Christmas Greetings from the Lit Lounge

Your Buzzwords of 2008

Coming soon to a dictionary near you: fail (as in epic), nuked the fridge, staycation, and many more. (illustration from the NY Times)

COALergy for your Christmas stocking

Here's hoping you don't find any coal in your stocking - "clean" or otherwise.

Disney Channel enters Russian TV market

But over there, you don't watch Hannah Montana. In Russia, Hannah Montana watches you.

Don't use Dark Energy. . . it'll stunt your growth.

First coffee, then cigarettes, and now this. Even a galaxy experiences arrested development:

[Galaxy] clusters grow by gravity, according to cosmological theory, starting as small dimples in the heat and fizz of the Big Bang and then drawing in surrounding material over the eons. Dark energy would work against gravity and try to push the matter falling in back out, stalling growth.

Column of the Day: Save the Date!

My, how times change. Charles Blow examines "The Demise of Dating" in this column. On the right, a graph illustrating the change since 1976 (NY Times). 

The beginning of the end - late edition

"What's black and white and completely over?" asked Jon Stewart last week on The Daily Show. "Newspapers!"

Today's news out of Detroit would seem to echo that sentiment: The Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News will be delivered just three days a week - Thursday, Friday, and Sunday - as part of cost-cutting moved designed to keep two major papers in Motown. 

Study Break! Be Inspired!

NOT on my Christmas Mix CD

So, so wrong.

A conversation with Arthur Miller

From The Charlie Rose Show in 1999, celebrating the 5oth Anniversary of Death of a Salesman.

A Dickens of a Bailout Cartoon

From Tony Auth in the NY Times. 

Miss me?

Sure you did. As usual, I've got a pretty good explanation for my absence. Last month, I received a grant from the Lowell Education Foundation to purchase podcasting equipment for the Lit Lounge. Beginning next month, you'll see periodic audio and video podcasts from the Lit Lounge. As for the content, well, that's up to you. What would you like to see/hear via podcast? How should we make the most of our new toys?

(Above: Four times the average daily requirement of Larsen via the new webcam.) 

The Audacity of Dope

Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich was arrested today for corruption after allegedly trying to profit from naming Barack Obama's replacement in the US Senate. Classy. This is what he had to say yesterday in a photo op with disgrunted factory workers:

"But I don't care whether you tape me privately or publicly, I can tell you that whatever I say is always lawful and the things I'm interested in are always lawful. . ."

Stay classy, Rod. 

Best of 2008 - Tunes

NPR's list of Top 10 "Smart Rock" albums contains three of my faves of 2008: Fleet Foxes, My Morning Jacket, and The Hold Steady (coming to Calvin College in April!). I've put a few of my fave tracks on the Lit Lounge Playlist (see sidebar) for your listening pleasure. My guilty pleasures this year include Pink's "So What" and "Who's Gonna Save My Soul" by Gnarls Barkley. 

And 2009 looks promising with a new Springsteen release and the second CD by Modern Skirts, a cool little combo out of Athens, GA. While waiting for their new one to drop, I recommend giving a listen to their first CD, Catalogue of Generous Men. 

"I'd like to thank the Pulitzer committee. . . "

I can dream. Some real web-writers, however, are now eligible for their own Pulitzer Prize. Not you, Joe the Plumber. You have a toilet to unclog. Or a "book" to "write." (I'm guessing they involve the same material. . . )

Column of the freakin' year!

Publishers are laying off employees left and right, but some are shelling out millions in advance money for the likes of Sarah Palin and Joe the Plumber. Timothy Egan vents on behalf of all aspiring writers:

Most of the writers I know work every day, in obscurity and close to poverty, trying to say one thing well and true. Day in, day out, they labor to find their voice, to learn their trade, to understand nuance and pace. And then, facing a sea of rejections, they hear about something like Barbara Bush’s dog getting a book deal.

Amen, brother!

The Best of 2008 - Books

'Tis the season for "Best of" lists, and The New York Times selected works by Toni Morrison and Jhumpa Lahiri as part of their top ten. And while most Lit Loungers were reading the Twilight series, I soaked up The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, my favorite read of 2008. 

More of the "best" of 2008 to come. . . 

Time to do the write thing

I need you to find two sheets of paper, a pen, and 94 cents. In the next week, I challenge Lit Loungers to commit to writing 100 letters for Amnesty International's Write-a-thon. Our official Write-a-thon event info is here. If you're not in the immediate Lit Lounge area, email me, and I'll send you information on individuals at risk, sample letters, and contact information. 

Take a break from what you're doing now, watch this video, then put passion and pen to paper.

