Shalom, Israel...

   Shalom. It means both hello and goodbye in Hebrew (this is a very context heavy country). This is my second night in the Holy Land, though it seems like a week or so. I landed (only) yesterday morning at 4am, was picked up and taken to Jerusalem by my brother-in-law Ben, slept a couple of hours until 8am then woke and headed to the old city in hopes of seeing some goats slaughtered. Alas, there was no groggy, jet-lagged, where-am-I? experience because we didn't see any blood being spilled. Can't say I was totally heartbroken. It's a Muslim holiday now- the time of year that people make the haj to mecca. Today I ran around Tel Aviv, thru Jaffa, which is just the old city part of the city, on a hill by the water. I stood at the top of the hill, saw a storm coming in over the Mediterranean, felt the wind and looked out. I immediately remembered times I would do a similar thing when I lived in Barcelona, and indeed this was the same body of water, just the other side of the pool. Tomorrow I am teaching Palestinians video editing. This is one boring frikkin' trip....

   So, some pics so far. My sister and her bosses. The excitement for a change of leadership is obvious in her office. 

   This guy was banging on metal in the middle of the sidewalk, yet somehow didn't want me to take his photo. Must be shy. He was apparently saying something about my mother's privates as I snapped this. How does he know....mom??!!!
   Cool view from the top of the old city's walls. The surrounding hills are filled to the gills with graves. Old place. 
   This man had made the holy trek to mecca, and in his honor his door was painted white. There were a LOT of doors painted white. Apparently there is some points system where your prayers count for more from a more holy place. Religion is stupid, and one day, sadly far off in the future, everyone will realize it. Thor, Zeus, other pagan gods are all gone and... somehow... the world is still working. Whew. 
   This is German. Language is amazing, and the less I understand it, the more easily I realize that truth. 

MN readers chime in!

My MN readers (aka Holmie) have been watching out for me. As the senate race continues to devolve between Al Franken and Norm Coleman in MN, they have reached the crazy stage. Holmie's account follows;

You asked and you shall receive from your Minnesota readers! Here's an update on the race for Senate between Norm Coleman and Al Franken.

The recount is underway and has entered the stage where both campaigns have loads of volunteers pouring over all uncounted ballots in the race and are posing challenges to certain, shall we say, dubious ballots. Minnesota public radio got their hands on some of the disputed ballots thus far and if ever you thought filling in a circle with a pen was easy, ala grade school standardized exams, check out the MPR Senate race challenged ballots quiz, where you can see things are not as easy as they seem and you can be the judge.

Two things that struck me…
1. On ballot #8 Coleman’s campaign claims that a small dot next to Dean Barkley’s name negates the completely filled in bubble next to Al Franken’s. However, when the tables are turned on Ballot # 10 Coleman’s camp says a small dot in Coleman’s favor should be counted over the filled in circle of Dean Barkley. Ah the power of blind ambition!
2. Lizard People - Thanks for confirming my beliefs about our conceal and carry firearms laws voter of ballot #5.

The quiz is a must and really makes you wonder. I wondered why people can't figure out a simple voting ballot, but then started thinking about diversity, perspective and brain function. People think and act so differently that to them, a thumb print might actually signify a vote. I also wondered if Lizard people might really exist. If so they were definitely out in force in Florida '04.

Thanks Holmie!

Drama in Minnesota

My normally run of the mill home state is going through some exciting times! Dem. Al Franken is in a bitterly close battle with Rep. incumbent Norm Coleman for a seat on the Senate. Here are some of the numbers that begin to tell the story.

• Votes cast in MN senate race - 2,833,089 (3.7m eligible - 78% turn out!)
• At time of poll closing - 342 for Coleman
• Last week - 234 for Coleman
• This week - 208 for Coleman

Do you see a pattern here? At this point, no one knows who is going to win and the official word may not come until December. What's more interesting is that, after votes are double checked, Franken may actually pull out the closest victory in state history. Check out the best site for all things related to elections and statistics for more, including this enlightening story posted today, at 538.

Gotta say I trust MN to handle this much more cleanly than Florida in '04. MN peeps, would love to hear about the word on the street in the 612.

The new classroom posters

California Love?

Reasons I'm happy to live in California

1. 82% voter turnout (LA County)
2. $84 million contributed to Barack Obama and his 55 electoral votes
3. Voting today
   
4. Prop 2

Reasons California has a long way to go

1. Gay-marriage ban leads in early returns
   
2. Schwarzenegger
3. Prop 4

I guess I should thank the LA Times too for all the references

Election, 2008

   First of all, that is some very good analysis by Maze. The transparency has truly been unprecedented. Personally, I think it allowed the army of  people to get involved without feeling like they were practicing a dark art of political deception. I know that I was proud to be doing what I was- that working for Obama was a noble and worthy task and I didn't for a second feel guilty for engaging people on their doorstep, on the street, on the phone. It's been a game changing, paradigm shifting time for me.  

