Diebold Accidentally Leaks Results Of 2008 Election Early | The Onion – America’s Finest News Source

Haha, aww….

from www.theonion.com posted with vodpod

$25 in Florida will soon buy you an “I’m a racist traitor!” license plate

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/state/content/gen/ap/FL_XGR_Confederate_Plate.html

Rep. Donald Brown, R-DeFuniak Springs, filed the bill (HB 1007) last week. The plate would feature a shield displaying the rebel battle flag symbol surrounded by several flags from the Civil War era. He says it would give motorists a way to show pride in their heritage.Brown says his bill has nothing to do with race. He pointed out that he filed another bill that would rename part of a highway in Walton County after black civil rights leader the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

“Pride in their heritage” ? How in God’s name could anyone be “proud” of the fact that Confederate states seceded, spit on the Union, because they thought attempts to end SLAVERY infringed on their state’s rights????Upwards of 618,000 Americans lost their lives in the bloodiest war ever fought on American soil.

How is this Patriotism? Their ancestors WITHDREW from the United States! They attempted to CREATE A NEW SOVEREIGN NATION! It had its own currency, President, and rudimentary Constitution.

Um, where I come from that’s essentially treason.

People who happily display the Confederate flag and pull the “It’s my heritage” crap need to be bitch-slapped. Would any German honestly be able to get away with a Nazi swastika license plate because of heritage?

And one final thing, nice way to try and rename a freeway after Martin Luther King to shield against claims of racism. How is that any different from passing a bill that puts up KKK billboards but donates money to Black History Month.

Unbelievable.

“Books are published by Liberals”

Thanks Rush! Before reading some transcripts off your site I wasn’t aware of the vast-left-wing conspiracy flooding the History Channel and all books ever published. Now I’ll burn anything printed on paper (except The Bible and Rush Limbaugh books) and listen to The Radio.

The following are excerpts from a long and pointless political theory discussion on Rush Limbaug’s program, the full transcript can be found here: http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_022208/content/01125109.guest.html

CALLER: Oh, yeah. I was trying to look into, while I was on hold, do a little more research, because I love The History Channel, I love watching documentaries, and I love reading books.

RUSH: Run by liberals.

CALLER: The History Channel?

RUSH: Ah, ah, ah, run by liberals. If it’s on TV it’s run by liberals.

(Wasn’t Rush on TV for a while? How did the liberals allow that? Were they asleep at the wheel? )

—————————————————————————————

CALLER: But, no, I try and watch a lot of documentaries and read books.

RUSH: Books are published by liberals.

CALLER: No, no. What about your books?

RUSH: You know what? Taylor, hang on. I gotta take a break. I’m going to tell you a short little story. I just learned this this past Wednesday.

(I love how he “has to take a break” the second he points out the blatant contradiction that Rush has multiple best-selling books)

——————————————————————————————

Psssst, a good portion of political best-sellers are by right-wing blowhards like O’Reilly, Limbaugh, Hannity, Savage et al. Doesn’t your heart just BLEED for these discriminated freedom fighters? Sure it does, you’re a liberal!

The only vote wasted…

…is a vote that isn’t cast.

With a Presidential voting rate that runs ~50% on a GOOD year, and abysmal senate/congressional rates (primaries are usually very low this year is an exception), why are we again disparaging third parties?

If someone who would have stayed home votes third party, isn’t that good?

If a third party “steals” a vote from a mainstream candidate, doesn’t that signal the main party isn’t addressing the concerns of a portion of the electorate?

I think it’s time to take two party lock OFF the table and start discussing Instant Run-off Voting (IRV), abolition of the electoral college, and standardized, simple, secure ballot procedures, and in general, clean elections

Tolerance and thoughtfullness on DailyKos

In response to a post about Nader’s 2008 candidacy the boards erupted with vitriol and outrage.

Before I post more thoughts on Nader, I will share some highlights of the comments section to the following article “Nader and the Ethic of (Ir)responsibility” (http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/2/24/122941/145/621/463149)

I have not edited the following comments in any way

* “This guy and his supporters are responsible for eight years of Chimpy McBumblefuck, the Iraq War, domestic spying, etc. Fuck him. Fuck him hardcore.” -SonicT

* “Nader is a dishonest and completely corrupt egomaniac who got .3 percent of the vote last time around. All but the absolutely stupidest people on earth leaned their lesson in 2000, and anyone who is still voting for Nader is beyond help. He gets the attention that he does now because it gets such a rise out of people. Ignore him and he’ll go away.” – Mia Dolan

* “I agree that his continued manifestation as a singularly quixotic non-candidate shows little more than a need for fame bordering on personality disorder. He can only help Republicans by putting himself forward and therefore harm his supposed goals. But there is a clear disconnect between what he says he wants and how he acts.” -dpc

* “[In reference to his single-status and lack of children] In fact, Ralph Nader has never kissed a girl (or a boy). ” – Mia Dolan

* “As far as I’m concerned, he’s running in net negative territory right now.” – Bush Bites

* “What the fuck is going on with this massively egotistical moron?” -reef the dog

* “The man is a liar who can’t be trusted about anything. I see no reason to believe he wouldn’t have run if Edwards was the nominee.” – Angry white democrat

* “[It's Nader's version of Groundhog's Day] Every four years he pulls his head out of his ass, sees his own ego, and declares his intention to save the country from itself. What a moran.” – CJB

* “What legacy? Nader should STFU. Please go away.” – Flippant

* “I don’t think you believe your own claptrap. Nader is a viciously egotistical person. Ask anyone who he has worked with in the past. His legacy will forever be sullied by his role as spoiler in 2000.

