Woot woot!

Richardson backs Obama!

I actually really like Richardson - it's such a shame there probably wouldn't be an Obama/Richardson ticket. Apparently, he's close with Bill Clinton (who did contribute a lot to furthering Richardson's career) - but I think this was a little dramatic:

The reaction of some of Mr. Clinton’s allies suggests that might have been a wise decision. “An act of betrayal,” said James Carville, an adviser to Mrs. Clinton and a friend of Mr. Clinton.

“Mr. Richardson’s endorsement came right around the anniversary of the day when Judas sold out for 30 pieces of silver, so I think the timing is appropriate, if ironic,” Mr. Carville said, referring to Holy Week.

Update: Succinct Slate commentary on the Richardson move. I specifically liked this part of the argument:

There's nothing wrong with making these arguments, and by the party's rules, it's perfectly legal for Clinton to reverse Obama's pledged-delegate lead with superdelegates. But in listening over the weeks to Clinton's advisers make their superdelegate case, you can feel the criteria changing as the conversation ensues. I am reminded of the movie Stripes. John Candy, playing a new Army recruit*, hoodwinks another member of his troop. "You gotta make my bunk," he says earnestly. "See, we're in Italy. The guy on the top bunk has gotta make the guy on the bottom's bunk. He's gotta make his bunk all the time. See, it's in the regulations. See, if we were in Germany, I would have to make yours, but we're in Italy, and you gotta make mine. It's regulations."

This whiff of hokum is one problem. The second problem for the Clinton pitch is that even if superdelegates buy it, no one on the Clinton team can explain why Obama's coalition of African-Americans, liberals, and first-time voters is going to buy it. In a recent CBS News poll, 92 percent of Obama supporters said they would feel disappointed and angry if Clinton won by superdelegates. When I asked Mark Penn how he would soothe these hurt feelings, he had no real answer other than hope: Democrats have come together before.

So, Clinton claims that Obama's campaign of hope that Americans can come together for a better future is unrealistic and just words etc. etc., even though thus far in the primaries it seems to be happening, at least in a small way. And he hasn't done anything to really offend the voters (I could be wrong, and I'm certainly biased, but Wright and Revko seem to be the shadiest parts of his life so far, and I don't think they're a big deal, personally). Clinton, on the other hand, expects to gyp Democratic voters out of representation (whether or not this is entirely true is irrevelant, the voters are going to FEEL betrayed) and then HOPES that come general election time, they'll put all of the petty primary crap out of mind and rally. This in a year when Nader is re-running. Yeah, that sounds like a GREAT idea. Ugh.

Great column on race

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/20/opinion/20cohen.html?th&emc=th

Cohen hits it spot on with a reaction to Obama's "Toward a More Perfect Union" speech.

Honesty feels heady right now. For seven years, we have lived with the arid, us-against-them formulas of Bush’s menial mind, with the result that the nuanced exploration of America’s hardest subject is almost giddying. Can it be that a human being, like Wright, or like Obama’s grandmother, is actually inhabited by ambiguities? Can an inquiring mind actually explore the half-shades of truth?

Yes. It. Can.

The unimaginable South African transition that Nelson Mandela made possible is a reminder that leadership matters. Words matter. The clamoring now in the United States for a presidency that uplifts rather than demeans is a reflection of the intellectual desert of the Bush years.

Obama's race speech

Commentary from the Huffington Post: Obama Cracks My TV in Half

I had several similar reactions when I read the text. I've yet to see the actual performance, but the video is up on his website and I'll be watching tonight. Just from reading, however, I teared up. It was... phenomenal. Now, a lot of people have been saying that all Obama offers is words. First of all, what words! But secondly, these people act like taking a public stance on a subject and commenting on it in such a way that it prompts the American people to reflect on their own beliefs is nothing. It's not nothing. Actions start with ideas, and ideas are conveyed in words. Many of these same critics say that he's putting forth a Utopian ideal, that the ideas are unrealistic. I've learned, over the years, to be wary of people pushing realism and nothing else. Realism leaves you with the present, with nowhere to go from there. If you aim for the most perfect world you can imagine, then even if you only make it one-tenth (or whatever) of the way, you've still progressed much farther than if you grounded all of your expectations (and yes, hopes and dreams) in reality. Plus, working toward your ideal just feels better than working toward someone else's idea of what is realistically possible. I believe that this concept is integral to Obama's campaign and appeal. I don't think it's a dishonest approach. I don't think it's a pointless pursuit. And I think honest, tasteful, insightful and moving speeches like the one Senator Obama gave yesterday are a great starting point for turning America from her current state, to one where a greater proportion of the people feel they're getting a fair deal, that they're represented. Because before we can change the country, I think we must change ourselves and the way we view America. And I don't think we can do that until we examine ourselves, the way we affect others, and the way the tough issues affect all of our lives. That's a good start. The race speech was a beautiful exercise in good starts. Let's continue...

Marine protests in Berkeley on Daily Show

A little outdated, but this was a ridiculous experience (and proof that every Berkeley stereotype is pretty damn accurate). Protests have continued, and I just received a warning e-mail that there are numerous demonstrations planned for tomorrow. We'll see how the Code Pink saga unfolds...

p.s. Just to clarify, I think it's absurd to expect the Marines/other military branches to offer protection (not just in war, but in the event of an earthquake etc.) without allowing them a recruiting station. The complaint was supposedly largely due to the station's proximity to Berkeley High and UC-Berkeley, but it's not that close to either, really. It's just downtown, with everything else.

Google Bias

So, just out of curiosity - I wanted to see what images popped up first in a Google Images search of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Here is Hillary:

#1: the crazy b*tch shot

#2: The "what went wrong?" shot - including Bill, the Clintons seem to be your average happy hipsters of their day. What happened? p.s. Bill's beard is FANTASTIC.

Now for Obama.

#1: Senate mug shot, pretty standard

#2: Topless shot, yes, that's right. Topless shot.

Now, I know I'm not alone in thinking Obama is a handsome guy - he is! But hot enough to be sandwiched between Penelope Cruz and Hugh Jackman? I don't know...

Anyway, the search pretty much revealed what I expected. The media bias against Hillary (it's pretty obvious) does indeed transcend traditional media outlets. However, I should make it clear that although there's a media bias against Hillary (c'mon - she's old news, Barack is a shiny, happy new and very interesting face), it shouldn't change either the way she runs her campaign or the way the public votes. Haven't we become smart (or jaded) enough to realize there will always be media bias and that we should only count on ourselves for opinion? I mean - 8 years of Fox News later, you think something would have sunk in. Thus, is there a media bias against Hillary Clinton? Yes. Is it the reason for HC losing? Nah, sorry, don't buy it.

Band to check out soon

http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/46095-wizard-of-ahhhs-ep

via Dusty

Obama's race speech

Mmmm.... oratory skills....

Here's a link to the full text, comments to come.

Why superdelegates are a terrible idea: part 3,242 of a 23,048,320 part series

Superdelegate Sleaze: A Case Study

Wait, these superdelegates are using their voting power for personal gain? In politics? No, I don't believe it!

Victimhood

How much danger is the Democratic Party really in?

