My Obama love fest presses on

OK, weird. WTF?

I typically loves me some Joaquin, but something's gone awry. Is he in the drug phase of his career or what?

Ted Stevens in happier times

..back when the Interwebs was nothing but a "series of tubes" and he wasn't a convicted felon.

As Jon says, "... [he] doesn't seem to know jack shit about computers or the internet. But that's OK! [He is] just the guy in charge of regulating it."



HILARIOUS:

Some TLC from the GOP

Trailers! Both of these look awesome.

Lost Season 5!



24: Day 7!

Horrible

Have you heard about this?

In July, Nebraska passed a "safe haven" law allowing parents to abandon their children (up to 18 years old) without penalty.

The law was meant to target infants, but there have been several teenagers abandoned at Nebraska hospitals since July (23 children total, not sure what the ages are).

Parents are even crossing state lines to take advantage of the law.

UPDATE: Neb. governor accelerates fix of safe-haven law:

"Heineman had planned to wait until the next regular legislative session convened in January, but changed his mind as the number of children dropped off at hospitals grew. Two teenagers were abandoned Tuesday night alone, and three children dropped off previously did not even live in Nebraska.

"We've had five in the last eight days," Heineman said in explaining why he called a special session. "We all hoped this wouldn't happen."

Obama to be on the Daily Show Wednesday 11/29

He's also giving a speech on Wednesday night. He purchased 30 minutes of airtime from all of the major networks (including Fox). Here are clips from his last visit with Jon:

Late night political ha ha

Politics in No Time @ Yahoo! Video

I voted today!

Arizona is an early voting state, and I decided to cast my ballot along with a lot of other folks today! It was exciting to see people at the polls... Obama is leading in early voting results and I (and a friend) certainly helped that along today.

Here's a clip from a recent speech:

"Don't believe for a second that this election's over. Don't think for a minute that power concedes. We have a lot of work to do... In one week, we can choose hope over fear, unity over division, the promise of change over the power of the status quo. In one week, we can come together as one nation, and one people, and once more choose our better history."

Warning: Another Kitten Video

SNL was actually funny last night

Jon Hamm, the brooding sexpot star of Mad Men, was the guest host, along with Coldplay.

Here they are spoofing the character he plays in his show:

OK, seriously, I'll start studying soon

Another goodie from 1994. Directed by Spike Jonze. I think the "interviewer" at the beginning is Sofia Coppola but I'm not sure. Is it just me or are the glasses they are wearing (ironically) are now back in style?

Geek Love

It's been nearly FIFTEEN effing years since Weezer released "The Sweater Song" and when I saw them for the first time at the Ventura Theater. (I would've embedded the video but The Man has disabled that feature on YouTube.)

My favorite parts of the song:

"Hey did you hear about the party after the show? It's gonna be the best. I'm so stoked. Take it easy bro!"

"Hi, what's up. Umm, did you hear about the party? I think I'm gonna go but my friends don't really wanna go. Can I get a ride?"

I had the biggest crush on the bassist who ended up leaving the band.

Switching gears

I really am trying to resist the clusterf@ck that is the election process, but as you can tell it's hard for me.

These are helping a little:

Holy Crap

The RNC operatives (or whoever is behind this) are really desperate:

Report: Todd confesses to making up ATM attack

Ashley Todd, who said [a tall black man] robbed her and then beat her and scratched a "B" on her face over a McCain-Palin bumper sticker, has reportedly recanted.

Pittsburgh's KDKA is now reporting that Ashley Todd has confessed to making up her story. Todd, a McCain campaign volunteer, had initially claimed that she was mugged at a local ATM, and that the assailant became angry when he saw the McCain-Palin bumper sticker on her car and said he'd teach her a lesson for supporting McCain, then beat her and carved the letter "B" into her cheek.

"Pittsburgh police commander told KDKA Investigator Marty Griffin that Todd confessed to making up the story," the station's Web site reports. "The commander added that Todd will face charges; but police have not commented on what those charges will be."

