Chris Reed
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Yolanda posted a message on Twitter
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2008 Debates: Russellreno posted a link
YouTube - The McCain-Obama Post-Debate "Handshake"
Play
Tuesday at 8:32 pm - via Reshare - Link
Did McCain try the tap you on the other shoulder trick on Obama? - AJ Kohn
he's like a petulant child. ugh - Cee Bee
i like that this is on youtube *already* :-D - Karim
That was just odd... why tap his shoulder then back away? - Jason Carreira
HAHAHA AJ... - Amber Horner
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Mark Wilson posted a link
Depeche Mode Sign to EMI, Prep New Album for April
Tuesday at 7:25 pm - via Bookmarklet - Link
"If the lack of new Depeche Mode albums has left a gaping hole in your life, we have good news: the aging synth-poppers have a new album on the way. On April 21, the band will release their 12th yet-to-be-titled full-length via EMI/Mute, which will mark the first time the major label has released one of their records here in North America and extends their long-running relationship with Mute." - Mark Wilson via Bookmarklet
<33333333333333 - Anna Haro
Anna, I posted this just for you. I was sure you already knew. - Mark Wilson
Cool! Still have my old Violator T-shirt... - Chris Reed
I'd take another good album, frankly. My boys, stop boring me to tears. Dave Gahan's solo albums have been better than the last few DeMode records, IMO. (Martin Gore's solo work is negligible.) - Heather Cee
It's a competitive world - Josh Haley
Thank You Mark....<333 <-----------------those are for you. - Anna Haro
I'm with you Anna...thanks for this post Mark and hi! :) - Emma
Hi Mark! :) - Melissa
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Michelle Martinez posted a message on Twitter
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2008 Debates: Nathan Chase posted a message
“You know it's kind of funny how immigration has become a non-issue since financial and foreign matter have come into the limelight - when was the last time you heard anyone from either side talk about it? It was a top issue in the early YouTube primary debates...”
Tuesday at 8:52 pm - Link
Interesting point.. Still seeing it being used on the local level, though.... - Chris Reed
i think part of this is that McCain's history is in support of immigration reform but his 'base' is anti-immigration. it's better for McCain if he doesn't bring it up. And Obama wants to attract independents and leaning GOPers. talking up immigration could lose him votes, too. so they just ignore it. yuk. - MikeAmundsen
Are there only two sides on immigration? - £ogical €xtremes
@Logical: how many sides are there? - MikeAmundsen
I don't know... fence or no fence? illegals aren't the problem, not enough immigration allowed is? Illegals are the scourge of society vs. illegals are an essential part of our economy? This is a complex and multi-faceted issue, and the answers differ depending on where you live. We're all immigrants in the US, it's just a question of when we got here and how. Europeans could be the illegals from a Native American point of view. - £ogical €xtremes
@Logical: i agree. binary thinking will not get us very far. extremes/absolutes do not help. i am anxious to hear leaders talk about this in the same multi-faceted way you mention. - MikeAmundsen
It'll come up again when some people need to scapegoat a group for "taking their jobs." That usually happens during an economic down-turn, when there is more unemployment. I'm sure it will come up again in an ugly way soon in California, unfortunately.. - Cathryn Hrudicka
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Kevin Hessel posted a link
The Daily Dish | By Andrew Sullivan | Obamacon Watch
October 1 at 1:58 pm - via Bookmarklet - Link
"A reader snaps this shot from his car in Austin, Texas:" - Kevin Hessel via Bookmarklet
sadly, based on the lines of the bumper sticker near the "HIGHLANDER," this looks highly suspicious as a pretty poor photoshop... :( - Rob Reed
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edythe shared an item on Google Reader
September 29 at 11:38 am - Link
I grew up a few blocks from the late Brown's Bakery, and if it were still around no one would ask "Are there any good bakeries in North Hollywood." Best bagels and black and whites ever, and those charming old ladies always gave you a free cookie. - Chris Reed
I have found two bakeries that come the closest to Brown's... but "close" is still "not really close." Delicious Bakery on Reseda and Plummer (Northridge) makes a KILLER bavarian chocolate chip cream cake and their bagels, black and whites, and challah remind me of Browns... Mort's Deli in Tarzana is also palatable. - Rob Reed