A case is being made that he has singly undone all the good that he has tried to evoke in governance. He’s irresponsible and immature for running again. I have no time for an intellectual snob.” – EZDIDIT

* “How about grade-A Assh*le!” – snkscore

* “Let’s see:

Funded by Republicans. check.

Compulsive liar. check.

Wanted Bush to win in 2000. check.

Yup, Nader is a Republican tool. ” – Mia Dolan

* “He didn’t have a clue then and he doesn’t have one now. Next to Dubyah he is responsible for the Bush Dictatorship.” – hideinplainsight

* “Are you kidding me?!? What a jerk” -jds1978

 

I could go on, but I’ll spare you. Needless to say, I don’t think Nader poses any threat of stealing votes in 2008

Oh that kooky China!

Rat on your folks! For the COMMON GOOD!

“Health officials in the Chinese city of Chongqing are urging people to report their family members to the authorities if they violate a smoking ban.

The initiative is part of a campaign in two districts of the city to tackle the effects of passive smoking.

Those who are accused of smoking will have their names posted on a warning list on community notice boards.

As well as the campaign within families, a workplace smoking ban is also being tried in public buildings.

A hospital boss whose organisation is taking part in the trial said he would cut the bonuses of any team where members were found to have smoked.

Cigarettes are hugely popular in China, which is estimated to have a total of 350 million smokers.

The World Health Organization has estimated that 3,000 people die in China each day from the effects of smoking.”

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7257382.stm

Bullshit professors and statistics

Alright, I realize its legit to want your students to have to take a statistics course. What ISN’T legit is discounting an upper-level research methods class that includes full statistical methodology along with experimental design (COMM 282).

Okay, so I need to take it. No sweat.

Wait, the major locks out the only stats course I (and hundreds others) need to non-majors. I went to the office last semester to explain I was a senior and needed it for grad school. She asked–I shit you not–”Will you be a student in the spring?”

“Well, yes, but my applications are due now and schools don’t want to see pending requirements–”

“NEXT!”

So here I am, a second-semester senior taking a stats course again because the first time “didn’t count.”

Now, at least its stats, easy right?

WRONG!

Not that the material is hard, but the professor grades like a douchebag. There is NO partial credit on homework OR exams. He takes off for rounding. He takes off for sig figs. He takes off for just about anything.

His reasoning, and I quote, “We don’t give partial credit on the problem sets for a number of reasons. First, what we are testing is your ability to actually correctly solve each problem. Second, it is not feasible for us to give partial credit on the problem sets given the size of the class. If we are grading at least 100 problems sets per week, that means we have to check over 1000 numbers per week. We always want to be looking for the exact same ten numbers every time we grade a problem set. Hence, you should take the time to check over your final answers.”

It would take too long to grade 1000 problems a week? Cry me a damn river. Chemistry 208 manages to grade in-depth problems that are leagues harder than statistics questions for 700+ students. They manage to read every problem, grade for work and still return in under a week. (The problem sets are usually 4 questions with 3-5 parts each, so conservatively figuring (3×4)x700, thats 8400 problems per week.

Suck on THAT, professor lewis.

My first homework set was graded 6/10 despite having the right wrong answers and work.

Also, he won’t offer makeups or excuses for job/grad school interviews because it “isn’t University sanctioned.” And if you have an exam conflict for the final YOU HAVE TO DROP THE CLASS. What the fuck?

So I have my first stats exam tonight, and I hope it goes well. But with laser precision needed and no regard for methology or showing work, I hope I get everything perfect.

Wag the Dog: Culture War

I was reading Time online today when I ran across an article called “Texas Gov. says ‘Scous are in Culture War’ ” (http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1714772,00.html?xid=rss-topstories)
What is the deal with this “culture war”? Bill O’Reilly wrote a book called Culture Warrior, focusing on the Right’s eternal struggle with the nefarious Left and its assaults on decency and civilization. I don’t know if he created the phrase or merely popularized it, but now its in the lexicon. But either way, it has become a new talking point for pundits on both sides.

Basically, this culture war encompasses touchy issues of abortion, gays, drug laws, pornography, and faith. These are great cannon-fodder for divisive arguments because there is essentially no right answer. People on the Left or Right will tell you there is, of course, but the fact of the matter is that both sides think they have valid points and often aren’t arguing from the same point of view.

