'bout time.

Video: Nina Simone: Revolution

Many thanks to Anne for posting this on Facebook.

the right thing

Photo: Digital Apoptosis

It's important to remember that implicit biases are out there, absolutely: but I think that that's only half the story. With broader changes in the society at large people can also become more willing to reach across racial boundaries, and that goes for both minorities and whites.

Linda R. Trop, Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Massachusetts, referring to studies that suggest "mutual trust between members of different races can catch on just as quickly, and spread just as fast, as suspicion," in this morning's New York Times.

The piece recounts recent psychological research that shows how negative hidden biases and prejudices can be postively influenced by relationship and trust building exercises, and suggests that Barack Obama's presidency may influence our culture at large, over time, in remarkable ways.

(...)

We stopped for dinner before we headed down to Grant Park on Tuesday night. The restaurant was sparsely populated and hushed; most eyes were on the big screen TV that they'd set up in the bar so that folks could watch the election returns. They had just started coming in and McCain was ahead. We told our waiter we were in a little bit of a rush; he asked if we were going to the rally and quietly said "cool", his eyes shining.

Mid-way through our meal a new table was seated -- five young well-dressed white folk. Quite loud. Complaining how hushed and empty the restaurant was. One of them asked our waiter (their waiter too) if he had voted (he had) and then, laughing at his own joke, asked: "Did you do the right thing, or the white thing?"

When the wine came the ringleader toasted to their "dear old friend, Tom Bradley," of the Bradley Effect. The girls tittered. The table was hopeful the election would go their way.

It did not.

Video: The American Promise

we'll see.

"Happy Election Day," I said to my darlin' companion as we rolled out of bed this morning.

"We'll see," he said.

it's time.

This cannot be another election where the choice is based merely on fear. In terms of painting a brighter future for America and the world, Mr. Obama has produced the more compelling and detailed portrait. He has campaigned with more style, intelligence and discipline than his opponent. Whether he can fulfill his immense potential remains to be seen. But Mr. Obama deserves the presidency.

The Economist on 30 October 2008 endorsing Barack Obama for President of the United States of America.

It's worth remembering that the Economist endorsed Bush in 2000 and 2004.

matt groening is eavesdropping on my dreams nightmares

woops. the simpsons video that *was* here was replaced by porn. oh my. video removed. and apologies.

When they're using electronic voting machines, voters should look out for problems, such as vote-flipping that some voters have reported in West Virginia, Yasinsac said.

From E-voting Groups Are Watching a Handful of States in today's PC World.

feels like

suttonhoo --

Thank you for signing up to receive a ticket for the Election Night event at Hutchinson Field in Grant Park, Chicago.

Your ticket will be emailed to you on Monday, November 3rd, between 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Each ticket is personalized for the ticket holder and is non-transferable.

You must print your ticket and bring it with you to the event. Each ticket is valid for you and one guest.

Thanks,

The Democratic Party

tweet the vote

By Twitter: Post a tweet that includes the hashtag #votereport.

By Text Message: Send a text message starting with #votereport to 66937 (MOZES)

By Phone: Call the automated hotline at 567-258-VOTE (8683) with any touch-tone phone

By iPhone/Android Phone: Download the iPhone App or find the "votereport" app in the Android marketplace

Voters can use any of these methods to log their voting experiences and keep an eye out for voting irregularities.

Results will be streamed at http://twittervotereport.com/. Additional hashtags for Twitter include:

#[zip code] to indicate the zip code where you’re voting; ex., “#12345″

L:[address or city] to drill down to your exact location; ex. “L:1600 Pennsylvania Avenue DC”

#machine for machine problems; ex., “#machine broken, using prov. ballot”

#reg for registration troubles; ex., “#reg I wasn’t on the rolls”

#wait:[minutes] for long lines; ex., “#wait:120 and I’m coming back later”

#early if you’re voting before November 4th

#good or #bad to give a quick sense of your overall experience

#EP[your state] if you have a serious problem and need help from the Election Protection coalition; ex., #EPOH

a thing as lovely

Back in the garden, Gordon waved his right hand to show him various trees. Nobody quite knows why. Nor what he was saying. The crueller watchers had it down pat. 'That tree's going to vote for me ... that one's dithering.' That was possibly a little too cynical, because our Prime Minister did indeed seem to be genuinely, sunnily, smiling.

Twenty minutes later, Obama met David Cameron in the grounds of the Commons, and Cameron did the same. Waved his arms and showed him shrubs. Don't they have trees in Illinois?

Euan Ferguson comments on Barack Obama's visit to the UK in He came, he saw, he sprinkled us with stardust in today's Guardian.


Many thanks to Bobcatrock for the heads up.

stumped.

You've stumped me.

Presidential hopeful John McCain, according to Rolling Stone Magazine, when asked whether condoms prevent the transmission of HIV.

Was unable to find the Profiles in Pandering piece that ran in the 24 January print issue of the Magazine online, but I did find this tasty home base for the 2008 Campaign »

I suspect McCain may become the one folks love to poke fun at this time around.

always a john and never a hooker

I want to know why we started learning somewhere down the line that a president is always a clown: always a john and never a hooker. Always a boss and never a worker, always a liar, always a thief and never caught.

via bentkid

so much more where that came from. so good.

if nominated...

For my dear friend ms. anniemcq, as she mulls over all things electoral and presidential, I give you -- from my perch squarely astride my fence these some -- holy crap, what is it? 16 months? -- before we elect our next president? -- I give you an electoral diversion:

With my fingers squarely crossed that 16 months is time enough to get it right this time. I hope.


Video from Salon.com:
Scott Bateman on Hillary vs. Rudy vs. Mike.