Hey everybody, my ever-entertaining college roomie and all around great friend Chris Roddy, sent me this funny and chilling video this morning. I love the fun things people are doing with technology these days, and this video is a great example. It both entertains (seeing my own name in a fake newscast SHOULDN'T be as novel as it is, and yet, I have to smirk every time my name is on the screen!), and paints a pretty vivid picture of how important it is to vote, especially for those of us who didn't want to see Bush in office in the first place, let alone those of us who recognize the need for REAL CHANGE now that his presidency draws to a close (once again, brought to us by the brilliant minds at moveon.org). I vow to you that nothing like this newscast will air because I promise to be at my polling place on the 4th, and I hope you will too. You obviously know that I will be casting my vote for Barrack and I beg of you to do the same, I honestly feel that the healing this man could bring about in our country will be nothing short of historic. However, vote for the candidate you most believe in (although I would strongly disagree with anyone who chooses to vote for the Maverick Moose-Killers ;) ), I respect anyone who votes more than anyone who didn't. But seriously, please vote Obama... McCain is an honorable man, whom has earned all our respect, I mean that in all sincerity. If Palin weren't his running mate, and he were running against John Kerry, I might HONESTLY have to consider voting for him... but he's running against Obama, and he allowed his team to talk him into condescendingly choosing Palin in an attempt to win rural and female voters, and most importantly he represents what this country needs least right now... A more of the same ideology, and an aggressive military presence in the White House. Obama is the only candidate honestly representing change. And we need change... badly

Sorry this isn't another light-hearted "baseball" or "I'm having fun in LA" post, but this is the sort of thing I think people need to realize is happening...

Artist Donny Miller put it best when he put this same video up in his site (which is where I first saw it), under the title, "Why do you need immunity if you haven't done anything wrong?"...



This just makes me mad... but at least its nice to see someone on TV actually calling them out...

I was just about to write a post telling everyone they should see both An Inconvenient Truth and Who Killed the Electric Car, when I saw a post at Gizmodo with a chilling story that really emphasizes the funny business that is going down these days. The post at Gizmodo explains that the EV-1, the first and only mass produced Electric Car, is being taken out of the Smithsonian, and being replaced... by an SUV. Now don't get me wrong, I think the robotic VW Touareg designed by Stanford University that won the Darpa Challenge last year is Smithsonian worthy, but I am not sure why the EV-1 has to go. After seeing Who Killed the Electric Car, which explains the great lengths that the atuo-industry (and the government, unfortunately) took to impede and eventually destroy the electric car market in the U.S., this seems to be yet another shady move to pretend we didn't have perfectly viable electric cars almost a decade ago. Seems that with Gas prices the way they are, an electric car would really be popular these days eh? And yet, if you ask the auto industry, it isn't really feasible, despite the fact they pulled it off years ago. The Gizmodo article even goes so far as to suggest that the largely GM supported Smithsonian might be bending to accommodate the auto-giant, which if true, is immensely disappointing, and somewhat terrifying. Click Read More Below to read the rest of my Ramblings!

I listed this as 'Politics' but it could just as well be listed as 'Friends and Family'. My very good friend, and 'adopted' brother Adam Santos-Coy has a brother that is currently serving in Iraq. I'd try and wax political and explain my feelings on all this, but why when an actual soldier, someone who signed up to serve can say it so much better. He sent out an email asking for us to spread the word about his website...

SPC Santos-Coy writes:

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Hello Everyone,

I know how much you all love getting group mail, but this one is for a good reason.

I been here in Iraq for 9 months now and I feel I haven't done anything to contribute to this war. I'm also tired of the media downplaying what is really going on over here. Like all these reporters getting massive media play when at lest 9 soldiers a day get hit by IED's. What makes them any more special. Anyway, I made this web site http://www.haveweforgotten.net to maybe help people realize what's really going on here. I would like it if you could please help spread the word about my site so more people can view it. Nothings better than word of mouth,especially through the Internet. The site will always be a work in progress because right now I don't have a lot of time to work on it. I am doing the best I can.

Thank you for your time and help,

SPC Santos-Coy
32nd SIG BN
HHC, ELM
LSA Anaconda, Iraq

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Please, I'm not going to try and tell you how to feel about this war or ANY political issue, but please, learn as much as you can. I think once you do, we'll agree on a lot of things, and http://www.haveweforgotten.net seems like a great place to start.

Not sure if categorizing this under politics is appropriate, but I was at a loss for where to place this and I was just too curious not to post about it. While at my Mother's house in Roscommon County Michigan, my brother and I were flipping to the channels on lazy afternoon waiting for my Mom and Sister to get home. One of the channels was simply displaying the message "This Channel is being Blacked out Due to FCC Regulations". Sorry I didn't write down what channel or station it was, but when I mentioned it to my family they seemed to think it was a fairly common occurance. Anyone out there know what this is about? Any Northern Michiganders in the know about why the FCC was blacking out a channel? I have to admit my first reaction was anger at the FCC for blocking anything, but I thought it over and came to the conclusion it was most likely more mundane then censorship. But I figured I would throw it out there and see if anyone reading this knew more about this... If so Comment or post here, if you would be so kind. THANKS!