Take abortion. Pro-choice advocates don’t think abortions are cool and no-big deal (well I’m sure some do, but they’re a minority), rather they think the state shouldn’t make medical decisions for citizens, especially with matters like a pregnancy. Pro-life advocates feel strongly that this is an independent life and abortion is violence infringing on the rights of the innocent. Depending on what view you personally adhere to, either party has a sound case and you likely won’t agree with the opposing side.

Same with gay marriage. Many feel that traditional marriage is defined through Judeo-Christian institutions and those forbid homosexuality. Proponents of gay marriage argue that marriage is a secular bond that is established by the state and privately solemnized by religious institutions, so it should not bar homosexual marriage. On the one hand, you cannot force people who deeply believe their faith prohibits homosexuality to support their movement, but also you cannot bar secular marriage, as it IS an institution of the State.

I could go on with examples.

These are issues of morality where both sides often have valid points ignored by the opposing side.

“Wag the Dog” refers to a 90’s movie about starting a war to cover up for embarrassing shortfalls of a politician. I see the Culture War as a Wag the Dog style diversion to distract voters from real issues of substance like the economy, war, government waste and efficiency, cronyism on both sides of the aisle, etc.

The beauty of these issues is that the war CAN NEVER END. These aren’t issues of facts, they’re largely deep, personal beliefs. I don’t want to single out a political party, but pundits on the Right more often tend to invoke the Culture War to distract from issues. Why discuss a bloated military budget that misproportions its funding for the three branches when you can play up primal fears, nativism, or an appeal to an idealized past?

Want to ask why government pork-barrel spending projects soak up over 30 billion dollars each year? No, let’s talk about prayer in schools.

Want to ask about CIA operations around the world, as well as intelligence leading us to various invasions? No, let’s keep gays out of the Boy Scouts.

Pitting Traditional Values versus anything is like pitting a miniature poodle against a gorilla. But the logical slip is that it requires assuming the “enemies” in the Culture War DON’T care about America. It assumes that there really are two separate America’s, with one side God-fearing and traditional, and the other one godless and immoral.

The problem is that this isn’t true. A majority of the Left truly does love America and want what’s best for it, they just see things differently. They don’t hate “the way things were,” yet realize things change and survival requires adapting.

All of this is rambling and short on facts. But its a rhetorical essay of ideas. And I am pretty tired of the Culture War dominating issues and debates. Both parties this time have actually been pretty good about discussing Iraq, the economy, healthcare, etc. rather than bullshit issues. But I still remember watching the 2004 Bush/Kerry debates and watched the lion’s share of air time devoted to asking “Do you support civil unions? What about parental notification for abortion?”

This is not to imply that social issues aren’t important, but the government’s job is to defend the country and ensure the general welfare of the nation. Electing someone on social issues alone (W) leaves the government free to ignore the herd of elephants in the room: The deficit, the War, national security, the economy, healthcare, infrastructure.

Vet School Update

I need to be more active writing this blog, ugh. Just got back from California interview trip. Amazing weather, liked the school (WesternU) a lot, visited some beautiful places like Malibu and Beverly Hills.

Unfortunately, now I face a mountain of work and tests this week. I have a 7 page paper due Friday, a stats problem set due Tuesday, a chem lab report due Tuesday, an exam on Thursday, and chem homework due as usual on Friday. (The chem prof rather than give me a 2 day extension on my HW for partial credit while I was out of state insisted I fax him the work by the usual deadline of 2 PM EASTERN. good times).

I am still sick, and have been since Super Tuesday. Tomorrow I’m going to the doctor for chest x-rays and bloodwork to see if I have mono or pneumonia.

 Now for the update none of you care about: Iowa State vet put me on the wait list. Wednesday they will tell me where I rank in the list, and I can hopefully figure out how many, if any, usually come off such a list.

My interview at Western went exceedingly well, so I may end up spending the next few years in Southern California!

Finally, I am seriously considering joining the US Army Veterinary Corps to pay for my education. Don’t worry, it is NOT a combat position, and I would serve either as a research DVM at domestic VA hospitals or doing humanitarian disease control in the third world. You can read about it here: http://www.goarmy.com/amedd/vet/index.jsp

Conservative Free Speech

Over the last few days I developed an addictive habit–posting on the ultraconservative Hannity forums. After a few days of fake posts rallying Romney, a 32 page debate on assault weapon bans, discussing SiCKO, and rallying fools against “socialized education,” it has all come to an end. Today, after some posters decided to try and claim I was an idiot for believing Moore like a sheep, I posted 3 responses with over 20 links verifying the facts in Moore’s movie.

However, I made the mistake of trying to blend in: using a curse word on a forum. I told the poster “you could take your lazy, partisan ass to google and type “sicko fact check” to find out anything you needed to know,” and shortly after my screen was given the image above.

My computer is IP banned, I cannot even look at their forums anymore.

All of these same posters cherish free speech, but keep down Ron Paul posters and liberal posters. The conservative nuts can say whatever ridiculous nonsense they want and get away with it, but if a liberal calls someone an “ass” its game over.

Go First Amendment!