Same old (I mean old) song and dance

John McCain is a desperate man. He has a new ad campaign where he tries to link up Barack Obama with such pop culture lightweights as Paris Hilton. I was flipping through the channels and saw Fox News addressing the issue. Their response? Obama should just laugh it off. What I am unqualified? Golly John that sure is a good one. I am just a sugary media concoction? Man oh man do I have egg on my face for that one, John, you got me.

My favorite is where McCain keeps trying to paint Obama as an elitist. McCain is a man who has held one job in the private sector his whole life: for his wife's father's company. I am sure that he could completely sympathize with what average hard working people go through everyday because we all know that when you are the boss' son-in-law you are judged just like everyone else. Plus that guy has been Washington for how long? Twenty years? Let's call a spade a spade. With his millionaire wife and all his rich lobbyist buddies there in DC it is clear he would feel more comfortable at a country club than at an American Legion having a beer with decent, honest people. McCain, not Obama, is the one who is completely out of touch.

I don't begrudge the man for success. I just find it intellectually dishonest to attack his opponent in this fashion.

Here's a thought Senator. Why don't you try to come up with real solutions for the problems in this country? Why don't you quit pandering to the conservative base that you decried just a few years ago. Why don't you actually show some real leadership instead of this fear based politics you keep putting out there. America deserves better.

Cha-Cha

In the search engine game, it is clear that Google is on top. I personally think that part of the reason Google has prevailed is that its name has become synonymous with a search request. I "googled" it is a familiar statement. Somehow I "yahooed" it just doesn't roll off the tongue.

Although it is no tech hot bed, an Indianapolis company has thrown its hat in the ring. I think it has been in business for awhile and I now find myself addicted to it. It is called ChaCha and it is also a search engine. However, it has a leg up on the competition. You may not always be near a computer but you are most likely near your cell phone. In addition to the traditional search on-line you can also send ChaCha a text to.... ChaCha (242-242) and get the answer you are looking for.

I am a man of random questions and thoughts. Here are a few things that were rushing through my head after which I texted ChaCha and they came to the rescue.

1.) How many perfect games have been recorded in Major League Baseball? (ChaCha: In Major League History there have been 17 perfect games).
2.) What year did the Korean War end? (ChaCha: It didn't end. there was a ceasefire (an armistice) that stopped the fighting on July 27, 1953.)
3.) What year was Catcher in the Rye published? (ChaCha: Catcher in the Rye was published in 1951).
4.) What is the minimun salary for an Arena Football Player? (ChaCha: 30,000)
5.) What is Taurine? (ChaCha: Taurine is a derivative of the amino acid cyteine(aminoethane sulponic acid). Known to be a dietary essential for cats).
6.) At what age can children eat shellfish? (ChaCha: The food standards Agency recommends that you shouldn't give any fish or shellfish to babies younger than six months).

I have also used ChaCha to figure out other burning questions such as whether there is a delay at the airport and the hours for the Knoxville Sunsphere.

So give it a try to solve family disputes about past Oscar winners or an argument with a buddy at the bar about who won the Indianapolis 500 in 1993. With my family and friends that should at least save me from at least one or two donnybrooks.

Jesse Helms is still dead

I know he's been dead for over a week, but I shouldn't let his passing go without comment. It bothers me that so much of his racism and homophobia have glossed over. Now, I am not one to speak ill of the dead, but I'll let his own words and actions do that for him.

Perhaps a fitting tribute...

Group seeks Bush sewage 'tribute'

McConnell handed in his petition at City Hall on Monday
A citizens group in San Francisco wants to pay an ironic tribute to President George W Bush when he leaves office - by naming a sewage plant after him.

The group, calling itself the Presidential Memorial Committee of San Francisco, wants the issue voted on at this November's election.

"It's important to remember our leaders in the right historical context," said petition organiser Brian McConnell.

The Republican Party thinks the plan stinks, and it will fight the measure.

Mr McConnell's group has submitted more than 12,000 signatures on a petition to the San Francisco Department of Elections.

bbc

Funny

H/T Graph Jam