his songs, Boston did too. Jackson Brown actually filed suit against them for their use of "Running on Empty" in an anti-Obama advertisement.

Also, I think its worth noting that the McSame camp has never contacted any of these artists for permission. First time, that would have been understandable. But then they know they have to ask permission. Only, they continue to not ask for permission. Is their government going to be run the same way?

hmm...

The Republican Party Thinks You're Stupid.

There's been some stretching of the truth in politics. That's true. But the GOP has completely lost their old rich minds this past week. And they're banking on the fact that you, America, are too stupid to know the difference.

My arguments against Sarah Palin:

There have been some ridiculous arguments against Mrs. Palin, such as "how can she put her family last when she has a new autistic child and a pregnant teen daughter?" That IS a little sexist. (although its WOMEN making that argument. Women being sexist towards women. Go figure.) No one ever makes a big deal when a male candidate with a family is running for office.
No, my problems with Sarah Palin are based on her policy choices, lack of LEGITIMATE experience, and shady (yes, SHADY) background. The pundits flip shit when we try and comment on how she runs her family. Yet her policies DIRECTLY try to tell us how to raise OUR families. Smell that? Its hypocrisy.

First, her policy stances.
-Sarah Palin is 100% against the woman's right to choose. No abortion, in any case. Not in rape cases, not in incest cases, not when the mothers life is in danger. Never. Now, I'm not necessarily pro-choice, either, but that's pretty extreme. And you expect Hilary supporters to vote for her? Get real!
-Palin is extremely pro-gun. We've already got the most gun deaths per capita in the world. I get that you live in the wilderness, Sarah, but most of us live in areas with police. Let them shoot people. I'm not saying we need to go the Taiwan route and ban guns altogether, but we do need better gun control. Our country is trigger happy enough.
-Palin wants to teach creationism in schools. She wants to control what our children learn about sex and science.

While they stand there and tell us to mind our own business about how she runs her family, their policies want to give the government more control over how we raise our children than ever before. Don't tell us to back off unless you're going to do the same.

Second, her lack of legitimate experience.
Democrats started off joking that the McCain/Palin camp would try and say something ridiculous like, "she can deal with an increasingly hostile Russia, because she lives in Alaska, and Alaska is real close to Russia." Only, now its not funny. Because the GOP has made that EXACT argument FIVE TIMES NOW.
Wait, McCain... WHAT?!?! You think that she knows 'energy policy' better than ANYONE in Washington?!? Are you retarded? SHE'S A HOCKEY MOM. She has ZERO background in energy policy. There's people in Washington who've spent they're whole lives studying this subject! Are you just making this shit up as you go?
Also, John, you ARE aware that she's never been to Russia, right? She's never been outside the U.S. until last year. That's not foreign policy experience. That's barely even tourism. And the 'old boy' network that she's going to crumble? Aren't you a major part of that network, John? Whatever.

Lastly, her shady background.
I won't go into this as much, because its ongoing. But just so we're all clear, she's under investigation for essentially getting her ex-brother in law fired as a state trooper for being an asshole to her sister. "In short, she's accused of using her pull as governor to get her ex-brother-in-law fired as a state trooper. The brother-in-law is embroiled in an ugly divorce and custody with Palin's sister. And after his boss wouldn't fire the brother-in-law, she fired the boss. Palin originally insisted there was nothing to the story. More recently, she was forced to admit the one of her top deputies had pushed to get the guy fired."
You were supposed to be the governor, not the bossy sister-in-law. That's called abuse of power.

< /rant >