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Balloon Juice

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Do not shrug your shoulders and accept the normalization of untruths.

The unpunished coup was a training exercise.

Sadly, media malpractice has become standard practice.

Trumpflation is an intolerable hardship for every American, and it’s Trump’s fault.

They fucked up the fucking up of the fuckup!

You cannot love your country only when you win.

When your entire life is steeped in white supremacy, equality feels like discrimination.

Relentless negativity is not a sign that you are more realistic.

Give the craziest people you know everything they want and hope they don’t ask for more? Great plan.

If you voted for Trump, you don’t get to speak about ethics, morals, or rule of law.

People really shouldn’t expect the government to help after they watched the GOP drown it in a bathtub.

These days, even the boring Republicans are nuts.

I’m more christian than these people and i’m an atheist.

’Where will you hide, Roberts, the laws all being flat?’

Republicans cannot even be trusted with their own money.

The words do not have to be perfect.

These are not very smart people, and things got out of hand.

My right to basic bodily autonomy is not on the table. that’s the new deal.

When do we start airlifting the women and children out of Texas?

You don’t get to peddle hatred on saturday and offer condolences on sunday.

We need to vote them all out and restore sane Democratic government.

Giving in to doom is how we fail to fight for ourselves & one another.

Giving up is unforgivable.

Wow, I can’t imagine what it was like to comment in morse code.

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You are here: Home / z-Retired Categories / Previous Site Maintenance / New Find

New Find

by John Cole|  November 2, 20082:45 pm| 257 Comments

This post is in: Previous Site Maintenance

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Just got back from shopping with a friend, and picked up a new find at the grocery store: Odwalla carrot juice. Holy hell, it is good.

Also picked up Fallout 3.

BTW- A sure sign that you are getting old is that your shopping list starts with “nose-hair trimmer.”

Consider this an open thread.

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257Comments

  1. 1.

    jeff

    November 2, 2008 at 2:47 pm

    A sure sign you’re getting older is when you go to buy something you’ve bought for years and it’s not made any longer.

  2. 2.

    anonymous37

    November 2, 2008 at 2:50 pm

    As far as the nose hair removal goes, I swear by a first pass with the clippers, then a touchup with microscissors to get those hairs in those hard-to-reach crevices.

    I know, 62 bucks? But it’s worth it, and every so often, you have a pair of really tiny scissors on hand.

  3. 3.

    Punchy

    November 2, 2008 at 2:52 pm

    KC’s gunna blow an epic, 24-3 at home lead. Just you watch.

    Meanwhile, my bears are getting smoked at home by the fucking McLians. Some QB whose last name sounds like a sneeze is just KILLING us….

  4. 4.

    Walker

    November 2, 2008 at 2:54 pm

    I am in the middle of Dead Space. Pretty good, but the fact that the monsters essentially bleed ammo sort of makes it less like a survival horror title.

  5. 5.

    srv

    November 2, 2008 at 2:55 pm

    Odwalla is not very elitest, owned by Coke now. Look for Naked Juice or Bolthouse Farms. Bolthouse is actually available at WalMart. But these grocery stores have a thing about putting puff-puff juices in a different area than standard stuff. Odwalla usually has their own fridge.

  6. 6.

    geemoney

    November 2, 2008 at 3:02 pm

    Something my wife pointed out: Why is being a maverick good, but going rogue bad? Isn’t it basically the same damn thing?

    Also, after this election, I never want to hear "maverick" again, nor be subjected to the stupidity that produces a term like "team of mavericks".

  7. 7.

    cain

    November 2, 2008 at 3:02 pm

    Odwalla is not very elitest, owned by Coke now. Look for Naked Juice or Bolthouse Farms. Bolthouse is actually available at WalMart. But these grocery stores have a thing about putting puff-puff juices in a different area than standard stuff. Odwalla usually has their own fridge.

    As long as it is run the same it shouldn’t matter that it is owned by Coke. I mean, Hershey’s but Dagoba! (I was disapointed in that) But it is still good shit compared to Hershey’s.

    That said, I actually like Archer Farms for some of my juice/snacks and what not. It’s actually pretty good for a Target brand.

    cain

  8. 8.

    Doug H. (Fausto no more)

    November 2, 2008 at 3:05 pm

    Yay, open thread. I can ask my question then:

    I’m staring a $60 purchase for CivIV plus the expansions on Steam. Does anyone recommend the add-ons or am I good with saving my cash and going basic?

  9. 9.

    Frank Sobotka

    November 2, 2008 at 3:05 pm

    Fallout 3 is my coveted game of the season. It’s leapfrogged even Spore.

  10. 10.

    Frank Sobotka

    November 2, 2008 at 3:05 pm

    @Doug H. (Fausto no more):

    The expansion packs are worth your time.

  11. 11.

    Geoduck

    November 2, 2008 at 3:06 pm

    Whoever owns it, Odwalla does make tasty, if expensive, juice.

  12. 12.

    dr. bloor

    November 2, 2008 at 3:07 pm

    I’m going to guess you were the only one in line with Fallout 3 and the trimmer.

  13. 13.

    Xecklothxayyquou Gilchrist

    November 2, 2008 at 3:07 pm

    Carrot juice is oddly good, all right. Or so I thought for a while. One place I worked had a free vending machine that dispensed, among other things, a carrot drink that I only tried because I could get it free. I ended up liking it a lot, but it was one of those things that I was absolutely in love with for a few weeks and then suddenly couldn’t stand any more. Weird.

  14. 14.

    jp2

    November 2, 2008 at 3:07 pm

    I can never get over how much that carrot juice tastes like…carrots. It’s really kind of odd, but for some reason other juices aren’t as close.

  15. 15.

    NR

    November 2, 2008 at 3:08 pm

    The first two Fallout games were some of the best PC games ever made. I don’t have Fallout 3 yet – I wonder if it’ll measure up.

  16. 16.

    John Cole

    November 2, 2008 at 3:10 pm

    @jp2: I know, it is insane. I said the same thing as I was drinking some of it- “This tastes so much like carrots!”

    @NR: Yes, they were, and so far, this one is better than both of them. It is amazing.

  17. 17.

    zic

    November 2, 2008 at 3:11 pm

    Just wait till you need an ear hair trimmer.

  18. 18.

    John Cole

    November 2, 2008 at 3:11 pm

    Btw, on a lark, I sprinkled a little bit of Old Bay in the second glass.

    Pretty damned awesome combo.

  19. 19.

    calipygian

    November 2, 2008 at 3:11 pm

    Fallout 3 is creepy. I’ve jumped out of my seat several times and have freaked myself out playing it in the dark.

  20. 20.

    kommrade jakevich

    November 2, 2008 at 3:14 pm

    Double-plus UnRealChristians(R) terrorize Ohio with noxious message of charity, social justice.

  21. 21.

    Michael D.

    November 2, 2008 at 3:14 pm

    Odwalla Carrot juice. Been doing a couple of those a week for years. Deliciou$.

    It’s cheaper to make your own, however.

  22. 22.

    Walker

    November 2, 2008 at 3:15 pm

    It’s leapfrogged even Spore.

    Spore is a cool toy, but that is about it. I know EA engineers that (off the record) say that Spore is really a technology investment for EA, not an IP investment.

  23. 23.

    Brandon

    November 2, 2008 at 3:15 pm

    Be careful with carrot juice. It tastes awesome and is addictive, but it requires less than you think to actually cause beta-carotene buildup in your skin and start turning you orange. Totally reversible, but pretty embarrassing

  24. 24.

    Josh Hueco

    November 2, 2008 at 3:15 pm

    @cain:

    Dagoba’s owned by Hershey’s now? That’s just wrong.

  25. 25.

    Laura W

    November 2, 2008 at 3:16 pm

    your shopping list starts with “nose-hair trimmer.”

    ewwwwwwwwwww
    That’s an image I didn’t need to be carrying of you after the adorable Hobo Hemingway propaganda.

  26. 26.

    burnspbesq

    November 2, 2008 at 3:16 pm

    @John Cole:

    Another counter-intuitive but really good combo is wasabi on french fries. There is a locally owned chain of fast-food burger joints in Tokyo called First Kitchen, which is where I tried them for the first time several years ago. Teh awesome. The burger tasted like cardboard, however.

  27. 27.

    cain

    November 2, 2008 at 3:17 pm

    OK.. If Obama fails and we run a candidate for 2012, I have my candidate:

    He’s already been building momentum:

    Guybrush Threepwood! I hear his VP is BADASS, none other than Zombie Pirate Le Chuck! When you got a Zombie Pirate for VP, even Cheney must bow down to the master! Palin is FUCKED next election cycle. (Unless of course we end up being in "Fallout" for real. Bah.

    cain

  28. 28.

    Also John

    November 2, 2008 at 3:17 pm

    For what system did you get Fallout 3, John?

    I’m trying to decide between the 360 and the PC versions, myself.

  29. 29.

    A Squirrel

    November 2, 2008 at 3:18 pm

    @Doug H. (Fausto no more):

    I second Frank; the expansion packs (especially BTS) are fantastic. There are lots of improvements that are well worth the cost. Be prepared to shirk all responsibilities.

    BTW, Fallout 3 is awesome! I might have to go back and play the first two.

  30. 30.

    swoof

    November 2, 2008 at 3:18 pm

    Finally delurking here…

    John, thanks for reminding me about Fallout 3. Now it’s going to take all my willpower not to go out and buy it before the election is over.

    I bought a Breville juice fountain at Best Buy about a month ago and it has seriously changed my life. The natural foods co-op near my house sells special juice carrots for $1/lb. Push about four of those carrots, an apple and a small piece of ginger through the juicer and you’ve got an amazing and surprisingly large glass of juice.

  31. 31.

    Laura W

    November 2, 2008 at 3:19 pm

    @Brandon: Word.
    I went through quite the holistic (read: colon) cleansing fetish in my early 20s when I lived in Heaven (read: Santa Barbara.) I did a lot of carrot juice and had not recalled how orange my palms were till an ex-boyfriend stalked me down in 2001 (thanks UCSB Alumni Association!) and reminded me.
    Too, also, it will really fuck with your blood sugar if you’re a bit wonky in that area anyway.

  32. 32.

    srv

    November 2, 2008 at 3:21 pm

    As long as it is run the same it shouldn’t matter that it is owned by Coke.

    Once you’ve had Bolthouse or Naked Juice, you won’t be going back.

    I get my Cokes from Mexico, in a bottle. None of that corn syrup can crap.

  33. 33.

    cain

    November 2, 2008 at 3:24 pm

    Once you’ve had Bolthouse or Naked Juice, you won’t be going back.

    I get my Cokes from Mexico, in a bottle. None of that corn syrup can crap.

    I’ve had Naked Juice, I kind of like Odwalla better. Not tried Bolthouse though. Naked Juice is really expensive though. I rather just run my juicer :)

    I get my coke from costco which sells sugar coke. Yep, best thing evah!

    cain

  34. 34.

    Dave

    November 2, 2008 at 3:26 pm

    Don’t worry about the nosehair unless it’s enough for a comb-over…

  35. 35.

    srv

    November 2, 2008 at 3:26 pm

    Dagoba’s owned by Hershey’s now? That’s just wrong.

    And Scharfenberger (not a huge loss). More worrisome, Cadbury bought Green & Blacks.

  36. 36.

    Xecklothxayyquou Gilchrist

    November 2, 2008 at 3:27 pm

    @srv: I get my Cokes from Mexico, in a bottle. None of that corn syrup can crap.

    Me too. Happily, the local Costco carries Mexi-Cola in 24-bottle boxes for a reasonable price – it tends to be a bit more spendy in individual bottles from the Mexican stores around here.

  37. 37.

    kommrade jakevich

    November 2, 2008 at 3:28 pm

    @Brandon: How much? I’ve gone through an alarming amount of that stuff and never noticed. Or maybe I looked less like a corpse in the winter and thought it was the carrot juice doing me a power of good.

    I did a lot of carrot juice and had not recalled how orange my palms were till an ex-boyfriend stalked me down in 2001 (thanks UCSB Alumni Association!) and reminded me.

    Orange is better than hairy.

  38. 38.

    Laura W

    November 2, 2008 at 3:28 pm

    @geemoney:

    Why is being a maverick good, but going rogue bad? Isn’t it basically the same damn thing? Also, after this election, I never want to hear "maverick" again, nor be subjected to the stupidity that produces a term like "team of mavericks"

    Thanks for giving me the perfect opening to share a little ditty Lyle Lovett sang to me twice on my iPod shuffle during my walk…

    The mavericky POW man was smart
    He got himself a Tonto
    ‘Cause Tonto did the dirty work for free
    But Tonto she was smarter
    And one day said kemo sabe
    Kiss my ass I bought a boat
    I’m going out to sea

    And if I had a boat
    I’d go out on the ocean
    And if I had an MUPony
    I’d elect him with my vote
    And we could all together
    Go out on the ocean
    Me upon my MUPony on my boat

  39. 39.