Closest black and whites I've had here are the ones at the Treasure Island Canter's .... and it's not even close... - Chris Reed
we went to Sam's Kosher Bakery and then another one right across the street. Sam's was closing in about 45 minutes so most everything was gone. We did get a nice round raisin challah at the other bakery...although they had no apple-cinnamon challah left. :( L'Shana Tova! - edythe
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Mark Trapp posted a link
Amateurs leading the space race
Amateurs leading the space race
September 29 at 11:12 am - via Bookmarklet - Link
From BBC News: "The Apollo Lunar Surface Journal is a remarkable website that documents in exacting detail the human exploration of the Moon during the golden age of lunar exploration. NASA has encouraged it by hosting the site and making Apollo-era photography increasingly available for the public to scrutinise and process. Ellison is upbeat about the benefits of such enlightened public outreach. He said: "Putting those images out there, giving people access to information about the missions from the first person perspective rather than relying on news media to relay events to the public, has turned the game on its head." - Mark Trapp via Bookmarklet
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Paul Buchheit posted a link
Hulu - Saturday Night Live: Couric / Palin Open
Play
September 29 at 1:13 am - via Bookmarklet - Link
I love when she goes "pew-pew" near the end -- soooo cute. lufff tina fey - Brandon
I watched the actual Couric/Palin interview second. I was shocked that the actual interview seemed so much like the parody. - Jeremy Hylton
I thought the same thing Jeremy. Here's a site that puts both interviews next to each other for comparison: http://twincitiesminnesotablog... - Akshay Kapur
You mean, the pic on the left isn't the vice presidential candidate? o_O - Yuvi
Those outside the US can watch here: http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Ni... - Stuart Woodward
This was the greatest. Kinda sad that a comedy show like SNL, when creating parodies, uses direct and complete quotations from the subject. - JodyUnwired
@Jody - I think the writers realized there was no way they could write anything crazier or off topic than Palin's own answers. I loved Amy's Couric impression - understated, yet hilarious. - Jennifer Dittrich
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“What a weird week: KC destroys Denver, St Louis is beating Buffalo and Oakland is beating SD!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
September 28 at 2:48 pm - Link
It's like this every week this season..... The big thing is we've had parity for the last few years but there have still been one or two teams that were heads and shoulders above the others (Patriots, Colts). This season, I can't say there is that one shoo-in for the Super Bowl. I have no idea who we're going to end up with in Tampa.... - Chris Reed
In our survival pool, the Chiefs have already elminated 1 player. If the Rams and the Redskins win, 2 more will be gone :) - Shey
Agreed, Chris - Shey
Chris- that makes it more exciting though. Parity makes things more interesting- but weird. - Abby Martin
yup - Shey
Channeling my Martha Stewart... It's a very good thing.... - Chris Reed
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Abby Martin posted a link
Scarlett Johansson and Ryan Reynolds Wed in Canada - Celebrity Weddings, Ryan Reynolds, Scarlett Johansson : People.com
September 28 at 1:35 pm - via Bookmarklet - Link
"Scarlett Johansson and Ryan Reynolds Wed in Canada | Ryan Reynolds, Scarlett Johansson Scarlett Johansson and Ryan Reynolds made it official with a wedding this weekend, Reynolds's rep, Meredith O'Sullivan, confirmed to PEOPLE." - Abby Martin via Bookmarklet
Canadian men rock. That's why. :) - Abby Martin
Yes, we do - Shey
It's as if a billion single men suddenly cried out and were silenced. - steplow is Steve
Steven Hodson- I love you for that comment. I do. :) (See Canadian men really do rock.) - Abby Martin
:) (even if they're cranky? :) ) - Steven Hodson
Don't think much of their outfits. - Andy C
Especially if they are cranky. (My husband certainly is...and so am I supposedly..err, not that I am a man or wholly Canadian. But for a half-Canadian chick, pretty grumpy.) - Abby Martin
why does it look like scarlett is struggling to carry two very large cantaloupes? if i were her hubby, i would take the chivalrous route, remove my hand from hers, and help her out... - Rob Reed
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“I wanted to request that Friend Feed add profiles. there is a discussion about this going on in this thread at the link http://friendfeed.com/e/b30117...
