Dems in 2008: My thoughts

I just got done watching the August 19 debate on YouTube.

First, I was going crazy to be able to play the thing in order. YouTube needs to make this easier.

For your sanity: One Two Three Four Five Six Seven Eight

I really can't stand debates. No one answers the questions. The questions are pretty stupid.

What can you get from a debate on video? A feeling for the 'fuzzy' stuff that a lot of people (including myself, to some extent) use to weigh the candidates.

Here's my purely subjective 'fuzzy feeling' about each candidate.

Dennis Kucinich	Like some of his ideas, but he comes off like he's trying way too hard. The opposite of presidential. Wasting his time.
Bill Richardson	Bumbling. Wasting his time.
Mike Gravel	Comes off like an angry old man. Wasting his time.
Christopher Dodd	Looks like an aging car salesmen. Not presidential. Wasting his time.
John Edwards	Good ideas, but there's something off in his presence. Feels like he's 54 going on 24. Not excited by him.
Joe Biden	Presidential. Good presence. Feels like he could do the job. Doesn't really inspire me.
Hillary Clinton	Pretty good presence. Feels a bit rehearsed, though. Wonder how inspiring she'll be (beyond the pure Feminists). Worry about her baggage (whether it's deserved or not).
Barack Obama	Amazing presence. You wanna like him. Clean delivery, but doesn't feel rehearsed. Could use a bit more polish, but that makes it feel authentic. He's got my vote so far.

Teacher Arrested! (I love my mother)

Occasionally, I get an entertaining forward from my parents. Maybe you have to know my mom to find this funny.

NEW YORK -- A public school teacher was arrested today at John F. Kennedy International Airport as he attempted to board a flight while in possession of a ruler, a protractor, a set square, a slide rule and a calculator. At a morning press conference, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said he believes the man is a member of the notorious Al-gebra movement. He did not identify the man, who has been charged by the FBI with carrying weapons of math instruction. "Al-gebra is a problem for us," Gonzales said. "They desire solutions by means and extremes, and sometimes go off on tangents in search of absolute values. They use secret code names like 'x' and 'y' and refer to themselves as 'unknowns', but we have determined they belong to a common denominator of the axis of medieval with coordinates in every country. As the Greek philanderer Isosceles used to say, 'There are 3 sides to every triangle'." When asked to comment on the arrest, President Bush said, " If God had wanted us to have better weapons of math instruction, He would have given us more fingers and toes." White House aides told reporters they could not recall a more intelligent or profound statement by the president.

Thanks, Mom!

Brilliant review of Harry Potter by Stephen King

Warning: a few vague spoilers in the write-up.

From EW.com, J.K. Rowling's Ministry of Magic.

Mr. King is not too happy with most reviews of book 7:

...very few mainstream writers, from Salon to The New York Times, have really stopped to consider what Ms. Rowling has wrought, where it came from, or what it may mean for the future. The blogs, by and large, haven't been much better. They seem to care about who lives, who dies, and who's tattling. Beyond that, it's all pretty much duh.

In the process of outlining his love for the series, we learn why Rowling is a master writer and get a peak into the brilliance that is Stephen King.

A great read and a better bookend for the Harry Potter series.

Oh *that's* how you create titles on Blogger

I could define a title for a blog post in Windows Live Writer, but not on the Blogger edit page. I thought I was stupid or Blogger was stupid.

Instructions from EHow.com, via Google.

Actually, it is a pretty stupid thing to hide by default.

Reverend Kevin Robert Moore

Congratulations! You are now a legally ordained minister for life, though you may relinquish your credentials at any time. YOU HAVE BECOME A MEMBER OF THE PRESTIGIOUS CLERGY. You have earned a title worthy of admiration and respect.

Let it be known on this date that in accordance with the laws of the Universal Life Church Monastery, as ordaining officer, I, Brother Martin, do ordain you into our ministry. From this day forward, you are entitled to all of the rights of an ordained minister. You have the authority to perform marriages, baptisms, and all other ceremonies of the church. You are an independent minister of this church. This is a position that carries with it a burden of responsibility; please respect others and comply with the laws of the land.

Your legal name and 5 minutes on http://www.themonastery.org/. (I actually had no idea when i signed up that they are based on Broadway in Seattle! Perfect!)

This is pretty brilliant, actually, because they are definitely going to get me to spend $20 to get a certificate.

Who wants to get married?

"Life in Eight Easy Steps"

Via Digg.
"Life in Eight Easy Steps"
Brilliant.