Candidate July 23-27 June 26-29 Pollster McCain 47 45 46 Obama 44 41 44 Barr 3 5 2.5 So Obama is still behind by a few points, but within the margin of error (832 LVs, July 23-27, MOE +/- 3.4%) From Public Policy Polling’s analysis: Obama leads 53-38 among respondents most concerned with the economy, and 58-32 with those whose … Read More
Little Tremble in California
The Nevada Seismological Lab Helicorder webcam (in my righthand column) caught it: UPDATE: Happened six minutes ago as I write this. Data from USGS says it was a 5.8. Epicenter is 3 km ( 2 mi) SW of Chino Hills, CA, which is an LA suburb. Happened at 2:42:15 pm. EST, which is 11:42:15 am Pacific Time. News reports just … Read More
RIP Randy Pausch
Last year, Carnegie Mellon University ran a series of lectures entitled "The Last Lecture", where professors were asked to think about what matters to them most and give a hypothetical final talk to students. One of the professors who spoke was Randy Pausch, a Carnegie Mellon University computer scientist. Unlike the other lecturers in the series, Randy knew it was … Read More
Local Politics: Dem In NC-11 Running Virtually Opposed
From Kos: At one point, the GOP was bursting with enthusiasm about gaining back their long-lost and well-deserved House majority, and high on their target list for this goal were seats like North Carolina’s Republican-leaning 11th District, now represented by freshman Democrat Heath Shuler. Except that their candidate has now suspended his campaign. Republican Congressional candidate Carl Mumpower has suspended … Read More
Jesse Helms — Leader Against HIV?
What is Elizabeth Dole smoking? From the Congressional Record dated July 14, 2008: SA 5074. Mrs. DOLE submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill S. 2731, to authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2009 through 2013 to provide assistance to foreign countries to combat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie … Read More
RIP Olive Riley
At 108, she was unofficially recognized as the world’s older blogger. Her blog — The Life of Riley She died this past weekend from, well, from being 108 years old.
Man Of Principle
Not sure I would have the guts to do this, but good for him: L.F. Eason III gave up the only job he’d ever had rather than lower a flag to honor former U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms. Eason, a 29-year veteran of the state Department of Agriculture, instructed his staff at a small Raleigh lab not to fly the U.S. … Read More
Jesse’s Grill
You might wonder why I havent opined on the passing of Jesse Helms and his bigoted foul legacy. It’s because I was taught not to speak ill of the dead. Besides, we all know he’s in hell. UPDATE: But here’s a column from David Broder written in 2001 (when Helms was still alive), which pretty much sums it up with … Read More
Hurricane Season
Not for nothing, but it seems to me that if you name a hurricane "Bertha", you’re just asking for trouble. Tropical Storm Bertha gathers steam in Atlantic
Heller Decision In
5-4 in favor of individual gun rights, meaning that you can own a gun for self-defense and hunting (rather than for being in the militia, which arugably is what the Second Amendment says). Justice Scalia wrote the opinion, joined by Chief Justice Roberts and Justices Kennedy, Thomas, and Alito. Justice Breyer dissented, joined by Justices Stevens, Souter, and Ginsburg; there’s … Read More
Rush’s Not-So-Subtle Racism
Here’s the big fat one, on his radio show, talking about the recent floods: Limbaugh: I want to know. I look at Iowa, I look at Illinois—I want to see the murders. I want to see the looting. I want to see all the stuff that happened in New Orleans. I see devastation in Iowa and Illinois that dwarfs what … Read More
The Forecast Calls For Smoke
Smoke?!? Really? Never heard that before. But sure enough, that’s what the forecast says: "Partly cloudy with isolated thunderstorms possible. Areas of smoke reducing visibilities at times." The reason, as it turns out: Smoke and haze wafting over the region from two North Carolina wildfires should begin to clear later this morning, according to the National Weather Service. The sources … Read More
Words vs. Deeds: McCain
Let the McCain basking begin — John McCain, speaking in Katrina-devestated New Orleans — June 3, 2008, on Obama: The wrong change looks not to the future but to the past for solutions that have failed us before and will surely fail us again. I have a few years on my opponent, so I am surprised that a young man … Read More