Generally decent article - but this is the part that disturbs me:

Many of Clinton's supporters, particularly women, also warn that they feel Obama has benefited from a free ride in the press and has taken advantage of barely veiled sexism. Clinton tellingly referred supporters to the analysis of ABC's Cokie Roberts, who said this of the reaction some women have to Obama: "Here is this woman, she's worked hard, she's done it all the way you're supposed to do it, and then this cute young man comes in and says a bunch of sweet, you know, nothings, and pushes you out of the way. And a lot of women are looking at that and saying, 'There goes my life.' "

What? What?! Here is the problem with this entire race - Clinton's arguments and ploys only work up to (down to?) a certain age group. In regard to the passage above, that is not my life. Nor is it the life of any of my female friends. And honestly, it feels like shit to be part of a group (the female gender) that would make important political decisions because they feel sympathy for the candidate, who is (schemingly, mind you) playing the victim. How can Hillary be tough enough to handle the White House (or the goddamn red phone) when she keeps whining about being a victim all the time? Why would women want our first representative in this historic role to be a) crazy and b) pathetic? Because that's what this victim argument is - crazy and pathetic. You win office because you're the best. Not because you've supposedly been shafted your whole life. If you come against someone who is better at the political game - well boo fucking hoo, either step it up or accept the fact that perhaps you're not president material. But don't complain about it and reinforce the stereotype of women as whining, pathetic, helpless little creatures. We're not. I certainly am not. Nor would I ever want to be put into a position of any sort because someone feels sorry for me. I can't think of a worse way to win (minus the 2000 elections, that was pretty bad). Women, particularly, I plead with you - don't vote for someone because you can relate, because you feel sorry for them, because she's a victim. If Hillary wins and history chooses her victimhood as the reason (because let's be honest, history is completely malleable), women will be set back significantly. My generation really is free from a lot of the old hang-ups (well, not completely free - that's still a way off, but I believe old attitudes toward these subjects hold very little sway in our minds) - be it gender, race, religion. From what I've seen, members of my generation have displayed a remarkable degree of tolerance - it warms my heart, it really does. My message to older voters would then be - please, really think about why you're voting for Hillary - if it's because you believe she truly is the best person for the job, then by all means! But if it's because you relate to her tale of woe (which is exaggerated), think again. There is an entire group of ladies who haven't felt victimized whatsoever in their lives. Women are doing extraordinary things, even in traditionally male industries (like mine). Don't reinforce an old, outdated stereotype. Hillary may have had a few rough patches in her life, but who hasn't? I don't know how you can look at this race, and believe that she is losing solely because she's a woman. And, for her to play that card, to manipulate voters into thinking they're evening the playing field, to set herself up as a victim - well, it makes the voters (particularly the women voters) look foolish and it proves what I've always suspected to be true - American voters vote with emotion, not reason. (Which, funnily enough, seems to be the argument against supporting Obama - we're too easily charmed - but that's nothing compared to the victim game.) Ladies, I'm talking to you - I think this is where we need to bring reason back. And reason clearly shows that Hillary cannot run a presidential campaign. To boil it down to its most concise form, which I know you've already heard, if you can't run a political campaign, you probably shouldn't be trusted with an entire country. Victim or not.

SubterraneanHomesickBlues

I just love Ginsberg in the background of this video.

Wolfgang's Vault

Mmmmm... rock memorabilia. I remember my dad telling me about Bill Graham's warehouse full of archives several years ago. That man must have had one hell of a life. The sheer volume of it was hard to believe, and now parts are up for sale. Let's hope I get lucky in Vegas...

p.s. There are also recordings of historic concerts available for listening on this site - check it out! You have to register, but other than that - it's free.

The Wire and Urban Decay

*From the Wall Street Journal

Urban Decay

By JULIA VITULLO-MARTIN
March 14, 2008; Page W11

"I'm a big fan of 'The Wire,' " Barack Obama told US Weekly last week. "It's not a happy show, but it's addictive." His fellow liberal intellectuals apparently agree. Called "the best TV show ever broadcast in America" by Slate's editor in chief, Jacob Weisberg, and "astonishingly sophisticated" by NPR media reporter David Folkenflik, the HBO series, whose finale was shown on Saturday, is a cops-and-criminals saga that brings its genre to an entirely new level. "No other program has ever done anything remotely like what this one does, namely to portray the social, political and economic life of an American city with the scope, observational precision and moral vision of great literature," wrote Mr. Weisberg last year. Conservatives such as National Review's Jack Dunphy and The Weekly Standard's Dean Barnett laud the show too. But conservatives may see in it a lesson that liberal viewers are unlikely to take to heart.

Set, written and produced in Baltimore, "The Wire" aired 60 episodes, with each of its five seasons focused on a different subject -- drug trafficking, the port, local politics, public schools and the city's newspaper. From the series' opening sequences filmed in "The Towers" -- huge public housing projects whose courtyards serve as drug bazaars -- through its depiction of the continuing devastation of neighborhoods by violent crime and unemployment, the Baltimore of "The Wire" becomes the poster child for six decades of failed urban policy. Its crumbling, corrupt Baltimore is in virtual free fall while the city's caretakers -- including nearly all its politicians -- feed at the public trough, cavorting and partying as Baltimore burns and children die. By season five, the city's fiscal situation is so dire that budget cuts cripple the already disheartened police department even further as police cars break down for lack of service.

A look at some real-life statistics shows how accurate this picture is. Surpassed only by Detroit in CNN/Morgan Quinto's 2006 ranking of the country's most dangerous large cities, Baltimore has traded places over the past few years with Detroit and Washington as the country's urban murder capital. With 282 homicides last year and a population of about 641,000, Baltimore had a homicide rate six times that of New York and three times that of Los Angeles. While crack usage faded in resurgent cities like New York, Boston and Chicago in the 1990s, it never lost its hold in many Baltimore neighborhoods, even as heroin became the new drug of choice. Addicts just used both. By 2000, the federal Drug Enforcement Agency said, Baltimore had the highest per-capita heroin consumption in the country.

Meanwhile the public schools deteriorated, graduating less than half their students. The Baltimore Housing Authority was put on HUD's troubled authority list and in the 1990s dynamited many of its high-rise projects.

Mr. Obama, like most of his fellow liberals, believes that poverty is at the heart of urban problems and that its eradication is a federal duty. "What's most overwhelming about urban poverty is that it's so difficult to escape -- it's isolating and it's everywhere," he commented as he released his plans last July to reinvest in impoverished neighborhoods. By this he means giving more public funding to after-school and job training programs, parental counseling, extended day care, and public-private business incubators. What Lyndon Johnson called "model cities" programs Mr. Obama refers to as "promise neighborhoods." The idea is that, freed from poverty, people who are now dealing drugs would be living productive lives. But Mr. Obama's favorite show puts forth a very different message: It is the crime that causes the poverty, not the other way around.

Just watch a few episodes and it becomes clear that brazen drug trafficking degrades everything it touches, seducing children with its lure of money and murderously punishing anyone who defies it. When the city blows up the federally funded housing projects whose density helped make drugs so profitable, trafficking becomes even more vicious as dealers war over the smaller territory that's left. Many favorite characters are murdered or set themselves on a clear path to death and disaster. Apparently no one is immune: Even "citizens" -- the cops' term for normal, law-abiding people -- are gunned down.

Crime prevents what little legal economic activity that exists from flourishing. The often overlooked second season of the show covers the port, its decline and deep corruption. One union boss who oversees the loading and unloading of cargo ships accepts bribes from corrupt importers to rename or "lose" containers in order to evade customs. He fools himself that by lining the pockets of his union brothers with this money he is protecting the mainly underemployed stevedores and their families. But as the port's decline worsens, the bribes are paid for increasingly brutal purposes -- such as human trafficking.

"The Wire" shows that there are other factors besides crime at the heart of Baltimore's problems (both real and fictional). The breakdown of the family and the horrendous urban schools are more significant than poverty itself as the source of urban decay. You would never know it, though, to hear all of the Democrats' talk of the income-inequality gap.

In one scene in "The Wire," a frail boy who was badly beaten in a street fight comes to Cutty, a former criminal, for boxing lessons and is pummeled in the ring by a smaller boy. When he cries bitterly that he's a failure "on the street," Cutty tries to comfort him, saying that the rules of the street aren't the same as those in the rest of the world. "But how do I get from here to the rest of the world?" asks the boy -- who has a missing father, a drug-using mother who ignores him, and a school that teaches him nothing.

Getting from teeming urban streets to the rest of the world has been the objective of generations of city dwellers -- and of urban policy. Yet the West Baltimore of "The Wire" may be more desperate, perilous and "isolating," to use Mr. Obama's word, than the worst of 19th-century slums. Those slum dwellers saw a way up and out. Characters on "The Wire" do not. Many are not even sure where "out" is, having never been beyond West Baltimore.