Latest TV obsession: Mad Men

This show is fascinating... set in 1960 New York, the show is an unabashed portrayal of sexist, racist, womanizing, smoking boozehounds who work in the advertising business. Society is still all about 50s-era conformity, but it's starting to chip away. At times, its hard to watch, but I have to say, I'm riveted.

Here is a clip of the first few minutes of the first episode of season 1:



Wired has a couple of articles about the show, and there's a great video explaining the show, the Vanity Fair article accompanying such video, and an endorsement from the always-reliable Heather Havrilesky.

"Misses Palin!"

Thanks to Amby for this hilariousness:

Awesome.

"Waiting for November 4th"

The lovely Larry David is as anxious as the rest of us (a snippet):

The one concession I've made to maintain some form of sanity is that I've taken to censoring my news, just like the old Soviet Union. The citizenry (me) only gets to read and listen to what I deem appropriate for its health and well-being. Sure, there are times when the system breaks down. Michele Bachmann got through my radar this week, right before bedtime. That's not supposed to happen. That was a lapse in security, and I've had to make some adjustments. The debates were particularly challenging for me to monitor. First I tried running in and out of the room so I would only hear my guy. This worked until I knocked over a tray of hors d'oeuvres. "Sit down or get out!" my host demanded. "Okay," I said, and took a seat, but I was more fidgety than a ten-year-old at temple. I just couldn't watch without saying anything, and my running commentary, which mostly consisted of "Shut up, you prick!" or "You're a fucking liar!!!" or "Go to hell, you cocksucker!" was way too distracting for the attendees, and finally I was asked to leave.

Who the f@#k is that guy?

Go Fug Yourself

Sarah Palin before her makeover. The "extreme Ugg boots" or whatever she has on are especially awful.

New episode of 30 Rock online!

Check it out here!

Downside: you have to watch commercials.
Upside: you don't have to wait until it broadcasts in a week.

Conservatives for Change

David Sedaris

I got to see David Sedaris tonight in Tempe. He was hilarious of course. He read excerpts from his diary, random unpublished pieces, and an essay recently published in the New Yorker (a snippet):

I don’t know that it was always this way, but, for as long as I can remember, just as we move into the final weeks of the Presidential campaign the focus shifts to the undecided voters. “Who are they?” the news anchors ask. “And how might they determine the outcome of this election?”

Then you’ll see this man or woman— someone, I always think, who looks very happy to be on TV. “Well, Charlie,” they say, “I’ve gone back and forth on the issues and whatnot, but I just can’t seem to make up my mind!” Some insist that there’s very little difference between candidate A and candidate B. Others claim that they’re with A on defense and health care but are leaning toward B when it comes to the economy.

I look at these people and can’t quite believe that they exist. Are they professional actors? I wonder. Or are they simply laymen who want a lot of attention?

To put them in perspective, I think of being on an airplane. The flight attendant comes down the aisle with her food cart and, eventually, parks it beside my seat. “Can I interest you in the chicken?” she asks. “Or would you prefer the platter of shit with bits of broken glass in it?”

To be undecided in this election is to pause for a moment and then ask how the chicken is cooked.

I mean, really, what’s to be confused about?

Wha?

"The Vice President is in charge of the United States Senate." She really believes this shit, which terrifies me. Sadly, no Biden-like smackdowns in this interview. Can she accuse the 3rd grader who asked the question of "gotcha" journalism this time?



And now, a Jon Stewart counterpoint (my love for him continues to grow with each waking moment):

Barbara Ehrenreich impresses again

Ever since reading Nickel and Dimed I've been impressed with Barbara Ehrenreich... and she delivers again with her recent amusing article about the "socialist" conspiracy. A snippet:

First, we selected a cadre of crusty punks from the streets of Seattle, stripped off their Che T-shirts, suited them up in Armanis and wingtips and introduced them to the concepts of derivatives and dental floss. Then we shipped them to Wall Street with firm instructions: Make as much money as you can, as fast as you can, and as soon as the money starts rolling in, send it out to make more money by whatever dodgy means you can find--subprime loans, credit default swaps, pyramid schemes--anything goes. And oh yes: Spend your own earnings in the most flamboyantly gross ways you can think of--$10,000 martinis, fountains of champagne--so as to fan the flames of class resentment.

