Fight fire with fire

Do you have annoying relatives or 'friends' who forward you useless and usually spurious tidbits of 'vital information' in your email?
Every time they do, I recommend you spam their entire list with this email, created by Christopher Beam at Slate.Com.

From: [Redacted]
To: [Redacted]
Subject: WHO IS BARACK OBAMA?

There are many things people do not know about BARACK OBAMA. It is every American's duty to read this message and pass it along to all of their friends and loved ones.

Barack Obama wears a FLAG PIN at all times. Even in the shower.

Barack Obama says the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE every time he sees an American flag. He also ends every sentence by saying, "WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL." Click here for video of Obama quietly mouthing the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE in his sleep.

A tape exists of Michelle Obama saying the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE at a conference on PATRIOTISM.

Every weekend, Barack and Michelle take their daughters HUNTING.

Barack Obama is a PATRIOTIC AMERICAN. He has one HAND over his HEART at all times. He occasionally switches when one arm gets tired, which is almost never because he is STRONG.

Barack Obama has the DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE tattooed on his stomach. It's upside-down, so he can read it while doing sit-ups.

There's only one artist on Barack Obama's iPod: FRANCIS SCOTT KEY.

Barack Obama is a DEVOUT CHRISTIAN. His favorite book is the BIBLE, which he has memorized. His name means HE WHO LOVES JESUS in the ancient language of Aramaic. He is PROUD that Jesus was an American.

Barack Obama goes to church every morning. He goes to church every afternoon. He goes to church every evening. He is IN CHURCH RIGHT NOW.

Barack Obama's new airplane includes a conference room, a kitchen, and a MEGACHURCH.

Barack Obama's skin is the color of AMERICAN SOIL.

Barack Obama buys AMERICAN STUFF. He owns a FORD, a BASEBALL TEAM, and a COMPUTER HE BUILT HIMSELF FROM AMERICAN PARTS. He travels mostly by FORKLIFT.

Barack Obama says that Americans cling to GUNS and RELIGION because they are AWESOME.

More politics talk.

So I confess that, despite being a PoliSci major in college, there are trappings to the American Electoral System that I don't understand.

Barack Obama declined to participate in the federal public financing system during the primaries.
John McCain declined to participate in the federal public financing system during the primaries.
Barack Obama is declining to participate in the federal public financing system during the general election.
John McCain says that anybody who's not participating in public financing is obviously not fit for the office.

Are there any grounds to McCain's statements here? Is there a difference between primary campaigns and general election campaigns? Or is this just a politics thing where anything your opponent does just shows that he's an incompetent puppet of special interests?

Yes, we're goin' to a party party

So my birthday is coming up, and people have started to ask what I want. Aside from the usual stuff (your time, snuggles, attention, stuff that costs money) I'm also thinking of a cheap GPS that I can stick in the car and maybe get lost less, I have some CD shelves to get at Ikea still, and there are a few things on VHS that I want to upgrade to digital (Jeeves and Wooster first two seasons, Empire Records). I'm still taking donations to the Windrose Travel Fund--all donations are still in escrow and this may be the year. (:
Aside from that, spending time with me is good, as is attention, compliments and snuggles.