Even the show's longshoremen are unsure of how to get from here to the rest of the world. The days of well-paying industrial jobs are over, probably forever, the men's skills are limited, their futures dim. Their unions protected a few jobs at the cost of the overall economic health of the port, just as the public-school unions have favored teachers, including incompetent ones, over students.

The real lesson of "The Wire" is what New York's Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Police Commissioner Bill Bratton understood from day one: To restore a city and its neighborhoods, fight crime successfully and everything else will start to fall into place (though New York's public schools remain deplorable). And don't wait around for federal support. Take whatever money you can find.

Instead of advocating old-time Model Cities-type programs, Mr. Obama should propose The Wire Urban Agenda: Fight crime Bratton-style and resist the unions that stand in the way of prosperity. Now that would be true audacity of hope.

Ms. Vitullo-Martin is a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute.

Hillary as Republican Manchurian Candidate

Senator Clinton Isn't a Republican. As Far as I Know.

From the variety of nastiness that has emerged from the Clinton campaign, I still think this is the worst (because it's not about identity politics, but rather a genuine disregard for the future of our nation, our troops, our money - in short, a selfish betrayal of the American people):

'For the record, AmericaBlog documented her repeated endorsements of Senator McCain and, concurrently, her offenses against the Democratic Party:

"[McCain has] never been president, but he will put forth his lifetime of experience. I will put forth my lifetime of experience. Senator Obama will put forth a speech he made in 2002."

"I have a lifetime of experience that I will bring to the White House. I know Senator McCain has a lifetime of experience that he will bring to the White House. And Senator Obama has a speech he gave in 2002."

"Of course, well, you know, I've got a lifetime of experience. Senator McCain has a lifetime of experience. And you know, Senator Obama's whole campaign is about one speech he made in 2002."

Clearly, the senator's point was that if she doesn't win the nomination (and it's mathematically impossible at this point), she would prefer to see Senator McCain defeat Senator Obama in November. After all, and by her own admission, Senator McCain is more qualified and better equipped to defend the nation against the evildoers. What's more is that Senator Clinton has provided for the McCain campaign enough clips to launch a thousand fear mongering commercials.'

And check out this cozy little shot:

Colbert on Clinton

"But they were wrong about her [Hillary] being inevitable, right? She was not inevitable - she is unkillable. You cannot stop her. You chop off her head, she’ll crawl toward you. Now, I think, I think, you know, in these dangerous days, that might be what we need in a president."

I need to start watching The Colbert Report again. And as brilliant as Stephen is, the quality is much improved since the writer's strike ended. Hooray.

The difference between how wealthy we perceive America to be, and how wealthy she actually is...

Fabulous column from Herbert on our financial situation and the ever-widening income gap. I have many thoughts on the subject and how it relates to our current economic mess, but am unable to put them down now - hopefully soon!

"For years, families have been fighting weakness on the employment front with every other option imaginable. Wives and mothers have gone to work. People have been putting in more hours and working additional jobs.

"And Americans have plunged like Olympic diving champions into every form of debt they could find.

"As Andrew Stern, president of the Service Employees International Union, told me some months ago: 'Workers are incredibly, legitimately scared that the American dream, particularly the belief that their kids will do better, is ending.'"

Generally, I try to be as optimistic about our futures as possible (while still holding on to reality), but when I read that last sentence, some part of me shuddered at its truth. All is not lost, but I certainly don't think we're on the right track yet.

Holy crap.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/story?id=4440551&page=1

Wow. And I thought the Clinton campaign screw-ups couldn't get any worse...

This is some nasty business right here.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/08/opinion/08herbert.html?th&emc=th

Hillary really should be ashamed.

"Mr. Kroft asked Senator Clinton if she believed that Senator Obama is a Muslim. In one of the sleaziest moments of the campaign to date, Senator Clinton replied: 'No. No. Why would I? No, there is nothing to base that on. As far as I know.'"

"More serious was Senator Clinton’s assertion that she was qualified to be commander in chief, and that John McCain had also “certainly” crossed that “threshold,” but that the jury was still out on Mr. Obama.

"In other words, if a choice on national security had to be made today between Senators Obama and McCain, voters — according to Mrs. Clinton’s logic — should choose Senator McCain."

The Presidio

Now, I'm fairly certain I'm not going to live in San Francisco forever. It's glorious, but my family is all the way on the east coast, and given my tendency to wander - it's just a safe assumption. So, while I do live here, I try and get as much enjoyment out of it as possible. One of the greatest things about this city is how quickly one can go from a wholly metropolitan environment to a surprisingly natural one (particularly given the city's small size: 7 mile X 7 mile square). I live quite near one of San Francisco's largest protected areas, the Presidio. I've taken to going on long weekend walks through the Presidio, among other SF locales that are pleasing to the eyes (you don't have to go far...). Anyway, just thought I'd share a few photos from yesterday's trek.

Does this look like a city to you? Me neither. And actually, I'm always surprised at how silent it gets on these trails. Sometimes you can hear the faint rumble of traffic, but mostly, it's like hiking anywhere else.I'm also fascinated by west coast flora. I can't remember seeing anything like this back east, or even when I lived in Colorado. Let me know if you know what this is, although I will be consulting my own plant expert - my mother.
This is Mountain Lake (where's the mountain?). Again, I never left the city. Also, I hit every "scenic overlook" listed in the website above, but I felt too touristy to take a picture there. Everyone else either looked like a hardcore weekend biker or a hardcore hiker. I tend to take off in a hoodie and jeans. Meh! I should probably learn to be less self-conscious about looking like a tourist - I'm not self conscious about much, but for some reason, that's one of my weaknesses. Good times anyway. Last weekend I went on a 15-mile walk that included crossing the Golden Gate Bridge (for the first time!) - I'll probably post pictures from that sometime soon. There's just so much to see - it's a bit overwhelming.

Brilliant.

http://www.craigslist.org/about/best/sea/547971823.html

Websites to check out once you have some free time

www.openthegovernment.org

www.fedspending.org

www.opencongress.org

Also, download and watch this webcast after March 19.

Recession for sure

Unfortunately, lots of bad news today:

Payrolls declined by 63,000 jobs.

Defaults on mortgages reached a historic high.

And Saturday Night Live is apparently back on the radar.

"'Saturday Night Live' has been in the news a lot lately, first for allegedly catering to Hillary Clinton's campaign with too-favorable skits and appearances, then for hiring Fred Armisen to portray Barack Obama even though Armisen is not black and, finally, for being cited as a catalyst - by way of a skit featuring fawning reporters asking Armisen/Obama softball questions - for tougher media coverage of the Illinois senator.

"To which we say: What? People are still watching 'Saturday Night Live'? Why? To kill time in a slow and unfunny manner? "

Also, see this post for some of the reasons I hate the entire "bitch is the new black" thing. Being a bitch is not a good thing! I find it absurd that I even need to type that. Remember, the origin of the word is a female dog - it's not exactly the type of description women should desire. And yes, I know it wasn't Hillary Clinton who invented the phrase, but one of her supporters - however, many of her [particularly female] supporters have embraced this motto. If another candidate appropriated a word into their campaign that applied to a specific demographic and had a negative origin, my guess is there would be a HUGE backlash. No matter how much I read, I still find it very hard to understand the Clinton campaign, particularly the feminist aspect, which she's been trying to play for all its worth. Hillary's campaign seems to alternate between accusing everyone else (the media, her opponents, the voters!) of misogyny and displaying it themselves. I cannot think of a better word to describe her entire campaign than "hypocritical".

Democrats divided on how to best intoxicate themselves through tedious primary

From The Economist

One thing I never understood...

Why don't schools utilize Home Economics Class to provide more nutritious (and varied) lunch options? Cafeteria workers could supervise (because obviously kids cannot be trusted not to tamper with the food of their peers - although I think they should make whoever cooked it, eat it - to avoid moral hazard). And while not every dish would turn out edible, I feel like the vast majority would. And the Home Ec class doesn't need to eat an entire German chocolate cake, do they? Anyway, just a thought on improving efficiency - not to mention feeding the dreams of any inspiring chef. Pun intended.

