Ike, can I shake your hand?

Ike, which was probably named after the South Park character, is now a Cat. 2 hurricane, anticipated to become a Cat. 3.

The National Hurricane Center calls it a "large tropical cyclone," which makes it sound WAY cooler than it really is.

Ikie is supposed to hit Texas on Saturday, leaving some Texans pissed with it's interference with the Arkansas game.

I say keep the game on schedule - and let it really filter out the real Horns fans from the fakes. Let's see how many chicks will still dress all cute just to sit in other people's designated seats, hoping the Megatron captures their good side. Grrr.

And I hope that the next hurricane that's abrewing will be named Kenny.

Real Clear Politics Shows McCain in the Lead

Although the 2008 presidential race is extremely close, most polls have shown Obama in the lead by around 5 points. This means +/- and this is why even with the polls any candidate could win. However I was reading today that McCain has actually taken the lead in the polls by an average of +/- 2.9 points. Although this is still a very close race it is still very interesting considering Obama has been in the lead thus far. Here are the polls.

General Election: McCain vs. Obama
RCP Electoral Map | Changes in Electoral Count | Map With No Toss Ups | No Toss Up Changes
Polling Data
Poll Date Sample McCain (R) Obama (D) Spread
RCP Average 09/05 - 09/07 -- 48.3 45.4 McCain +2.9
ABC News/Wash Post 09/05 - 09/07 LV 49 47 McCain +2
CBS News 09/05 - 09/07 655 RV 46 44 McCain +2
USA Today/Gallup 09/05 - 09/07 823 LV 54 44 McCain +10

CNN 09/05 - 09/07 942 RV 48 48 Tie
Rasmussen Tracking 09/05 - 09/07 3000 LV 48 47 McCain +1
Hotline/FD Tracking 09/05 - 09/07 924 RV 44 44 Tie
Gallup Tracking 09/05 - 09/07 2733 RV 49 44 McCain +5

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/us/general_election_mccain_vs_obama-225.html

Russel Brand; Worst VMA Host Ever

I usually watch the VMA's every year and have been happy or satisfied with who MTV decides to pick to host the VMA's. However, this year is the exception. I didn't think Russel Brand did a good job hosting at all. I slightly giggled sometimes but other than that I didn't understand why he was chosen to host this event. Overall I thought the VMA's were good, way better than last year anyways but I wasn't feeling Russel Brand. What did y'all think?

An Embarrassment to Sarahs Everywhere

Educate yourself about Sarah Palin:
(from MoveOn.org )

• Palin recently said that the war in Iraq is "God's task." She's even admitted she hasn't thought about the war much—just last year she was quoted saying, "I've been so focused on state government, I haven't really focused much on the war in Iraq." ^{1, 2}
• Palin has actively sought the support of the fringe Alaska Independence Party. Six months ago, Palin told members of the group—who advocate for a vote on secession from the union—to "keep up the good work" and "wished the party luck on what she called its 'inspiring convention.'" ³
• Palin wants to teach creationism in public schools. She hasn't made clear whether she thinks evolution is a fact.⁴
• Palin doesn't believe that humans contribute to global warming. Speaking about climate change, she said, "I'm not one though who would attribute it to being manmade." ⁵
• Palin has close ties to Big Oil. Her inauguration was even sponsored by BP. ⁶
• Palin is extremely anti-choice. She doesn't even support abortion in the case of rape or incest. ⁷
• Palin opposes comprehensive sex-ed in public schools. She's said she will only support abstinence-only approaches. ⁸
• As mayor, Palin tried to ban books from the library. Palin asked the library how she might go about banning books because some had inappropriate language in them—shocking the librarian, Mary Ellen Baker. According to Time, "news reports from the time show that Palin had threatened to fire Baker for not giving "full support" to the mayor." ⁹
• She DID support the Bridge to Nowhere (before she opposed it). Palin claimed that she said "thanks, but no thanks" to the infamous Bridge to Nowhere. But in 2006, Palin supported the project repeatedly, saying that Alaska should take advantage of earmarks "while our congressional delegation is in a strong position to assist." ¹⁰

Sources
1. "Palin: Iraq war 'a task that is from God'," Associated Press, September 3, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=24701&id=13709-6374540-VbK.KZx&t=6

2. "Palin wasn't 'really focused much' on the Iraq war," ThinkProgress, August 30, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=24702&id=13709-6374540-VbK.KZx&t=7

3. "The Sarah Palin Digest," ThinkProgress, September 4, 2008
http://thinkprogress.org/palin-digest/

4. "McCain and Palin differ on issues," Associated Press, September 3, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=24703&id=13709-6374540-VbK.KZx&t=8

5. Ibid

6. The Sarah Palin Digest," ThinkProgress, September 4, 2008
http://thinkprogress.org/palin-digest/

7. Ibid

8. Ibid.

9. "Mayor Palin: A Rough Record," Time, September 2, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=24704&id=13709-6374540-VbK.KZx&t=9

10. The Sarah Palin Digest," ThinkProgress, September 4, 2008
http://thinkprogress.org/palin-digest/

This is a designated "no cussing" zone

There is a no cussing club. It has a video:



Bonus:

Chinese=Cheaters?

Right before the 2008 Olympic Qualifying round in gymnastics the U.S. team challenged that the Chinese girls were under the age of 16. If you are not familiar with the rules it is as fallows. You must be 16 or be turning 16 years of age the same year that the Olympics takes place. The Chinese reportedly showed the passports of all the girls and the FIG Board let them compete.

As I was watching the Olympics I too was wondering how old the girls on the Chinese team were. Some of the girls looked at least 13 years old. Well, today on the Celebrity Gossip Column Perez Hilton, there was a blog about how a hacker has found proof that one of the girls competing was only 14 years old. This is the same Chinese girl who was given the gold medal in the Individual Competition on bars when she tied with Nastia Liukin, and personally I thought they both deserved gold instead of giving Nastia the Silver medal.

Perez Hilton just reported that the Board is going to investigate the hackers evidence. Should the Chinese be stripped of their medals if they did cheat? I think they should and I also think that Nastia Liukin should be given the Gold on Bars! Clearly, looking at the scoring compared to the Chinese it seemed like the judges were giving the U.S. girls lower scores than they deserved. And, if the Chinese are guilty we will get what we deserve, more medals on the individual events and the Gold as a team.

Here is the Link to the blog:

Twilight News!

The Twilight premiere has been moved to 11/21/08 instead of the original date 12/12/08!