Axis of Evil member joins Youth Symphony Chorus, Sings with Orchestra

In another sign of improved international relations, frequent Lit Lounge commenter Sierra Moore and the GR Youth Symphony Chorus will belt out holiday ditties this weekend with the GR Symphony as part of the annual Holiday Pops concert. That's Miss Moore - in the back, wearing green and a Santa hat - in a pic from today's GR Press. A better photo can be found here. 

The littlest love guru

For my APE Language students: You think writing a process analysis is tough? It's so easy, a nine-year old can do it. And his How to Talk to Girls is now available at a bookstore near you.

STUDY BREAK!

Don't try this at home: an artist uses electric stimuli to force his face to move to the beat of a song. It picks up around :42, then gets very weird around 1:10. Enjoy.

Failure is not an option - in GRPS

Don't want to fail a class? Enroll in the Grand Rapids Public Schools, where no child is left behind with an E or F. But they might see an H this trimester.

We don't need no education. . .

Or thought control, or dark sarcasm in the classroom. Got it. But what you do need is to take a peek at these education-related articles: Time reports on how to fix America's schools (at least those in Washington DC), and how you can get paid for your A's; the NY Times explains how you can go to college and save $$ if you study overseas; Stanley Fish examines a new English translation of Paradise Lost; and a new study suggests that 30% of high school students have stolen something in their lives, and 64% have cheated on a test:

Despite such responses, 93 percent of the students said they were satisfied with their personal ethics and character, and 77 percent affirmed that "when it comes to doing what is right, I am better than most people I know."

Maybe a course in ethics wouldn't hurt. . . 

Hot Christmas Gift: Make Your Own Muppet

Forget the Hot Wheels, Wii games, and American Girl dolls - those are so 2007. This year's hot gift is a custom-made Muppet from FAO Schwarz. Just $130, no strings attached. (Cue rimshot and googley eye-roll.)

Long time, no blog

So, how've you been? I'd tell you that I've just been way too busy to blog, but you'd see right through that. Taking a week away from the Lit Lounge was nice, but now it's time to get back to providing you with the scattershot samplings from around the Web you've come to expect from this site. As always, your comments and suggestions are welcome. 

Hope you enjoyed your Thanksgiving break (especially if yours was extended by one day and two hours due to "poor road conditions"). 

A poem for Thanksgiving Day

Te Deum

Not because of victories

I sing, 

having none, 

but for the common sunshine, 

the breeze, 

the largess of the spring.  

Not for victory 

but for the day's work done 

as well as I was able; 

not for a seat upon the dais 

but at the common table.

- Charles Reznikoff

Who is your Person of the Year?

Time's Top 25 can be found here.

To File Chapter 11, or not to file Chapter 11

Next trimester, we'll look at creating a process analysis essay. Here is an example from today's NY Times. It's written by former Michigan US Senator Spencer Abraham:

And as surely as day leads to night, bankruptcy proceedings would be followed by liquidation. In a flash, the American carmaking business, representing about 10
percent of the nation’s retail sales, would begin to disappear.

Are you ready for Black Friday?

The biggest shopping day of the year is right around the corner, and if you'd like to see what's going to be the big doorbuster item before the newspaper ads are published on Thursday, check blackfriday.info for all the big sales.

Of course, with the economy in the tank, you might want to consider the annual Adbusters Buy Nothing Day and just skip the whole consumer-driven holiday. Better yet, take what you've got and turn it into a gift by celebrating Make Something Day. 

I'll be making my annual Holiday Mix CD for friends and family. One track that's sure to be a part of the mix is this unusual take on "The 12 Days of Christmas" by Straight No Chaser:

This Week in Good News/Bad News

Let's get the bad news over with. Guns N' Roses will release the over-hyped "Chinese Democracy" CD on Sunday. We've waited 14 years for this?!?

Good news: Dr. Pepper is delivering on its promise of free 20 oz. bottles to everyone because Axl finally finished the darn album. Download your coupon here on Sunday.

How to pardon a turkey - NOT!

Let this be a lesson for the future politicians in the Lit Lounge: Always - ALWAYS - know what the camera is recording. Especially if just moments earlier, you pardoned a turkey. (You squeemish types do not want to watch this. Or those who dislike run-on sentences.)

The Office: South Park Branch

The Great American Smokeout and a smoke-free GRCC

If you smoke, make today the day to quit. The American Cancer Society has plenty of reasons why you should; for instance, just 20 minutes after smoking, your heart rate and blood pressure drops. In 12 hours, the carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal. You can see all of the reasons to quit here, along with suggestions on how to kick the habit.

Of course, if you venture onto the campus of GRCC, you have no choice but to stop smoking. As of this morning, the entire campus is tobacco free. I walked from the parking ramp to the main building today without drawing a single breath of second-hand smoke. Nice. 

Study break!

Two exams down, three to go. Why don't you take a moment to enjoy two great tastes that taste great together: Super Mario and Barack Obama.

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND! THE LLCC!