    CIRCVS MAXIMVS MMVIII

    November 2, 2008 at 3:33 pm

    I don’t know, whenever I see Naked Juice in the store, the juice is settled (unshaken) and it looks too strange and unhealthy. If you place several bottles of different flavors side by side for ten minutes, the contents of the bottles look like an acid trip. I love Odwalla though.

  40. 40.

    nabalzbbfr

    November 2, 2008 at 3:49 pm

    In another culinary vein, Obama has just cooked his own goose (yum-yum). He may as well say good-bye to PA, OH and VA.

  41. 41.

    Ed Marshall

    November 2, 2008 at 3:51 pm

    As far as the nose hair removal goes, I swear by a first pass with the clippers, then a touchup with microscissors to get those hairs in those hard-to-reach crevices.

    When my eyebrows start getting funky, I get them waxed when I get my hair cut. Last time I went, my hair person told me she had went to a waxing class and learned to do nostrils. I went for it. It’s not as bad as you think.

  42. 42.

    cleek

    November 2, 2008 at 3:54 pm

    Obama has just cooked his own goose (yum-yum).

    dream on, little troll. dream on.

  43. 43.

    kommrade jakevich

    November 2, 2008 at 3:54 pm

    Damn! I’d rather do the neti pot thing.

    … And Jehovah’s Witnesses just came to my door. Must see what my TalEvangical neighbors do unto them.

  44. 44.

    demimondian

    November 2, 2008 at 3:57 pm

    @burnspbesq: Word. You have not lived until you’ve had wasabi on almost anything bland and fried, though.

  45. 45.

    J.A.F. Rusty Shackleford

    November 2, 2008 at 3:58 pm

    @Frank Sobotka:

    I’m waiting on Left 4 Dead.

  46. 46.

    Pixie

    November 2, 2008 at 4:00 pm

    Let me know how you like Fallout 3. I bought it along with Dead Space and Fable 2. I’ve been playing Fable 2 for the past week and have beaten it 2x already, but I’m playing my 3rd time through as a male. He’s secksi :)

  47. 47.

    Comrade Nixon Hailfire Palin

    November 2, 2008 at 4:05 pm

    A sure sign that you are getting old is that your shopping list starts with “nose-hair trimmer.”

    LOL, watch Ron Howard getting prepped for his Obama endorsement.

  48. 48.

    CIRCVS MAXIMVS MMVIII

    November 2, 2008 at 4:07 pm

    Ah nabalzbbfr, I didn’t realize you were a Puma.

    Shouldn’t you be sending that link to the gazillions of media links provided so that you get full coverage of a non-story?

    Smile pretty ;)

  49. 49.

    Nick Istre

    November 2, 2008 at 4:08 pm

    Fallout 3 has me forgetting about politics. For that alone, it has been worth it to my sanity. And that’s including the fact that I’m going through the second run as a total ass (I.E., don’t give me what I want? Baseball bat/bullet to the face time!).

    Beat it once with the "good karma" ending. This time, I’m going for bad.

    And according to the game, the only rifles available 200 years after Armageddon are H&K-style rifles and Chinese AK assault rifles…

  50. 50.

    CIRCVS MAXIMVS MMVIII

    November 2, 2008 at 4:10 pm

    I’m waiting on Left 4 Dead.

    I’m waiting for "Left Behind: Treacherous Televangelists"

  51. 51.

    The Moar You Know

    November 2, 2008 at 4:11 pm

    @nabalzbbfr: Whitey say such a thing?

    I’m glad to see that Agent Flobee is in it to the bitter end.

  52. 52.

    MediaGlutton

    November 2, 2008 at 4:17 pm

    I’m 25 and have also bought a hair-nose trimmer, so consider yourself in younger company. Maybe it’s our mighty virility that causes us to look like a chinchilla died in our nasal passages.

  53. 53.

    Phoenix Woman

    November 2, 2008 at 4:17 pm

    From the AP today, RE the Quebec radio dude pranking Palin:

    Obama’s campaign spokesman Robert Gibbs, commenting on the prank, said: "I’m glad we check out our calls before we hand the phone to Barack Obama."

    Words to live by!

  54. 54.

    Comrade Darkness

    November 2, 2008 at 4:17 pm

    In the spirit of the endorsement of the Peruvian Shamans, I typed Obama’s birthday into the Mayan calendar portal. I also did mine and my spousal equivalent and they were all eerily spot on. Zodiacal sort of things don’t do much for me in general, so I found this a bit creepy, but anyway. If you want to repeat this, you have to do a little work. You have to click on "daily sacred calendar" to get the equivalent date, then reload the homepage to get the blue calendar back and highlight the matching icons to read about them. Not sure why they made it so awkward. Guess you have to earn the knowledge.

    This is what http://mayaportal.lucita.net/ had to say about Obama:

    He was born on Ben 9 (Bolon). If you care about how the calendars break down, read the site. It’s quite fascinating. And no, the world is not going to end in 2012, it’s just a major rollover of all the calendars at once that necessitates adding a digit to how dates are usually represented. It’s a Mayan excuse for a big party with a feast. But at any rate…

    Ben – Reed, cane, or staff. It carries and awe-inspiring Eastern energy. … embodies the spiritual essence and guiding light of family and home. Aligned in special relationship with Quetzalcoatl, the god of light and duality. The Reed wields great authority and respect… Reed persons often exercise significant authority, power and leadership in their families and societies. They are not afraid to stand behind or fight for a cause they deem worthy. Tough analytical, Reed persons are blessed with great negotiating skills and always endeavor to bring about peace, harmony and order to all of their relationships. …

    9 – Bolon is the number nine in the Mayan sacred calendar. It represents patience, perseverance, and completion. Persons born on days with the tone place great emphasis on the big-picture view of things, on a larger perspective on all aspects of life. With the energy, plans or projects move toward completion so that they may begin their life or destiny in full. Completion is crucial for people of this tone; if completion is not attained, it can cause pain and suffering. Bolon is ruled by Quetzalcoatl, the aztec god of light.

    Quetzalcoatl (since he is a doubly powerful figure in this case) – is the ruler of the Ninth Day of Trecena and the fifth day and ninth heaven of the galactic underworld. The energy he embodies is that of budding, forward movement, and new life.

  55. 55.

    Paul

    November 2, 2008 at 4:20 pm

    RE; DougH

    YMMV, but for me, the add-ons for Civ IV (as opposed to Civ III) do and did provide real value for money. They do change the base game. You might want to, if you can (I don’t do Steam) buy the basic game, and then buy the add-ons one by one.

  56. 56.

    demimondian

    November 2, 2008 at 4:21 pm

    @nabalzbbfr: It’s a pity that the tape’s a forgery, isn’t it?

  57. 57.

    tripletee

    November 2, 2008 at 4:22 pm

    @Walker:

    Dead Space is blowing me away. The basic premise is incredibly cliched, but the little details (like the cool way they integrated the interface into gameplay) really shine. The game just oozes polish – you can tell they really thought through every aspect of the world they were creating.

    And the sound design is amazing. Best use of 5.1 I’ve ever heard in a game.

  58. 58.

    CIRCVS MAXIMVS MMVIII

    November 2, 2008 at 4:23 pm

    By the way nabalzbbfr, you’re not seriously thinking Pennsylvania is going to put McCain over the top with a 22% advantage and that he’s trailing by 2 in California, are you? Do you actually think undecideds are breaking McCain 4-1? And HONESTLY 37% of Dems are voting for McCain? You can’t be serious. Contemplate those statistics for a minute. Are you SURE you want to line up with Puma?

    Come back to reality, it will accept you.

  59. 59.

    the lies to nowhere

    November 2, 2008 at 4:23 pm

    What about ear hair? I could braid mine if I didn’t cut it. It’s disgusting what happens to your body as you age.

  60. 60.

    mellowjohn

    November 2, 2008 at 4:24 pm

    it’s really a pisser when you reach the stage in life where you’ve got more hair growing out your nose and ears than you have on your head, isn’t it.

  61. 61.

    joe from Lowell

    November 2, 2008 at 4:25 pm

    Consider this an open thread.

    Yeah, sounds like you’re going to be busy for a while.

  62. 62.

    jrg

    November 2, 2008 at 4:31 pm

    I held off getting a nose hair trimmer for the longest time, until my sister told my mom to tell me to trim my nose hair.

    Apparently, I let the nose hair problem get so bad, that my sister did not want to tell me about it directly.

    In conclusion, nose hair sucks, but I figure it’s better than teeth hair, or eyeball hair.

  63. 63.

    Comrade Darkness

    November 2, 2008 at 4:35 pm

    "Jehovah’s Witnesses"… Are they the same as the watchtower people? Quick search says, "yes". Ah, so they came to my door too. This is a tough neighborhood due to the large numbers of foreign grad students. And on that topic, why is it the proselytizing religions all have two public names for themselves?

    Crosses fingers on spam filter thinking this is not bad behavior too now that I’ve certainly put it on alert… Now I see what moderation limbo looks like. Fascinating. Should I pray for my previous posting? A few hail marys and an our father who art on the intertubes?

  64. 64.

    Dennis - SGMM

    November 2, 2008 at 4:37 pm

    @Doug H. (Fausto no more):
    Been playing Civ from the beginning. CivIV is a great game and the addons are definitely worth getting. As Paul@54 observed, each addon does change the game. If you’re a Civ newbie then I’d recommend just buying Civ IV and then playing it until the inevitable repricing (Probably Spring ’09) of the whole works. Civ’s been out for quite a while so the original game plus the Warlords and Beyond the Sword expansions are due for a serious price cut.

  65. 65.

    bago

    November 2, 2008 at 4:38 pm

    Yeah. I can only do deadspace in 1-2 hour blocks because of the thorough integration and sound design.

  66. 66.

    Bob UK

    November 2, 2008 at 4:43 pm

    Fallout 3 rocks so far. Top Notch.

    Lewis Hamilton just won the F1 World Championship becoming the youngest ever Title holder (23yo) nice to see a Brit succeed.

    I’m 33, my wife pulls out my earhair with tweezers which hurts like hell. I’m too young for this crap.

    sigh.

  67. 67.

    Cain

    November 2, 2008 at 4:46 pm

    I canvassed yesterday. It’s depressing when you see Democrats not voting for Obama. I refuse to believe it is racism. I think that’s just an easy excuse. Neither of us seem to want to engage the other.

    On the other hand, I’m reading a nice book. I’m waiting for another awesome Ron Gilbert episodal game.. DeathSpank wohooo!

    I’m not so much into the FPS stuff anymore. Although I’m really lovin the wii version of force unleashed. Watchign wookies, storm troopers and rebels fall before me as I leave a path of destruction behind me is.. well awesome.

    cain

  68. 68.

    Perry Como

    November 2, 2008 at 4:50 pm

    Be careful with carrot juice. It tastes awesome and is addictive, but it requires less than you think to actually cause beta-carotene buildup in your skin and start turning you orange. Totally reversible, but pretty embarrassing

    So that explains Mitt Romney.

  69. 69.

    Dennis - SGMM

    November 2, 2008 at 4:55 pm

    @Bob UK:
    Hamilton made an appearance on Top Gear. Seemed like a very nice guy. The host asked him what he drove on the street, Ferrari, Mercedes, etc. Hamilton admitted that he drove a tricked out SUV. And he said that his dad still criticizes his driving.

  70. 70.

    CIRCVS MAXIMVS MMVIII

    November 2, 2008 at 4:56 pm

    why is it the proselytizing religions all have two public names for themselves?

    They don’t, they just disguise it well. All Christian religions are proselytizing… that even includes the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and Quakers, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Episcopalians and Catholics (Roman or otherwise).

    There’s several that don’t have two public names.

    The Watchtower people are Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Watchtower is their publication, that is all. They are still Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses members, not Watchtower people, technically.

  71. 71.

    libarbarian

    November 2, 2008 at 4:58 pm

    Jennifer Abel explains how Gay Marriage Destroys Traditional Marriage

    So now when straight couples get married in Connecticut, everyone will compare them to gay weddings and think ‘Eeew, how tacky’ and that’ll cheapen respect for the entire institution of marriage.”

  72. 72.

    Hyperion

    November 2, 2008 at 4:59 pm

    Michael D. wrote: Odwalla Carrot juice. Been doing a couple of those a week for years. Deliciou$. It’s cheaper to make your own, however.

    I agree with you completely. And Odwalla Strawberry C or Blueberry C monster….excellent!

    I bought a power juicer about a year ago. carrots (plus a little ginger if i’m feeling dangerous) are super easy. no prep to speak of. and juiced fresh pineapple is out of this world. and juiced granny smiths. and juiced pears. and the waste is snarfed by the chickens (or the worms).

  73. 73.

    kommrade jakevich

    November 2, 2008 at 5:02 pm

    @libarbarian: I see snark is alive and well in the frozen north.

  74. 74.

    cyntax

    November 2, 2008 at 5:05 pm

    Ah, this is ironic. Apparently Palin got punked by a couple of Canadian comedians who fooled her into thinking she was talking to President Nicolas Sarkozy. That whole not vetting thing–still biting them in the ass.

    [audio here]

  75. 75.