Super cool.

Izzy!

One seldom-discussed negative about puppies, is that they simply grow up way too fast. This is little Isolde, whom I got to name (it was the first family dog I've actually gotten to name, although my mother restricted me to German names since she is a German shepherd - not obvious at all). In the photo above, it's October 2007. Below, Izzy in December. Ridiculous. And I suffer disproportionately to the rest of my family because I live all the way across the country. Apparently, she's grown exponentially since the holidays, surpassing the size of our two year-old Golden Retriever. Absurd. Anyway, just a thought - in case any of you are thinking about getting puppies, remember they don't stay puppies for long! (Though dogs are still wonderful long after their puppy days...)

Lesson of Defeat: Obama Comes Out Punching

I just have to say, he looks pretty badass in this shot. And why is that one girl holding that many microphones? From the New York Times.

I'll be there.

http://www.sfoutsidelands.com/

Oh you can bet your sweet ass I'll be there. (Bonus points for naming the origin of that quote.)

One of life's most unfortunate "necessities"

The Fine Art of Sucking Up To Your Boss, presented by Forbes Magazine: "Employees seeking to develop trust and rapport with their bosses are advised to adopt a similar style and energy, be respectful of their position and produce quality work that comports with their expectations. "

Or you could short-cut right to the Andy Bernard version: "Name repetition, personality mirroring, and never breaking off a handshake."

Hey, it worked for him! Oh, wait...

For all The Wire fans out there...

http://timgoodman.blogspot.com/

Tim Goodman is also a San Francisco Chronicle writer, but this is his personal blog. Always great commentary on the creme de la creme of HBO.

Sidenote: Series finale Sunday - it's been a great lead-up so far, I'm beyond anticipation.

David Brooks does it again!

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/04/opinion/04brooks.html?th&emc=th

This guy is brilliant. Great column.

This is important.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/04/opinion/04herbert.html?th&emc=th

My list for the new president

Goal #1: Stop hemorrhaging money!

Arcade Fire supports Obama

http://cemusic.blogspot.com/2008/03/arcade-fire-plays-for-barack.html

**good commentary on this site too

Nader, part deux

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/29/AR2008022902786.html?wpisrc=newsletter&wpisrc=newsletter&wpisrc=newsletter

Best part: "By now it is no secret that a large segment of the public has soured on "Washington." To denizens of the District, this can seem a childish, naive sentiment. It's not. What Americans have turned against is the broken two-party system. According to a poll taken last year by the firm I founded, Penn, Schoen & Berland, 61 percent of voters say that having a third-party candidate on the ballot in the presidential race would be beneficial to America. A poll by the Luntz Maslansky Group found that 81 percent of the electorate would consider voting for a third-party candidate."

Please, please - let's keep going with this! (Maybe not in this election, but in the next and the next and the next - who knows how many choices we could have - and by free market logic, more choices=more competition=increased efficiency - our political system needs more of this than perhaps any other abstract quality!) Although I'm still not sure about Nader, specifically; can anyone concisely explain his views to me (I'm just not that familiar...)?

Swoon!

If everyone in our generation was as well-informed as Derrick Ashong (video and commentary from The Economist in this post), I think I'd feel much more at ease regarding America's future. Also, I love independents so much. Just a couple thoughts on a sunny Sunday morning.

Colorado

On my recent trip to Boulder, I realized that I do miss living in that state, a lot.

The anti-Dowd

Gail Collins proves you can be a liberal female columnist, incorporate humor, and still sound like an intellectual human being - unlike Maureen Dowd who needs to stop writing and making women look like incompetent hacks. Gail Collins is not my favorite Times columnist, and maybe she's not as easy on the eyes as Dowd, but my goodness, she doesn't make me ashamed of my gender, and for that, I thank her.

*Just a small note, this is to contrast her with Maureen Dowd who I LOATHE. Loathe, loathe, loathe - for her ridiculous nicknames (Barry=Barack - what?!), weak arguments, false logic, and a million other wrongs. Women columnists are quite clearly in the newspaper minority, even in the liberal New York Times, and seeing Dowd alongside intimidatingly good columnists like Frank Rich and Paul Krugman makes my blood crawl. I'm not particularly inclined to be ashamed of my gender (I LOVE being a woman, truly) but the Dowd juxtaposition is too much to bear. It's like her role, in addition to being one of the token females, was to provide the "dumbed-down" column. It's disgusting. At least Coulter had the decency to be on the other side (politically) - Dowd supposedly represents my views. BLECH.

Yum.

Mmmm....civil liberties...

What will the GOP do?

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2008/02/29/notes022908.DTL&nl=fix

"See, unlike Hillary, Obama can't be effortlessly demonized. He doesn't have Hillary's infamous laundry list of faults and transgressions, the enormous built-in wall of hate the right already has for her, her gender, her husband, everything she represents and carries forward from the Bill Clinton era. Smart as she is, Hillary has truckloads of baggage. Obama has but a tiny carry-on."

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/29/us/politics/29oppo.html?th&emc=th

"Should Mr. Obama win the nomination, his candidacy could well be a test of whether these tactics still work or whether, used against a candidate who is trying to cultivate an appeal that transcends policy specifics, would fall flat this time. The fact that Mr. McCain felt compelled to rebuke some critics of Mr. Obama over the past few days suggests he might see a danger in attacking too aggressively."

Wait, WHAT?!

"People don't want to speak out against Obama because of the fear of being seen as racist," he says. "It's easier to say you want to keep a woman barefoot and pregnant....You can call a woman anything."

A reaction is coming, believe me. But right now, too much work to do!

*from the Wall Street Journal (thanks Jasmine for e-mailing this article)

THE DECIDERS
White Men Hold Key for Democrats
Contest May Hinge On Blue-Collar Vote; Opening for McCain?

By JONATHAN KAUFMANFebruary 19, 2008; Page A1

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- In a Democratic presidential nomination race that pits a black man against a woman, the victor may well be determined by white men.

The working-class white men who toil in the steel mills and auto plants here are part of a volatile cohort that has long helped steer the nation's political course. Once, blue-collar males were the bedrock of Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal coalition. They became "Reagan Democrats," helping to propel Ronald Reagan into office in the 1980s. Bill Clinton won many of them back to the Democratic Party in 1992. Two years later they were "angry white males," resentful of affirmative action and the women's movement, who helped Republicans capture Congress.
'It seems like someone else should be there,' says Dan Leihgeber, a smelter in a Youngstown steel plant.

Now this group of voters is set to help determine the Democratic nominee, and the next occupant of the White House. Working-class white men make up nearly one-quarter of the electorate, outnumbering African-American and Hispanic voters combined. As the Democratic primary race intensifies, some of these white men are finding it hard to identify with the remaining two candidates, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama.

"It seems like someone else should be there," says Dan Leihgeber, a smelter in a steel plant here, who is supporting Sen. Clinton. "It's like there's someone missing."

As the Democratic race moves toward primaries in blue-collar strongholds -- today in Wisconsin, Ohio on March 4 and Pennsylvania on April 22 -- the allegiance of blue-collar men is up for grabs. While Sen. Clinton runs strongly among working-class women, she and Sen. Obama are perceived equally favorably among working-class men, according to a January Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll. The two candidates have seesawed among blue-collar men in the primaries: Sen. Clinton won them in Georgia, Missouri and New York, while Sen. Obama captured the working-class male vote in New Hampshire, California, Maryland and Virginia.
Blue-collar men could also emerge as an important swing constituency in November -- either backing the Democrats' eventual nominee, or shifting to some degree toward Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, whose war record and straight-talking approach could make him appealing to many working-class men.

Marc Dann, Ohio's Democratic attorney general, frets about the reluctance of some of these blue-collar Democrats to embrace either of his party's candidates. "I worry about [the appeal of] McCain," says Mr. Dann, who lives in Youngstown. "It's not like watching an episode of Archie Bunker -- but there are real issues" that white male voters here have with Sen. Clinton and Sen. Obama.

