Add Bon Jovi to the growing list of artists who are pissed off that the McCain/Palin campaign is using their music ( Read more... )

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It's one thing to be for something before you're against it.  Usually this involves 2 bills that accomplish similar aims with slightly different caveats or amendments, and these finer points can be legitimate deal-breakers.

But here McCain seems to unwaveringly say he opposes the exact bill he just voted for.  When a journalist questions him on ( Read more... )

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Phase 1 of martial law?  Have either of the major political candidates addressed this?

Sarah Palin is asked about her foreign policy experience in a "town hall" meeting.

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/09/18/epic-fail-palin-cant-answer-softball-question-about-national-security-experience-at-first-town-hall-meeting/

I almost feel some sympathy for her.  When you didn't even have a passport until last year, it's well nigh impossible ( Read more... )

Another brilliant talk by Jonathan Haidt from the TED series.  He explains what makes a person a liberal or a conservative, how both views have value to society, and why the right and the left view morality so differently.

I'm naturally pretty liberal on most issues but after digesting a lot of Haidt's work, I feel like I better understand and ( Read more... )

I really want to like the new Metallica album "Death Magnetic."  Musically it's probably the best thing they've released since the Black Album.  They really do sound reinvigorated, and they've remembered the all-important role of the guitar in their music.  It's even got solos ( Read more... )

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This woman could end up with her finger on the button and you're worried about the Large Hadron Collider???

In this recent interview Palin must not have seriously thought she might get the offer.  If she thought she really had a chance she probably would have prepared a remark that didn't sound so idiotically honest.

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As they say, a 'gaffe' is when you accidentally say what you really think.

Thanks to imlac for this gem.

I've been watching martial arts videos on youtube lately, and there's lots of great fight videos from mma, jiu-jitsu, and various other arts, but what I can't find is a video of anything close to a real fight involving aikido.  You never see aikido in mma fights so I got curious how it would stack up.  Searches for aikido return tons of hits but ( Read more... )

Santa Cruz has had a great run of perfect beach weather lately.  The water is even warm enough to go in without a wetsuit.

Next to the shore there's a big rock, about 15 feet long and 5 feet wide, that sits a few feet out of the water and gets splashed as the waves come in.  The top has patches of moss and tiny sea snails and the sides have ( Read more... )