    Martin

    November 2, 2008 at 5:11 pm

    And Jehovah’s Witnesses just came to my door.

    With my NO on 8 sign up, I just realized that we haven’t had any of the religious folks by. We even used to get doorknockers from the Catholic church across the street (never seen that before…).

    I may just leave that sign up for the next 4 years…

  76. 76.

    Martin

    November 2, 2008 at 5:14 pm

    Hamilton made an appearance on Top Gear. Seemed like a very nice guy. The host asked him what he drove on the street, Ferrari, Mercedes, etc. Hamilton admitted that he drove a tricked out SUV. And he said that his dad still criticizes his driving.

    He used to drive a Mercedes that was probably more capable than his current SUV.

    And the criticism is likely warranted.

  77. 77.

    Martin

    November 2, 2008 at 5:20 pm

    I’m 33, my wife pulls out my earhair with tweezers which hurts like hell. I’m too young for this crap.

    I have to confess, my ear/nose grooming kit is my assortment of pliers while I’m working on something in the garage. My wife has admitted to giving me projects to do when my ears get bushy. It’s a matter of habit now more than a deliberate ritual.

    I can’t recall if it hurt when I was 33, but at days shy of 40, I don’t really notice it much. Something to look forward to, hopefully.

  78. 78.

    Josh Hueco

    November 2, 2008 at 5:29 pm

    I use tweezers…No pain no gain.

  79. 79.

    Dennis - SGMM

    November 2, 2008 at 5:33 pm

    He used to drive a Mercedes that was probably more capable than his current SUV.

    Dunno. Back in the day I worked two jobs to save the price of a brand new Austin Cooper 1275S. Kept at the two jobs and poured the at least price of the car ($3100, damn) into mods. It was very capable – and completely useless for anything other than startling muscle cars in First and Second and collecting tickets.

  80. 80.

    Bill H

    November 2, 2008 at 5:34 pm

    You know you are getting old when the Navy is decommishioning a ship that was put into service six years after you were discharged from the same Navy.

  81. 81.

    Indylib

    November 2, 2008 at 5:38 pm

    @Bill H:

    Which ship decom are you talking about?

  82. 82.

    Dennis - SGMM

    November 2, 2008 at 5:39 pm

    @Bill H:
    The two carriers my squadron (VT-23) CarQualled on, the Lexington and the Intrepid, are now museums. VT-23 itself was decommissioned in the 80’s.

  83. 83.

    Bob In Pacifica

    November 2, 2008 at 5:39 pm

    I wonder why hair starts growing in your ears and stops growing on your head when you get old. Someone explain the biological reason for that.

    Meanwhile, John, I’m a pretty liberal guy, but if you start drinking arugula juice I’m outta here.

  84. 84.

    Dennis - SGMM

    November 2, 2008 at 5:43 pm

    Someone explain the biological reason for that.

    It makes young women call us "Sir," thus precluding any attempts at mating.

  85. 85.

    Comrade Darkness

    November 2, 2008 at 5:48 pm

    @CIRCVS MAXIMVS MMVIII,

    Quakers = = Friends
    so, two names, but I thought they were non-proselytizing… So there goes my theory, lol.

    LDS == Mormon

    I just found it odd that the publication they handed me did not include the name of the church, just Watchtower Society, or some such (deep sixed it, so I can’t check). But I could really see how the publication would resonate with someone who was going through a really bad time. But their "rebranding" shall we say, struck me as odd.

  86. 86.

    Comrade Darkness

    November 2, 2008 at 5:58 pm

    @libarbarian,
    I know I’ve pointed this out before here, but I’m going to toss it out again. Germany, among other European nations, has solved this problem. I swear that the reasons these problems aren’t solved here is the right wants them around as an issue to get their righteous screwed on tight about.

    This is the way it works in the sane part of the world. The government does not marry people, it only civil unions them. Marriage, should you like that, is done in the church. So is Hand Fasting. Soul Bonding. Life Mating. Heart Dousing. (I’m making these up…) Whatever the heck your diety’s representative on earth decided to call it. What the church cannot do is give you a civil union. That’s reserved to the government. This separation of powers keeps everyone perfectly happy. The ultimate red-blooded teutonic nation of Germany has peacefully had civil unions for at least three years (based on when our friends there got hitched).

    You know what I’m dying for? Sanity in the good old U.S. of A. Just a dab of it will do.

  87. 87.

    kommrade jakevich

    November 2, 2008 at 6:00 pm

    I wonder why hair starts growing in your ears and stops growing on your head when you get old. Someone explain the biological reason for that.

    God is hoping some poor bastard will try an extreme comb over thus providing much celestial ROCLOLing.

    I’d like to know why the fuck our ears keep growing. Based on observation of other family members I’m going to be able to tuck those suckers down my shirt collar in about 20 years.

  88. 88.

    Skalite

    November 2, 2008 at 6:02 pm

    Dear Bethesda software:

    I loved Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. I loved Fallout’s I and II. I loved them for two seperate reasons. I’m not happy that you decided to make "Fallout III: Now even Oblivion-er!". Please give me my game back.

    Love,

    Gaming geek.

  89. 89.

    bago

    November 2, 2008 at 6:14 pm

    You sir will take two heaps of awesome and like them in a combined sauce good sir!

  90. 90.

    Walker

    November 2, 2008 at 6:15 pm

    I’m not so much into the FPS stuff anymore. Although I’m really lovin the wii version of force unleashed. Watchign wookies, storm troopers and rebels fall before me as I leave a path of destruction behind me is.. well awesome.

    Have you seen Zero Punctuation’s take on this game?

  91. 91.

    Joe Beese

    November 2, 2008 at 6:18 pm

    What will Atajunarat be posting here Wednesday morning?

    ACORN stole the election?

    McCain was betrayed by his generals?

    Or will he be mysteriously absent?

  92. 92.

    DougJ

    November 2, 2008 at 6:18 pm

    This is awful. A Republican in my Congressional district (NY-29) hung a raccoon in his yard to symbolize Obama.

    It’s great living in the enlightened north.

  93. 93.

    Lia

    November 2, 2008 at 6:27 pm

    Odwalla also makes a surefire antidote to hangovers, though they don’t advertise it as such. (I have tested it often enough, to my shame, to know it works, though.) It is Blueberry B – B Monster. Drink it at the end of any plus three (or more) night, and you’ll wake up without the headache you deserve.

  94. 94.

    Comrade Darkness

    November 2, 2008 at 6:31 pm

    In response to DougJ’s post, I decided to look into confederate battle flags and I have to say, this gave me a good giggle. Take a gander at the Carolina Secessionist Flag. Remind you of anything? Especially anything that would make a right winger freak utterly…

  95. 95.

    Ed Marshall

    November 2, 2008 at 6:35 pm

    This is awful. A Republican in my Congressional district (NY-29) hung a raccoon in his yard to symbolize Obama.

    What’s his address? That joker made a big public display to be an asshole. He doesn’t deserve any privacy. Someone in NY figure out who that asshat is.

  96. 96.

    TheHatOnMyCat

    November 2, 2008 at 6:37 pm

    A thread whose premise seems to be that carrot juice tastes like ….. carrots.

    And then there are nosehairs.

    Too rich for my blood. I think I have a toilet bowl ring I need to deal with.

  97. 97.

    Comrade Darkness

    November 2, 2008 at 6:40 pm

    I’ll preface this by, I’ve had too much red wine. And Parkerized to boot (not my favorite, but drinkable). Who the hell allowed that the confederate, wewantourassoutoftheunion cry babies are, today, right now, Real™ effing Americans??

    AARRRG.

    *thank you, just needed to say that*

  98. 98.

    A Squirrel

    November 2, 2008 at 6:41 pm

    @CIRCVS MAXIMVS MMVIII:

    I don’t know if that was snark or if you’ve seen it, but this is a terrible, terrible (yet somehow funny) game.

    It is the lump-of-coal of video games.

  99. 99.

    DougJ

    November 2, 2008 at 6:42 pm

    What’s his address? That joker made a big public display to be an asshole. He doesn’t deserve any privacy.

    I don’t know, I only know the vague area where it is. (I probably wouldn’t make it public anyway, personally.)

  100. 100.

    t jasper parnell

    November 2, 2008 at 6:44 pm

    Jon Swift explains why McCain will win.

  101. 101.

    Josh E.

    November 2, 2008 at 6:50 pm

    @Walker: Are you on hard? Dead Space is a cakewalk on normal.

  102. 102.

    Sojourner

    November 2, 2008 at 6:50 pm

    Anyone else make it to the Obama rally in Columbus today? 60,000 jubilant people showed up. Unlike the McCain attendees on Friday, this one was an exercise in diversity.

    We got lucky and were invited to stand behind the stage. We stood on the steps of the State House, a mere 30 feet from Michelle and Barack. I got within three feet of them when they shook hands but didn’t get to press the flesh. What a truly memorable day!

    If all goes well, I will be able to claim that I personally saw the next president of the United States of America.

  103. 103.

    Laura W

    November 2, 2008 at 6:52 pm

    @DougJ: I’ll preface this by saying I’ve not had enough Ketel One to feel giddy, but enough to feel sad. This makes me sick…for the raccoon and for our species. Even if when Obama takes the White House, this shit isn’t going away. Not for another generation or two, at best. Assuming the moron breeders don’t pass along the same poisoned gene pool, and toxic environment of hateful, ignorant attitudes, to their spawn. A big assumption.

    Brings to mind one of the most moving and memorable things I’ve read over these 8,976 months of the campaign. Much like John’s tag: "I can no longer rationally discuss the Clintons" made me an instant fan of BJ when I was led here months ago, via a Sully link, this piece by Al Giordano endeared me to him. And gave me HOPE. "Evolutionary Leaps and American Public Opinion" 10/08/08.

  104. 104.

    Laura W

    November 2, 2008 at 7:05 pm

    @t jasper parnell: Jasper, your link doesn’t work. And I, for one, have missed your humor. Can you tell a story, and make Bast a key character?

  105. 105.

    DougJ

    November 2, 2008 at 7:05 pm

    It’s pretty disgusting, Laura, and it fits in with the worst stereotypes of that area (this comes from the Southern Tier of NYS), stereotypes that I think are unfair in general.

  106. 106.

    Bey

    November 2, 2008 at 7:06 pm

    So I was canvassing this weekend in my neighborhood and learned the following:

    Obama is personally responsible for 53 *million* abortions.

    Only 2 million people have died in all the wars we’ve ever had.

    God is going to smite the shit out of us if we elect Obama.

    Stock up on lentils.

    One of the baggers at my local grocery has the confederate flag prominently displayed on his wall in the living room. He’s a huge Obama/Biden fan and flanks the flag with Obama signs and is working the polls on Tuesday.

    People are really, really, *really* ready for this election to just be over already here in Colorado.

  107. 107.

    Kallisti

    November 2, 2008 at 7:06 pm

    As an old school Fallout fan, I will give Fallout 3 my seal of approval. It *nails* the tone that Fallout 2 kinda’ tarnished.

  108. 108.

    libarbarian

    November 2, 2008 at 7:23 pm

    John,

    I know you have no control over the Pajamas sidebars but I just noticed that mine current has "Michelle Malkin is a National Treasure".

    Ew.

  109. 109.

    burnspbesq

    November 2, 2008 at 7:27 pm

    I still think Patterico was dropped on his head one too many times when he was an infant. But at least he’s right on Prop 8.

    Blind squirrel, nut.

  110. 110.

    t jasper parnell

    November 2, 2008 at 7:30 pm

    @Laura W: Try this one http://jonswift.blogspot.com/2008/11/why-mccain-will-win.html

  111. 111.

    oh really

    November 2, 2008 at 7:30 pm

    I’ve just been looking at the polls. They are driving me crazy.

    What I find really astounding is that
    …with the epic low status of Bush and the Republicans, the cratering economy, the unpopular wars. the skill of Obama as a candidate, all the talk about Obama’s campaign being among the best ever, all the talk about McCain’s campaign being among the worst ever, and what an ugly, despicable little weasel McCain is…

    Obama is not 35 points ahead. That speaks so poorly of the American people. After the last eight years, we are still right on the verge of making the same mistakes all over again.

  112. 112.

    t jasper parnell

    November 2, 2008 at 7:32 pm

    Huh, moderation hell I think.

  113. 113.

    Delia

    November 2, 2008 at 7:33 pm

    All Christian religions are proselytizing… that even includes the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and Quakers, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Episcopalians and Catholics (Roman or otherwise).

    I don’t think you know whereof you speak. LDS (Mormon) — certainly- always- everywhere. Quakers, Presbyterians, Episcopalians, and mainline Lutherans — no. They do not send missionaries out door to door. They do not sponsor Campus Crusade for Christ or the other organizations that collar people to talk to them about religion. They sponsor medical missions in third world countries, but they don’t preach. They carry out medical duties. I can’t speak for Missouri Synod Lutherans (who are pretty much fundies) or some of the other smaller denominations. And I can’t speak for the RC’s.

  114. 114.