Are you a "real" American?

Oaktown!

Sadly featured as the 5th most violent city in the nation (#1 in California!). Friends have said that the violence that usually occurred in the most economically-depressed neighborhoods has been spilling over to the wealthier parts of town.

Over the summer there was a rash of robberies in restaurants in some of the nicer parts of town.

L.A. Times endorses Obama

Me likey.

[Obama] is no lone rider. He is a consensus-builder, a leader. As a constitutional scholar, he has articulated a respect for the rule of law and the limited power of the executive that make him the best hope of restoring balance and process to the Justice Department. He is a Democrat, leaning further left than right, and that should be reflected in his nominees to the U.S. Supreme Court. This is a good thing; the court operates best when it is ideologically balanced. With its present alignment at seven justices named by Republicans and two by Democrats, it is due for a tug from the left.

We may one day look back on this presidential campaign in wonder. We may marvel that Obama's critics called him an elitist, as if an Ivy League education were a source of embarrassment, and belittled his eloquence, as if a gift with words were suddenly a defect. In fact, Obama is educated and eloquent, sober and exciting, steady and mature. He represents the nation as it is, and as it aspires to be.

The Daily Show's "Secret Weapon"

Great article about the guy behind the scenes, watching C-Span and the 24-hour news channels so you don't have to.

Chodikoff doesn’t use Google to turn up inconsistencies, preferring news stories on LexisNexis, and he ignores Wikipedia. Explaining why he prefers print over the Web, he cites a scene from the movie “Back to School,” when Rodney Dangerfield asks his son why he’s buying used books. “And he says, ‘Because they’re already underlined, see?’ And Rodney says, ‘But that guy could have been a maniac.’ And that’s the problem with the Internet.”

“You ever seen ‘The Godfather’?” said Chodikoff, a Moorestown, N.J., native who had entry-level gigs at several television shows before joining “The Daily Show” in its early days. “I’m like the guy taping the gun in the bathroom so that Jon can grab it and come out blazing.”

Behind Stewart’s grilling of former Undersecretary of Defense Douglas Feith was Chodikoff with a file of what he calls “pure information.” In anticipation, “Jon basically had me disprove the entire Iraq war,” and Chodikoff saw the interview as a culmination of his work.

Here are clips from the Feith interview:

Obama rally in Missouri draws 100,000

Here's the article.

Fight the Smears

The Obama campaign has a website debunking all those stupid rumors the right-wing nutjobs are spreading about him.

Especially disgusting is the recent trend of the GOP to blame the economic crisis on the poor who borrowed subprime loans, and organizations that they think helped them do it (like ACORN).

"...attacks against ACORN and community organizers continue a vile Republican pattern of mockery and viciousness against this noble profession. Community organizers are the very individuals Republicans should be celebrating for helping people to help themselves rather than depending on the government."

Just like illegal immigrants, attacking the poor is easy because as a group they do not have the same (if any) means to respond. Did people borrow more than they should have to buy a home or to buy consumer goods? Of course. But the banks that lined up to give them credit, no questions asked, now have a bailout on top of the millions they made off of the scheme. They will be just fine, while the borrower is on the brink of disaster.

The GOP is trying to steer attention away from the fact that the crisis was caused by greed, by the shameless practice of issuing credit default swaps, and the natural effects of deregulation.

Painfully funny

Many of you know I have extended family from Long Island. This impression is really not that far off from the real thing:

Wow.

"His supporters are going to be so mad when they find out he recycles."

Wanna imagin' Palin as President? You betcha!

Interactive play time in the Oval Office!

One of my favorite 30 Rock scenes

The line at the end is hilarious.

Ron Paul on the World Bank

I don't like Ron Paul; I think he's a little nutty. But he's right about the World Bank:

Heroes?

Is anyone else completely confused by Heroes this season?

It didn't help that I completely forgot the end of last season, and once I started to delve into the recap bin I remembered why. Last season, for the most part, sucked ass.

