Republicans

Just one more reason people can't take Republicans seriously:

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	M - Th 11p / 10c
Moment of Zen - Moo Goo Dog Pan
thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Economic Crisis Political Humor

This guy's supposed to be a Congressman?!?!?

The proof is in the party affiliation. With the exception of frequent churchgoers, self-identified conservatives, and voters over the age of 65, the Republican party lost 6-10% in all demographic areas. Yikes.

Time Change

Recently, while on a flight, the captain said the following:

We have a three hour time change during our flight today, so you might want to turn your locks back about three hours.

About!?!?!

In Defense of Food

I read In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan about a year ago and loved it. I briefly mentioned it on the blog almost a year ago and it brings back fond memories of gardening. Interestingly he was on The Colbert Report last night promoting his book. It seems a little late after the publish date to be doing this, but it was fun nonetheless. Enjoy the clip!

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Michael Pollan
colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Gay Marriage

Greening

Some ideas for El Presidente (but really for you and me) for greening our homes. Some of these ideas are awesome. I especially like the Jellyfish Wind Appliance (though it may be a nightmare for utility companies, I'd be interested to hear what they think) and the internet electrical usage monitor. On that second idea, I've always thought a simple wall-mounted device that gives real-time electrical usage information would do wonders for getting people to turn off unneeded appliances and lights. Now it's becoming a reality. Fantastic!

Plug-In Hybrids

Here is a short article about plug-in hybrids. The first paragraph is what caught my eye, mainly the idea that Americans are leery to purchase vehicles that have limited range (i.e. all-electric cars). What I don't understand is why that is the case? Why won't Americans purchase vehicles that fit their needs 90% of the time? Most people use their cars to drive less that 35 miles, round trip. For this, electric cars are perfect: super quiet, great performance, low maintenance costs, extremely cheap fuel. However, Americans (or at least car manufacturers think this) want to buy a car that is only needed 10% of the time: a long trip, hauling a camper, etc.

People should purchase all-electric cars for their day to day needs, but new companies need to spring up that rent larger vehicles for the 10% of the time that people need big cars.

Swine Flu!

Want to avoid the terrifying SWINE FLU?!?!?! Try some of these alternative greeting methods.

White House Correspondents Dinner

The White House Correspondents Dinner is an annual event where Washington, DC reporters come together for a night of fun, joined and spoken to by the President. The event is different because the speeches are fairly humorous and poke fun at politically charged issues. A couple years ago Stephen Colbert brought down the house with a cutting performance that the establishment press disliked for being too harsh.

One of my favorite jokes from the president, one among many, was this in honor of Mother's Day, "I do have to say, though, that this is a tough holiday for Rahm Emanuel because he's not used to saying the word 'day' after 'mother.'" After the audience laughed, Obama chuckled to himself, saying, "That's true."

You can watch the whole thing on Youtube, including Wanda Sykes stand-up routine. It's worth your 16 minutes to see another side of our President.

Car Recycling

I always knew that cars were recycled, but not at these percentages and with such overall efficiency. It's great news, to be sure, and gives me hope that as our vehicle fleet moves toward improved mileage and alternative propulsion, that the old junkers won't continue to ruin ecosystems, rather, they can play a role in the next generation of vehicles.

My Roomie...

... from college makes funny videos. Enjoy!

Torture

A couple weeks ago we had a discussion in my government class about torture. The majority of the class said they support torture, but only in circumstances where lives will be saved. Okay, I thought, that's justifiable in a certain euphemeral way. However, I am against torture for other reasons; reasons I haven't seen spelled out to my liking... until now. If you're interested in why I, and many others, am against torture as a information gathering technique, read this:

I don't have either the vocabulary or the literary sensibility to explain with any eloquence why I oppose torture, so I usually stay out of conversations like this. Besides, they depress the hell out of me. But for the record, it goes something like this.

