I Laughed, I Cried…

More fun from Cracked.com.

Maybe I’m Not Alone in My Ambitions…

…To become a Caped Crusader. Of course, the ‘No Capes’ rule needs serious consideration.

It’s a Fearless Flash Fact.

Charting the Course

“Wait, which way is America again?“

Love and Support

“Talk to the hand, loser.”

Campaign workers who ordered the shirts suddenly realized how much more appropriate underpants would have been.

A Thought Upon Watching the Barack Obama Prime-Time Ad

I really wish I could cast a ballot in the U.S. election on the 4th. I really, really do. I can think of only a few people who were truly noble and inspired, and who have inspired me, and I must say that Barack Obama is one of those people.

As a Canadian citizen (one-quarter American), I sincerely wish Sen. Obama, and every other citizen of the United States, the very best fortune on November 4th.

It is a Feverish Flash Fact.

I might be reading this wrong…

but I think this guy just called Sarah Palin an idiot wind.

Idiot wind, blowing every time you move your mouth,
Blowing down the backroads headin’ south.
Idiot wind, blowing every time you move your teeth,
You’re an idiot, babe.
It’s a wonder that you still know how to breathe.

-kvd out

Gettin’ the Word Out…

John McCain loves visiting ordinary people in the Heartland of America. It’s just unfortunate that he feels the need to sneak up behind them.

In his own words…

Doesn’t know economics, sure hope his running-mate does!

-kvd out

On Obama’s broken promise

In her daily commentary, Campbell Brown takes Barack Obama to task (moderately, as she always does) on his broken promise to accept public financing. Her comments are relevant, particularly in the final week of a long campaign, but especially today, being the day that Obama launches his half-hour prime-time infomercial.

As is obvious to anyone who has read any of my posts on the topic, I have been on the Obama wagon for some time, dating officially back to March (I think) when he made his brilliant speech on race during the Jeremiah Wright affair. Bias declared, I agree with Brown’s statement (I paraphrase) that Obama broke his spending promise, and breaking promises is bad.

For most politicians, the breaking of a promise is commonplace enough to go without notice. However, when one wraps themselves in a cloak of honour, as Obama has done throughout the campaign, it is noteworthy. That this single promise stands out is as more a testament to how clean a campaign Obama has run, especially when compared to the clusterfuck of vectoring, slander, and lies of his opponent. Considering how negative this campaign has been (steered directly into the ditch by McCain), that this broken promise and a handfull of references to McCain’s age are all the “slime” and negativity that can be pinned on him, Obama has done a remarkable job.

When he announced the decision to not accept public financing, Obama released a video explaining that his reason for doing so was to be better able to fight off the 527′s and other attack groups that operate outside traditional campaign financing (not to mention, moral) constraints. (Under Karl Rove, the Republicans had mastered the use of these groups. Sure the Democrats dabbled, but like Bill Clinton, they didn’t inhale – 527′s operate best when they slime the opponent, and by and large, Democrats are leery of too much of that.) However, what the Democrats were beginning to understand was the lesson Howard Dean taught them in 2004 – big donors are passe when the internet can provide the advertisement and revenue base for a groundswell of small donations should a candidate be able to mobilize the masses. By the time of the announcement, the Obama campaign had already raised enough money, and the machinery was in place to raise much more, that it looked like they would be able to defend themselves against the 527-style attacks without having to get dragged too far into the mud.

To say the least, Barack Obama mobilized the masses.

(Revelatory aside: We used to play a game called Star Fleet Battles, in which you would create Star Trek warships and create battles with your friends’ ships. In almost every case, given the same amount of build money, the person that built a massive warship, well armed and armoured, would lose to the one with a half dozen speedy little frigates. Election campaigns are big, armoured ships, and 527′s the frigates. The Democrats have proven unable to use the frigates very well, so they have been forced to put more and more money into armour. Not only does this explain why the Democrats need all this money, but is should also explain why I never got laid until I was in university.)

To be sure, the decision to counter 527′s with campaign funds could (and should) have been made before promising to accept public funding, but I don’t think that even Obama understood the wave that was beginning to form, fanned by his campaign.

It was a stupid promise to make, and a smart one to break. If you’re going to break any, break the stupid ones – not all of them as John McCain has.

-kvd out

Get the ‘Hell’ Out

An interesting story from Edmonton this morning – the Atheist and Agnostic Society at the University of Alberta is urging the administration to remove the reference to god in the convocation ceremony.

Well, I must applaud their efforts on behalf of the people who actually learned something while at university – namely that you might as well make reference to doing good like Batman after graduation rather than appealing to do good works in the name of another fictional character. Those that do their best for their fellow citizens in their chosen career will do so irrespective of their belief or lack thereof. As I’ve said before, generosity or altruism performed while under threat of a fiery punishment is not genuine. I’d prefer to think that graduates of a good-quality university will go out into the world with the critical reasoning skills that will help Canada move further along the path that will lead us to reinforce the positive values Canadians are known for without being held hostage. The type of reasoning skills that recognize just how patently absurd the invisible man in the sky theory is.

Let the members of the administration keep their religious views to themselves, and let the graduates make up their own minds for whom they will expend their efforts: for their fellow citizens, or for their imaginary friend in the sky.

Note: The comments on this CBC item, as on many of their stories, are enough to make one give up on humanity as beyond hope. Why they still even allow comments after all this time is baffling.

It’s a Philosophical Flash Fact.