Season 3 is completely confusing, and not in the X-Files, "what the eff is going on" sort of way. There are too many characters and plot lines, which the writers (I think) are trying to help by having characters cross each other's paths in different ways.

But then you have this time travel business, combined with the characters being good in present day, evil in the future, or vice versa... it's nearly impossible to keep straight "when" the show is taking place, what the goal is in all of the back and forth between the present and future, and why we should even care about any one of them.

Honestly the only interesting character left is Sylar but the show made the decision to take away his hotness and his power and turn him into a stay-at-home dad with Noah Bennet-like horn-rimmed glasses. I knew my level of commitment to the show was weak when I didn't care who the mother was or that the kid died within 10 minutes of seeing him on screen. Then Sylar explodes in a nuclear-powered fit of rage, apparently killing 200,000 people and giving Nathan the justification he needed to start a nuclear war. WHAT THE FUCK?!?

And Peter... Oh Peter. He can look hot but for that seemingly stroke-induced problem with his mouth, but what is his point? He is saving the world? From what again? Apparently from giving regular joes the power to fly around NYC. What's the harm in that again?

And thank god for TiVo because I consistently fast-forward through all scenes involving Hiro and Ando (waste of film) and Matt Parkman (annoying telepathy guy who now lives in Suresh's apartment with Molly - but was on a vision quest in the desert - again, what the fuck?)...

So many problems, so little time to keep ranting about it...

Cool weather today!

It's only supposed to be 77 degrees today! The A/C is off and the windows are open... it's awesome.

It's gonna get hot again later this week... I wish I could enjoy the cooler weather today but of course I have to study!

Right to choose

Since Roe v. Wade in 1973, the states have systematically limited access to abortions. The states opposed to abortion push the limits of Roe at every opportunity, passing laws that limit access to abortions in different ways (e.g., requiring parental consent if you are a minor) and several of these limitations are routinely upheld as constitutional.

The only thing Roe does in our modern conservative era is prohibit states from outlawing abortions altogether. Justices Scalia and Thomas have stated that Roe could, and should be overturned. They have an agenda and the pro-lifers are waiting for one more Scalia-like justice on the Supreme Court that would overturn it for good.

The single best reason to vote for Obama is to prevent another "judicial activist" like Scalia, Alito, or Thomas from being appointed to the Court and have our country move further toward extreme conservatism.

Overturning the decision would mean that states would be allowed to ban abortions altogether, but it's unlikely progressive states like California or New York would do so - but you never know.

I bring all of this up because Palin - who opposes abortion even in the case of rape or incest - is on the campaign trail talking about Obama, judicial activism, and abortion - to distract her listeners from her recent scandal and the economic crisis.

Here's a story about her latest stump speech:

The stop comes amid news that Palin violated Alaska ethics law by trying to get her former brother-in-law fired from the state police, a state investigator's report for the bipartisan Legislative Council concluded Friday.

Ethics woes aside, Palin focused her attention on abortion -- an issue that rallies the conservative base but some say alienates independent and women voters.

"In times like these with wars and financial crisis, I know that it may be easy to forget even as deep and abiding a concern as the right to life, and it seems that our opponent kind of hopes you will forget that," Palin told a crowd in Johnstown. "He hopes that you won't notice how radical, absolutely radical his idea is on this, and his record is, until it's too late."

Palin has mostly avoided raising her opposition to abortion rights on the campaign trail since she was tapped as Sen. John McCain's running mate, a fact she readily acknowledged in her remarks. Video Watch more of Palin's views on abortion »

But Palin said Obama's record on the matter is too extreme to be ignored, and she spent 10 minutes of her 30-minute speech discussing abortion.

"A vote for Barack Obama is a vote for activist courts that will continue to smother the open and democratic debate that we deserve and that we need on this issue of life," she said. "Obama is a politician who has long since left behind even the middle ground on the issue of life."

Obama opposes any constitutional amendment to overturn the Supreme Court's decision in Roe v. Wade and disagreed with Supreme Court ruling to uphold the "Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act." He did not cast a vote on Prohibiting Funds for Groups that Perform Abortions amendment in 2007.