I don't care about the Geneva Conventions or U.S. law. I don't care about the difference between torture and "harsh treatment." I don't care about the difference between uniformed combatants and terrorists. I don't care whether it "works." I oppose torture regardless of the current state of the law; I oppose even moderate abuse of helpless detainees; I oppose abuse of criminal suspects and religious heretics as much as I oppose it during wartime; and I oppose it even if it produces useful information.

The whole point of civilization is as much moral advancement as it is physical and technological advancement. But that moral progress comes slowly and very, very tenuously. In the United States alone, it took centuries to decide that slavery was evil, that children shouldn't be allowed to work 12-hour days on power looms, and that police shouldn't be allowed to beat confessions out of suspects.

On other things there's no consensus yet. Like it or not, we still make war, and so does the rest of the world. But at least until recently, there was a consensus that torture is wrong. Full stop. It was the practice of tyrants and barbarians. But like all moral progress, the consensus on torture is tenuous, and the only way to hold on to it — the only way to expand it — is by insisting absolutely and without exception that we not allow ourselves to backslide. Human nature being what it is — savage, vengeful, and tribal — the temptations are just too great. Small exceptions will inevitably grow into big ones, big ones into routine ones, and the progress of centuries is undone in an eyeblink.

What do you think?

Well Holy Hell

The big news around the United States' political circles in the party switching from Republican to Democrat of long-time Senator Arlen Spector of Pennsylvania. Assuming Al Franken eventually gets seated as the 100th senator, that will give Democrats a 60 to 40 majority, making it that much easier to overcome Republican filibusters of everyday legislation.

I thought it was interesting that my thoughts were less about the majority and more about this: What does his staff do? Most likely they are true believers in the mold of the Republican party as that is likely why they are living and working in Washington, DC. Will they stay loyal to their boss and keep their scarce jobs (Republican staffers are not in need in the current Democrat-dominated scene) or take off in light of the party switch? Inquiring minds want to know.

Autotune the News

What better way to get back into the swing of blogging than a great Youtube clip?

I've been away from any internet for almost a week, so now that I'm back, blogging should return to its regular schedule. Enjoy.

NPD 4.14.09

*Josh pointed out in yesterday's NPD comments section that Al Franken has won yet another court battle in the ongoing Senate recount in Minnesota. By nearly all accounts, Franken will eventually be the winner of the race, but the Republican Party continues to appeal in order to keep the Democrats at one fewer vote in the Senate. If that's true, it's a class bunch. Next up for the court battle: the Supreme Court. If it makes it that far, we won't see a conclusion for another six months or so.

*North Korea is further withdrawing from the international community as a result of the UN Security Council's recent resolution criticizing their missile launch last week. Oh my that place is f-ed up.

*It was revealed that Jesse Jackson, a Democratic Congressman from Illinois, guaranteed former governor Blagojevich $5 million in campaign funds if he appointed Jackson to Obama's open senate seat. That comes on the heals of Blagojevich formally pleading not guilty to federal criminal charges. Someone needs to write a song about corrupt Illinois (and Louisiana) politics.

NPD 4.13.09

*Obama is gearing up for a showdown with student loan lenders. He's proposing significant changes that, if done right, would reduce the cost of taking out loans and would expand the Pell Grant program. Of course, there are billions of dollars at stake, so the banks are lining up in opposition. Here's hoping Obama is successful. It's high time for student loan reform.

*I've always wanted to travel to Cuba before Americans swarm onto the island. It is supposed to be a fascinating place, in many ways stuck in the past, once you are inland and away from all the European resorts. My dream may soon be washed away as the Obama Administration is very seriously considering easing travel to and from the island nation. Good for them. We have long since past the time (if that time ever existed) that these tenuous relations had any positive effect.

*In New York's 20th District, Democrat Scott Murphy has reclaimed the lead over Jim Tedisco by 35 votes. We'll know more in a couple days when all the absentee ballots are counted. It's a nail biter!

I'm a Sucker...

... for this stuff.

Brought tears to my eyes, I'll readily admit.