September 23 at 4:05 pm - Link
A profile is badly needed - Steve
I am happy with no profiles - I see no need for them. I would be OK with a one sentence tag line. - Laura Norvig
Emphasize the “feed” in Friendfeed and consume FOAF, oAuth, and OpenID 2 profiles. This also enables friend discovery, like Friendfeed does with Facebook. OAuth potentially enables private messaging too. I don't want another profile to maintain or another inbox to check, and i would hate to see Friendfeed waste resources duplicating functionality available elsewhere. - John Lam
Disagree, managing profiles is fairly painless and is needed for FF. If you don't want to use it or update it then don't. Simple. :-) I'd be happy with a simple profile. Is there talk of a mailbox? Not sure that's needed. - Kol Tregaskes
Copying and maintaining profiles wastes too much time. I want computers to work for me. I don't want to work for computers (unless i'm paid)! And yes, Collide81 suggested private messaging. - John Lam
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John Worthington posted a message
“G'Nite Kids... I'm off to sleep.”
G'Nite Kids... I'm off to sleep.
September 26 at 9:37 am - Link
He sleeps like a rock. - Akiva Moskovitz
You're doing it wrong - Josh Haley
Josh++ - Rahsheen™
Good night John. - Mark Wilson
The latest competition for the Craftmatic and Sleep Number beds... - Chris Reed
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Steve Isaacs posted an entry on (steve isaacs)
September 26 at 8:46 am - Link
meh. Even if Obama sucks, you guys will spin it as if he wiped the floor with McCain. The motto? This debate will change very little. - David Risley
@David but people all over the country and the world will be able to make a side by side comparason and determine for themselves who won the debate. - Nailed Jello
@David: Well if you're a McCain supporter you better hope it does change things. Trends aren't so hot for him right now. - AJ Kohn
I'm tired of Republican supporters with this "You guys just spin everything" attitude... excuse me? What country have you been living in? Is it the one where people's patriotism is questioned if they don't wear a flag pin? The one where people were called traitors if they didn't support the invasion of Iraq? Suck it up. You made your own bed. - Jason Carreira
Jason: Get with it, man. Anybody who pimps a candidate is engaging in spin. It is human and it can't be helped. And, yes, I am a McCain guy, but only because he's the less sucky of the two. Of all the Repubs in the primaries, he was my least favorite. I think both candidates will take us to bad places, just one faster than the other. - David Risley
Seems like Obama is now wearing a flag pin 24/7. Why? Because it is important to some people. - Jay Tannenbaum
So you're not a fan of any third party candidate? It seems pretty ridiculous to vote for the lesser of two evils (in your eyes). There are candidates out there besides the big two, and the idea that you would be "throwing your vote away" is the very reason none of them are contenders. - Shawn Farner
David: granted anyone who actively promotes a candidate has some spin, however the purpose of the debates is to allow people who are not actively promoting to better make decisions about the candidates. yes the promoters will say So&So won and Such&Such sucked but not everyone listens to the promoters, there are Americans who do like to make up their own minds and debates are the best tool for that process. It is good that McCain has agreed to attend - Nailed Jello
+1 Jason. David - "a McCain guy" Wow - takes balls to be able to stand up for the GOP right about now. The whole ticket is pretty much an embarrassment. - Steve Isaacs
Wow. Steve said balls. - Jay Tannenbaum
McCain already won the debate... http://voices.washingtonpost.c... - (that)Kenny