   Not to get all ahead of myself, but if this election is a preview of Obama's concept of public service and how government doesn't have to larger or smaller, but just more organized and efficient, than I think there are some revolutionary and long overdue changes in the works for our country. That is, at least, what I am hoping for. So much of this Dem vs. GOP, large government vs. small misses the point, because it assumes that you have to be large and costly to get things done. 

   Firstly, technology, which is so a given with people our age, renders this argument archaic. Second of all, this is America, and I don't know why we can't have a lean, smart, well-governed country. The Republicans are the party of pessimism because their concept of government is rooted in this defeatist attitude. Just as a little case in point/pet peeve... how stoopid is it that we are still worried about voting machine errors, touch screen problems, registration issue etc. How much money have the states spent dealing with this, apparently to no end and with no established set of best practices? Uh. 

   That's it. I'll be tittering and sending photos from Battleground Pennsylvania tomorrow. 

Revolutionary campaign

I have a lot of thoughts on how the Obama camp ran this years presidential campaign. I think while a considerable fuss has already been made over the sophistication of it, as time passes and it moves into part of history, the full extent of the practices and their influence will continue to be revealed.

The fact that the campaign was run so efficiently is one thing, what I think is more important than that though, is how transparently it was run. Obama offices were open to reporters, strategies were discussed and this was not only with media. All this info was also shared with supporters through a constant stream of emails from every influential name affiliated with the democratic party. I personally have received a couple of mails a day from Joe Biden, Al Gore, David Plouffe and others.

The transparency has helped the campaign on multiple levels, it sparks conversations, it cuts down on speculation and it gives the media some meaty details to report on. Having had an inside look to the campaign from Kush, who these days goes by SuperVol #1835, its helped me see how closely matched up the campaign was with how it was portrayed.

So, everyone get out and elect this guy so we can get on with the analysis.

Yes We Carve

Can you say commitment? I'm hardcore in my BamaLove, but even I am not going here. There are few things more sacred than Hallows Eve. 

Full site here. 

Huffpo on Palin on SNL

Excellent excerpt from Robert Kubey's story on huffpo about Palin's appearance on SNL.

After all, this is Saturday Night Live who've skewered her week after week. Were they going to be nice? And now, by appearing on the program, it certainly drew its biggest audience of the season. Maybe the biggest audience in years, but I fail to see how the GOP was helped.

Often these cameos on SNL humanize a candidate in some helpful way. A candidate will often seem like a good sport by going on. Al Gore was wonderful after the debacle of 2000, but he appeared after finally conceding and when it was all too late. He was funny and very human. But we already know Sarah Palin can sometimes display humor and be human. But tonight, SNL gave us another piece of evidence that Gov. Palin's judgment, and that of her running mate, may not be what we want guiding the nation and the world for the next four years.

See SNL's opening and more of the videos, including Amy Pohler's rap.

UPDATE: The NYT is a little more forgiving.

Drudge Is Dead To Me

I posted last week that after years of dedicated readership, I had officially broken up with Matt Drudge's "Drudge Report". Apparently the geniuses at FiveThirtyEight.com agree. They have posted two articles in the last few days tearing the site apart. Essentially, Drudge is cherry-picking from shady, sometimes even old polling data to give his mindless sheep something nefarious not to cry about.

Read and weep.

Joe the Plumber Is Bullshit. He Doesn't Even Pay His Current Taxes

How the mighty have fallen again. This dude got more than his 15 minutes of fame.

But, it appears there are a few issues with Joe, according to the NYT:

1. He is not, and has never been licenced as a plumber

2. He has two tax liens on him at the moment, indicating he doesn't even pay his current taxes in full

3. He said he was independent, but he voted in the Republican primary

4. Tax analysts say that Joe would actually benefit greatly from Obama's tax plan, by qualifying for a tax cut.

So.... so long, Joe.

UPDATE: More on Joe the Plumber here. Turns out he may not know about the tax liens, he works for a licensed plumbing company and, yes, he would still benefit from Obama's tax plan.

Nuestro Webite Favorito Hoy: FiveThirtyEight.com

Maze and I are introducing a new feature on the blog: Website Wednesday. Every week we will pick a website that we are in awe of and think ya'll should check out.

This week's pick is FiveThirtyEight.com.

Found only this past March, it is the new wunderkind of the web. The site draws from founder Nate Silver's practice with baseball stats to take an inclusive, balanced and sophisticated look at all the polls. The site "balances out the polls with comparative demographic data and weights each poll based on the pollster's historical track record, sample size, and recentness of the poll." Whatever that means, it works.

The site gained notoriety for predicting more accurately than anyone else the outcomes of the North Carolina and Indiana primaries. Since then, it has come to dominate the world of polling like I dominate Maze in ping pong.