The latest in a line of popular games from Tom Clancy, Ghost Recon 2, won't be coming to South Korea. South Korea’s Media Rating Board won't rate the game and thereby allow it to be sold in their country due to the fact that they take exception to a plot-line in which North Korea attacks China. Although censorship is a sticky issue, I suppose hearing that they banned/refused to rate the game doesn't really bother me too much, what bothers me was North Korea's press release regarding the issue:

“Through propaganda, entertainment and movies, [Americans] have shown everyone their hatred for us,” a North Korean government-run newspaper said. “This may be just a game to them now, but a war will not be a game for them later. In war, they will only face miserable defeat and gruesome deaths.”

Whoa. Time to switch to DeCaf. Jeez guys, it is a video game, and the US government didn't create the game, a movie studio/video game company did. Man, there are about 300 World War II games and some even depict the Nazi's and evil magic using sons of pigs and all Germany does is make them change the names of the bad guys and so on for release in their country. They don't threaten war...

Man, Scary Stuff...

I originally heard about this at Kotaku, and they have a link to the story they heard about it from.

Another fantastic image by Alex Ross. This was the cover of the Village Voice a couple of weeks ago. Although I doubt that will ever be considered a fair and balanced representation of most people's opinion of the President, but I think it sums up the feelings of those of us living in New York City pretty well.

We should be so Lucky, actually, it isn't THAT far off, although some think that the Robot LOST...

A President with barely a 50% approval rating has won re-election.

A Republican President will get to choose a new Chief Justice.

The Republicans now have a larger majority of the Senate, and retain control of the House.

11 States passed Anti-Gay Marriage Laws.

According to numbers so far, there were more voters (always good), but almost EXACTLY the same amount of Youth Voters (not good, what do we have to do to get you guys to vote?).

Am I leaving the country? No. Do I refuse the legitimacy of the the President? No, he won. But I can't pretend to be anything but immensely heart-broken, and I am a white, college-educated business owner living in New York City, surely I have nearly nothing to lose (except maybe Bush's unpopularity on the global stage bringing about another attack on this wonderful city, I do fell LESS safe with Bush in office) under this president when compared to a lot of communities in America.

However, again, I respect those of you who did vote for Bush more than I respect anyone who didn't vote.




The above Paintings are by Alex Ross, from his Graphic Novels and Comics about Uncles Sam.

The Day is here, and I urge you to vote. If you don't vote, I will not listen to you complain about anything even remotely related to politics, the government or foreign policy for the next 4 years, honestly I won't even listen to you talk about them. Anyway, click the link to the right here to go to the New York Times coverage of election 2004. By the time you have read this I will have gone to the 64th Street YMCA and cast my vote, for who you ask? Hmm, I'll give you a hint, starts with K, ends with ERRY.

Tonight I plan on watching the election like it is the most exciting football game ever played and instead of having bet large amounts of money, I honestly feel the nations reputation is at stake. Lets say I am optimistic and feel that Kerry has a good shot, but this is going to be a close one folks: according to the New York Times, polling suggests that as far as electoral votes go 227 are leaning towards or are strongly for Bush and a mere 15 more are leaning towards or strongly for Kerry, bring his total to 242. Heres the Kicker, you need 270 to win and there are 69 swing state electoral votes up for grabs, making this election either one's night... Whoever wins, it will probably be by less than 70 electoral votes. Lets just hope this year doesn't leave us with as many doubts and questions as last time. I fear the Daily Show's claims that it is quaint that they still call it "Election Night" (referring to, of course, last time's epic 2 months of uncertainty) and the fact that they are calling their Live Election Night Coverage "Prelude to a Countdown" might be all to accurate (When did Comedy Central's Coverage of Politics become the most poignant?).

Although I strongly support most of the democratic nominees, I can honestly say that I respect the most conservative right wing conspiracy theorists who votes more than the guy who politics align perfectly with mine, but doesn't vote.

Please... Vote.

Thats all for now, I'll see you tomorrow (I Promise to post Halloween Pics, but if there is an elephant in office for another four years, expect me to be pretty unmotivated for the next week or so ;) )

This is not a repeat post...

I just feel sort of strongly about this. Even if you don't think your vote will count, or that your candidate will get your electoral votes, please register and vote. Maybe your vote will make a difference, or be used as evidence of the possible flaws in the electoral college in the impending battle that I am almost sure will soon erupt over the subject (although some might argue it already has, but I feel we haven't seen the least of it yet)...



Just a friendly reminder.

Thats All.

If you need to register, simply click the REGISTER to VOTE banner there and you'll be sent to rockthevote.org 's register to vote website.

Just a friendly reminder.

Thats All.

If you need to register, simply click the REGISTER to VOTE banner there and you'll be sent to rockthevote.org 's register to vote website.