I think David was simply saying that spin is spin, no matter which side you're on. He's absolutely right. Both sides will spin this their way. That's just politics. And as far as an "embarrassment", the smearing and personal attacks which arguably come more from the left are a good example of the term. - Josh Haley
As are the buttons and posters asking if Obama will rename the White House =/ - Stupid Blogger (aka Tina)
I did say arguably - Josh Haley
And that's why I argued the point ;-) - Stupid Blogger (aka Tina)
More from the left? Yeah... 13% of America thinks Obama is Muslim thanks to right-wing spin. Spin me another. - Jason Carreira
Guys - ease up with the whole "spin" thing. Spin is for the media. We are just people talking. These are OPINIONS not SPIN. Opinions are great and honest - spin is a device of a party or media outlet. If someone mops the floor with someone else, it happens. I give credit where credit is due - if Obama stumbles and McCain soars - I'll say so - Just because I care for one candidate doesn't mean I'm blind. - Steve Isaacs
Obama could read the phone book tonight, it won't change my vote. I've not heard one single reason to vote for McCain - not one - and I've been asking for months. - dkb
Nathan: Whatever, dude. FriendFeed is an echo chamber for the left. I don't expect my statements here to be taken any other way than as a joke. And news flash: The Obama camp spins like crazy. Tip: If you only see spin on one side, you're a political shill. - David Risley
If 13% of Americans believed that McCain had been programmed by his North Vietnamese captors a la The Manchurian Candidate then maybe I'd agree that there's equality in the levels and kinds of spin. One side is using the regular political spin, and one is using the ugly Rovian spin that SUPPOSEDLY infuriated McCain when he was on the receiving end in 2000. - Jason Carreira
David, I ask this w/o snark and w/ genuine interest and curiosity (and cos dkb hasn't had a satisfying answer either): can you give us your reasons why you think Obama would take us to bad places faster? (Or why you think McCain is better in this regard?) - Ayşe E.
LOVE that pic. Going to be watching before I go out as it all starts earlier on the west coast (6 PM). - mortisha
Post-debate spin might be bad, but declaring you've won before the debate, when you didn't even want to go? Pathetic!!! - steplow is Steve
David: "spins like crazy" is far better than outright lying, a la mccain-palin. see factcheck.org and this time magazine piece for examples: http://www.time.com/time/polit... ... even if you support the GOP, i find it fucking. laughable. -- in light of his horrible VP pick and his 'untruths' and his hands-off approach to banking and securities that got us into this economic crisis -- that *anyone* could support john mccain. - tiffany
GOBAMA! - Dana D
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☺ Cecily ☺ posted a link
John McCain, Congress, bailout | Salon
September 26 at 10:12 am - via Bookmarklet - Link
"By the time you read this -- and certainly by the time he appears in Oxford, Miss., for the first presidential debate -- the former straight talker will probably have adopted some new stance, in his panting eagerness to appear presidential. His attempts to game this dangerous situation, his waffling between bipartisanship and ideological rigidity, his shiftiness on the real issues and his obvious lack of concentration on the problems that must be resolved -- suggest that he is in fact unfit to serve in the office he desires. Once again he has proved that his claim to put country first is hollow. He was more than willing to take America down as he gambled for that prize." - ☺ Cecily ☺ via Bookmarklet
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martin posted a message on Twitter