    Indylib

    November 2, 2008 at 7:36 pm

    @Bey:

    What part of Colorado were you canvassing in?

    The Confederacy is not real popular in the part I grew up in.

  115. 115.

    JL

    November 2, 2008 at 7:36 pm

    @oh really: Obama as a black man with a funny name was never going to be 35 points ahead. The good news coming out of the national polls is that McCain has not broken through the 44% line in the last month. Barack is ahead in most of the key battleground states and he has a strong get out the vote ground force. Saying all that I plan to spend tomorrow and Tuesday in a total fog.

  116. 116.

    t jasper parnell

    November 2, 2008 at 7:44 pm

    @Delia: From Luther on mainline Lutherans, who — of course — came to be so demoninated later, view preaching to themselves as a form of missionary work. So they are, in fact, constantly proselytizing. There is a long tradition of explicit Protestant missionary activity, starting with the Malabar missions in the 18th century (aborad) and culminating in all manner of "inner missions." The Great Awakenings were missionary in nature.

  117. 117.

    burnspbesq

    November 2, 2008 at 7:44 pm

    The Jackson Clarion-Ledger endorses Obama.

    Hell has indeed frozen over.

  118. 118.

    Zuzu's Petals

    November 2, 2008 at 7:44 pm

    Checking in from Ohio:

    Attended the poll observer training this afternoon, along with a few hundred other lawyers. As this was one of several for Franklin County, pretty darn impressive numbers. People from all over the country, high enthusiasm.

    The voter protection and GOTV organization is terrific, from what I can tell (first time I’ve been involved at this level).

    Cam Kerry (John’s brother) spoke briefly at the end. Evidently he’s been working behind the scenes in Ohio for some time now. Says the level of early organizing in this state compared to 2004 is awesome.

    I kept thinking how bittersweet it was for him to be here now, and found myself welling up a bit. I shook his hand afterward and told him I felt privileged to vote for his brother, and he was sincerely touched.

    GOTV stuff tomorrow. Yay !

  119. 119.

    Delia

    November 2, 2008 at 7:45 pm

    There’s an interesting article about Chuck Hagel in the New Yorker. Now if you want a Republican who’s actually, you know, a maverick, and doesn’t just call himself one, there’s your man.

    Here’s a choice quote describing January 2007 when Dubya was proposing his special Surge, and Hagel with his good friend, Biden proposed a resolution in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to start drawing down forces:

    Recalling that morning, Hagel said that, as he listened to his colleagues discuss sending more troops to Iraq, he was struck by their “cavalier approach, as if it were an abstraction. Very few people know much about war, very few are touched by it. This is also a time when we had seen over a period of four years so much deception by this Administration—straight outright lies—and I thought to myself, as I looked around the committee, have we learned nothing in the last four years? And we’re now going to send thirty thousand more troops into this meat grinder? For what? . . . We were not a co-equal branch of government. We were just kind of this afterthought to the President, and whatever he tells us to do, we kind of docilely go along.”
    …
    The committee approved the resolution in a 12–9 vote; Hagel was the only Republican who voted for it. “I was called a ‘traitor,’ and I was called ‘disgusting,’ ” he told me. “How could I not support the troops? ‘Shut your mouth, you’re a Republican!’ Which I always found astounding—to equate war based on your politics, as a Democrat or a Republican. I often said in hearings, I wonder where my Republican colleagues, who are so enthusiastic about the war in Iraq, would be if Bill Clinton was the President? I think I know exactly where they would be.”

    It gets around by the end to implying just why Hagel won’t endorse McCain.

  120. 120.

    Ash Can

    November 2, 2008 at 7:51 pm

    @libarbarian: I’m willing to bet an adult beverage that the reason the quotes on those ads are presented without attribution is because the individuals featured made them up themselves.

  121. 121.

    Joe Lisboa

    November 2, 2008 at 7:56 pm

    Catholics (Roman or otherwise).

    Uh, what?

  122. 122.

    Bey

    November 2, 2008 at 7:57 pm

    @Indylib: Colorado Springs. The bagger guy is clearly a big fan of all things southern and cowboy based on his decor. I’m sure the irony of the confederate flag flanked by Obama signs is lost on him.

    (I just got push polled by the Rethugs! )

  123. 123.

    Delia

    November 2, 2008 at 7:57 pm

    @t jasper parnell:

    Well, if you view preaching to yourselves as proselytizing, that’s one thing. But I figure if someone shows up in church on Sunday morning, they’re pretty much asking to be preached to, and it’s not an obnoxious or unexpected thing. Same thing if you turn up at a revival meeting. You more or less know the preacher’s going to ask for people to declare that they’re saved and you know what the game is.

    It’s not like the JW’s who showed up at my door two Saturday’s ago before I showered when I was wearing dirty sweats and in the middle of cleaning my kitchen. They wanted to show me a pamphlet entitled "The Truth." My dog was barking and I was about ready to let him have a go at them.

  124. 124.

    Laura W

    November 2, 2008 at 8:01 pm

    @JL: USA Today/Gallup breaking on Tweety: Obama 53%, McInsane 42%.
    The gap is WIDENING.
    EXCELLENT news for McShame.

  125. 125.

    Comrade Darkness

    November 2, 2008 at 8:02 pm

    Catholics (Roman or otherwise).

    I’m guessing Roman vs. Greek Orthodox vs. Russian Orthodox.

    Then there are the interesting African melange beliefs of the sects in South America that were accepted into the Vatican fold by JPII as a way of avoiding losing numbers dominance.

  126. 126.

    Dennis - SGMM

    November 2, 2008 at 8:09 pm

    @Laura W:
    McCain has Obama right where he wants him.

  127. 127.

    JL

    November 2, 2008 at 8:12 pm

    @Laura W: I still question the Ohio vote in 2004. If Obama wins a large popular vote, it will harder for McCain to challenge individual states. (at least I hope)

  128. 128.

    Laura W

    November 2, 2008 at 8:19 pm

    @Dennis – SGMM: You are SO right! He "senses it, feels it, and knows it". I just saw that on CNN! He’s been prescient and 100% right about everything else so far, right?

    Just gave my FINAL (I mean this!) donation to Obama. I want that t-shirt for $30. I donated for one thru moveon long ago, and it finally came. RIGHT! Women’s XL. Sure thing. I am not (that) fat (shut up, Tunch!), but that shirt would not even fit the anorexic Olsen twin. Pissed me off. I don’t even think I could sleep in it without being self-conscious. Plus, I’ll be one of 5 people to get a back stage pass on election night in Chicago. Who wants to come with?

    Two hours of Tweety on a Sunday with nothing new to say is unbearable. Come on, Dexter!!

  129. 129.

    Comrade Jake

    November 2, 2008 at 8:21 pm

    Decent poll porn, here.

    Gallup says that when it allocates the 4% of likely voters who either had no opinion or would not choose between Obama and McCain, it estimates the candidates’ current support levels would most likely be 55% for Obama, 44% for McCain.

    Those are fucking blowout numbers. I don’t think Obama’s going to reach that by any stretch, but it would be something if he did.

  130. 130.

    Laura W

    November 2, 2008 at 8:25 pm

    @JL:

    If When Obama wins a large popular vote, it will be harder impossible for McCain to challenge individual states.

    Is that how you guys do FIXED?
    That was hard, and I’m a lot older now.

  131. 131.

    MikeJ

    November 2, 2008 at 8:27 pm

    Dixville Notch and Hart’s(sp?) Landing still midnight voting for general elections too? If so, 24.5 hours from the first election day ballots. Of course early voting sorta deflates the spectacle, for better or worse.

  132. 132.

    Dennis - SGMM

    November 2, 2008 at 8:27 pm

    @JL:
    If Obama wins, whether it’s by a squeaker or a landslide the Republican challenges will be as thick as the leaves upon the ground. As will the sinister innuendos from the right-wing echo chamber. The goal will be to de-legitimatize Obama’s presidency. The notion that Obama may well win is anathema to them. The number of rocks that an Obama administration might turn over terrifies them. If they can’t win then they can wound. And they will.

  133. 133.

    Delia

    November 2, 2008 at 8:27 pm

    @Laura W:

    Hey, Laura, I’ll go with you. But I didn’t order an Obama shirt. Maybe if I run down to headquarters tomorrow, they’ll have one. Aw shit. I’ll have to board all my critters. And I’m like on the other end of the country from you. Oh well, I’ll still go with ya.

  134. 134.

    Delia

    November 2, 2008 at 8:30 pm

    @Dennis – SGMM:

    there was something in Slate a week or two ago how how thickly the Obama campaign is lawyered up. Apparently any lawyer who volunteered was contacted almost before they hit the send button. They’re ready for this.

  135. 135.

    Bob In Pacifica

    November 2, 2008 at 8:31 pm

    libarbarian, guano is a national treasure in Chile.

  136. 136.

    Laura W

    November 2, 2008 at 8:32 pm

    @Delia: No worries. They are flying us in from wherever we are and giving us a hotel for the one night. I figure my 5 critters could bear one night at the vet’s for kenneling. I’d only put them through that for Obama, of course. I hate to imagine flying home the next day with the rooms still spinning, but I’ll have the next 8 years to sober up, right?

  137. 137.

    Gozer

    November 2, 2008 at 8:32 pm

    Just bought Far Cry 2 (graphics are gorgeous) and am thoroughly enjoying the Call of Duty – World at War and Mirror’s Edge demos.

    Eagerly anticipating Left 4 Dead when it arrives.

  138. 138.

    Dennis - SGMM

    November 2, 2008 at 8:35 pm

    @Delia:
    I read that piece and Obama’s organization is prepared, to be sure. Creating fear and dissension is something the Republicans have honed to a fine art. Though their efforts will largely fail the "we wuz robbed" subtext will be irresistible to them. That they ran a poor candidate who chose an even poorer running mate is unthinkable to them.

  139. 139.

    ```````````````````

    November 2, 2008 at 8:37 pm

    there was something in Slate a week or two ago how how thickly the Obama campaign is lawyered up.

    thank god. look were gore’s "for the good of the country I’ll give in" crap got us.

    never again.

  140. 140.

    JL

    November 2, 2008 at 8:48 pm

    Pat Buchanan is on HardBall suggesting that if they don’t count the votes in California, New York, Illinois and a few other states on election night, then the popular vote would be close. That even brought a laugh from Chris. Now Pat is bloviating and bloviating and bloviating about McCain not using Wright. Time to switch the channel.

  141. 141.

    ninerdave

    November 2, 2008 at 8:50 pm

    @Dennis – SGMM:

    I read that piece and Obama’s organization is prepared, to be sure. Creating fear and dissension is something the Republicans have honed to a fine art. Though their efforts will largely fail the "we wuz robbed" subtext will be irresistible to them. That they ran a poor candidate who chose an even poorer running mate is unthinkable to them.

    …and ran an even poorer campaign.

  142. 142.

    Dennis - SGMM

    November 2, 2008 at 8:50 pm

    Here, via Hilzoy, is a great Time article about Obama.

    In this 20-month long campaign I have seldom seen Obama bring the full power of his oratory to the biggest possible crowd his campaign can build. That is, until this week. As the long campaign nears the end, the campaign has stopped shying away from such huge audiences, and the crowds have been stunning: 100,000 in St. Louis, 75,000 in Kansas City, 100,000 in Denver, 45,000 in Fort Collins, Colorado, 50,000 in Albuquerque. "We want to see and touch and talk to as many people as possible," says David Axelrod, Obama’s top strategist. "This is momentum time." And for anyone who was disappointed by Obama’s wonky convention speech, his closing argument is all gravy — all the inspirational lines that get people on their feet and cheering their hearts out.

  143. 143.

    Indylib

    November 2, 2008 at 8:50 pm

    @Bey:

    Hell, I should have known it would be Springs.

    My brother-in-law lives there. I finally talked him into listening to Obama speeches instead of what talk radio has to say about Obama speeches and converted him (he’s frighteningly reasonable for belonging to an S. Baptist fundy church). Unfortunately his vote will offset by his crazy whack-job wife who is a lost cause.

    The bagger guy is clearly a big fan of all things southern and cowboy based on his decor

    I grew up in the San Luis Valley and can see the cowboy stuff, but not the Confederacy. Southern accents in my part of the state are associated with irritating tourists, mostly Texans and Oklahomans.

  144. 144.

    robertdsc

    November 2, 2008 at 8:54 pm

    Mirror’s Edge demo

    I got a hold of that on my PS3. It’s a pretty sweet game, though the lack of a directional finder or map is a huge minus. Otherwise, I’m looking forward to it.

  145. 145.

    Laura W

    November 2, 2008 at 8:57 pm

    @Indylib:

    Southern accents in my part of the state are associated with irritating tourists, mostly Texans and Oklahomans.

    HA! I moved here from Pagosa Springs, CO, and so get your point. When I moved here I asked friends in SC: "Who do you all hate like Colorado people hate Oklahomans and Texans?"
    "Floridians".
    Geez.
    Thank god these here States are United, huh?

  146. 146.

    Dennis - SGMM

    November 2, 2008 at 9:00 pm

    Thank god these here States are United, huh?

