A couple of related videos. First, the truth about what a crappy car the Toyota Prius is:

Second (courtesy of Blogdaughter Teresa of Technicalities), how to dispose of your crappy Prius should you accidentally end up owning one:

Posted by: Harvey at 07:33 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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I counted only one sentence in there that wasn't of the "guns are Satan" variety:

Least. Objective. Story. Ever.

UPDATE 8:45PM - What if they're right?

Posted by: Harvey at 04:05 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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From my first post until this one.

Give or take a few hours.

To help me celebrate, you can leave a comment for me, and include a link to something that's either "delightful" or "disturbing". You don't have to mention which it's supposed to be.

I'll start:

Pictures of naked women. But they're in famous works of art, so it's actually intellectual and classy. But the entire montage is to stripper music.

I found it delightful.

Posted by: Harvey at 11:44 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Well, no, not quite yet.

That would be Saturday, June 21st, 2008, which is five years after Saturday, June 21st, 2003.

Early Saturday, I will have a blogiversary post for you to leave comments on. Here's my request for gifts:

Leave a link to something that's either "delightful" or "disturbing", but don't mention which it is in your comment.

Surprises are fun.

Posted by: Harvey at 04:05 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Right Wing News polled some right wing bloggers (including me) and asked some questions about McCain, Obama & the election:

1) If you had to guess today, who do you think will win the election in November?

Obama - I already explained that one.

2) Who do you think the Democrats' strongest candidate would be in November?

Obama (vice Clinton) - see above

3) In the Senate, do you think the GOP is more likely to...

Lose seats - I think the MSM has done an effective job of tarring & feathering Bush, and there's plenty of spillover for the rest of the party.

4) In the House, do you think the GOP is more likely to...

Lose seats - see above.

5) Do you believe Barack Obama is...

Liberal (vice Moderate) - Socialist, more like, but that wasn't one of the choices.

6) Do you believe Barack Obama is patriotic?

No - a patriot supports the Constitution. Obama doesn't believe that that document limits his powers.

7) Do you believe Barack Obama is an anti-white racist?

No - I'm sure he feels a sense of affinity towards people who share his skin color. Most people do. This affinity may, at times, rise to the level of prejudicial stereotyping. Also fairly common. But blind, ignorant racism? I haven't seen it from him.

Do you believe Barack Obama is a Muslim?

No. Half, by birth, if you can be said to inherit a religion. But I've seen no evidence that he practices or believes in Islam.

9) Do you think Barack Obama is competent and experienced enough to be President?

No. Policy-wise, he's completely ignorant of how free-market economics works. He knows some law, but he doesn't understand what consequences those laws bring about. But more important is the image he projects. When he's off the teleprompter, he stumbles & mumbles and he can be easily knocked off balance. McCain - despite a similar deficiency in the politics of freedom - can at least remain cool under pressure. Probably in large part to his background as a military officer. You can't rattle him. And when he tries to sound tough, he sounds convincing, not petulant. He'll make a good Commander-in-Chief, even though he'll be a bad President. Obama will bungle both jobs.

Posted by: Harvey at 08:02 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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ABC News headline:

Michelle Obama in for 'Very Ugly Stuff'
She's the New Woman Conservatives Love to Hate

All the article's fluff aside, here's the only issue: unfavorable reaction to Michelle's statement: "For the first time in my adult lifetime I'm really proud of my country."

If you try to analyze what kind of person would make such an odd statement, ABC thinks you are "ugly" and "love to hate".

But here's the truth: when someone publicly voices an opinion in favor of a candidate, they should expect those words to be analyzed by bloggers and the press. This applies to everyone, including me.

If Cindy McCain starts stumping for John, then her words can, will, and should be subject to analysis, too.

I don't know if that's "fair", exactly, but it's how the game of politics is played, and since everyone knows the rules going in, it's "fair enough".

When you state your political opinion, choose your words carefully, and be prepared to back up your position if someone questions your meaning.

If you're not up to the task, stay out of the discussion.

Posted by: Harvey at 02:54 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Right:

Wrong:

Posted by: Harvey at 01:52 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Lynn of Violins & Starships linked some presidential candidate answers to (vaguely) science-related policy questions.

If you've been following the candidate news at all, there aren't many surprises, but it's still nice to see it put out in so many words.

Not that these words will have any effect on the outcome of the election, because that's not how America, as a nation, chooses its leaders.

This is why Obama will win:

1) He's better looking

2) His voice is more pleasant-sounding

3) He can sound sincere while making statements designed to appeal to emotions.

He looks good, he sounds good, and he can reach you emotionally.

Since TV became THE method of covering the elections (say about 1960), the leader of the free world has also been the leader in these three categories. Policies & ideas be damned.

The 20% of America's voters who essentially flip a coin on election day will usually flip it for "the charming guy". And that's how elections are won.

So stock up on non-perishables, because it's gonna be a bumpy ride once Carter 2.0 gets the reins.

Posted by: Harvey at 04:29 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Blogdaughter Teresa of Technicalities points out that there's a gaping security hole in my Adobe Flash player.

Since I use Flash all the time for everything from fun little online timewaster games to random video clips, I figured I should get this fixed.

Seriously, I don't have time to deal with a virus.

If you don't either, click the link, and thank Teresa.

Oh, and be sure to patch ALL your browsers on ALL your computers.

Posted by: Harvey at 08:37 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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First two paragraphs:

Australian forces have completed combat operations in Iraq, ending a five-year commitment to the war.

The Australian Army lowered its flag at Camp Terendak in the southern Iraqi city of Talil on Monday, turning over security responsibility for Muthanna and Dhi Qar provinces to U.S. forces. The 550 forces stationed at the camp will return home in the coming weeks.

Then this bit of information which is, I would say, rather important to understanding the story:

About 1,000 Australian troops will remain in and around Iraq in non-combat roles, according to the Ministry of Defence, including providing security for diplomats, conducting maritime surveillance patrols, providing intelligence assistance and conducting logistical operations.

Second paragraph from the end.

So maybe headline should've read "Australia Reduces Troop Levels By 30%" instead of the incredibly misleading "Australia Ends Combat Operations In Iraq"?

Assholes.

CNN, not the Australians.

Except for that asshole Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, for whom, apparently. Bali is just a faded memory.

Posted by: Harvey at 03:41 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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