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Andrew Baron favorited a video on YouTube
Palin: Living near Russia give me foreign policy experience
Play
September 25 at 1:42 pm - Link
THIS IS INSANE! - Andrew Baron
I'm sorry, I'm laughed and threw up a little in my mouth all at the same time. - ChangeForge | Ken Stewart
You know, I usually like to think I agree with the general platforms of Republican foreign policy (Reagan-style), but we have this video clearly demonstrating Palin BS'ing her way through something when she should simply say, "I am stronger on domestic issues than I am on foreign policy." - ChangeForge | Ken Stewart
A 10 year old could do a better interview... Hell, a 10 year old could probably be a better vice-president than her too! - Michael Forian
Where are our usual conservative buddies who ought to be here defending her against our horribly uninformed liberal biases? - Tad - the Fresh Maker
ZOMG :((( - Iain Baker
@Just a Tad, not much that can be said about this one w/o looking even worse. - Andrew Baron
WTF - Rodfather
No wonder they don't let her do interviews. Wow, dude. You could have posted this and said it was a clip from SNL featuring Tina Fey and I would not have been able to tell the diff. - Rahsheen™
Ya know, I can almost guarantee 100% that her intended audience is eating this shit UP! I bet they're loving every stupid word out of her mouth. "She's so real! It's so refreshing to hear a real person up there. She sounds just like me or one of my friends." etc etc etc *barf* - Tad - the Fresh Maker
@Tad - hahahahah! So all their friends are ignorant too, huh? - Lindsay Donaghe
Yeah, probably Lindsay. I'd guess people who never challenge their reality tunnels. - Tad - the Fresh Maker
@Tad actually I don't see much conservative conversation on FF. It tends to be very liberal (and sometimes quite echochambery) at least by the group of people I see. - Brian Shows
i read this an hour ago and LMFAO, and hearing it, just like yesterday is actually dumber than reading it. and i'm willing to bet my house AND kids that when 'putin rears his head' to fly to america, he doesn't stop in fucking anchorage first. - Faboo Mama
Brian, we do have our conservative friends, though. They're usually around to defend McCain and were cheering on Palin at the beginning... - Tad - the Fresh Maker
brian, there are a couple of conservative folks here who rush to the defense of mccain-palin or threads like this... - tiffany
I'm sorry for my naivety here but is this real or SNL? She *can't* be serious - Nicholas Kreidberg
I cannot believe SHE IS ACTUALLY TRYING TO USE THIS AS EXPERIENCE. Like it means something! I'm in close proximity to my Spanish book every single day and I am HORRIBLE at speaking the language. I sit in a class every day where people speak the language and I am still HORRIBLE at it. What a freaking joke. - Shawn Farner
I grew up in Brooklyn, and lived in an apt built on the grounds of the old Ebbets Field. So by this logic, living 27 stories above 3rd base, I should have had a career in the Major leagues! - Lorraine Ball
Man, I could've avoided law school altogether if I just waited til I moved to my current house. I have a courthouse within view. If that's all I needed for the requisite legal experience, I definitely would have skipped law school. - Rob Reed
I grew up near the Mexico border. I mean, I was close and I don't speak Spanish but I have experience too. I am going to run for public office now. What an idiot. do people believe this crap? Oh wait..she is a "vagina American" I have to vote for her. - Anna Lynn M.
well, some people don't have maps, like, such as, the Iraq. - Jennifer Boutell
saturday night live ... 7 days a week - Gregory Lent
I just hope you are not electing someone like this...AGAIN. - Alejandro S.