Working-class men are generally defined as those without a college degree, including union members and workers with service and technical jobs, typically making less than $50,000 a year. They are especially crucial in Ohio, where they make up about 28% of the vote, as well as other battleground states including Michigan (about 27%), West Virginia (33%), Missouri (27%), Minnesota (27%), Pennsylvania (27%), Wisconsin (29%) and Iowa (34%).

In Youngstown, many working-class men say they will vote according to issues, especially economic ones including health care, free trade and the loss of manufacturing jobs. But in conversations in union halls, bars and factories, race and gender are never far from the surface.
"I don't think the country is ready for a woman president yet," says Duane Tkac, a burly vocational instructor at a prison here and a member of the local branch of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters union. "The country is in too much turmoil. I don't think she can handle the pressure, the terrorists." He plans to vote for Sen. Obama.

Don Pompelia, retired from the Air Force, supports Sen. Clinton. "I'm hoping Hillary gets the nomination. But if she doesn't, I'm not voting for that guy. I'm going Republican," he booms as he picks up his morning coffee at McDonald's. "There are going to be a lot of people crossing over to the Republicans because he's black."

Back Into the Fold

After decades in which Republicans often successfully wooed blue-collar men, many Democrats see 2008 as a chance to bring them back into the fold, motivated by the worsening economy and their disaffection with President Bush. In the 2006 midterm election, union members and other working-class men voted for Democratic candidates by a margin of almost two to one, helping the Democrats win control of Congress.

Youngstown has been battered over the past 30 years by job losses and plant closings. Buoyed by unionized steel jobs that paid as much as $20 an hour, the city once had one of the country's highest per-capita incomes. But as companies have shuttered steel and auto plants, outsourcing jobs to nonunion parts of the country and overseas, the city's population has fallen by 50% since 1960, to about 80,000.

Few young people stay here; the average age at one steel plant is 55. Families survive because women have poured into the work force out of necessity, changing the dynamic within traditionally conservative families where women used to stay at home.

'Poster Child'

"For a lot of blue-collar guys over 40, Hillary Clinton is a poster child for everything about the women's movement that they don't like -- their wife going back to work, their daughters rebelling, the rise of women in the workplace," says Gerald Austin, an Ohio political strategist.
Mr. Leihgeber, the steelworker, says he supports Sen. Clinton for her experience and positions. He carries a book bag to work every day with his lunch and a newspaper inside and a Clinton button pinned to the outside. Some days, he says, he turns the bag around so the Clinton button doesn't show; he says he doesn't like dealing with his co-workers' derogatory comments. Mr. Leihgeber says he wouldn't be heckled so much for an Obama pin.

"People don't want to speak out against Obama because of the fear of being seen as racist," he says. "It's easier to say you want to keep a woman barefoot and pregnant....You can call a woman anything."

In national polls, white men overall have been more favorable than white women toward Sen. Obama. In a survey done in September by Pew Research, white men overall gave Sen. Obama more positive ratings than did white women, in categories including whether he was tough, smart, friendly and honest. In the same categories, white males gave Sen. Clinton consistently lower marks than white women did.
For some women, that confirms that sexism runs deeper than racism among many men. "My mother, who was the first woman lawyer in a big D.C. firm, always said that blacks got in before women," says Caryl Rivers, a professor at Boston University who supports Sen. Clinton. "Then the white guys figured everything had gone to hell anyway, so they might as well let the women in."
In Youngstown, Sen. Obama is seen through the prism of the city's changing racial makeup. Over the years, as Youngstown has become poorer, many whites have moved to surrounding towns and the minority population has increased. The Youngstown area is now one of the most segregated communities in the country, according to the 2000 U.S. Census.

Everyday racial tensions and animosity run high. A white cook at a local bar says he won't bother voting in this election. "What's the point," he says, rubbing his skin. "We're already a minority."
But for some white men here, Sen. Obama's appeal is that he is different from many black leaders they have seen in the past. "The guys I work with, they know Jesse Jackson and they know Al Sharpton. They call them all sorts of terrible things," says Robert Hagan, a locomotive engineer and a state representative, referring to these politicians' sometimes-inflammatory rhetoric and focus on black causes. "They don't talk about Obama like that."

Those here who dislike Sen. Obama tend to criticize what they call his empty rhetoric, his lack of experience and the fear that he would favor blacks and other minorities.

Many working-class men here say they are being lobbied by their teenage and young adult children to vote for Sen. Obama. And some of the area's newer businesses, such as its growing hospitals and the privately run prison, break down some of the racial and gender barriers found in the mills and auto plants that are still overwhelmingly white and male.

At a Teamsters hall here, a dozen burly men in gabardine jackets and baseball caps gather over coffee and overstuffed donuts for a union meeting of prison workers. "There is a misunderstanding that older white guys aren't going to vote for a black man," says Jim Marcum, a job counselor at the prison. "That's not true." Mr. Marcum says he voted for Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. This time he plans to vote for Sen. Obama. "He's a breath of fresh air."
Natalie Grant, a black woman who works with Mr. Marcum at the prison, walks in and grabs some coffee.

"You really voting for Obama?" she says.

"Yes," says Mr. Marcum.

Ms. Grant laughs. "I knew there was some brother in you," she says. Mr. Marcum smiles.
Three years ago, Youngstown elected its first African-American mayor, Jay Williams, a 36-year-old with little political experience who ran as an independent promising to unite the city. Mr. Williams won with the heavy support of the city's black community -- about 40% of the vote -- but also drew white votes from working-class and college neighborhoods.

"A lot of people thought Youngstown was 20 or 30 years away from this kind of change," says Mr. Williams, who has endorsed Sen. Obama.

Women, too, have made inroads in local politics. In 1994, there were no women elected at the county level, where real power lies. Today, women serve as county commissioner and treasurer, and hold several elected judicial seats.

"We deal with women at work," says John Lesicko, a teamster official. "We deal with HR people. She might be a" -- he raises his hands to form imaginary quote marks and silently mouths a slur -- "but we deal with her."

Leaning Toward Clinton

Across town, 14 steelworkers brought together to talk about the election say they predominantly supported Sen. John Edwards before he dropped out of the race. Now 13 of them say they are leaning toward Sen. Clinton. They praise her experience and toughness in withstanding the Monica Lewinsky scandal. Former President Bill Clinton remains enormously popular here, with many blue-collar men saying that they like the fact that he would be in the White House as well.

"I think she has the right person in the bedroom with her," says Joe Marion, who works at the local prison.

Betty Ingramn doesn't buy it. The lone African-American in the room full of steelworkers, she works as a secretary in the steel mill and is the head of the clerical workers union.

"It's a race thing," she says of her colleagues' support for Sen. Clinton. "They can't handle it, an African-American being over them." As an African-American union official, Ms. Ingramn says she has battled constantly to be included in meetings and decisions.

Both Sen. Clinton's and Sen. Obama's campaigns say race and gender shouldn't be a consideration, and that they are targeting blue-collar voters with appeals to economic issues that hit working-class families.

"Some may call this the 'rust belt,' but that's not what I see," Sen. Clinton said in a visit to the General Motors plant here last week. "I see some of the hardest workers in the world. I see great universities and strong communities. I see a 21st-century manufacturing belt. An innovation belt. An opportunity belt."

Sen. Obama, in a visit to a GM plant in Wisconsin, similarly laid out plans to help workers and create jobs. "I won't stand here and tell you that we can -- or should -- stop free trade. We can't stop every job from going overseas," he said. "But I also won't stand here and accept an America where we do nothing to help American workers who have lost jobs and opportunities because of these trade agreements."

The real test will come in November.

"I think if we nominate one of these two, we are talking about McCain as president," says Bob Rodkey, a firefighter who doesn't like either candidate but plans to vote for Sen. Clinton in the primary. "I talk to a lot of my Democratic friends and they are going to cross over in November or not vote at all. We don't have a viable candidate. Neither of them is one of us."

Mr. Rodkey says he will vote for a Democrat in the fall. He plans to urge his friends to do the same. "Hopefully they will listen to the message, and not who's delivering it," he says.

