Fucking Old People

Damnit, my man Obama is losing. I'm going to go kick a child now.

The Politics of Hope

Change is in the Air - Andrew Sullivan

I get the feeling, much like the Anchoress, that this year of electoral politics will throw the populous into a turmoil. but after years of bad economic indicators and a malaise among the people, I also get the feeling that this election cycle will raise people's spirits and might even keep the nation out of a recession. The fact that my entire family is excited now about politics since Iowa, that any mention of politics leads to a bare minimum 20 minute discussion, gives me serious hope for what will come.

The Gift of Hip Hop

The U2 Factor - Matt Yglesias

I understand the need to connect to an audience through music and using a politically-active band like U2 is a smart choice, but deep down I want to hear Sen. Obama come out on stage to Bring the Noize by Public Enemy, or better yet Testify by Kanye. I mean, not to throw the race card out there like that or stereotype the man, but he must have listened to some hip-hop in his younger years.

Landwarrior Come to the Civilians

Wearable Computing: The Open Wearable Computing Framework - Trendhunter

Now this what I have been waiting for; a functioning web-interface that get close to direct neural implants. Of course, I don't foresee people suddenly wearing these clunky devices but still, the effort is real and that makes me supremely happy.

Realism versus "Realism"

Quote of the Day - Andrew Sullivan

I thought that moment in the New Hampshire debate when Sen. Clinton stopped Sens. Edwards and Obama with her so-call 'reality-check' was tacky and shrill. Sullivan here, points to a comment by Sen. Obama in his new stump speech that tackles the 'reality-check' idea rather well by noting that JFK didn't place his policy decision to announce a goal of going to the moon on the alter of that cynical 'reality-check'. It's fairly obvious from the history of the U.S. that when Americans are called upon, and I mean seriously called upon, they rise to the occasion. The idea that realism as an ideology cannot contain some idealism and hope is wrong. What realism does call for is a plan to turn that idealism and hope into reality.

Good Ideas Caught Smoking in the Bathroom with Bad Ideas

Uh, Oh: U.S. Special Forces May Head to Pakistan - Noah Shachtman @ The Danger Room

Now, we've heard Sen. Obama's desire to send American forces into Pakistan if he had 'actionable intelligence' that pointed to Osama Bin Laden being in Pakistan. And we've heard how this would end up as another boondoggle for U.S. forces as without permission by the Pakistani government we might inadvertantly topple the government. Now we have some reporting here by the fellows and friends of the Danger Room saying that U.S. forces are being assembled for possible incursions into western Pakistan where many Taliban and Al Qaeda are said to have gain a foothold for attacks into Afghanistan against NATO forces. This area of Pakistan is a traditionally tribal one and one prone to supporting the radical actions of the jihadists in the area. From what these two new Danger Room bloggers are saying, such incursions are too little, too late and would do more harm than good in stablizing Pakistan (which I think it bears reminding, holds nuclear-armed missles, among other things).
Generalized chaos in a certain region is typically good for the assaulting forces as it gives them time to act before their opposing forces can reassemble, but in areas like western Pakistan and eastern Afghanistan, this kind of tactic doesn't often work as local knowledge gives the defending forces a distinct advantage. Moreover, this generalized chaos would not remain contained in the region. Military action in this region often reverberates through the country in the form of politics and since we are trying to maintain a stable political situation, particularly at this time in Pakistan's history (re: Bhutto's assassination), it doesn't make any kind of sense to send in U.S. forces.

I Need a Witness!

Anne Frank's Diary to be Made into a Musical - Guardian Unlimited

God, please, if you ever intervene in human events, please, for the love of Christ, have a hip-hop song about how hard it is out there for a Jew.