she's a mess - Cee Bee
Again folks, remember - her base eats this shit up. They're the same exact folks that elected W twice. Be afraid. - Tad - the Fresh Maker
ROFL. Hilarious. - Clint Ecker
OMFG I've figured it out... Finally! Do you know who she reminds me of... the Principle from South Park - John Worthington
I lived about 5 blocks from the Pentagon, what does that make *me* qualified for? - AJ Kohn
@Just a Tad.. you are right, her fans think this makes sense, so the message is you better be up early on election day. In Indy last year, we made the mistake of thinking the mayor was a shoe in, since his opponent was an idiot, who never expected to win.. and we all stayed home, and now our mayor is an Idiot, with no plans for the city, because he never expected to win. - Lorraine Ball
DEAR LORD! - Ryan
based on this and some other clips from that interview I think Palin may actually be dumber than G W. regardless of the border placement, has she ever actually been to Russia or Canada? talked to anyone from either country? - Jon Price
we are totally fncked if people vote republican this November. I watched her Charlie Gibson interview and this Katie Couric interview and I feel like someone is playing a huge joke on us. - Paulo via twhirl
This chick is getting on my nerves bad! Soccer Mom trying to play US Vice President is a complete joke - Susan Beebe
Tad, I'm conservative by many standards, but I vote based on qualifications, not party line. You really can't defend her on this one issue. There are issues I do agree with her on, but there are those I do not. - ChangeForge | Ken Stewart
Let's just admit it that we like drama; this election cycle has been full of it. While it's natural to be worried--especially with the inevitable October surprise--this election will be a landslide victory for Obama. Anything short of a landslide will boil my blood and cast doubts of integrity upon my neighbor. Come to think of it, my neighbor is a blowhead. Crap. - Stagekid
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Ryne Nelson dugg a story on Digg
September 25 at 10:33 am - Link
A little perspective here, though... It looks bad but space, even in low Earth orbit is pretty big. While on that far away view the specks seem close together, we're actually talking about a pretty decent distance between dots. The equivalent of worrying that a VW in Philadelphia is too close to a bus in New York City. - Chris Reed
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shannon posted a message on Twitter
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Dave "Actual" Winer posted a link
September 25 at 12:54 pm - via Bookmarklet - Link
Just as hard to watch as yesterday's installment. - Dave "Actual" Winer via Bookmarklet
Putin has been in her "air space"? Oh dear. - jeneane 'This One' sessum
What was John McCain thinking? - Shakeel Mahate
Come back, Dan Quayle. All is forgiven. - Steven Perez
Does John McCain even bother with thinking anymore? - Victor Ganata
Oh dear indeed. - Dave "Actual" Winer
Clearly demonstrates why they have been keeping her away from the media. - Jim McCusker
Worse in print I think: "It's very important when you consider even national security issues with Russia as Putin rears his head and comes into the air space of the United States of America, where — where do they go? It's Alaska. It's just right over the border. It is — from Alaska that we send those out to make sure that an eye is being kept on this very powerful nation, Russia, because they are right there. They are right next to ... to our state," she said. - AJ Kohn
Are you sure that isn't Tina Fey in a SNL skit? - mace
I'm curious if her last comment implied potentially sensitive military monitoring that may or may not go on from Alaska? - Jim McCusker
the more she speaks the more McCain sinks - Alberto Escarlate
Palin making Miss South Carolina look like a genius.... - Chris Reed
@ Jim It's rather well known fact - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E.... Which doesn't make the episode less painful to watch. - Eugene
Maybe not so much a genius, rather -- concise. - Dave "Actual" Winer
@Eugene I knew we had a base up there. But talking about surveillance operations isn't exactly something leaders should talk about in public. We've got enough tension with Putin at this point. - Jim McCusker
"Rears his head?" - jeneane 'This One' sessum
lol AJ, owch. "I personally believe that U.S. Americans are unable to consider national security issues with, uh, the Russia because, uh, some people in our nation don't, uh, have maps and realize that we must stop the President of Germany, Putin, from threatening the Iraq-Pakistan border, and I believe that they should, our education over here in the U.S. should help the U.S. or, uh, South Africa and the Iraq and the Asian countries... - Karim
...so that we will be able to stand up to Zapatero and say no to those who are willing to harm the U.S. America, and uh, so that we will be able to drill offshore and build up our future, for our [children]." - Karim