Write to Jonathan Kaufman at jonathan.kaufman@wsj.com

Olafur Eliasson

Finally caught the exhibit at the SFMOMA (it was the very last day) and boy, am I glad I did! If this Icelandic artist's work comes to a gallery near you - check it out. It's very interactive and somehow makes you feel like a child again, just discovering light and the color spectrum and texture and well, everything. I went with a friend and our favorite part was a monochromatic room - basically the walls, ceiling, etc. were all yellow, but people and objects only came through in black and white. It felt very much like an old film. Here's a selection from the SFMOMA exhibit:

Independent Hope

*from The Economist (I plan on posting a reaction sometime over the weekend, so stay tuned!)

A declaration on independents
Feb 14th 2008

Independents are back from the wilderness and ready to determine the outcome of the presidential election

Illustration by Kevin Kallaugher

ONE of the most interesting political videos on YouTube features a young Obama supporter, Derrick Ashong. A camera-wielding interviewer collars Mr Ashong in the street and starts to pepper him with questions. The interviewer assumes that his victim's casual appearance—he is wearing a baseball hat, a shell necklace and is chewing gum—betokens an equally casual approach to politics. “Do you have any specifics?” he demands aggressively. “What are their policies?” Mr Ashong delivers a series of carefully argued replies that could form the basis of an editorial in a serious newspaper. The interviewer is increasingly abashed. But, having delivered his defence of Barack Obama, Mr Ashong concludes the interview by saying “I'm independent. I'm not a Democrat. I might vote for McCain.”

Independent voters have been marginalised over the past decade. Armies of partisans have marched over the political battlefield. Elections have been much more about energising the faithful than reaching out to wavering voters. The 2004 election was the electoral equivalent of the Somme—trench warfare between the blue army and the red army enlivened by the occasional daring raid.

There are growing signs that this era of American politics is coming to a close. George Bush, America's polariser-in-chief, has an approval rating of little more than 30% at a time when Arnold Schwarzenegger, an advocate of “post-partisanship”, scores double that. Colin Powell, no mean judge of the American mood, has declared that he will vote for the presidential candidate who can “do the best job for America”, whether that candidate is “a Republican, a Democrat or an independent”. Michael Barone, the co-author of the indispensable “Almanac of American Politics”, speculates that we are moving from an era of “trench warfare” to an era of “open-field politics”.

Over 30% of Americans call themselves independents—more than call themselves Republicans and about the same as call themselves Democrats. These independents are younger and better educated than the average American. They are pragmatic, anti-ideological and results-oriented, hostile to both Big Labour and Big Government but quite prepared to see the government take an active role in dealing with problems like global warming.

Over the past decade or so, independents have been forced to act like either “soft” Republicans or “soft” Democrats—reluctant conscripts into one or other of America's armies. But in this election the opposite is happening—more and more partisans are thinking and acting like independents. Polls show that at least two-thirds of Americans think the country is headed in the wrong direction. A Washington Post poll last year showed that 77% of voters would consider voting for an independent.

By a chapter of accidents the Republicans have ended up with their one presidential candidate ideally suited to attracting independents. The party's thumping in the 2006 mid-term election was almost entirely due to its waning fortunes among independent voters. Conservatives pulled the Republican lever in the usual numbers. But independents voted for Democrats by 57% to 39%. John McCain is thus a gift from heaven.

The very qualities of Mr McCain that infuriate Republican loyalists endear him to independents. He has frequently clashed with Mr Bush, a man whom independents loathe. He has wrestled with special interests in Washington, and repeatedly gone into battle with his own party, particularly over immigration reform. Mr McCain has demonstrated his strength among independents: he led the field among them by ten points in New York, 23 points in California and 31 points in Illinois.

This gives him a chance of pulling off a surprise upset in the general election. Most analysts expect the Democrats to carry all the states John Kerry won in 2004, plus Ohio, which has shifted to the Democratic column. But Mr McCain might scramble these calculations by winning New Hampshire, where more than 40% of the electorate are independents and where the Arizona senator is almost an honorary citizen. That would give him a 270-268 victory in the electoral college.

A case for Obama?

This suggests Democratic primary voters need to pay close attention to independents. The polls suggest hard-core Democrats would be happy either with Hillary Clinton or Mr Obama. But there is no doubt who does better with independents. Until this week, Mrs Clinton's strength has been her ability to turn out the vote in solid Democratic states such as California and solid Democratic constituencies such as blue-collar voters. But she repels many independents who associate her with Beltway business-as-usual.

In contrast, Mr Obama sounds the themes that most appeal to independents—frustration with America's broken politics; hope of finding pragmatic solutions by reaching across the partisan divide. And independents have not disappointed him. Mr Obama beat Mrs Clinton among such voters almost everywhere, even in her strongest states such as New York and California. A recent Pew poll suggests Mr Obama has a 62% approval rating among independents, the highest of any candidate.

This should weigh heavily on the minds of the Democratic “superdelegates” (office holders and party elders who have an ex officio vote in the convention) if they are called upon to break a tie in the delegate race. Mrs Clinton's biggest problem is not that she is being out-campaigned by the silver-tongued Mr Obama. It is that she seems to belong to the previous era of American politics—the one of battling political machines. Republicans have accidentally stumbled through to the next age of politics, although the message has not yet reached the backwoods wing of the party. The big question now for many Democrats is whether their party can do likewise.

Oh, the things we take for granted...

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/12/world/middleeast/12dubai.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

“Every man looks at a woman in a bathing suit when he sees her,” he said. “What can I do? I’m a normal man.”

Note: To the uptight women with the money to frolick around Dubai in a swimsuit - stop complaing. Seriously, what do you expect?

New blog to keep an eye on...

http://www.itmustbenortherncalifornia.blogspot.com/



Also, read this article on urbanization and check out this cartoon (somewhat controversial, but as for its truth... I haven't decided yet - thoughts?):

Boulder Party

Note to self: post select photographs from this party. Also, feel free to check out this video, from the night's madness.

Bicycles

Excerpts from the Stuff White People Like blog:

Bicycles

"And of course, it goes without saying that white people who ride bikes like to talk about how they are saving the earth. If you know a person who rides to work, you should take them aside and say “Hey, thanks. Sincerely, The Earth.” Then give a thumbs up. That white person will ride home on a cloud."

Sarah Silverman

"WARNING: under no circumstances should you EVER list Dane Cook as your favorite comedian. The wrong kind of white people like him. And mentioning him will cause white people to lose all respect for you."

Unanswered questions for the candidates

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/26/opinion/26debate-questions.html?th&emc=th

There are some GREAT ones in here, but this is probably my favorite:

"Franklin D. Roosevelt, a president you both have evoked, said Americans need fear only fear itself. Under President Bush, Americans have been told to so fear terrorism that the executive branch has been permitted to snoop on citizens, hijack the powers of Congress and torture foreigners. Do you agree that fear of terrorism has been pushed too far, and if so, what measures would you adopt to return the United States to a more normal civilian life?"

Nader

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/26/opinion/26herbert.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin

I'll confess, I don't remember much about elections prior to 2004, mostly because I was too young to vote, therefore, I delayed my caring. However, this article does a great job of summing up (or providing an introductory summary to?) the accomplishments of Ralph Nader. However, it faults him for running for president - "ruining" Gore's chances in 2000. This is one more example of how the two-party system consistently fails the American people. Anyone should have the chance to run for president - and neither they, nor the American people, should have to play a game of prisoner's dilemma by attempting to predict who will run, who will win what votes, will it hurt "our side", etc. As the campaign process has unfolded thus far, does anyone honestly think we can predict this stuff anymore?

"Mr. Nader has every right to run for president. But given the issues he cares about, it’s all too clear why Republicans are delighted that he’s making the race, and there is not a Democratic smile in sight."

Fair enough, Herbert - but I can't helping hoping that more people do throw their hats into the ring - for both parties. C'mon Ron Paul. C'mon Nader. I honestly don't care about specific party politics, and I don't really think most Americans do. (The only people that seem to focus their arguments on what's best for the party etc. are party leaders, not everyday Americans.) Perhaps a preponderance of candidates will spread out the vote more - maybe proving that Americans cannot be classified into two groups - us v. them. I don't really think that would be a bad thing.

