drspecial

Here is a cool animation from a guy who interviewed John Lennon in 1969.
Very creative. A clever interpretation of Lennon's standard interview responses from that era.

Good news.
Obama has once again reset to forward another tributary of the river that is America.
How's that for a metaphor? No more uphill flowing water! We must acknowledge the principles of science!

In the last few weeks leading up to the election, the polls said it looked good for Obama. We all held our breath. Carefully holding back our smiles, we knew that such positive predictions proved false in the past. And there were so many reasons to doubt.
Even that evening, when one or two swing states were already taken, my friends were saying it's a done deal. I kept snapping "Don't jinx it!" In the back of my mind was Florida 2000, and the pro-Kerry exit polls of 2004. Sure, even if he miraculously gets enough support, can't they still steal it from us?
St. Louis's streets were wild that night. Everyone was honking their horns, hanging out car windows, hugging, crying, laughing -- our normal mid-western racial tensions were thrown aside. One big very-happy family. When a major league team wins a championship, like we did a few years ago, the whole city goes wild. But on November 4, celebration was everywhere. A true World Series victory.
Our joy was greater because it was an affirmation of something we wanted so bad, but had refused to be suckered yet again into believing was possible. Its unlikelihood was boundless, and yet, here we are, discussing it not as a hypothetical ("a McCain presidency" vs. "an Obama presidency") -- no, it's real. It's a huge breakthrough for our country -- our world -- socially. On top of that, the Bush era of corruption, incompetence, and arrogance was put to a halt by the people, loud and clear. The winner campaigned with dignity, intelligence, and respect. Our support of Kerry was a desperate attempt to return to status quo, lest it get worse. He lost, and it got worse.
Obama takes it further in a positive direction -- the 21st Century has finally arrived.
It's taking a long time to sink in. Savor this moment. As Kate repeatedly reminds me (and herself) -- each time a quiet revelation -- "we won."

John McCain goes the wrong way after shaking hands with Barack Obama.

This one strikes me as true. During the VP debate, all I could think of was that bunny.

I can't believe how many of these there are! Creative minds at work. Clever post-modern uses of the four-square...
I also like the one with the Joker, and Gabe from left field.
Music: Michael Jackson, Nirvana...

This is a freaky art film under the guise of a science documentary. It's actually part four of a series, but it hardly matters...

Also, here is a reasonable editorial by a conservative endorsing Obama. So there.

Doesn't anyone have any sense of history? Each factoid is ridiculous all on its own. Together, the lot of them makes a rich, lustrous cocktail.

• Russia invades two separatist areas of Georgia, South Ossetia and Abkhasia, then after (not really) leaving them, declares their independence for them.
  
• Russia says it's all Georgia's fault Russia invaded Georgia. How about this quote from Russian President Dmitry Medvedev: "You know, the difference between lunatics and other people is that when they smell blood it is very difficult to stop them."
  
• Separatists cheer, say they've been waiting years for this moment. They can't wait to be under Russian rule.
  
• No one mentions Chechnya.
  
• Sec. Rice says stuff like, "This is not 1968 and the invasion of Czechoslovakia, where Russia can threaten a neighbor, occupy a capital, overthrow a government and get away with it."
  
• Putin declares Bush Administration cynical liars, for allegedly provoking the Georgians to attack.
  
• On his 72nd birthday, John McCain names Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his GOP running mate, a woman who just happens to be young and pretty.
  
• The Obama campaign instantly congratulates them on their historic candidate choice, while simultaneously declaring Palin too inexperienced to be (Vice) President.
  
• The new Republican, Pro-Life, Creationist candidate thanks Geraldine Ferraro and Hillary Clinton for their contributions to the advancement of women.
  
• Mobs of muscle-headed cavemen/frat boys shout "USA! USA! USA!" to the names Clinton and Ferraro.
  
• They also cheer when she mentions getting rid of big oil and other fat-cat corruption.
  
• Palin is a proud unionist. They cheer that, too.
  

OK, stuff's happening in Georgia. Let me try to get these facts straight:

• Chechnya, in Russia, is labeled "separatist" (which means they want to secede?), and Russia's government fights them for years.
  
• America says it supports Russia in its fight with Chechnya, ostensibly opposed to uppity terrorists/secessionists.
  
• South Ossetia, in Georgia, seeks independence, going all the way back to 1992; Georgia's government bombs the crap out of them, and sends in troops. Georgia calls it a "police action".
  
• Russia comes to the aid of South Ossetia. They send troops ("peacekeepers") in as well, which could escalate to war, if things get out of hand. Georgia says that Russia's activity is already an act of war.
  
• But wait -- according to Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili, South Ossetia didn't declare independence, they declared themselves part of Russia. Confused?
  
• America (via Sec. Rice) says it supports Georgia's "territorial integrity".
  

Questions:

1. What does USA's stance really mean?
   
2. Call me crazy, but isn't Russia being a tad hypocritical?
   
3. Is this all about NATO again?
   

I really have no opinion, due to ignorance. Tell me what you think. And remember, this is the internet, you don't have to know what you're talking about. Heck, don't even worry about facts.

Let's start a trend.
Say "1-20-09" like you'd say "Hallelujah" or "Right on!"
Here are some examples:

• 1-20-09! Example A (wav)
  
• 1-20-09! Example B (mp3)

The idea is to sound as happy as possible.
Now you try. Let's hear it!

It's not about Clinton vs. Obama. No, that might never end.
The real news is that Dick Cheney misspoke, smiled, and then later apologized.
Sort of. Actually a spokeswoman did that for him. He'd never stoop so low as to utter words like that himself.

This sums up the last few months...

FYI, this is Time's 5/5/08 cover:

Remember, no matter WHAT happens, Bush leaves in January!

I'm reading a book about Abe Lincoln, "Team of Rivals" by Doris Kearns Goodwin. Today I read a quote in it that amused me and Kate. President Polk had just invaded Mexico, with questionable reasons. Instead of getting Congress to properly pass a declaration of war (you know, constitutionally), he said that Mexico had invaded us first. Therefore a state of war already existed.

Our hero, Abraham, vocally opposed the war, despite its jingoistic popularity. He challenged Polk to provide evidence of the actual location on American soil that the Mexicans had invaded. Being a lowly freshman Congressman, Lincoln was naturally ignored. His peers felt the same way, but were more politically astute. Backlash was substantial. One Chicago politician, Justin Butterfield, was asked if he opposed the Mexican-American War.

"No, I opposed one War [the War of 1812]. That was enough for me. I am now perpetually in favor of war, pestilence, and famine."

P.S. I loved Obama's speech yesterday. He speaks truth while managing to be politically astute. (I suppose there will be backlash from such a constructive effort. Sigh.)

OK,
if you hear another Ron Paul follower talk about how income tax is "voluntary", send them here:
http://docs.law.gwu.edu/facweb/jsiegel/Personal/taxes/IncomeTax.htm
Or hear it straight from the IRS's own mouth.
And what's the big idea, saying stupid shit and acting like the person who calls you on it is a square. Ignorant is ignorant.
Isn't my blog constructive?

A lot of people are really into Ron Paul these days. In general, I think they have no idea what they are talking about, or who he really is.
I, for one, do not trust Libertarians. They are for freedom, AKA Liberty, hence their name. Well, that seems cool. They are against corruption. Wow, me too! And lower taxes. Yeah, I guess that would be nice, but don't we need to spend less? Of course! Get out of Iraq? Sounds good. It's just for those corporate mofos' profits anyways. Yeah! So what's your problem, Bill? Why so negative, Nelly?
OK. What are Ron Paul's specific positions? We all know what's wrong with the country. What are his solutions? Abolish the IRS? Dismantle the banking system?
Name any fundamental publicly-owned institution. How about roads and bridges, public education, or fire trucks. They'll have no more of that! What would Ron Paul do to prepare for Katrina? Everyone for himself, right? Sick? I hope you saved up a lot of money! And if you don't have that evil paper currency on hand -- yet another conspiracy/scam -- you can't go to the ATM. No more evil bankers, remember? You're saving for retirement, right? Don't count on Social Security -- clearly that's just another bogus theft by Big Government sure to be abolished in the name of Liberty. Perhaps you'll die before you get old, like those baby boomers said. Just kidding, ha ha.
Libertarians are extreme Republicans, without the pragmatic common sense.
Would it come as a surprise to you that a straight-talkin' man, who wants you off his property or else, might have positive words to say about the Grand Wizard of the KKK? And, likewise, disparaging words for MLK? Thinks AIDS victims "enjoy the attention and pity that comes with being sick"?
It would seem that some of Ron Paul's newsletters from the 1980s and '90s are quite... racy. This was called to my attention by an article in The New Republic. Ron Paul's newsletters state that Lincoln was wrong to superimpose Federal antislavery laws on those poor Southern States, who just wanted autonomy. Sound familiar? Speaking of autonomy, what is Ron Paul's stance on abortion? Is it consistent with his other policies? Check out his pro-militia stance in support of avenging the Waco victims, published a few months before the Oklahoma City bombing. How's that for healthy rhetoric?
Paul claims that the most controversial quotes were not penned by his hand. However, they were all done under his banner, and there seems to be a trend that spans many years.
While I encourage people to applaud people who speak truth to power, I discourage hate speech and loony ideas that make it harder for other truth speakers to be taken seriously.