Lit Lounge Caption Contest. Duh!

You provide a witty caption, I select the best three or four, then we leave it up to your peers to decide which is best. Winner gets the love and admiration of his or her peers, plus a little something from the Lit Lounge Prize Vault. Submit a caption by Wednesday, November 26. I'll spend my Thanksgiving laughing at your wit (or the neverending joke that is the Detroit Lions "professional" football team) and posting a few choice comments for your voting pleasure.

For those about to caption, we salute you!

Holy Heineken!

Buddhist monks built this temple out of recycled Heineken beer bottles. Very cool. Follow the link for detailed pics.

Late Breaking News

I'm still here. And if you're an AP student, that means you have exams Thursday and Friday. 

Better luck next time.

Your Column of the Day - The New Poor

My brother began his ministerial career in Melbourne, FL, a Space Coast city located between Cocoa Beach and Vero Beach. He met his wife, Melissa, there. They were part of a fledgling congregation that met in a modified warehouse for years before moving to a brand new facility.

But the economy has taken its toll on cities like Melbourne, and we don't hear many of their stories on the evening news. Alicia Rapp, the minister of the UCC church where Greg learned the pastoral ropes, is featured in Newsweek's My Turn column this week. In "Dinner for Eight," she explains how very different people bond when faced with a common circumstance:

One family is now on food stamps, largely due to a son's special needs; another is living on a disability check. One couple is in danger of losing its home to foreclosure, while a second family is living off its home, mortgaged to the teeth to pay for college and, now, groceries. A young man who has struggled up from the misery of an impoverished childhood is frustrated to find that his sparkling new medical certification—acquired with the help of $35,000 in student loans—is practically worthless in this job market. A brilliant, midcareer engineer, living for the last decade in a gated community, is startled to find he can't provide for his family. Not one of us is eligible for unemployment benefits. We are not counted in the monthly statistics cited on television. We are the new poor.

The new poor are in Melbourne, and in West Michigan. Keep them in your prayers.

How much credit?

It's the question asked by all AP students. What score do I need to get credit at ___ University? How much credit will I get? The College Board has the answers for you right here. When you find out what your school offers, let the rest of us know by posting a comment.

Experiments in Blogging

I'm playing around with the Lit Lounge's format. Take a look at this version, then let me know what you think of it in the new poll. UPDATE: I've created another monster. Your thoughts?

Are you smarter than a politician?

Sure you are. Just revise the following sentence so it makes sense:

My concern has been the atrocities there in Darfur and the relevance to me with that issue as we spoke about Africa and some of the countries there that were kind of the people succumbing to the dictators and the corruption of some collapsed governments on the continent, the relevance was Alaska’s investment in Darfur with some of our permanent fund dollars.

The source, along with commentary from Dick Cavett, can be found here.

Columns of the Day: Big Changes for the Big 3

For your consideration: three columns about what to do with the Big Three.
Michael Barone sees problems with bailouts and bankruptcy:

And yet the implications of a bailout are frightening. The Detroit Three were unprofitable well before the current financial crisis hit, and GM is reportedly hemorrhaging $1 billion a month. The huge cost of lavish employee and retiree health care benefits, negotiated with the United Auto Workers (UAW), makes it impossible for the companies to sell for a profit anything but the big cars and SUVs that, after gas prices hit $4 a gallon last spring, almost no one wants to buy.

Robert Samuelson argues that a bailout must come with strings attached, including writing down debt, lowering labor costs, and mandated higher gas prices:

To encourage consumers to buy fuel-efficient vehicles, Congress should mandate higher gas prices. Gasoline taxes could be raised gradually (say, a penny a month for four years, possibly offset by other tax cuts).

It's a sentiment echoed by a pair of contributors to the NY Times, who suggest:

a price floor of $3.50 per gallon on gasoline. If the price drops below that, as it recently has, the federal government would impose a variable tax to bring the price up to $3.50. If the price goes above $3.50, then the tax disappears. The money raised by the variable tax would be used, at least in the short term, to provide loan guarantees to the auto companies. (To ease the burden of higher gasoline prices on low-income taxpayers, some of the revenue would be provided to them as tax credits or vouchers.)

This just in!

Forest Hills is getting out early tomorrow due to today's snow.

Obama meets Dickens

Thanks, Economist! Just when I needed an example of the relevance of Charles Dickens in the 21st Century. . . 

Column of the Day: Charles Blow

If you're going to learn how to synthesize textual and graphic sources, you need to read Charles Blow's columns and blog. Last week, he examined how minority groups have voted for Republicans since the Reagan Administration. 