Hmm, wonder why they had to drop ticket prices?

I got this "newsflash" from Travelzoo - this is just sad:

ARIZONA--OCTOBER 9, 2008-- On Monday, Oct. 13, New Kids On The Block will bring their reunion tour to Jobing.com Arena in Glendale. We just noticed that a limited number of Lower Level seats have been reduced to $20.

These tickets usually go for $32-$72 -- and at only $20 they will sell out fast!

NKOTB recently released their first album in over a decade and have been selling out shows on this tour. With past hits like "Hanging Tough" and "The Right Stuff," and tracks from their new album, this show has something for everyone.

Creepy:

Got this in my email today!

In case you might be persuaded by its feverish, emphatic language, it's been debunked here.

PS: The person who sent it was my best friend in high school-turned fundamentalist christian. People wonder why I don't keep in touch with friends from high school or why I couldn't wait to get the eff out of my hometown? Hmm, wonder why!

The Book of Revelations!

This will make you re-think: A Trivia question in Sunday School:
How long is the beast allowed to have authority in Revelations? Guess the Answer?

Revelations Chapter 13 tells us it is 42 months, and you know what that is.

Almost a four-year term to a Presidency. All I can say is Lord Have Mercy on us!

According to The Book of Revelations the anti-Christ is:
The anti-Christ will be a man, in his 40's, of MUSLIM descent, who will deceive the nations with persuasive language, and have a MASSIVE Christ-like appeal....the prophecy says that people will flock to him and he will promise false hope and world peace, and when he is in power, will destroy everything ..

Is it OBAMA??

I STRONGLY URGE each one of you to repost this as many times as you can!

Each opportunity that you have to send it to a friend or media outlet...do it!

I refuse to take a chance on this unknown candidate who came out of nowhere.

A break from politics...

I'll try to resist the political posts if possible!

In local news, the weather is starting to cool here in AZ! It's supposed to be 97 today but the weather forecast says that the high will be 79 on Saturday! We haven't had a high in the 70s since at least April I think (unless the monsoon came along, which it did often this summer).

In movie news... I saw Ghost Town and I liked it! It's hard to not like Ricky Gervais but it's still cute and funny. I finally got around to seeing the Extras series finale and it had me in tears - not as teary-eyed as the ending to the Office, but teary nonetheless.

McCain's "new" proposal

You know that "grand idea" McCain unveiled during the debate, wherein the government would buy up bad mortgages to help stabilize home prices?

A better idea was first proposed by Obama and it's already part of the bailout bill that just passed Congress.

Obama mentioned this in the debate but it was subtle (unfortunately).

UPDATE: From Salon:

John McCain wants the government to massively overpay for mortgages in a plan that would guarantee taxpayers lose money, and put them at risk of losing even more if home values don’t recover. The biggest beneficiaries of this plan will be the same financial institutions that got us into this mess, some of whom even committed fraud.

The Obama campaign response tacks very closely to a denunciation of the plan delivered by economist Brad DeLong who says that "McCain's plan is for the government to buy up $300 billion of distressed mortgages not at current market value but at full face value," which, he says, would amount to a $100 billion handout to the bankers who made the original loans.

CBS Poll: Uncommitted Voters Say Obama Won Debate

I'm still wondering who these "uncommitted" folks are:

Forty percent of the 516 uncommitted voters surveyed identified Barack Obama as tonight's winner; 26 percent said John McCain won, while 34 percent saw the debate as a draw.

After the debate, 68 percent of uncommitted voters said that they think Obama will make the right decisions on the economy, compared to 55 percent who said that before the debate. Fewer thought McCain would do so – 48 percent after the debate, and 41 percent before.

Before the debate, 59 percent thought Obama understands voters’ needs and problems; that rose to 80 percent after the debate. For McCain, 33 percent felt he understands voters’ needs before the debate, and 44 percent thought so afterwards.