    I’ve been in parts of Louisiana where I was surprised that they took American money.

  147. 147.

    t jasper parnell

    November 2, 2008 at 9:06 pm

    Fafblog has the ultimate "get"

    FB: That’s just the kind of mavericky bipartisan maverickness you used to pass sweeping reforms like the Candyland Preservation Act and McCain-Snuffleupagus! So how much will I personally save once you’ve gotten rid of all these earmarks?
    MCCAIN: Literally thousands of thousandths of some fraction of a penny. But look, my friends: it’s not about the money. It’s about the principle. And the principle is that it’s wrong, just wrong, to take money from the American taxpayer and spend it on something, unless that something is a series of massive, ever-expanding foreign wars.

  148. 148.

    Indylib

    November 2, 2008 at 9:08 pm

    @Laura W:

    Who do you all hate like Colorado people hate Oklahomans and Texans?

    The saying goes "Send your tourist money by mail and stay the hell at home".

  149. 149.

    Comrade Darkness

    November 2, 2008 at 9:10 pm

    I’ve been in parts of Louisiana where I was surprised that they took American money.

    Mmmm, sounds like the kinda place where the food would rock and the music would jazz.

    Added: and if not… leave my over-romanticizing alone, please

  150. 150.

    bago

    November 2, 2008 at 9:10 pm

    Mirror’s Edge has a fantastic soundtrack.

  151. 151.

    Jim

    November 2, 2008 at 9:13 pm

    "burnspbesq

    The Jackson Clarion-Ledger endorses Obama.

    Hell has indeed frozen over."

    But not the Cedar Rapids Gazette. My finger is still throbbing from hurling the newspaper at the kitchen table with a little too much vigor after seeing the McBush endorsement. This settles it for us – after thirty years of subscribing to that fecking rag, we are done. I’ve had to force myself to read it for the last two years, anyway.

  152. 152.

    lethargytartare

    November 2, 2008 at 9:13 pm

    @Walker:

    Have you seen Zero Punctuation’s take on this game?

    thanks for that – I haven’t had that much fun deciding not to buy a game since Old Man Murray went teats up…

  153. 153.

    Josh Hueco

    November 2, 2008 at 9:16 pm

    @Indylib:

    The saying goes "Send your tourist money by mail and stay the hell at home".

    When I still lived in Oregon there were stories of Californians who, when moving to the state, would get Oregon auto tags the day they arrived because they didn’t want to be known as "furriners." (Note: Californians: Oregon :: Texans : Colorado)

    The best summation of such sentiment was voiced by Governor Tom McCall, who in 1971 said, "Come visit us again and again. But for heaven’s sake, don’t move here to live." :)

  154. 154.

    Comrade Jake

    November 2, 2008 at 9:17 pm

    @JL:

    Pat Buchanan is on HardBall suggesting that if they don’t count the votes in California, New York, Illinois and a few other states on election night, then the popular vote would be close.

    I bet if we don’t count all the states Obama wins, then McCain will nearly sweep the electoral college. Of course, most of the liberal media will never discuss this fact.

  155. 155.

    Dennis - SGMM

    November 2, 2008 at 9:18 pm

    Mmmm, sounds like the kinda place where the food would rock and the music would jazz.

    Not so, not by a long chalk. On the other hand, the buddy with whom I toured the Louisiana hinterlands had some uncles who were moonshiners, heavily armed and suspicious as hell. They cooked up some skullpopping ‘shine though. We left with a couple of cases of the traditional Mason jars of the stuff. Throw a cup of it on the campfire and the flames would jump up eight feet.

  156. 156.

    Martin

    November 2, 2008 at 9:20 pm

    Dunno. Back in the day I worked two jobs to save the price of a brand new Austin Cooper 1275S. Kept at the two jobs and poured the at least price of the car ($3100, damn) into mods. It was very capable – and completely useless for anything other than startling muscle cars in First and Second and collecting tickets.

    That’s why I said ‘likely’. Many years ago was embarrassed by a VW Rabbit up on the 580 when at 130 he decided he had one more gear than me – going uphill past the wind turbines. I think he had a little Porsche juice in that buggy pulling away from me as quickly as he did.

    Ah, youth, when you could make LA to SF at an average speed of 103 MPH, including gas, bathrooms, and a quick lunch.

  157. 157.

    Laura W

    November 2, 2008 at 9:23 pm

    @Comrade Jake:

    I bet if we don’t count all the states Obama wins, then McCain will nearly sweep the electoral college.

    Deja Hillary Vu

  158. 158.

    Indylib

    November 2, 2008 at 9:27 pm

    Deja Hillary Vu

    FTW

  159. 159.

    Dennis - SGMM

    November 2, 2008 at 9:27 pm

    @Martin:
    Ha! When I finished ruining the Mini it would do 45 in First, 75 in Second, 102 in Third, and 124 in Fourth. It was almost worth having a car that would not idle and that fouled the plugs at a long stoplight to see the looks on the faces of those who were pushing American iron when I made the Third/Fourth shift.
    Had a Weber carb on the thing that was so big that I couldn’t fit an aircleaner. The result was that when the car backfired or chugged (Not an infrequent occurrence because the cam was insane) flame would shoot around the speedometer.

  160. 160.

    Comrade Darkness

    November 2, 2008 at 9:27 pm

    Not so, not by a long chalk.

    Ah well, destroy my Bayou dreams. I never get out of New Orleans when I’m in the area, so it matters little.

    I’m perhaps fixated. I plan to spend Tuesday staggering down Bourbon Street alternating between absinth and oysters. Whether in celebration or to knock myself into unconsciousness, it will work either way.

  161. 161.

    Comrade Darkness

    November 2, 2008 at 9:33 pm

    Ah, youth, when you could make LA to SF at an average speed of 103 MPH, including gas, bathrooms, and a quick lunch.

    I did that between Munich and Frankfurt just two years ago. You’re in the wrong country, is all.

    (There the dial reads a more satisfying 190-200. This was unfortunately in a crappy crappy Mercedes Esprit. My friend got his rented Ultima up to 240. I am still jealous as hell.)

  162. 162.

    Martin

    November 2, 2008 at 9:38 pm

    Throw a cup of it on the campfire and the flames would jump up eight feet.

    We used to throw glass containers full of white gas on the campfire with the cap screwed on tight and run like hell. From 100 feet away it looked like a war zone when it’d go up. I think we finally stopped doing that when one went off after we only got about 30 feet away.

  163. 163.

    boonagain

    November 2, 2008 at 9:40 pm

    I am almost ‘all in’ as far as giving to Obama is concerned, but I gotta give Laura a smackdown and win those backstage passes.

    Canvassed today in a couple of small towns in my County. We had a spread sheet of seldom and sporadic Democratic voters who we visited and reminded to vote and asked if they needed a ride.

    It wasn’t much to do, but I’m glad I contributed a little bit of effort. I’m gonna work Tuesday as well before out VICTORY party!!

    Indiana needs to turn BLUE!!

  164. 164.

    Comrade Jake

    November 2, 2008 at 9:40 pm

    @Laura W:

    Well played. You’re cool and the gang.

  165. 165.

    jcricket

    November 2, 2008 at 9:43 pm

    I think the "blowout" vs. tightening will depend on GOTV, period. If Obama’s GOTV and additional registrations are "real", the numbers we’re seeing will undercount his support in nearly every state. The solidly blue will have FDR-like (see California, for example) proportions. The light blue will be solid blue and the yellow will become blue (think Montana).

    If the GOTV and new registrations largely "evaporate" or are counteracted with a zillion mormons and wingnuts voting for Palin, then I predict we see basically what the polls are predicting at their legitimate tightest (a 4-5 point race).

    I’m hoping for the big mo, cell phone voters, GOTV and additional registrations giving us a huge mandate and taking the races that are within a percent or two (this esp. important for House and Senate races).

  166. 166.

    kommrade jakevich

    November 2, 2008 at 9:51 pm

    @Dennis – SGMM:

    The thought of those fuckers alternating between plans for Palin’s 2012 run and inspection of Obama’s birth certificate while he’s quietly fixing shit makes me all tingly.

    Of course, we might have to settle for McPalin whining that they can’t fix shit now because Obama didn’t agree to 10 town hall meetings then. Not as good by a long shot but watching GOPers hit themselves with sledgehammers and complain that it hurts will be some comfort.

  167. 167.

    Dennis - SGMM

    November 2, 2008 at 9:53 pm

    @Martin:
    During my DFH heyday I had a friend who would entertain by pouring a bottle of rubbing alcohol into a five gallon Sparklettes water bottle and then chucking in a match. The dance of the blue flames was endlessly entertaining to us in our stonedness. He once waited too long to throw in the match and his eyebrows were singed off by the jet of flame from the bottle. The bastard thing at the same time made a whoop that would put a steam whistle to shame.

  168. 168.

    Comrade Kevin

    November 2, 2008 at 9:54 pm

    @Martin:

    "the 580"? I take it you’re from the LA end of that trip.

  169. 169.

    Krista

    November 2, 2008 at 9:54 pm

    Ah, Fallout 3. The husband bought it on Thursday, and I think we’ve engaged in about 4 sentences of conversation since then. ;) Ah well — he waited 10 years, so I can’t begrudge his fun.

  170. 170.

    Walker

    November 2, 2008 at 9:55 pm

    @Josh E.:

    I am on normal; that must be the problem. I usually only do hard the second time through (Well, except for Mass Effect, since it was clear how easy normal was from the very beginning).

  171. 171.

    Dennis - SGMM

    November 2, 2008 at 10:04 pm

    I am on normal; that must be the problem.

    Shit, I’ve been trying to get on normal for sixty years. That’s my problem.

  172. 172.

    jcricket

    November 2, 2008 at 10:06 pm

    Indiana needs to turn BLUE!!

    Throw in North Dakota and Montana and you have the entire Canadian border (sans the teensy bit of Idaho, but we in WA state will rectify that when we take over their land).

    Let’s not forget, the entire west coast is also blue, and if we pick up Florida and Virginia, nearly all of the east coast (carolinas and georgia excepted).

    Throw in the increasingly blue south west and Colorado, and the GOP is quite clearly a southern, regional and white party only.

  173. 173.

    t jasper parnell

    November 2, 2008 at 10:09 pm

    By the way, if one clicks on the Ain’t no bad dude link on J.C.’s blogroll the pay off is teh funny.

  174. 174.

    jcricket

    November 2, 2008 at 10:13 pm

    The thought of those fuckers alternating between plans for Palin’s 2012 run and inspection of Obama’s birth certificate while he’s quietly fixing shit makes me all tingly.

    I’m tingly too, except for the "quietly" part. Democrats need to start claiming credit for everything the fix, while simultaneously making it clear it’s Republican politics that got us in this mess to begin win. Don’t be self-aggrandizing, but make a clear, steady, regular case via PR, marketing, etc. for all the stuff we accomplish. If Republicans obstruct, make it clear they stand in the way of progress. If you get stuff done w/o Republicans, make it clear they would cut off your nose to spite your face, etc.

    And Obama’s speeches ("we tried it bush’s way, we tried it mccain’s way…") are the model for what I’m talking about regarding making it clear it’s a Republican mess we’re fixing.

    I like Obama’s demeanor and unflappability, but we do not need to be modest, mild technocrats (see Christine Gregoire).

    This is how we build on the landslides of 2006 and 2008 in 2010 and 2012 (when combined with Republicans running farther to the right).

  175. 175.

    demimondian

    November 2, 2008 at 10:27 pm

    Heh. As all the other Seattlites (real and east-side) will tell you…if you’re from California…it rains here all the time, non-stop. When you report that average precipitation is inconsistent with that during the summer, we tell you that the hot sun evaporates the rain from the gauges. When you mention that the temperatures don’t seem that extreme…

    well, Shut UP!, that’s why.

  176. 176.

    demimondian

    November 2, 2008 at 10:29 pm

    @jcricket:

    (see Christine Gregoire)

    I just hope we won’t be seeing Gov. Rossi on Wednesday.

    GOTV. GOTV. GOTV.

  177. 177.

    TheHatOnMyCat

    November 2, 2008 at 10:30 pm

    I just watched a live Obama rally in Cincinnatti, via CNN online.

    It was the standard, impressive stump speech. Enthusiastic crowd. Barack is clearly tired, as we all are of this campaign cycle.

    I’ve been mostly working all weekend and keeping busy so as to avoid thinking about the election. Every time I look at the maps and polls I get nervous.

    Confession: I don’t have a plan B. I have no idea how I would face Wednesday if we don’t win this thing. Lowering myself slowly into a vat of sulfuric acid seems like it might be the best alternative. Because I sure as hell cannot face four years of McPalin and those god-awful people yapping at me any more.

    The worst of it is, I can’t drink. I can’t just vote on Tuesday and then settle into a stupor until it’s all settled. I have to endure each hour from late Tuesday until there’s 270 votes for somebody, and try to avoid hearing those voices on the tv telling me what to think about it at each step of the way. Certain things in life were not intended to be experienced while sober.