This is crap.

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-fi-bankrupt26feb26,1,3097774.story?ctrack=1&cset=true

Beware many of these "mortgage crisis" fixes. In the end, it's going to hurt those of us who don't yet "own" (I use quotes because it turns out that many people now owe more on their homes than they're worth) homes. Friends ask me, why should I care about politics? Because of stuff like this. Ultimately, political choices (particularly in regard to the economy) will affect all of us. Just accept it and start caring. It's in your best interest, believe me.

I'll say it again...

Superdelegates are SUCH B.S.

The claims that only 15% of Democrats may be represented and that independents and Republicans turned out to sabotage the Democratic primary seem ridiculous to me:

"Besides, the delegate totals from primaries and caucuses do not necessarily reflect the will of rank-and-file Democrats. Most Democrats have not been heard from at the polls. We have all been impressed by the turnout for this year’s primaries — clearly both candidates have excited and engaged the party’s membership — but, even so, turnout for primaries and caucuses is notoriously low. It would be shocking if 30 percent of registered Democrats have participated.

"If that is the case, we could end up with a nominee who has been actively supported by, at most, 15 percent of registered Democrats. That’s hardly a grassroots mandate."

"More important, although many states like New York have closed primaries in which only enrolled Democrats are allowed to vote, in many other states Republicans and independents can make the difference by voting in Democratic primaries or caucuses.

"In the Democratic primary in South Carolina, tens of thousands of Republicans and independents no doubt voted, many of them for Mr. Obama. The same rules prevail at the Iowa caucuses, in which Mr. Obama also triumphed.

"He won his delegates fair and square, but those delegates represent the wishes not only of grassroots Democrats, but also Republicans and independents. If rank-and-file Democrats should decide who the party’s nominee is, each state should pass a rule allowing only people who have been registered in the Democratic Party for a given time — not nonmembers or day-of registrants — to vote for the party’s nominee."

First of all, if Democrats felt passionately about a certain candidate, they would no doubt go to the polls on their respective primary dates and make their voices heard. Since they didn't, assuming they would have voted for Hillary Clinton seems a little presumptuous, no?

Secondly, Ferraro claims that superdelegates "were created to lead, not to follow. They were, and are, expected to determine what is best for our party and best for the country." It seems clear what active Democrats have thought is best for the country up to this point. It seems clear what independents and wavering Republicans have thought is best for the country up to this point (given both groups' reactions to the McCain candidacy, I seriously doubt they're trying to sabotage the Democratic Party's chances). Considering the wishes of both of these groups would no doubt give some indication as to what the people believe is best for our country (and the last time I checked, Republicans, independents, and all other citizens, affiliated or not, are still part of our country, no?). So why argue against superdelegates choosing positions that represent their constituencies? At least there's a pure, traceable reason for that. To me, it also seems the safest political route. Without a clear history of agreement with a certain candidate over policy and practice (which, considering the similarities between the two candidates' policies, I imagine would be hard to find), one could seemingly wonder what sort of backroom agreements had been made in exchange for support. I'm not going to lie; this worries me.

Thirdly, I find the entire concept a bit insulting. As a voting American, I like to think that those who are charged with the stewardship of our democracy respect my choices, and those of my fellow Americans. I understand that a need for superdelegates (or some other solution) was required in the past, but I do not believe that it was a recurring problem that necessitated the permanent superdelegate fixtures. Why complicate the party system for voters?

Speaking of the overly-complicated party system, I doubt if half of Democrats in the shafted states of Florida and Michigan really understand why they're votes (which Ferraro, among other HC supporters, are now fighting to include in the delegate count) were not counted. That being said, arguing for inclusion at this point seems both fiercely hypocritical and tragically pathetic. No one can really say what the count in those states truly represents - considering voters were told they wouldn't be counted, my educated guess is that many of them stayed home. Perhaps only those with nothing better to do on a Tuesday (like, say, senior citizens - a demographic segment that Clinton has a commanding lead in), actually took the time to go to the polls. While I believe that Florida does have a high concentration of these folks, and perhaps Hillary still would have won if it were a legitimate primary, no one can know for certain. So why retroactively count those votes if it were not an act of desperation? But I'm sure all of you know this already.

In short, I found Geraldine Ferraro's entire argument a bit flat. Particularly as a woman, I respect her and all of her accomplishments, but I cannot help but exercise my mind, as a woman, as an American, as a human being - and my mind believes the entire concept of superdelegates to be both wrong and offensive. For further explanation, see my rant on the two party system. I think if we are to start trusting ourselves on matters of national policy, first we need our governmental leaders to trust us as well. Seeing our choices enacted is a thrill that many Americans have sorely missed during the previous administration's tenure. I think a reversal of the will of the voting public would be devastating at this point, both to the upcoming political competition and to the very future of Americans. A large demographic group is just beginning to flex their political muscles, and to shut them out now, early in their lives, is to encourage apathy and disengagement in the future. Despite what they try to tell me on the news, I still believe most human beings are good people, most Americans are good people. I trust them. The ones I don't trust are those who think they know what's best for the country, without listening to the country at all.

Fresh ideas

This article examines the claim that what we need isn't good ideas, it's a political process that supports them (made by Barack Obama). The columnist argues that we need both, particularly regarding climate change.

"As it happens, a publication called Democracy: A Journal of Ideas has a neat climate proposal in its next issue. Instead of charging drivers for car insurance at a fixed rate, why not link the insurance cost to the number of miles driven? That would create a new incentive to drive less, cutting carbon dioxide emissions by around 130 million tons per year, according to author Jason Bordoff. Obama should be celebrating this sort of creative thought, not pretending that we have enough of it already."

How do you choose?

This article put into words a lot of the concerns that seem to simmer in my subconscious all the time. I have personally, made a lot of these decisions on a whim, justifying my choice with, at the very least, the opportunity to learn what I really want. So I move to San Francisco - at the very least, I'll learn if it's a city I could spend my life in. Obviously, there are many other factors that come into play, but I often feel overwhelmed by options. I know many others of my generation feel the same. If you have additional thoughts, please share. **And thank you Garima, for e-mailing me this article and sharing your story (your early twenties are even harder when you have a family/culture pressuring you about marriage as well -- my parents are, fortunately, quite content with my decision to delay that part of life).

I CAN DO ANYTHING, SO HOW DO I CHOOSE? WITH COUNTLESS OPTIONS AND ALL THE FREEDOM I'LL EVER NEED, COMES THE PRESSURE TO FIND THE PERFECT LIFE.

NEWSWEEK

For the most part, my women friends and I were kids of upper-middle-class privilege, raised to believe that, with hard work and a little courage, the world was ours. We climbed mountains at summer camp, went to Europe on high-school class trips and took family vacations to New York City and the Grand Canyon. Our parents, like theirs before them, told their kids they could go anywhere and do anything. We took them at their word.

By the time we hit adulthood, technology and globalization had brought the world to our doorstep. Now in our mid-20s, we're unsteadily navigating a barrage of choices our mothers never had the chance to make. No one can complain about parents who started sentences with "When you're president..." But we are now discovering the difficulty of deciding just what makes us happy in a world of innumerable options.

Three years ago my friends and I barreled out of the University of Wisconsin ready to make our mark on the world. Julia headed to France to teach English. I started law school in Minneapolis. Marie and Alexis searched for work in San Francisco. Bridget started an internship in D.C. Kristina landed a job in Ireland. The list goes on. Scattering to our respective destinations, we were young enough to follow our crazy dreams but old enough to fend for ourselves in the real world. At a time when our lives were undergoing dramatic changes, so was America. Three months after receiving our diplomas, the Twin Towers came crashing down. We realized that, in more ways than one, the world was scarier and more complex than we'd ever imagined.

Since graduation, we've struggled to make our own happiness. It seems that having so many choices has sometimes overwhelmed us. In the seven years since I left home for college, I've had 13 addresses and lived in six cities. How can I stay with one person, at one job, in one city, when I have the world at my fingertips?