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Sally Church posted a message on Twitter
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Ruth Ferguson posted a link
September 23 at 12:22 pm - via Bookmarklet - Link
"FOX News Producer Shushannah Walshe just lashed out at the McCain campaign for denying access to reporters who wanted to witness Sarah Palin's U.N. photo ops earlier today. Walshe said the McCain campaign's restrictions on press coverage were "just unprecedented."" - Ruth Ferguson via Bookmarklet
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Ruth Ferguson posted a link
Mirror On America: Just Askin'
September 22 at 9:55 am - via Bookmarklet - Link
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Roger @ CineVegas posted a message on Twitter
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Jason Kaneshiro posted a link
September 19 at 11:37 am - Link
Wow, powerful quotes in this one: "What we are witnessing today is how empires end. The Last Superpower is unable to defend its borders, protect its currency, win its wars or balance its budget. Medicare and Social Security are headed for the cliff with unfunded liabilities in the tens of trillions of dollars. What we are witnessing today is nothing less than a Katrina-like failure of government, of our political class, and of democracy itself, casting a cloud over the viability and longevity of the system. " - Bwana McCall
Also this one: "An unelected financial elite is now entrusted with the assignment of getting us out of a disaster into which an unelected financial elite plunged the nation. We are just spectators." - Jason Kaneshiro
Wow - when Buchanan isn't on crazy mode, he's a really smart, shrewd guy. I'm not as pessimistic though and I still think we're firmly in the era of a global economy - we just need to learn to act as a player and not the master. I think what we're really seeing happening now is the beginnings of what's going to propel us to a true one world government - especially if this crap continues... That may end up being the real legacy of George W Bush. - Tad - the Fresh Maker
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Susan Beebe posted a link
Utterli -  American Red Cross Social Media Day September 19, 2008
September 19 at 11:44 am - via Bookmarklet - Link
And they picked Talk Like a Pirate Day.. :-P - Shawn Farner
Who knew?! funny! - Susan Beebe
Arrrgh, if ye be looking fur social media, ye found de place. - Chris Reed
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Paul Buchheit posted a link
September 16 at 11:19 am - via Bookmarklet - Link
"Sen. McCain, who constantly repeats his no-new-taxes promise on the campaign trail, proposes a big tax hike as the solution to our health-care crisis. His plan would raise taxes on workers who receive health benefits, with the idea of encouraging their employers to drop coverage. A study conducted by University of Michigan economist Tom Buchmueller and colleagues published in the journal Health Affairs suggests that the McCain tax hike will lead employers to drop coverage for over 20 million Americans. What would happen to these people? Mr. McCain will give them a small tax credit, $5,000 for a family and $2,500 for an individual, and tell them to navigate the individual insurance market on their own. For middle- and lower-income people, the credits are way too small. They are less than half the cost of policies today ($12,000 on average for a family), and are far below the 75% that most employers offering coverage contribute. Further, their value would erode over time, as the credit increases less rapi" - Paul Buchheit via Bookmarklet
McCain's plan sounds surprisingly bad. Individual insurance is a disaster for anyone who has any medical issues. Pushing more people into that system is a big mistake. - Paul Buchheit
not that i disagree, but in all fairness, one of the writers is an advisor to the Obama campaign. - Faboo Mama
This is the horrible stinking dead elephant in the room that hadn't been discussed. In addition to giving less income tax breaks to middle class taxpayers, he'll tax your medical insurance as compensation, thus continuing the policy of pushing the middle class out of existence started by Dubya. - Jason Carreira
like it or not, it's time the U.S. took the health care burden off the back of businesses. we're lagging so far behind the rest of the 'first-world' nations on this and it's really hurting business development and growth. - MikeAmundsen
Where is it written that the Government is responsible for providing my health care? - Paul W. Swansen
and it's clear individuals cannot afford health care at the levels we expect without assistance. tax breaks are not the answer, either. we need to wise up. - MikeAmundsen
Regardless of who you think should pay for health care, McCain's plan is bad. We need to get more people insured, not less, and his plan will do the opposite. We're not going to let people die on the street, so those uninsured people will go into the emergency room and then not pay their bills, which means that you will pay for their health care anway, but in the dumbest, most inefficient way possible. - Paul Buchheit