    This is going to be a long 48 hours.

  178. 178.

    demimondian

    November 2, 2008 at 10:31 pm

    @TheHatOnMyCat: I tried to schedule a trip to the vampires on Tuesday, so that I would be so sick I wouldn’t care. No such luck.

  179. 179.

    Xecklothxayyquou Gilchrist

    November 2, 2008 at 10:32 pm

    @Comrade Darkness: I plan to spend Tuesday staggering down Bourbon Street alternating between absinth and oysters.

    If you barf, get pictures. Between absinthe green and oyster shiny, I’m sure it would be beautiful.

    But have a good time, in any case.

  180. 180.

    Nick Istre

    November 2, 2008 at 10:33 pm

    You know what’s missing in Fallout 3? Groin and eye shots. There’s nothing like taking out an ambush in the first two by shooting them all in the crotch. Whether they die or simply fall unconscious depended on how (un)lucky they were…

    Well, just nuked Megatown in F3. Finally, I get my karma below "neutral". Funny how much more bottle caps and equipment you can get by being evil in the game…

  181. 181.

    scarshapedstar

    November 2, 2008 at 10:35 pm

    Fallout 3 is already taking over my life, but I’m playing through as a good guy first. Next time I’m gonna be lying, killing, and nuking.

  182. 182.

    Josh Hueco

    November 2, 2008 at 10:36 pm

    Sorry, no habla gaming dork.

  183. 183.

    TheHatOnMyCat

    November 2, 2008 at 10:36 pm

    I tried to schedule a trip to the vampires on Tuesday, so that I would be so sick I wouldn’t care. No such luck.

    You might be able to get into the Vampire State Building.

    I know some people there. Let me see what I can do.

  184. 184.

    Comrade Kevin

    November 2, 2008 at 10:36 pm

    How is it that every network has the "best political team on television"?

  185. 185.

    jcricket

    November 2, 2008 at 10:37 pm

    I just hope we won’t be seeing Gov. Rossi on Wednesday.
    GOTV. GOTV. GOTV.

    Ditto (and ditto). Fucking stupid Seattle Times gives this used-car salesman a complete free ride. Blethens can kiss my ass.

    And fuck eastern WA while we’re at it. Time we cut off the welfare we send those losers. Of course that’ll just feed their anti-government paranoia.

    I also want to see Burner win, I-1000 passed, Prop 1 pass and I-985 defeated.

  186. 186.

    kommrade jakevich

    November 2, 2008 at 10:46 pm

    @jcricket: Sure. He sits down, works out a solution and then during his weekly radio address:

    "My fellow Americans, despite eight years of malfeasance by the Bush Administration …"

    Fix first, flicking the GOP on the ear second. (Laughing quietly while they sputter and fume about birth certificates third.)

    Gah. If I could figure out how to pull it off I’d sleep from now until Tuesday morning, vote, and zonk out again until I was woken by my neighbors’ screams of joy or anguish.

  187. 187.

    burnspbesq

    November 2, 2008 at 10:48 pm

    not that I need any more reasons to vote for Obama, but I opened my 401(k) statement for Q3 today. Investment loss > contributions. Delightful.

  188. 188.

    demimondian

    November 2, 2008 at 10:49 pm

    Fucking stupid Seattle Times gives this used-car salesman a complete free ride. Blethens can kiss my ass.

    No joke.

    FDDD and I finally gave up on them. She tried to call to cancel today, but couldn’t get through, so she’s gonna call tomorrow, to cancel for Tuesday.

  189. 189.

    bago

    November 2, 2008 at 10:51 pm

    Mass Effect has this tendency to make you its bitch. Especially with the Moon Patrol mission. As a resident of Seattle I will be making Rossi my bitch.

  190. 190.

    jcricket

    November 2, 2008 at 10:52 pm

    Fix first, flicking the GOP on the ear second. (Laughing quietly while they sputter and fume about birth certificates third.)

    I’m in agreement – fixing is first. But flicking the GOP on the ear and tooting our own horn has to be second. Fixing is not enough.

    And if we can’t fix things, make it clear that it’s b/c of Republicans.

  191. 191.

    Martin

    November 2, 2008 at 10:53 pm

    "the 580"? I take it you’re from the LA end of that trip.

    Yeah, and an import to Cali to boot. Hell, I can barely get the freeways down here sorted out.

  192. 192.

    whiskey

    November 2, 2008 at 10:57 pm

    fallout 3 spoiler: it sucked

  193. 193.

    bago

    November 2, 2008 at 10:57 pm

    Watch this video, and learn from it.

  194. 194.

    patrick

    November 2, 2008 at 11:06 pm

    After 45 years of perfect vision, I had to get some reading glasses last week.

    It’s all downhill from here.

  195. 195.

    Brian J

    November 2, 2008 at 11:19 pm

    I just flipped on PBS. There’s this show on that is focusing on women voters (in Colorado) who were strong supporters of Hillary Clinton and were then undecided once she left the race. I’ve been watching for about ten or fifteen minutes now. Among other things, mostly related to Palin and Geraldine Ferraro, there was talk of an e-mail that was sent around allegedging that Obama paid his female staffers less than the male staffers.

    I don’t think these viral e-mails are directly tied to McCain’s campaign, but it’s a manifestation of the lies and garbage that we’ve seen from McCain, other Republicans, and their allies in the media. I can’t speak for other Democrats, particularly any that will actually be governing in the next few years, but while I might be able to forgive, I will never, ever forget.

  196. 196.

    Delia

    November 2, 2008 at 11:44 pm

    I just flipped on PBS. There’s this show on that is focusing on women voters (in Colorado) who were strong supporters of Hillary Clinton and were then undecided once she left the race. I’ve been watching for about ten or fifteen minutes now. Among other things, mostly related to Palin and Geraldine Ferraro, there was talk of an e-mail that was sent around allegedging that Obama paid his female staffers less than the male staffers.

    I wonder how much of this is slavish gooper bullshit cranked out by the Bushie androids that have replaced the real minds that used to inhabit PBS. I mean, my elderly mother and my super-neurotic semi-invalid sister who live in Phoenix were Hillary supporters. My mother climbed right on board with Obama because she would drink poison before she would vote for a Republican. My sister (did I mention she’s super-neurotic?) was pissed at first and claimed she was going to write in Hillary or John Edwards and that Obama was very suspicious. But she caught five minutes of Sarah Palin at the gooper convention and that was enough. It was "Gag me with a spoon. Obama all the way."

  197. 197.

    Phoenix Woman

    November 2, 2008 at 11:46 pm

    Delia: I think it would be a brilliant move of Obama’s to make Chuck Hagel his SecDef. Not only would he do a good job — he hates the PNACers with all his heart and will weed them out of the Pentagon –but it would deprive the GOP of the one guy who could actually have a shot in 2012.

    As for PBS: Bush crammed the CPB with his tools, which is why it sucks now. With luck it will start to un-suck once Obama gets his people in there.

  198. 198.

    Delia

    November 2, 2008 at 11:59 pm

    @Phoenix Woman:

    Yeah, Chuck Hagel would be a brilliant choice. He would totally discombobulate all the lunatics who are ranting about Obama filling his administration with "his own kind." He would be be great for foreign policy. And he would completely separate the rational wing of the Republican party from the neocons and the fundie fringe. The latter two could rot in the wilderness.

  199. 199.

    Comrade Mary, Would-Be Minion Of Bad Horse

    November 3, 2008 at 12:00 am

    This.Fucking.Election.

    Cocksuckers.

    (It’s late, I’m on deadline, and I’m exhausted.)

  200. 200.

    Comrade Mary, Would-Be Minion Of Bad Horse

    November 3, 2008 at 12:01 am

    Heh. Two dirty words in two links in my last post, and I got knocked into the spam bucket. I guess I’m a real DFH after all.

    Anyway, the GOP has put its latest Rev. Wright ad on football tonight. I won’t miss the slime.

    A recap of the year, via Sullivan.

  201. 201.

    Brian J

    November 3, 2008 at 12:11 am

    I wonder how much of this is slavish gooper bullshit cranked out by the Bushie androids that have replaced the real minds that used to inhabit PBS. I mean, my elderly mother and my super-neurotic semi-invalid sister who live in Phoenix were Hillary supporters. My mother climbed right on board with Obama because she would drink poison before she would vote for a Republican. My sister (did I mention she’s super-neurotic?) was pissed at first and claimed she was going to write in Hillary or John Edwards and that Obama was very suspicious. But she caught five minutes of Sarah Palin at the gooper convention and that was enough. It was "Gag me with a spoon. Obama all the way."

    I don’t know if this theory would find any support if it were investigated by political scientists, but I think there’s something to it.

    I think the potential to not just necessarily win but win big was represented in Clinton and Obama by two different groups. For Obama, it was in minorities and younger voters, in addition to increased support from traditional Democratic groups, moderate Republicans, and those interested in bipartisanship and all that above all. Much of the same holds true for Clinton, but I think that instead of even more appeal than usual for a Democrat among minorities, she held that same sort of appeal among women. This would be true for women in general, women whose biggest concern was electing a women, and moderate Republicans who would cross over for a moderate Democrat, like her husband. I happen to think Obama’s reach might have been bigger no matter what, but her sort of ability to win big, assuming she wouldn’t be brought down in some way that Obama wasn’t, shouldn’t be brushed aside.

    Out of the three types of women who would be part of Clinton’s ability to win big, the smallest group was probably women who would have the election of other women to higher office as one of their biggest, if not the biggest, priorities. think the sort of women who would, in theory, be up for grabs in a race of Obama versus McCain, but again, it would probably be small. In fact, it might be so small that it would be overwhelmed by whatever advantages Obama brought to the table.

    I imagine a lot of women, like those featured on the PBS show, were generally conflicted about a choice between Obama and McCain. In a race similar to what we saw in 2000, it might make a difference, but with so many advantages for the Democrats, it probably wouldn’t be a factor. This wouldn’t stop the media from chasing a non-existent story as if it was their chosen journey in life, but what else is new?

  202. 202.

    iluvsummr

    November 3, 2008 at 12:12 am

    Ken Duberstein (Reagan’s former chief of staff) said he’d be voting for Obama on Fareed Zakaria’s GPS today. He said Powell’s endorsement of Obama was a big deal for him like the "good housekeeping" seal (they’re good friends).

    Zakaria also had Allbright and Brzezinski on. They were supposed to discuss what either president-elect Obama or McCain should do in the transition period following the election but Zakaria kept slipping up and talking about what Obama would have to do (I guess he’s subconsciously discounted any possibility of McCain winning).

    OT: Saw RocknRolla, Guy Ritchie’s new flick. Really liked it, to my surprise.

  203. 203.

    Walker

    November 3, 2008 at 12:13 am

    Mass Effect has this tendency to make you its bitch. Especially with the Moon Patrol mission.

    Not if you play an Adept; they are so broken. Singularity has this tendency to eliminate entire rooms with a single attack. You just hit the room and let the enemies spin in place while Ashley takes them out with her assault rifle.

    Mass Effect’s AI is not as bad as some people claim, as long as all the support characters are doing is shooting (and Tali hacks pretty intelligently). But plaining an Adept teaches you just how badly the computer under-utilizes Liana.

  204. 204.

    Martin

    November 3, 2008 at 12:21 am

    I don’t think these viral e-mails are directly tied to McCain’s campaign, but it’s a manifestation of the lies and garbage that we’ve seen from McCain, other Republicans, and their allies in the media.

    Blame Rush. He’s the one that really got the email shit turned up to 11. The email is set up so that there basically is no identifiable source – it’s all forwarded from one list to another. That allows people to make up whatever insane shit they can think of and never be held accountable. It’s the reason why all such emails should be ignored – you can never walk lies back to the author.

  205. 205.

    Brian J

    November 3, 2008 at 12:28 am

    Yeah, Chuck Hagel would be a brilliant choice. He would totally discombobulate all the lunatics who are ranting about Obama filling his administration with "his own kind." He would be be great for foreign policy. And he would completely separate the rational wing of the Republican party from the neocons and the fundie fringe. The latter two could rot in the wilderness.

    Obviously, competency comes first, but all things being equal, put a Democrat in that role. Politics is politics, and a Republican consistently holding that role, even in Democratic administration, sends the wrong message.

    The best idea I heard on this subject was Jonathon Zasloff’s suggestion at Mark Kleiman’s site to appoint a Republican as Attorney General. As Zasloff says, this person would have to be able to support Democratic policies like civil rights and environmental enforcement, but assuming that a suitable candidate could be found, it would bring competence to an important department and make a great statement at the same time. And as a sort of slap in the face to Republicans, there are a few names floating around comprised of people that have been thorns in the sides of the Republicans. One is Patrick Fitzgerald. The other is one of the fired U.S. Attorneys, Carol Lam.

  206. 206.

    Jason

    November 3, 2008 at 12:34 am

    I’m staring a $60 purchase for CivIV plus the expansions on Steam. Does anyone recommend the add-ons or am I good with saving my cash and going basic?

    Beyond the Sword includes all the modifications to gameplay that Warlords had, so if you just buy BtS you’ll only be missing out on some pretty average scenarios.

  207. 207.

    bago

    November 3, 2008 at 12:35 am

    That’s what right bumper is for. If you’re going to play crowd control you have to be on top of things.

  208. 208.

    Tattoosydney

    November 3, 2008 at 12:41 am

    @libarbarian:

    I know you have no control over the Pajamas sidebars but I just noticed that mine current has "Michelle Malkin is a National Treasure".

    That made me feel ill, but that was nothing compared to how I felt after seeing that Dr Helen is "hotter than burning magnesium".

    Eeeuw. Urp. Blurgh.

  209. 209.

    Comrade The Other Steve

    November 3, 2008 at 12:43 am

    Is Bill Kristol a bigger tool than I thought?

    Read his latest column. Blech.

  210. 210.

    Punchy

    November 3, 2008 at 12:55 am

    Y’all who’ve never been to MS have no idea what HUGE deal it is to have a major MS paper endose Obama. Akin to having Mormons or Palins Hubby endorse him. The most crazy thing I’ve seen all election season….

  211. 211.

    eyeball

    November 3, 2008 at 12:55 am

    1) I too hope to see Hagel in an Obama admin. nebraskans are generally excellent folks.

    2) The funniest place in the world: The Corner. Their latest whinge: Obama is a "bully" who makes them feel bad about themselves.

    3) No zogby leak to Drudge tonight — expect poor Mac polls at 1 a.m.

    4) Sharper Image has a cool little battery-operated nose hair trimmer I’ve always wanted.

    5) We should all bring water Tuesday to people waiting in line to vote. In fact, jugglers, fire eaters and stilt walkers should be out, too. Make it like a national de-Bushing fest.

    6) What do y’all think Bush does all day? My guess would be youporn.

  212. 212.

    Tattoosydney

    November 3, 2008 at 12:56 am

    I didn’t think it was possible for Kristol to be a bigger tool than I thought he was, but after reading his 3 November column I need to wash, and yes, he is a bigger tool than I or anyone else could have imagined…

    But what if John McCain pulls off an upset?

    …

    2. It would be a defeat for the establishment. Obama’s most recent high-profile Republican endorser was D.C. insider Kenneth Duberstein. Liberals should be on the side of hard-working plumbers, not big-shot lobbyists — oops, sorry, big-shot strategic advisers and consultants. And Duberstein said that Colin Powell’s endorsement was “the Good Housekeeping seal of approval on Barack Obama.” Doesn’t that comment embody everything that liberals (and many conservatives, including me) find creepy about smug establishment back-scratching and gatekeeping in America?

    Ugh.

  213. 213.

    Brian J

    November 3, 2008 at 1:11 am

    3) No zogby leak to Drudge tonight—expect poor Mac polls at 1 a.m.

    One of McCain’s stops tomorrow is in Tennessee, before flying home to Arizona for a midnight rally. I realize it might be pointless in trying to make sense of what the hell McCain is doing, but Tennessee? Where has that figured in the presidential race at all? I can’t think of one congressional race of signicance that is happening there to justify such a visit. I could see a stop in, say, Indiana, North Dakota, Georgia, or even South Dakota, but he’s going to Tennessee. What’s up with that?

    Also, First Read said Bill Clinton helped push early voting in Texas. Was something big going on that I didn’t know about?

  214. 214.

    Delia

    November 3, 2008 at 1:16 am

    @Comrade The Other Steve:

    Bill Kristol a tool? I’ve been waiting a while for an opportunity to drop this most excellent Kristol anecdote into the mix.

    Key quote:

    I remember back in the late ’90s when Ira Katznelson, an eminent political scientist at Columbia, came to deliver a guest lecture to an economic philosophy class I was taking. It was a great lecture, made more so by the fact that the class was only about ten or twelve students and we got got ask all kinds of questions and got a lot of great, provocative answers. Anyhow, Prof. Katznelson described a lunch he had with Irving Kristol back either during the first Bush administration. The talk turned to William Kristol, then Dan Quayle’s chief of staff, and how he got his start in politics. Irving recalled how he talked to his friend Harvey Mansfield at Harvard, who secured William a place there as both an undergrad and graduate student; how he talked to Pat Moynihan, then Nixon’s domestic policy adviser, and got William an internship at The White House; how he talked to friends at the RNC and secured a job for William after he got his Harvard Ph.D.; and how he arranged with still more friends for William to teach at UPenn and the Kennedy School of Government. With that, Prof. Katznelson recalled, he then asked Irving what he thought of affirmative action. "I oppose it", Irving replied. "It subverts meritocracy."

  215. 215.

    Blue Raven

    November 3, 2008 at 2:01 am

    And Scharfenberger (not a huge loss).

    First, anyone who thinks Scharffen Berger chocolate isn’t good has a strange palate. Second, it hasn’t changed a bit since they were bought. If anything, the cash infusion has expanded their product line. Hershey’s has been buying gourmet chocolate lines because they want in on that level of the market but know damn well nobody would accept their name on the label. So, like when Unilever bought Ben & Jerry’s, they leave the product alone and aid with the marketing and whatnot.

  216. 216.

    Martin

    November 3, 2008 at 3:07 am

    I realize it might be pointless in trying to make sense of what the hell McCain is doing, but Tennessee?

    Well, it would be embarrassing if he lost every state.

  217. 217.

    bago

    November 3, 2008 at 4:54 am

    Are you still there?

  218. 218.

    7h3 Wr37ch3D

    November 3, 2008 at 5:39 am

    Fallout3

    I have been waiting 10 years more or less. It really pieces in with the tone feel and flavor of 1. It is oblivion with guns, but its not an fps per say as you have a time/action point based selective targeting, very useful and some of the headshots and slomo angles it pulls are amazing. I’m hardcore scavving, load everything I can carry, go unload, repeat.. very expansive world, very well plugged in with the base story, realistic as to what I would ultimately expect the world to look like 200 years after a nuclear holocaust.

    That said, I’m playing it as neutrally as I can, typically helping to whatever extent earns me good karma, and stealing everything of value on the other side.

    actual game progress, I’m exploring more than doing anything, pressing east into northern DC just now, Have spent alot of time along the potomac corridor, also want to push west to the edge of the map as there are indications there could be worthwhile locations to rape.

    That said, for whatever reason I’ve had to adopt a pulowaski shelter in falls church for my stockpile storage, I’m setting back choice heavy weapons in reserve, as well as some select equipment.

    great game, enough to get me to delurk

  219. 219.

    Conservatively Liberal

    November 3, 2008 at 5:44 am

    My wife, daughter and myself have voted and dropped our ballots off Sunday morning at the City Hall drop box (Oregon mail voting). We all voted for Obama (of course!), DeFazio (as usual!), Merkley (hope he kicks Gordon Smith’s ass!) and voted against the Bill Sizemore ballot measures (absofuckinglutely!).

    We have done our part and I hope everyone else does likewise!

    The asshole who hung the raccoon over the highway in NY is fucking sick. I hope someone comes along and burns his flag and takes the raccoon down and buries it. The fact that the Confederate flag is still around shows that Sherman stopped too soon. I put the Confederate flag on the same level as the Nazi flag; they both signify enslavement, murder, rape, abuse, war and death of people on a massive scale, all in the name of the nations they used to represent.

    Southern pride? Hell no! More like southern shame.

    Come on Tuesday! The Big O is ready to roll, all we have to do is elect him. Showtime folks!

    In the true spirit of pissing off wingnuts, may I say Remember to vote, and vote often! ; )

  220. 220.

    Conservatively Liberal

    November 3, 2008 at 6:04 am

    I just went and made our last donation to Obama for this cycle.

    I had to have a t-shirt to add to my collection of Obama stuff. :)

  221. 221.

    Comrade Jake

    November 3, 2008 at 6:53 am

    @Comrade The Other Steve:

    Is Bill Kristol a bigger tool than I thought?

    This is akin to asking: is the Earth still rotating about the Sun? Again?

  222. 222.

    wilfred

    November 3, 2008 at 7:14 am

    BTW- A sure sign that you are getting old is that your shopping list starts with “nose-hair trimmer.”

    Depends.

  223. 223.

    Josh Hueco

    November 3, 2008 at 7:25 am

    @Conservatively Liberal:

    and voted against the Bill Sizemore ballot measures

    Ugh. That piece of crap is still taken seriously? I guess the gomers in Southern and Eastern Oregon don’t care if you’re a crook as long as you share their hatred of the gubmint. I remember reading something once about how when Bill was a child his father always spent the monthly welfare check (I guess Bill grew up pretty poor) on hooch and at the race track. And Bill’s revulsion towards his father’s welfare abuse was supposedly how he developed his animus towards the public sector. So in other words Bill Sizemore has, through his anti-government agitation in the previous two decades, done considerable damage to the ability of the state of Oregon to effectively take care of the common good due to his unresolved fucking daddy issues. Great.

    I put the Confederate flag on the same level as the Nazi flag; they both signify enslavement, murder, rape, abuse, war and death of people on a massive scale, all in the name of the nations they used to represent.

    I live in Texas now and it never tires me to listen to people claim that it’s all about heritage. You know, family legend has it that I had a great great-granduncle in Norway who was a communist. But I’m not going to slap the hammer and sickle on the back of my car and then grunt "IT’Z MAH HURITIJ!" when someone gets offended. Asshats.

  224. 224.

    Josh Hueco

    November 3, 2008 at 7:40 am

    I live in Texas now and it never ceases to outrage me to listen to people claim that it’s all about heritage.

    Self-fxd.

  225. 225.

    John S.

    November 3, 2008 at 7:51 am

    What most of you don’t know about Jehovah’s Witnesses is amazing, not that it stops any of you from being certain in your ignorance.

    While JWs are indeed fundamentalist Christians, they are nothing like evangelicals. In fact, they are at odds with them on many issues. They are 100% apolitical so they don’t give a shit about your yard sign. Nor do they care if you’re atheist, agnostic or pagan. They go door to door because that is what Jesus said his followers should do.

    I think many of you anti-religious folk are going to become very disappointed with an Obama administration unless you start having as much tolerance for people of faith as secularists demand from theists.

  226. 226.

    kommrade jakevich

    November 3, 2008 at 7:56 am

    I live in Texas now and it never ceases to outrage me to listen to people claim that it’s all about heritage.

    The way I see it is this: The Confederate flag is the flag of losers. Anyone displaying it, especially anyone who lives north of the Mason-Dixon line, in a state that didn’t exist during the C.W. (or in England, WTF?) tells the world 1) They haven’t read any history and 2) They’re big, grudge-holding, WATB Losers.

    But I’m cool with it. If I pull up to a store and there’s a Loser flag on display, I continue to one that doesn’t. If I see some knucklehead wearing it, I keep an eye on him in case he tries to start some shit. Think of it as a warning label.

  227. 227.

    Tattoosydney

    November 3, 2008 at 8:15 am

    Has miq0.56xu infiltrated the Corner?

    Grab your goat and get your hat… [Mark Steyn]

    Life can be so sweet on the Saudi side of the street. Ladies and gentlemen, the winner of Saudi Arabia’s much coveted Most Beautiful Goat award.

    That is one smokin’ goat.

    [UPDATE: Or not. A reader dissents:

    What type of goat is this – with the face of a camel and the body of a dog?

    Well, presumably an especially cunning Zionist honey trap.

    Just kidding. Actually, it’s a Damascus goat, by the name of Qahr. "Baby, you can drive my Qahr," as the goatheads of Riyadh are wont to say.]

  228. 228.

    Tattoosydney

    November 3, 2008 at 8:16 am

    More frighteningly, is Mark Steyn actually miq2x0?

  229. 229.

    kommrade jakevich

    November 3, 2008 at 8:36 am

    But … That would mean Mark Steyn is Mickey Kaus. OMG. The entire fRightWing Blogosphere could be three people wearing different wigs. I mean, has anyone ever seen Doughy Pantload and Katherine Jean Loadpants together?

    I’m so confused. But not as confused as the poor goats.

  230. 230.

    Conservatively Liberal

    November 3, 2008 at 8:49 am

    I guess the gomers in Southern and Eastern Oregon don’t care if you’re a crook as long as you share their hatred of the gubmint.

    I know, I live in the middle of it on the south Oregon coast. : )

    Maybe myiq3.14159 GoatBoy has a multiple personality disorder?

    I’m so confused. But not as confused as the poor goats.

    Poor critters. No matter which way they turn there is a variant of GoatBoy behind them. Must be a nightmare. I wonder if the right is going to dump the elephant and use a goat as their symbol.

  231. 231.

    Punchy

    November 3, 2008 at 8:59 am

    John S. seems concerned.

    New thread, Senor Cole?

  232. 232.

    Professor Kum'n'go

    November 3, 2008 at 9:00 am

    I don’t have any hardware that’s expensive enough to run fallout 3, so it’ll be a few years before I get around to playing it. But I still checked it out, and at least from the reviews, the FPS/RPG mechanic looks a lot like that old game Deus Ex, which I picked up again and started playing recently – and it’s great. Thoughts?

  233. 233.

    Laura W

    November 3, 2008 at 9:06 am

    Hitchens on Morning Ho…abundant evidence of serious physical damage. This guy is gonna die before inauguration day if he doesn’t clean up for a while.

  234. 234.

    Comrade Jake

    November 3, 2008 at 9:12 am

    I think if McCain just campaigns with Joe the Plumber for another month, he’ll close the gap on Obama.

  235. 235.

    Catpain Haddock

    November 3, 2008 at 9:14 am

    You got Fallout 3 and you found time to blog? I picked it up Saturday morning and the remainder of the weekend was just a blur.

  236. 236.

    Craig

    November 3, 2008 at 9:16 am

    Yeah, Odwalla is my favorite, too. Really good juice. Bolthouse Farms is a good one, as is Fresh Samantha. Arden’s Garden (local Atlanta) is fine, but not on the same level. Carrot juice is a funny beast–you never know if you’re going to get ambrosia or something unpleasantly thin and bitter. The Dekalb Farmer’s Maket, for instance which is generally the best place on Earth to shop, has disappointed me every time I’ve tried their carrot juice.

  237. 237.

    Grumpy Code Monkey

    November 3, 2008 at 9:19 am

    @Josh Hueco:

    I put the Confederate flag on the same level as the Nazi flag; they both signify enslavement, murder, rape, abuse, war and death of people on a massive scale, all in the name of the nations they used to represent.

    I live in Texas now and it never tires me to listen to people claim that it’s all about heritage.

    Just out of curiosity, where do you see the Confederate battle flag in Texas? I personally don’t see it much outside of far East Texas.

  238. 238.

    Conservatively Liberal

    November 3, 2008 at 9:22 am

    The loonies are calling in to Washington Journal this morning, some are pretending to be undecided voters who then go on to rant about how bad Obama is and how great Palin is. Others are claiming to be former Hillary supporters. One old guy from Florida claimed to be a Democrat yet he said that he would not be voting with the "Democrat Party" this year. I noticed a lot more anti-Obama callers this morning, but most of it was just ratfuckers or racists venting. There has even been anti-Israel comments and the moderator is letting them talk.

    The end must be near, the amateur ratfuckers and racists are coming out in droves.

  239. 239.

    CIRCVS MAXIMVS MMVIII

    November 3, 2008 at 9:22 am

    What most of you don’t know about Jehovah’s Witnesses is amazing, not that it stops any of you from being certain in your ignorance.

    I know plenty about Jehovah’s Witnesses, I used to invite them into my house weekly (I had my very own regular witness).

    Anti-religious people don’t care if other people are religious so long as they don’t try to convert them.

    We’re all aware that Obama is a religious Christian, thank you for confirming that. ;)

  240. 240.

    Tzal

    November 3, 2008 at 9:23 am

    Like someone else said, Fallout 3 is the only thing that’s taken my mind of the election. So freaking good. I wonder why John hasn’t posted since he got it?

    Also, I have an AGP card, and the game runs really good on low settings, so don’t worry if you have a lousy system. It will still looks awesome.

  241. 241.

    CIRCVS MAXIMVS MMVIII

    November 3, 2008 at 9:25 am

    The loonies are calling in to Washington Journal this morning, some are pretending to be undecided voters who then go on to rant about how bad Obama is and how great Palin is.

    35 Hours to go. ;)

  242. 242.

    Comrade Darkness

    November 3, 2008 at 9:28 am

    The worst of it is, I can’t drink. I can’t just vote on Tuesday and then settle into a stupor until it’s all settled.

    That’s very sad. I’ll have one for you. What’ll ya have?

    This feels like 1992 again. Everyone was tired, tired of 12 freakin’ years of Raygun/Bush with that blathering insult of a cherry on top: Quayle as the final straw to sanity.

    God, remember when that farmer dumped the truckload of potatoes on the white house lawn? Laughter was in short supply then.

    The national mood feels similar to that time and I remember the party we threw on election night. We had a cardboard representation of the country hung on the wall that we were filling in with markers. And it was a blow out. God, what a relief that was.

    Anyway, I’m feeling more hopeful this morning than I have been.

  243. 243.

    Josh Hueco

    November 3, 2008 at 9:29 am

    @Grumpy Code Monkey:

    I live in Waco (hence Hueco) and travel around Central Texas a lot. I see the flag flying over people’s houses, on the backs of cars, and on the "Ah’m a Rebul" gear the Cleti bought at the local gas station. It’s not totally saturated in these parts, but it’s still unnerving to this Yankee. Also, I’ve never been to East Texas but I imagine it’s much more prevalent there.

    As an aside, when I lived in Oregon I was a member of the United Church of Christ. At one yearly conference assembly I talked with the pastor of the Medford, Ore. UCC church. His preceding pastorate had been at the UCC church in Asheville, NC. He said he was shocked to see more Confederate flags flying in Medford and southern Oregon than he had ever seen in western North Carolina. So it’s not a Southern phenomenon by any means. However, I’d like to know what Conservatively Liberal has seen, living on the southern Oregon Coast.

  244. 244.

    CIRCVS MAXIMVS MMVIII

    November 3, 2008 at 9:30 am

    Well, since I can’t get Cole’s attention:

    The Alaska Republican Party is already looking forward to 2012. I guess Sarah Palin knows she’s not going to be VP, why else would she need a website for her to run for President in four years unless she’s not going to be VP for eight?

  245. 245.

    Comrade Jake

    November 3, 2008 at 9:33 am

    My Jehovah Witness story:

    My brother and I were trick-or-treating as little kids, many moons ago. We walk up to a house, knock on the door, and the following ensues:

    Us: "Trick or Treat!"
    Lady at Door: "I’m sorry, we don’t believe in Halloween."
    …long, uncomfortable pause…
    My brother: "But WE DO!"

  246. 246.

    Comrade Jake

    November 3, 2008 at 9:36 am

    @CIRCVS MAXIMVS MMVIII:

    If she runs in 2012, I wonder if she’ll finally hold a press conference to answer all of the questions that came up in 2008. I seriously doubt it. In fact, I’d put even odds against her ever holding a press conference as a candidate, nevermind releasing her medical records.

    My prediction: if she survives or wins the Iowa caucus, she won’t get past the NH primary. NH’s pretty much a no-bullshit state.

  247. 247.

    The Moar You Know

    November 3, 2008 at 9:41 am

    @John S.: With this:

    While JWs are indeed fundamentalist Christians

    You’ve just proven you don’t know anything about Witnesses either. At all. They most assuredly are not fundamentalist Christians – just to give you one example, their notions of how one gains salvation is very much different than "fundamentalist" Christians. PROTIP: Not everyone gets to go to heaven, regardless of their Jesus-accepting status.

    I work directly with three of them. They are the best co-workers I have ever had and supremely decent people to boot.

    Additionally, when my girlfriend’s cousin was dying of cervical cancer, they were the only people who would come and help. A lot of your so-called "people of faith" (typical hypocritical Jesus freaks) were willing to pray for this young lady who was dying in agony, but prayer wasn’t going to help her. Actual people doing actual helpful things was what was needed, and only the Witnesses proved willing to do that. I will be forever grateful to them for that.

    So you can take your rancid troll bullshit and GTFO. The only "anti-religious" person who posts on this blog is wilfred, and he is just against one religious group in particular – Jews.

  248. 248.

    Conservatively Liberal

    November 3, 2008 at 9:50 am

    However, I’d like to know what Conservatively Liberal has seen, living on the southern Oregon Coast

    Oh yeah, we have the Confederate flag over here too. My old neighbor put a flagpole up to make sure that everyone can see how stupid he is. I see more of them in the southern parts of the coast and none on the northern parts.

    Sadly, the ‘old south’ is alive and well in the south (of Oregon). Not plentiful but still noticeable. It is a flag that denotes loser, loud and clear.

  249. 249.

    rumpole

    November 3, 2008 at 10:05 am

    Fallout 3 sys req:
    Minimum System Requirements:
    Windows XP/Vista
    1GB System RAM (XP) / 2GB System RAM (Vista)
    2.4 Ghz Intel Pentium 4 or equivalent processor
    Direct X 9.0c compliant videocard with 256MB RAM (NVIDIA 6800 or better / ATI X850 or better)
    Recommended System Requirements:
    Intel Core 2 Duo processor
    2 GB System RAM
    Direct X 9.0c compliant video card with 512MB RAM (NVIDIA 8800 series, ATI 3800 series)
    Supported Video Card Chipsets:
    NVIDIA GeForce 200 series
    NVIDIA GeForce 9800 series
    NVIDIA GeForce 9600 series
    NVIDIA GeForce 8800 series
    NVIDIA GeForce 8600 series
    NVIDIA GeForce 8500 series
    NVIDIA GeForce 8400 series
    NVIDIA GeForce 7900 series
    NVIDIA GeForce 7800 series
    NVIDIA GeForce 7600 series
    NVIDIA GeForce 7300 series
    NVIDIA GeForce 6800 series
    ATI HD 4800 series
    ATI HD 4600 series
    ATI HD 3800 series
    ATI HD 3600 series
    ATI HD 3400 series
    ATI HD 2900 series
    ATI HD 2600 series
    ATI HD 2400 series
    ATI X1900 series
    ATI X1800 series
    ATI X1600 series
    ATI X1300 series
    ATI X850 series

  250. 250.

    Comrade Darkness

    November 3, 2008 at 10:12 am

    What most of you don’t know about Jehovah’s Witnesses is amazing, not that it stops any of you from being certain in your ignorance.

    Wow. You get going easily, don’t you? Sensitive much?

    I was discussing their branding and marketing, since I have a professional interest in that.

    So, I dug up and read the tract they left. A fair summary of it seems to be: the end of the world is going to be great! And there is a happy picture of a picnic in a field that I’ll take a stab and say must be Elysium.

  251. 251.

    RememberNovember

    November 3, 2008 at 10:36 am

    I was a big fan of Fallout 1 and 2- 3 looks cool- now if I can break away from WoW long enough…..

  252. 252.

    Zuzu's Petals

    November 3, 2008 at 11:14 am

    @Josh Hueco:

    My son changed his plates as soon as he crossed the Calif/Oregon border. He’d already noticed a distinct difference in the way drivers with Calif plates were treated.

    However, he is a first-rate citizen of Oregon, so they should be pleased to have him!

  253. 253.

    Josh Hueco

    November 3, 2008 at 11:30 am

    @Zuzu’s Petals:

    Zuzu…In the 18 years I lived in Oregon, I noticed there were two kinds of California ex-pats. The first were the Prop-13 types who build their shrines to suburban narcissism on what used to be prime farmland, clog up traffic with their SUVs, and constantly bitch about taxes regardless of the fact that Oregon has no sales tax and property taxes are capped. The second are the ones who are so grateful for Oregon’s unspoiled beauty and its legacy of civic-mindedness they do everything they can to preserve it. I’m glad your son is of the second type. :)

  254. 254.

    RememberNovember

    November 3, 2008 at 12:18 pm

    you can also direct download the game from Steam, fyi.

  255. 255.

    L Boom

    November 3, 2008 at 12:44 pm

    As a huge, huge fan of the original Fallout series and MMO fan, some quick words, RememberNovember:

    As far as it being an actual Fallout sequel goes, I’m a bit on the fence. They’ve got some great touches and some parts of it really feel straight out of the original series. Big differences are that they don’t have either the sense of restraint the Black Isle folks did (lots of dramatic music and a tendency towards melodrama) and while the writing is generally pretty good it’s just nowhere near the original pathos or biting humor. That said, it really is a great game on its own. The graphics are excellent, the voice acting is good, and the world is tons more fun to explore than Oblivion was.

    For people who enjoyed Fallout 3 and want to get a sense of the original game, but don’t want to play an ancient 2d isometric game, I can’t recommend Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines highly enough. It was just on sale on Steam this weekend for 10 bucks, too. Patched up, it’s an amazing game, and the Troika team was most of the original core from Black Isle studios who did the Fallout and Baldur’s Gate series.

    And just to return to politics: Vampire: Bloodlines came out just before the ’04 elections and there’s some hilarious mockery of Bush and the Republicans. One scene, for example, you go into this old church that’s converted into a bar and the bartender demands you confess a sin.

    You’ve got a few different options and she cracks various jokes for each, then the option at the bottom (the most severe) was to say "I once voted Republican." Her response? "Oh, dear. I’m sorry, but it’s going to take a whole lot to wash that sin away."

  256. 256.

    L Boom

    November 3, 2008 at 1:07 pm

    Hah! Ok, some serious geeking out here. Got all nostalgic for first games, and Youtube’s a wonderful thing (Ron Perlman narrates).

    Fallout 1 intro
    Fallout 2 ending
    Fallout 2 intro
    Fallout 2 ending

  257. 257.

    eyeball

    November 3, 2008 at 5:28 pm

    LINDA: I saw Hitchens too. Oof. That was a bad night he had. It’s like the picture of Dorian Gray. I think Hitch is withering over his sale of soul to neo-cons.

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