Moving from one place to the next, bouncing from job to job, my friends and I have experienced the world, but also gotten lost in it. There have been moments of self-doubt, frantic calls cross-country. ("I don't know a soul here!" "Do I really want to be a __?") Frustrated by studying law, I joined friends in San Francisco to waitress for a summer and contemplate whether to return to school in Minnesota. Unhappy and out of work in Portland, Molly moved to Chicago. Loni broke up with a boyfriend and packed her tiny Brooklyn apartment into a U-Haul, heading for Seattle. Others took jobs or entered grad school anywhere from Italy to L.A. Some romances and friendships succumbed to distance, career ambition or simply growing up. We all lost some sleep at one point or another, at times feeling utterly consumed by cities of thousands, even millions, knowing that even local friends were just as transient as we were.

Like so many women my age, I remain unmarried at an age when my mother already had children. She may have had the opportunity to go to college, but she was expected to marry soon after. While my friends and I still feel the pressure to marry and have children, we've gained a few postcollege years of socially accepted freedom that our mothers never had.

The years between college and marriage are in many ways far more self-defining than any others. They're filled with the simplest, yet most complex, decisions in life: choosing a city, picking a career, finding friends and a mate--in sum, building a happy and satisfying life. For me and for my group of friends, these years have been eye-opening, confusing and fabulous at the same time.

The more choices you have, the more decisions you must make--and the more you have yourself to blame if you wind up unhappy. There is a kind of perverted contentedness in certainty born of a lack of alternatives. At my age, my mother, whether she liked it or not, had fewer tough decisions to make. I don't envy the pressure she endured to follow a traditional career path and marry early. But sometimes I envy the stability she had.

Once again I've been unable to resist the lure of a new city. So, as I start my legal career in Chicago, I'm again building friendships from scratch, learning my way around a strange new place. Yes, my friends and I could have avoided the loneliness and uncertainty inherent in our journeys, and gone back to our hometowns or stayed in the college town where we had each other. But I doubt any one of us would trade our adventures for that life. I have a sense of identity and self-assurance now that I didn't have, couldn't have had, when I graduated from college. And I know someday I'll look back on this time--before I had a spouse, a home and children to care for--and be thankful for the years that just belonged to me.

URL: http://www.newsweek.com/id/55960

Things to remember

A coworker recommended the band The Noisettes - described it as Billie Holiday backed by the White Stripes. Check them out.

Also, remember how adorable your little sister is. Here is today's anecdote, from an e-mail I sent out earlier:

I just got off the phone with my little sister Katie and I forget why, but I jokingly threatened to divorce her as sisters. She responds with: "You'd never do it. You'd die without my love." I laughed and said, "You think so?" Katie: "It's going to be a long, cold winter."

Barackula

"Barackula is a short political horror rock musical about young Barack Obama having to stave off a secret society of vampires at Harvard when he was inducted into presidency at the Harvard Law Review in 1990. Obama (Justin Sherman) finds that he must convince the vampire society that opposing political philosophies can coexist or else the society may transform Obama to the dark side. Reminiscent to Michael Jackson's Thriller and a slight infusion of Jesus Christ Superstar, the film solely depicts Obama’s strengths, merits and genuineness while being quietly respectful towards the other presidential candidates."


Wow. Thanks Brigit for sharing.

Real store in South Korea

Thanks Olivia for sharing.

Thanks Evan

Stuff White People Like

Clearly I don't agree with all of them (I personally hate knowing what's best for poor people, but there you go!), but amusing nonetheless.

Ah, grade school nostalgia.

Science fair experiments

I don't even know what to think.

First of all, there are quite a few mistakes. "No Experience" being one (he was a senator. Also, I'm pretty sure it would be "a Hawaiian" not "an Hawaiian". Sigh.

Super scary.

Referenced in an interesting editorial in the Financial Times, NYU professor Nouriel Roubini believes the U.S. is headed for a catastrophic economic collapse. In a 12 step list published in early February, Roubini outlines the criteria needed to reach this stage of meltdown, from everyday headlines including the worst housing recession so far in history (check) and further losses in subprime-related debt (check) to headlines yet to be published- a wave of corporate defaults and the collapse of hedgefunds.

A little late, but...

The Blue-eyed Rule

On the Presidents’ Day observance meant to celebrate our chief executives, it’s worth considering one striking trait that nearly all these men seem to have shared —an astonishing 38 of our 43 presidents had blue eyes.

Another good quote.

"Service is the rent we pay for being. It is the very purpose of life, and not something you do in your spare time."

--Marian Wright Edelman
children's activist

SO something I would do.

For Las Vegas concierges, no request too crazy

Concierges at luxury hotels may be used to receiving over-the-top requests, but in Las Vegas, the requests can be truly outlandish. One concierge describes a request from a guest to have a mariachi band follow him around the casino all night, and another says a guest wanted to have actors portraying Oompa Loompa characters brought to a party.

Wowza!

This may be the best music video I've ever seen. Kudos to Mike Barnes/Ian Parker for introducing me to it (i.e. forcing me to watch it). Actually, to really get the full effect, you should download the high resolution video here.

Just one thought.

Superdelegates are total B.S.

How to Shower

Happy Valentine's Day!

Ugh - if only I didn't have to work late tonight...

http://sanfrancisco.going.com/event-231034;Pillow_Fight

The spirit of collective fun is one of my favorite things about San Francisco. This seems like a pretty awesome way to celebrate the holiday.

WellCorps and Wood

Haha, so WellCorps is a San Francisco-based nutritional supplement company that produces products that would probably be supported by Dr. Fünke's 100 Percent Natural Good Time Family Band Solution. They are also the purveyers of this fine product, whose label cracks me up:

More love quotes

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/02/13/DDN3O2606.DTL

So something I would say...

"And I thought, 'Wow, she looks hot.' Then I realized I was looking at myself in a mirror." (Woman to friends, overheard across the street from Cole Coffee in Oakland by Derek McCulloch.)

Others that amused me:

"He's so cheap, he could have gasoline dripping from his nipples and he still wouldn't drive his car across the bay to see me." (Woman in line at Noe Valley Bank of America, overheard by Dennis Gordon.).

"She's Buddhist, he's Catholic, so they're meeting each other halfway and having the wedding in Vegas." (Woman to woman, overheard at a holiday party by Kareasa Wilkins.)

"Tell him if he says anything about last night, I'm never sleeping with his girlfriend again." (Woman on cell phone, overheard in parking lot of Kaiser Hospital in Redwood City by Capt. Harry.)

Bay Area Relationship Quotes

Pretty amusing.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/02/12/DDJPUV2SH.DTL

A selection of my favorites:

"I'm not a bad guy ... a little creepy maybe, but not a bad guy." (Man to man, overheard walking near the UC Berkeley campus by June Vonich.)

"How is it that I get set up on a blind date with the one guy in Santa Cruz that's a Republican?' (Woman on cell phone, overheard on Pacific Avenue in Santa Cruz by Amy Wolitzer.)

"I'm glad you asked. Yes, I was once charged with attempted murder." (Couple on what seemed to be first date, overheard at NOPA by B. Stormont.)

"Barack Obama. We've made it our new safe word." (Woman to woman, overheard at the bar at Cafe Rouge by Desmond Yen.)

"Yes, I told him I have a boyfriend and a girlfriend. I mean I live in San Francisco, don't I?" (Person on cell phone on Montgomery Street, overheard by N. Stricker.)

Carbon footprint

Finally got around to calculating mine via http://www.carbonfootprint.com/calculator.aspx.

I got 7.6 tonnes, mostly from my flights. Anyone else want to share theirs? Apparently the world target is 2 tonnes per capita - so I've got a ways to go. Guess I could move closer to home...

Thanks Kate for this quote

"I know the pundits, and I know what they say: The math doesn't work out," Huckabee said Saturday morning in Washington. "Well, I didn't major in math, I majored in miracles. And I still believe in those, too."




Priceless.