Paul Swanson, it isn't. However, many of us think that if the government has the right to tax us, we want the tax money spent to make our country a BETTER country. Part of that could include ensuring that we're all ensured health care. Many of us think that it's immoral and unconscionable to be ABLE to provide health care and refuse to do so. - Tad - the Fresh Maker
A single payer program that disconnects health insurance from employment would go a long way to driving inefficiencies and fraud out of the system. - Jason Carreira
The AARP and other publications targeted toward Seniors and Boomers seem to be endorsing Obama's health plan and ideas about Medicare and Social Security. I do not buy that people over 50 will be more likely to vote for McCain. From what I've been seeing and hearing, they may be more likely to vote for Obama, especially women voters. - Cathryn Hrudicka
I'm shocked. An adviser to the Obama campaign thinks Obama's plan is better. And yes, Jason, that's the Republican's true evil plan, to destroy everyone but the richest Americans. - Charles LePage
@Charles, yes the WSJ is a bastion of liberal thought. You caught them. - Jason Carreira
It's no surprise AARP would be on board with Obama's plan. Boomers are getting older and they don't want their savings/retirement eaten up by medical costs. Nobody does. But boomers it seems have more to lose. - Peter Simard
@Paul Swanson "Where is it written that the Government is responsible for providing my health care?" Nowhere. It's also not written anywhere that the Government ought to make sure that citizens of this, the richest country in the history of civilization, don't starve to death or wind up homeless either. But some of us still think that a humane and decent vision of society means that even people earning under $120K should be able to afford health care. What do you think? - Nathan Rein
First thought was since this is in WSJ it should be a good, unbiased article. I was wrong. - ChiliMac
@ChiliMac It's an opinion piece, bias is implicit. - Peter Simard
@Peter Simard: I guess I was hoping it was going to writen my knowledable people in the fields being discussed, healthcare, insurance and business. My bad for being optomistic I guess. :D - ChiliMac
I'm not sure why Obama isn't highlighting the health careissue, because McCain's plan would be a disaster beyond words. You think it's bad now? Just wait after businesses drop health plans all together. I agree that business should have the burden to provide healthcare, but you remedy that by getting the government to pay for it, not add to the already tough burden on America's families. - Chris Reed
@Chili...it's the silly season..~S~ - Peter Simard
A somewhat more even-handed review, http://online.wsj.com/article/..., also from WSJ today. The McCain plan offers more choice, relies more on the free market and private industry. The Obama plan sets a price and benefits floor and will require more regulation. Neither will survive congress intact. - Kevin D. White
Jason, no where did I say a word about the political leanings of the WSJ. This was a critique of Obama's tax plans written by one of the people advising Obama on tax policy. In effect, it's a free advertisement for Obama. Chris, I enjoy the healthcare plan offered by my workplace, but I had no idea it was their burden, or even the government's. If the government is paying for healthcare, then the burden is on me, since I pay the government. But I have less say in the matter, less choice. - Charles LePage
@Chris Reed: dude, I work for the government. The last thing I want is them managing the entire healthcare system! Do you have any idea how incompetent and slow the government is at anything? You think it's bad now? Just wait until health insurance companies and health care providers can charge government rates and see how much the "tough burden on America's families" goes up. - klecu
@klecu: "dude, i work for the -------, the last thing i want is for them to manage my --------" LOL - MikeAmundsen
@klecu, yeah, the government is almost as incompetent and slow as private corporations, without the incentive to screw people over. - Jason Carreira
OK, so how do you guarantee universal coverage without the government managing it? Privatize it with smart regulations in place? What are people's solutions for doing this? And no, leaving it completely to private providers is NOT the answer, so if that's what you think, bzzzzt, thanks for playing, but come up with a solution that covers EVERYONE, is AFFORDABLE and is EFFECTIVE. - Alex "Pew Pew Pew" Scoble
I just want universal healthcare so that my Canadian friends will stop making fun of me for having such a sucky system. - Eric
klecu, if government control means higher rates, shouldn't we expect healthcare providers to already be fighting each other to see who gets medicare patients? - Bruce Lewis via fftogo
@Bruce Lewis: If it was the consumers buying the insurance I believe it we we would see the healthcare providers to compete for our business. -