And, if you need a bit of a lift, this ridonculously accurate, massively respected site currently shows a 4.2% of McCain winning. Yeeaaw!

My First Article On Huffington Post

   In the past few months as I've become a rabid political dog, I've started reading the Huffington Post. It's actually become my portal- the first website I turn to. In the darker days of the campaign I overheard someone ask, "What political websites should I read?" "Read the Huffington Post if you want to feel good," came the reply. 

   Indeed. I used to read the Drudge Report for political and general interest stuff, but in the last few months Matt Drudge (no link there, as an intentional f*** you) has apparently gone off the deep end and is vying for Bill O'Reilly as the biggest douche on the Right. A month ago, I sent Matt a goodbye email, filled with sorrow and longing for our good times together, abruptly took it off my Bookmarks, and haven't been back since. Ok, maybe once. But, if you think I'm off the mark here, look after the next debate. If it's like the last two and Obama cleans house and all the post polling agrees, Drudge's own poll of his loyal brethren will again represent a massive departure from our collective reality. Also notice the complete lack of Troopergate coverage. Sad.

I digress. So, I saw on Huff Post a call for entries for "voices of the campaign". I submitted and my first post went up today. Sweet!

   Read it's called "Riding the "Enthusiasm Gap" Home To Pittsburgh" and you can read it here. 

The Greatest Virtual Community: CHAOS... Citizens Hanging Around the Obama Sign

I completely love this story from, of all places, the Wall Street Journal.

This 16 year-old-kid lives in Washington with his mom, and they put an Obama yard sign in from of their house. Poof- it's gone! They get another one (not an easy task if Pittsburgh is any indication; they go like hotcakes), and again... Poof! At this point, an older person would go with the classic technique and hide behind the tree with gun, but young Preston is an innovator and uses a bit of technology to his advantage.

So he can keep a watch on his sign when he's not at home, he points a web cam at the front yard and continues to monitor remotely. He tells some friends about it. They tell people, who tell people.... so on and so on. Pretty soon there are over 40,000 people all taking shifts to stare at the front yard of this kid's house. When the US goes to sleep, the Euro's pick up the slack. When they finish their shift, the Aussies take over.

But this global community is not just watching, they are participating in Preston's life. If he posts a message during the day, he gets questions about why he's not in school. Chatters make sure Preston isn't talking to any internet weirdos until his mother gets home from school (they know her schedule). I have seen the sign when there is a piece of tape on the window, blocking the sidewalk and reading "Tape is intended to protect the privacy of children walking to school. Will be removed at 3:30."

As I am watching now, there is a bird walking on the lawn, and people are discussing shopping at Costco. It is boring, and yet not. In our word where things can become so de-humanized, this dada-ist webcam sitting and staring through a window is about as real and genuine as anything I've seen.

Canvassing for Obama in the 'Burgh

I have so many incredible stories to tell about the last month I've spent working for the Obama campaign. It's been a ridiculous, random and incredibly rewarding experience. The people I work with are truly driven. The paid Obama staffers bust their ass for basically no money: at least 12 hour days, 7 days a week... for months. The hundreds of volunteers here bust their ass for literally no money, doing any and everything asked of them. My first day here I mopped a basement. Why? People are frikkin' pissed, and fired up. I started here shortly after Palin was picked. Every single day someone would walk in the door and say, "That woman scares me. What can I do? Put me to work. I'll do anything."

I work in that 'enthusiasm gap' you hear about.

But, beyond the vibe and the people... the places. Places I never knew existed or intentionally avoided when I lived at home in high school and was a less worldly/more fearful version of myself. Canvassing for Obama (and perhaps a touch of naivete) is like having a forcefield around you. I have walked through the most fucked up urban ghettos, knocked on the most bizarre doors and injected myself right into hundreds of people's private lives, all without fear. It's about being on a mission and fighting the good fight.

So, above are some photos from my adventure in Pittsburgh. More to come.

I will continue to blast Baracuda - but with renewed enthusaism

Click on the image to enlarge the text. Thanks SA!

UPDATE: Turns out the letter is a hoax, but sounds like Heart is still donating some proceeds to Obama, so I feel comfy singing, da nah nanana nah nah!

Keating scandal

A fifteen minute documentary on the Keating Scandal released by the Obama campaign is worth the watch ahead of the debates tonight.

The Debates

Too good not to repost this one, the best 10 minutes of my day.

Real Sexism

With so much hot air about the topic, a thought: if this were Sarah Palin, would people be as excited? That's real sexism.

Pray for oil, pray away the gay!

This woman should even be allowed to own a firearm, let alone run a country. Watch, enjoy, get the chills, volunteer for Obama (I am).

Oh, I almost forgot! Cellphone Anointing!