The Young Turks

These guys have been around for awhile, on Air America, XM radio, but I just discovered them today, and they're great, mainly of course Cenk Uyger. I couldn't stop watching the online show. It's a liberal political show but with an irreverent bent, particularly when it gets around to entertainment and personal stuff. Glenn Greenwald's post today referred to the funny video which I posted two posts ago. Like I wrote, Cenk Uyger was RIGHT ON in his analysis of the mainstream media.

The Young Turks

I'm watching/listening to Cenk now.

It's good enough that I've added a link to them in the right panel.

Slumdog Millionaire - Trailer

Maybe a bit of melodrama to it, but I still want to see this movie. By the director of Trainspotting, Danny Boyle.

How the Mainstream Media Actually Works

Pretty funny and RIGHT ON analysis of the mainstream media.

Brief report on Obama contributors

A short article here in the NY Times about Obama contributors. Turns out the donors may not have been as small as thought. Those $200 contributors were repeat contributors (like me, but just 2 contribs to Obama). Also, though, the percentage of large contributors was not as high as in McCain's or other campaigns.

Something to think about this Thanksgiving

An article here a few years ago in the NY Times (h/t Kos, like I know him, hee hee). I'll feel guilty.

What Happy People Don't Do

Interesting short article here in the NY Times.

Inauguration Info

Here's some information from the Washington Post about the inauguration.

Rahm Emanuel 2005 Roast on C-SPAN

Last Friday evening I got sucked into this often funny roast of Rahm Emanuel on C-SPAN from three years ago that included a number of the Chicago political class (or those with Chicago roots) that are in our national leadership today: Barack Obama, Rahm course, David Axelrod, Hillary Clinton, William Daley (brother and son of Chicago mayors; was in Clinton's admin). Chris Dodd was there as well. I'm not a big fan of Emanuel, but it was interesting to see all these figures together at a lighter event and before the momentous campaign.

1 hr 50 min, but a summary: Dodd at the beginning is funny. Obama about half way through has some good lines and one very good one. Daley and Emanuel later have rapid fire jokes.

See it here.

Progress in Recycling

An encouraging NY Times article on an electronics recycling company in New York.

Letter to the NY Times, on Friedman again

After reading another arrogant Thomas Friedman op-ed here, what I just wrote to the New York Times:

To the Editor,

Thomas Friedman unfortunately illustrates the continued arrogance of American foreign policy in the Middle East (Show Me the Money, Nov 9). In order to show their true support for future President Obama, Mr. Friedman says other nations should "show me the money" to help end the disaster that America has wrought upon Iraq. Rather than expecting money, how about asking nicely for it? How about saying please? It is not fickle for other nations to be turned off by the years of the current administration's bullying and unilateral foreign policy. It is when America shows some humility and respect in its foreign policy, for which there is a good chance in an Obama administration, that it will then regain the affection of other nations and the support needed to deal with ending the war in Iraq and confronting the terrorist threat around the world.

President-Elect Barack Obama in Chicago

Not a bad acceptance speech. Have we seen enough flags in the background though?

Obama Wins

It finally came. Happy day. But a lot of work to do.

NY Times article.

Placeholder for article on Seymour Hersh

The Guardian has an article on Seymour Hersh. Supposedly, a bunch of people want to reveal all the abuses of the Bush administration on inauguration day.

My 2008 Voting

I early voted last week. Tomorrow is the big day. My votes below (I didn't vote in all of the contests that I could have voted for; some had no Dem competition or I knew nothing about the candidates):

President D Barack Obama
U.S. Senate D Rick Noriega
U.S. House, District 3 D Tom Daley
Texas Supreme Court, Chief Justice R Wallace Jefferson
Texas Supreme Court, Place 7 D Sam Houston
Texas Supreme Court, Place 8 D Linda Reyna Yanez
5th Court of Appeals, Place 3 R Mary Murphy
5th Court of Appeals, Place 6 R David Bridges
5th Court of Appeals, Place 8 R Kerry Fitzgerald
Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 3 D Susan Strawn
Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 4 L David Howard
Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 9 R Cathy Cochran
Railroad Commissioner D Mark Thompson
State Board of Education, Dist. 13 D Mavis Best Knight
State Board of Education, Dist. 14 D Edra Bogle