There is some good news for McCain, who still dominates Obama when it comes to perceptions of readiness to be president. Before the debate, 42 percent thought Obama was prepared for the job, and that percentage rose to 58 percent after the debate. But 77 percent felt McCain was prepared for the job before the debate, and 83 percent thought so afterwards.

Before the debate, 51 percent thought Obama would bring real change; afterwards, 63 percent thought that. For McCain, just 23 percent thought he would bring real change before the debate, while 38 percent thought so afterwards.

Let's have a laugh, shall we?

30 Rock: Best Jack Donaghy insults to Liz Lemon:

The Palins' un-American Activities

From Salon:

"My government is my worst enemy. I'm going to fight them with any means at hand."

This was former revolutionary terrorist Bill Ayers back in his old Weather Underground days, right? Imagine what Sarah Palin is going to do with this incendiary quote as she tears into Barack Obama this week.

Only one problem. The quote is from Joe Vogler, the raging anti-American who founded the Alaska Independence Party. Inconveniently for Palin, that's the very same secessionist party that her husband, Todd, belonged to for seven years and that she sent a shout-out to as Alaska governor earlier this year. ("Keep up the good work," Palin told AIP members. "And God bless you.")

Tom Cruise is scary

Thanks to The Prock Life for this one!

Best VP Debate Analysis so far

"You know, the She-Bush is right."

Check out this site for ongoing polling coverage.

McCain and the Keating Five

If this video gives you problems, you can view the QuickTime version here.

McCain and the Supreme Court

Erwin Chemerinsky, a law professor and Constitutional law scholar, just wrote a piece for Salon about the risk to the Supreme Court if McCain is elected.

Anyone you know who is scared of Scalia but not yet sure about Obama should wake up and read this article. To me, this is probably the biggest reason to vote for Obama.

Here are some snippets from the article:

...there is much at stake for the future of the Supreme Court and American constitutional law, and this is one of the areas of clearest difference between John McCain and Barack Obama. McCain has said that he wants to appoint conservative justices like Chief Justice John Roberts and Associate Justice Samuel Alito. Obama voted against confirmation of both of those individuals and has said that he would pick liberal justices like Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer.

Even if Obama wins the election, it is far less likely that the Supreme Court will become more liberal in the near term. This is because any vacancies on the court between Jan. 20, 2009, and Jan. 20, 2013, are likely to come among the three most liberal justices.

It is not only the future of the Supreme Court that is at stake with the November election. The president also selects judges for the many federal district courts and the 13 federal circuit courts of appeal, the last stop before the Supreme Court. These judges, too, have life tenure and often remain on the bench for decades. Most of the 13 circuit courts of appeal currently have a Republican majority, but on most it is by a small margin.

A McCain presidency would likely ensure substantial Republican majorities in every circuit, whereas an Obama presidency would offer the chance to shift some circuits back to control by judges selected by a Democratic president. This balance, too, is important; because the Supreme Court agrees to preside over only a fraction of cases moving through the federal court system each year, the rulings of the circuits often play an important role in shaping federal law.

More Tina Fey-lin

"...marriage is a sacred institution between two unwilling teenagers."

Sarah Palin Debate Flow Chart

In case you, too, were puzzled at her strategy last night:



What she said about the constitutional role of the Vice President was terrifying. I hope most people were dismayed at her comment that she agrees with Cheney's view of the Vice Presidency. Cheney tried to expand his powers so that he could exempt himself from oversight by Congress. We do not need another Cheney!

PS: Biden rocks the response to her absurd statements:

Mortal Kombat: Election 2008 Edition

Hilarious! Check it out.

"The Word from Wasilla"

Salon reports:

Sarah Palin's Pentecostal supporters in Alaska hail her debate performance and her rise to the national stage as the work of God.

Scary. The Pentecostals are the folks that speak in tongues, whose beliefs and practices are often rejected by more mainstream Christian groups, such as Catholics, Baptists and Lutherans.

For this reason, Palin keeps her affiliation with the Pentecostal church on the downlow.

You are registered to vote, yes?

Funny video, especially Jonah Hill and Sarah Silverman: