Personal - Time keeps on tickin'...

Last night my daughter was playing a Wii game (My Sims) where you have to build these houses for these people in your town. One guy wanted an arcade before he'd move in. So off we went to build the house for him.

When we were done she asked me, “Daddy… What’s an arcade?”

I spent the next 30 minutes explaining to her that, no, we didn't have the Wii or XBox or computer games when I was her age, we went to the arcade and played video games.

The part about dropping quarters into the machine REALLY boggled her little mind.

Obama - I'm just talkin bout Barrack!

President Bad-ass reporting for duty.

Obama - In pictures

Taken by Callie Shell, this is the best archive of Obama pictures I've seen on the web.

Politics - Change

It's a new day.

Fear, division and politics as usual are no longer the rules.

Yes we can!

Politics - One week

In one week, we can choose an economy that rewards work and creates new jobs and fuels prosperity from the bottom-up.

In one week, we can choose to invest in health care for our families, and education for our kids, and renewable energy for our future.

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.

That’s what’s at stake. That’s what we’re fighting for. And if in this last week, you will knock on some doors for me, and make some calls for me, and talk to your neighbors, and convince your friends; if you will stand with me, and fight with me, and give me your vote, then I promise you this – we will not just win Ohio, we will not just win this election, but together, we will change this country and we will change the world.

- Senator Barack Obama, Canton OH, Oct 27, 2008

Humor - From a Fark photoshop contest

Click for bigger version.
Credit to DarkJohnson on Fark.com.

Brilliant.

Humor - New email scam. Brilliant!

Dear American:

I need to ask you to support an urgent secret business relationship with a transfer of funds of great magnitude.

I am Ministry of the Treasury of the Republic of America. My country has had crisis that has caused the need for large transfer of funds of 800 billion dollars US. If you would assist me in this transfer, it would be most profitable to you.

I am working with Mr. Phil Gram, lobbyist for UBS, who will be my replacement as Ministry of the Treasury in January. As a Senator, you may know him as the leader of the American banking deregulation movement in the 1990s. This transactin is 100% safe.

This is a matter of great urgency. We need a blank check. We need the funds as quickly as possible. We cannot directly transfer these funds in the names of our close friends because we are constantly under surveillance. My family lawyer advised me that I should look for a reliable and trustworthy person who will act as a next of kin so the funds can be transferred.

Please reply with all of your bank account, IRA and college fund account numbers and those of your children and grandchildren to wallstreetbailout@treasury.gov so that we may transfer your commission for this transaction. After I receive that information, I will respond with detailed information about safeguards that will be used to protect the funds.

Yours Faithfully Minister of Treasury Paulson

Rant - Politics makes me a cranky droid

Live in a rural area? Enjoy your phone service and electricity? Thank a democrat for the Rural Telephone Act (Harry Truman) and the Rural Electrification Act (Franklin D. Roosevelt).

Are you a farmer? Thank a democrat for the Farm Loan Bank Act (Woodrow Wilson), the Federal Crop Loan Act (Franklin D. Roosevelt) and the Farm Loan Housing Act (Harry Truman).

Like to work less than 12 hours a day for a dollar an hour? Thank a democrat for the 8 Hour Workday and Overtime Act (Franklin D. Roosevelt) and the Minimum Wage Law (Franklin D. Roosevelt).

Ever been fired from a job? Thank a democrat for the Unemployment Compensation Law (Franklin D. Roosevelt).

Ever had to take off from work to care for a sick family member? Thank a democrat for the Family and Medical Leave Act (Bill Clinton).

Are you a woman? Thank a democrat for the Women's Suffrage Amendment (Woodrow Wilson).

Ever go to college with financial aid? Thank a democrat for the Student Loan Reform Act (Bill Clinton), the GI Bill of Rights (Franklin D. Roosevelt), the Student Loan Reform Act (Bill Clinton) and the Guaranteed Student Loan Program (Lyndon Johnson).

Planning on getting old? Thank a democrat for the Social Security Administration (Franklin D. Roosevelt), the Older Americans Act (Lyndon Johnson), Medicare (Lyndon Johnson) and Medicaid (Lyndon Johnson).

Like illegal and immoral wars, over priced oil, corruption, scandals, cronyism, ineffective policies? Hate science? Prefer to keep "those people" out of your neighborhood? Like seeing America's name dragged through the mud? Thank a republican for the last 7 1/2 years.

Relax, you say, the markets will take care of it.

So, you believe Giant Global Corporation, Inc. would take care of you if you needed time to spend with a sick child? They wouldn't fire you and replace you with someone cheaper?

You think they would make sure your retirement is comfortable? *cough Enron cough*

You think AT&T would have put in phone lines to north central Kansas if they didn't have to? Screw 'em. Make 'em move to the city?

Do you think farmers would be able to plant crops you and yours eat if they had a bad harvest last year because of a drought or a hail storm?

What about your grandmother who scrimped and saved for decades and ends up spending all her life savings on a nursing home? Should she have to wait to go to the ER if she's sick? Serves her right for living so long?

How about your kids? Should they have to rely on your paying for college? Can you put them through four years without federal input?

What about people who are not as lucky to be as wise with their money as you? Maybe they didn't get born into oil money, should they be forced to stay in the lower class? Should we build walls around your house to keep them from stealing your stuff or worse? Maybe we can use them as an alternative fuel source, perhaps?

I hate that there's government waste. I hate that there are moochers off the government teat. I hate that we have decided to turn our backs on our citizens so we can line Halliburton and Blackwater and BP's pockets. But what I hate more are the people who have a smug attitude that anyone who needs a hand up, no matter what their circumstances may be, is a lesser quality person. $10 Billion a month can go along way to rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure. $10 Billion a month can go a long way to putting people to work on that infrastructure. $10 Billion dollars a month can go a long way to helping sick kids get well so they can contribute to our greater good. $10 Billion a month can go a long way to educating our kids and getting us back on top of the planet as the smartest, best prepared people here.

We have wasted the last 7 1/2 years ignoring problems here at home, while we invade and rebuild somewhere else. It's not right.

This fear of Democrats tax and spending us into a paupers grave seems to be misdirected. Do the research yourself.

The Democrats way just works better.

Politics - Why I'm a Democrat.

Democratic Accomplishments: Rural America
* Farm Loan Bank Act (Woodrow Wilson)
* Federal Crop Loan Act (Franklin D. Roosevelt)
* Rural Electrification Act (Franklin D. Roosevelt)
* Farmer's Home Administration (Franklin D. Roosevelt)
* Soil Conservation Service (Franklin D. Roosevelt)
* Rural Telephone Act (Harry Truman)
* Agricultural Adjustment Administration (Franklin D. Roosevelt)
* Cooperative Extension Service (Woodrow Wilson)
* Farm Loan Housing Act (Harry Truman)

Democratic Accomplishments: Environmental Protection
* Clean Water Act (100th Congress, over President Reagan's Veto)
* Clean Air Act (John F. Kennedy)

Democratic Accomplishments: Foreign Affairs
* United Nations (Franklin D. Roosevelt)
* League of Nations (Woodrow Wilson)
* Atlantic Charter (Franklin D. Roosevelt)
* Marshall Plan (Harry Truman)
* Monroe Doctrine (James Monroe)
* Atmospheric Test Ban Treaty (John F. Kennedy)
* NATO (Harry Truman)
* Truman Doctrine (Harry Truman)
* Peace Corps (John F. Kennedy)
* Louisiana Purchase (Thomas Jefferson)
* Camp David Accord (Jimmy Carter)

Democratic Accomplishments: Labor
* Creation of a Cabinet Level Labor Department (Woodrow Wilson)
* The 8 Hour Workday and Overtime (Franklin D. Roosevelt)
* National Labor Relations Act (Franklin D. Roosevelt)
* Minimum Wage Law (Franklin D. Roosevelt)
* Unemployment Compensation Law (Franklin D. Roosevelt)
* Civilian Conservation Corp (Franklin D. Roosevelt)
* The Full Employment Act for Labor (Harry Truman)
* Family and Medical Leave Act (Bill Clinton)
* Worker's Compensation (Woodrow Wilson)

Democratic Accomplishments: Civil and Political Rights
* Women's Suffrage Amendment (Woodrow Wilson)
* VISTA (John F. Kennedy)
* Voting Rights Act of 1965 (Lyndon Johnson)
* Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Lyndon Johnson)
* National Voter Registration Act (Bill Clinton)
* Americans with Disabilities Act (101st Congress)

Democratic Accomplishments: The Economy
* Largest Deficit Cutting Plan in History (Bill Clinton)
* Federal Reserve Bank Act (Woodrow Wilson)
* Clayton Anti-Trust Act (Woodrow Wilson)
* Securities & Exchange Act (Franklin D. Roosevelt)

Democratic Accomplishments: Education
* Smith-Hughes Vocational Education Act (Woodrow Wilson)
* Fulbright-Hays Scholarship (Harry Truman)
* Creation of the Education Department (Jimmy Carter)
* National School Lunch Program (Harry Truman)
* Guaranteed Student Loan Program (Lyndon Johnson)
* Smart Start (Governor Jim Hunt)
* More at Four (Governor Mike Easley)
* Head Start (Lyndon Johnson)
* Ameri-Corp (Bill Clinton)
* GI Bill of Rights (Franklin D. Roosevelt)
* Student Loan Reform Act (Bill Clinton)
* School-to-Work Opportunities Act (Bill Clinton)

Democratic Accomplishments: Senior Citizens
* Social Security Administration (Franklin D. Roosevelt)
* Older Americans Act (Lyndon Johnson)
* Medicare (Lyndon Johnson)
* Medicaid (Lyndon Johnson)
* Consolidation of Older Americans Act (Jimmy Carter)
* Successful Defense of Social Security (Democratic Minority of the 109th Congress)

Politics - Running mates and flip flops

Joe Biden, huh?

A safe, if misguided, pick.

I'm not crazy about his stance on the drug war. Or his pro-RIAA/MPAA, anti-network neutrality or his anti-technology positions, either.

We'll see.
===============================

Just posting this as reference for those claiming McSame is a maverick who won't kowtow:

TAXES: In 2001 and 2003, McCain opposed the Bush tax cuts, saying that they would “mostly benefit the wealthy.” But in 2006 he voted to extend them and now he wants to double them.

IMMIGRATION: In 2006, McCain sponsored immigration reform legislation with Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA), but in a January 2008 debate, he said that he “would not” vote for his own legislation.

ROE V. WADE: In 1999, McCain told reporters that he “would not support repeal of Roe v. Wade.” In 2006, McCain expressed his unequivocal support for overturning the decision.

OFFSHORE DRILLING: In 1999, when he first ran for president, McCain supported the moratorium on offshore drilling. In June 2008, however, he called for an end to the federal ban on offshore oil drilling.

RADICAL RIGHT: In 2000, McCain declared Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell “agents of intolerance,” but in 2006 McCain said he no longer considers Falwell an “agent of intolerance.”

Movies - The Dark Knight - A Spoiler free review

Wow. Where to start... I saw The Dark Knight in Imax last night. It more than lived up to my expectations. It was obviously inspired by equal parts The Killing Joke and Batman: Year One.

Whatever you think you know from the trailers... throw it out. It's a world without rules. Batman Begins was dark, but this movie makes it look like Mary freakin' Poppins.

INTENSE... That's the single best word for it. From beginning to end. So many twists and turns. There were so many scenes that had me tense up that I was physically exhausted at the end. It's a dark study in what makes us humans and how fragile our humanity is.

Ledger WILL get an Oscar nomination. I have no doubts. He really, really scared me. Not jumping out from the bushes scary, but really deeply terrifying. I have never seen a movie villain I could compare him to. Every laugh he got from the audience was tense laughter. An, "I'm not sure I should be laughing at this" laugh. Amazing what Chris Nolan allowed him to do with the character. I think my own misanthropic tendencies made me a little nervous watching what the Joker did with his. Terrifying.

Look for a special cameo by Sen. Patrick Leahy. No... really.

Four beeps.

Go. Buy your tickets. NOW.

Sports - 100% Class!

A California man says Pro Bowl tight end Tony Gonzalez of the Kansas City Chiefs kept him from choking to death. "Tony saved my life. There's no doubt," Ken Hunter, a shipping company manager, told The Associated Press in a phone interview from Huntington Beach, Calif.

"Tony came up behind me and gave me the Heimlich maneuver. Thank God he was there."

Gonzalez, a nine-time Pro Bowl selection who has set numerous NFL records, was having dinner with his wife, brother and 5-week-old daughter at Capone's restaurant in Huntington Beach Thursday night. Hunter, 45, was dining with his girlfriend at the next table when suddenly a piece of meat stuck in his throat.

[snip]

Gonzalez, who has been active in charity and community activities during a brilliant career with the Chiefs, said he had no intention of having the incident become public.

"The next night I had a dinner for my grandmother's 90th birthday, and people were saying, 'Why didn't you tell me about that?' I honestly don't want to make a big deal out of it. But of course it does give me a lot of satisfaction to know that I was able to help somebody."

A Picture Share - The Batpod!

Nerds from around the city gather in front of the AMC Studio 30 in Olathe.
The draw?



That's right... the BATPOD!



The Dark Knight's newest toy.



Imagine making your daily commute on that!

Politics - Define irony

Larry Craig and David Vitter have named themselves as co-sponsors of S.J. Res. 43, the Marriage Protection Amendment. If passed, the bill would amend the Constitution to declare that marriage “shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman.”

No... really.

Politics - Unsurprising...

Of course Senators Pat Roberts and Sam Brownback would vote for cloture on the telecom immunity bill. They have NEVER held respect for the constitution.

Cowards and traitors.

Politics - It's real simple you congressional morons!

Article I, section 9 of the U.S. Constitution

The Migration or Importation of such Persons as any of the States now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the Year one thousand eight hundred and eight, but a tax or duty may be imposed on such Importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each Person.

The privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.

No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.

(No capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid, unless in Proportion to the Census or Enumeration herein before directed to be taken.) (Section in parentheses clarified by the 16th Amendment.)

No Tax or Duty shall be laid on Articles exported from any State.

No Preference shall be given by any Regulation of Commerce or Revenue to the Ports of one State over those of another: nor shall Vessels bound to, or from, one State, be obliged to enter, clear, or pay Duties in another.

No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law; and a regular Statement and Account of the Receipts and Expenditures of all public Money shall be published from time to time.

No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince or foreign State.

Politics - It's the end of the Constitution as we know it

Dennis Moore (D - Kansas) has officially lost my endorsement for ANYTHING he ever runs for again.

He has thrown in with 292 other traitors to the Constitution of the United States in approving retroactive immunity for George W. Bush and the giant telecom corporations.

May they all rot in hell.

Politics - How many gallons will that buy?

Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS)
Accepted $136,650 from the oil and gas industry since 2000.
Supported the industry in 100% of selected votes.

Senator Samuel Brownback (R-KS)
Accepted $90,240 from the oil and gas industry since 2000.
Supported the industry in 100% of selected votes.

Games - Just in time for DnD 4.0!

A ROMAN GLASS GAMING DIE
Circa 2nd Century A.D.
Deep blue-green in color,
the large twenty-sided die
incised with a distinct symbol
on each of its faces
2 1/16 in. (5.2 cm.) wide

And it only went for $17,925!

Personal - An email exchange with my wife

Over the course of the last week or so…

Me: I want to buy a motorcycle.

Her: No.

Me: But we’ll save $X a month on gas!

Her: No.

Me: Here’s one on Craigslist.

Her: No.

Me: Here’s another one. Good price.

Her: No.

Me: Look! Here’s a really cool one! Cheap too! It’ll pay for itself in months!

Her: Have you ever driven a motorcycle?

Me: Well... no...

Her: Well....don't you think that would be the best thing to do FIRST?

Me: Well… yes… can I?

Her: No.

Current events - A defining moment

America, this is our moment. This is our time. Our time to turn the page on the policies of the past. Our time to bring new energy and new ideas to the challenges we face. Our time to offer a new direction for the country we love.

The journey will be difficult. The road will be long. I face this challenge with profound humility, and knowledge of my own limitations. But I also face it with limitless faith in the capacity of the American people. Because if we are willing to work for it, and fight for it, and believe in it, then I am absolutely certain that generations from now, we will be able to look back and tell our children that this was the moment when we began to provide care for the sick and good jobs to the jobless; this was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal; this was the moment when we ended a war and secured our nation and restored our image as the last, best hope on Earth. This was the moment - this was the time - when we came together to remake this great nation so that it may always reflect our very best selves, and our highest ideals.

Barack Obama, June 4, 2008

Humor - Kansas Technology

After having dug to a depth of 10 yards last year, New York scientists found traces of copper wire dating back 100 years and came to the conclusion that their New York ancestors already had a telephone network more than 100 years ago.

Not to be outdone by the New Yorkers, in the weeks that followed, California scientists dug to a depth of 20 yards, and shortly after, headlines in the LA Times newspaper read: 'California archaeologists have found traces of 200 year old copper wire and have concluded that their ancestors already had an advanced high-tech communications network a hundred years earlier than the New Yorkers.'

One week later, the 'Ness County News,' a local news paper in Ness City, Ks., reported the following: 'After digging as deep as 30 yards in wheat fields near Beeler, KS, Larry Guy, a self-taught archaeologist and dyed-in-the-wool Jayhawk fan, reported that he found absolutely nothing. Larry has therefore concluded that 300 years ago, Kansas had already gone wireless.'

A Picture Share - What Bill is thinking...

"I should have let Ted Kennedy drive her home from my first inauguration."

Sports - Hey Minnesota, what'll you give us for Carl Peterson?

He obviously hates the Kansas City Chiefs and their fans.


Good luck in Minnesota, Jared.

I'll be buying purple and gold from now on.

(EDIT: Ok, I calmed down and changed this post a little. I still hate him.)

Politics - Bitter?

You are goddamned right I am.

And If you aren't... you haven't been paying attention.

Politics - The difference?

Someone once told me that the difference between a liberal and a conservative could be explained thus -

Liberals are fine with some people getting benefits they don't need in order to ensure that the people who do need the benefits get them; Conservatives are fine with the people who need the benefits NOT getting them in order to ensure those who don't need them, don't get them.

Politics - A basic primer

What Every American Should Know About the Middle East

Politics - What has Obama ever done?

I am sick to death of the moronic masses pulling out the "But what has Obama actually done?" card.

From Helenann at the Daily Kos:

Of the 570 bills Senator Obama introduced into the Senate during the 109th and 110th Congress (Senate Bill numbers are in parentheses), they can be summarized as follows:

25 addressed Energy Efficiency and Climate Change
Suspend royalty relief for oil and gas (115)
Reduce dependence on oil; use of alternative energy sources (133)
Increase fuel economy standards for cars (767, 768)
Auto industry incentives for fuel efficient vehicles (1151)
Reduce green house gas emissions (1324)
Establish at NSF a climate change education program (1389)
Increase renewable content of gasoline (2202)
Energy emergency relief for small businesses and farms (269)
Strategic gasoline and fuel reserves (1794)
Alternative diesel standards (3554)
Coal to liquid fuel promotion (3623)
Renewable diesel standards (1920)
Reducing global warming pollution from vehicles (2555)
Fuel security and consumer choice (1994, 2025)
Alternative energy refueling system (2614)
Climate change education (1389)
Low income energy assistance (2405)
Oil savings targets (339)
Fuel economy reform (3694)
Plug-in electric drive vehicles (1617)
Nuclear release notice (2348)
Passenger rail investment (294)
Energy relief for low income families (2405)

21 addressed Health Care
Drug re-importation (334)
Health information technology (1262, 1418)
Discount drug prices (2347)
Health care associated infections (2278)
Hospital quality report cards (692, 1824)
Medical error disclosure and compensation (1784)
Emergency medical care and response (1873)
Stem cell research (5)
Medical Malpractice insurance (1525)
Health centers renewal (901, 3771)
Children’s health insurance (401)
Home health care (2061)
Medicare independent living (2103)
Microbicides for HIV/AIDS (823)
Ovarian cancer biomarker research (2569)
Gynological cancers (1172)
Access to personalized medicine through use of human genome (976)
Paralysis research and care (1183)

20 addressed Public Health:
Violence against women (1197)
Biodefense and pandemic preparedness and response (1821, 1880)
Viral influenza control (969)
End homelessness (1518)
Reduce STDs/unintended pregnancy (1790)
Smoking prevention and tobacco control (625)
Minority health improvement and disparity elimination (4024)
Nutrition and physical education in schools (2066)
Health impact assessments (1067, 2506)
Healthy communities (1068)
Combat methamphetamines (2071)
Paid sick leave (910)
Prohibit mercury sales (833, 1818)
Prohibit sale of lead products (1306, 2132)
Lead exposure in children (1811, 2132)

14 address Consumer Protection/Labor
Stop unfair labor practices (842)
Fair minimum wage (2, 1062, 2725, 3829)
Internet freedom (2917)
Credit card safety (2411)
Media ownership (2332)
Protecting taxpayer privacy (2484)
Working family child assistance (218)
Habeus Corpus Restoration (185)
Bankruptcy protection for employees and retirees (2092)
FAA fair labor management dispute resolution (2201)
Working families flexibility (2419).

13 addressed the Needs of Veterans and the Armed Forces:
Improve Benefits (117)
Suicide prevention (479)
Needs of homeless veterans (1180)
Homes for veterans (1084)
GI Bill enhancement (43)
Military job protection
Dignity in care for wounded vets (713)
Housing assistance for low income veterans (1084)
Military children in public schools (2151)
Military eye injury research and care (1999)
Research physical/mental health needs from Iraq War (1271)
Proper administration of discharge for personality disorder (1817, 1885)
Security of personal data of veterans (3592)

12 addressed Congressional Ethics and Accountability
Lobbying and ethics reform (230)
Stop fraud (2280)
Legislative transparency and accountability (525)
Open government (2180, 2488)
Restoring fiscal discipline (10)
Transparency and integrity in earmarks (2261)
Accountability of conference committee deliberations and reports (2179)
Federal funding accountability and transparency (2590)
Accountability and oversight for private security functions under Federal
contract (674)
Accountability for contractors and personnel under federal contracts
(2147) Resctrictions awarding government contracts (2519)

10 addressed Foreign Policy:
Iraq war de-escalation (313)
US policy for Iraq (433),
Divestiture from Iran (1430)
Sudan divestment authorization (831)
Millennium Development Goals (2433)
Multilateral debt relief (1320)
Development bank reform (1129)
Nuclear nonproliferation (3131,977,2224).

9 address Voting/Elections
Prohibit deceptive practices in Federal elections (453)
Voter access to polls and services in Federal elections (737)
Voter intimidation and deceptive practices (1975)
Senate campaign disclosure parity (185)
Require reporting for bundled campaign contributions (2030)
Election jamming prevention (4102)
Campaign disclosure parity (223)
Presidential funding (2412)
Integrity of electronic voting systems (1487)

11 addressed Education
Increase access of low income African Americans to higher education (1513)
Establish teaching residency programs (1574)
Increase early intervention services (2111)
Middle school curriculum improvements (2227)
Public database of scholarships, fellowships and financial aid (2428)
Summer learning programs (116)
TANF financial education promotion (924)
Higher education (1642)
Build capacity at community colleges (379)
Campus law enforcement in emergencies (1228)
Support for teachers (2060).

6 addressed Hurrican Katrina
Hurricane Katrina recovery (2319)
Emergency relief (1637)
Bankruptcy relief and community protection (1647)
Working family tax relief (2257)
Fair wages for recovery workers (1749)
Gulf coast infrastructure redevelopment (1836)

5 addressed the Environment
Drinking water security (218, 1426)
Water resources development (728)
Waste water treatment (1995)
Combat illegal logging (1930)
Spent nuclear fuel tracking and Acountability (1194)
Asian Carp Prevention and Control Act (Introduced in Senate)[S.726.IS ]

4 addressed Discrimination
Claims for civil class action based on discrimination (1989)
Domestic partnership benefits (2521)
Unresolved civil rights crimes (535)
Equality or two parent families (2286)

4 addressed Homeland Security
Judicial review of FISA orders (2369)
National emergency family locator (1630)
Amend US Patriot Act (2167)
Chemical security and safety (2486)

Politics - Tax & Spend Republicans

Since 1938 the Democrats have held the White house for 35 years, the Republicans for 34. Over that time the national debt has increased at an average annual rate of 8.7%. In years Democrats were in the White House there was an average increase of 8.3%. In years the Republicans ran the White House the debt increased an average 9.7% per year. Those averages aren’t that far apart, but they do show a bias toward more borrowing by Republicans than Democrats even including World War II.

If you look at the 59-year record of debt since the end of WWII, starting with Truman’s term, the difference between the two parties’ contributions to our national debt level change considerably. Since 1946, Democratic presidents increased the national debt an average of only 3.2% per year. The Republican presidents stay at an average increase of 9.7% per year. Republican Presidents out borrowed and spent Democratic presidents by a three to one ratio. Putting that in very real terms; for every dollar a Democratic president has raised the national debt in the past 59 years Republican presidents have raised the debt by $2.99.

Politics - Why I will be caucusing for Barak Obama tonight

Clinton vs. Obama.

They share a lot of the same views on policy. In fact, their platforms are nearly identical.

So it comes down to character and integrity.

Obama wins that walking away.

The major reason I'm caucusing for Obama tonight is that he won't bring in the baggage that Hillara has.

The right loathes her. There is no faster way to get under a 'publicans skin than to mention her name. (Ok, maybe Gore, but I digress.) You want to see McCain in the WH and four more years of embarrassing foreign affairs gaffs and pointless wars? Then nominate Hillara. She'll bond the fractured GOP together so fast it'll make Super Glue look like bubble gum.

Even the religious right will overlook McCains less than conservative voting record to keep her out of the White House.

Aside from that, Obama is competent, literate, well liked abroad and can recover some of the damage our reputation has taken under this administrations holy war. We need that. We need our friends and allies to know who we really are. We need to restore the presidency to an office of hope. Not one of divisive politics as usual.

Hillara and Obama don't differ that much on policy stands. (I supported Kucinich early on because he DID differ from everyone.) Now it's about who can lead us out of the fucking mess Dubya/Cheney/Rice/Wolfowitz/Libby/Rumsfield and all the other PNAC ass-wipes got us into.

Then there's the whole lobbyists thing:

Clinton took in $823,087 from registered lobbyists and members of their firms in 2007 and the second-biggest recipient was McCain, who took in $416,321, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, a Washington-based group which tracks political giving. Barack Obama, Clinton's rival for the Democratic nomination, doesn't take money from registered lobbyists, although he received $86,282 from employees of firms that lobby, according to the center.

Politics - Reality check

2008 budget dollars for
Military spending = 717 Billion (67%)
Non-military = 358 Billion (33%)

China spends 65 Billion a year on their military.
(Granted, that's 2004 dollars and I'm sure not 100% accurate. But still, it's got to be close.)

Priorities.

Geek - Steampunk JLA!

The Gaslight Justice League.

Sweet.

Geek - Sci-Fi Sound Quiz

	I received 100 credits on The Sci Fi Sounds Quiz How much of a Sci-Fi geek are you?
Take the Sci-Fi Movie Quiz cheapest digital camera