Dumbing down the election

Chris Hedges, Pulitzer Prize-winner and senior fellow at the Nation Institute, argues that our political differences aren't so much red and blue, conservative and liberal, or Republican and Democrat. Instead, they're the difference between the educated and the illiterate. Those with the capacity to analyze and argue versus those influenced by propaganda:

There are over 42 million American adults, 20 percent of whom hold high school diplomas, who cannot read, as well as the 50 million who read at a fourth- or fifth-grade level. Nearly a third of the nation's population is illiterate or barely literate. And their numbers are growing by an estimated 2 million a year. But even those who are supposedly literate retreat in huge numbers into this image-based existence. A third of high school graduates, along with 42 percent of college graduates, never read a book after they finish school. Eighty percent of the families in the United States last year did not buy a book.

And our candidates debate at a 7th to 9th grade vocabulary level, compared to the 11th and 12th grade levels of the Lincoln-Douglas debates.

Buy a book for your kids, for your siblings, for your friends. Buy one through the Amazon link here, and I'll buy more books for kids at LHS.

Cheap, green speakers for your MP3 player

Take four used plastic cups, clean 'em out, and grab two toothpics, your MP3 player, and your earbuds. Follow the directions here. But don't expect Bose-quality sound; just enjoy keeping the planet green.

Joe the Blogger?

Didn't his 15 minutes run out a couple of weeks ago? Joe the "Plumber" is now "blogging" while offering a "Freedom Membership" to his site for $14.95 a year. Joe's gonna have a hard time staying in that lower tax bracket if his site takes off - not that he's big on paying taxes. . . 

Coming (not) Soon (enough): Slumdog Millionaire

I can't wait for this one. Danny Boyle's (Trainspotting, Millions, 28 Days Later) new film looks brilliant. Opens in GR December 26. You know where to find me.

The Super 30 ALBUM Covers

Remember when we called them albums? This was one of my favorites: Peter Gabriel's third LP, which I picked up for $3.99 - new - at Believe in Music on Plainfield Avenue. More great covers here.

Column of the Day: Taking Obama to School

Unfortunately, the economy, the war in Iraq, and a few other things are higher on President-elect Obama's list than education. But if we want to compete in this global economy (even as it tanks), we must invest in human capital. And the best place to do it is in our public schools. Nicholas Kristof examines the issue today, and mentions these possible improvements:

A study by the Hamilton Project, a public policy group at the Brookings Institution, outlines several steps to boost weak schools: end rigid requirements for teacher certification that impede hiring, make tenure more difficult to get so that ineffective teachers can be weeded out after three years on the job and award hefty bonuses to good teachers willing to teach in low-income areas. If we want outstanding, inspiring teachers in difficult classrooms, we’re going to have to pay much more — and it would be a bargain. 

In Washington D.C., tenure is also an issue. School leaders there want to get rid of tenure and pay teachers $40,000 more per year. Teacher unions won't like that, but those of us who want to go the extra mile wouldn't mind the raise.

You know blogging's tough when. . .

. . . some seven-year old prodigy gets more hits a day than you do. And gets a letter from Barack Obama. Color me jealous.

Trivial info about 44

Did you know?

• Barack Obama collects Spider-Man comic books (bonus points)
• His favorite book is Moby Dick (negative)
• He hates the saggy baggy jeans look (YESSS!)
• Favorite TV shows are M*A*S*H and The Wire (okey dokey)
• He has read every Harry Potter book (excellent)

Other fun facts to know and yell about our President-elect can be found here.

On this Veterans Day

Take time today to pause, praise, and pray for those who've served our country. Veterans Day began after the "war to end all wars" - WWI - and is commemorated differently on both sides of the Atlantic, as Alexander Watson explains in today's NY Times:

For Americans, Veterans Day celebrates the survivors of all the nation’s
20th and 21st century wars. In France and Britain, by contrast, the mood is
altogether more somber. In these countries, it is the dead who, since 1919, have
been the focus of the ceremonies.

Canadian Lt. Col. John McCrae wrote "In Flanders Fields", one of the most famous poems about the war, with its reference to poppies, the flower that symbolizes the remebrance of those who've served:

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead.
Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Return of the Column of the Day

One of the most important demographics in this year's election was the college-educated voter. In Sunday's NY Times, Nicholas Kristof contemplates a smarter America (or at least one that appreciated intellectualism) now that Barack Obama is our president-elect:

Mr. Obama, unlike most politicians near a microphone, exults in complexity. He doesn’t condescend or oversimplify nearly as much as politicians often do, and he speaks in paragraphs rather than sound bites. Global Language Monitor, which follows linguistic issues, reports that in the final debate, Mr. Obama spoke at a ninth-grade reading level, while John McCain spoke at a seventh-grade level.

Need a job?

Maybe it's time for a change. Perhaps you'd like to work for the Obama Administration?

Lions begin Daunte Culpepper era - yawn. . .

But most of us were wondering, "What's Daunte been up to?" According to Onion Sports, he's been a crucial member of the Orlando, FL Perkins staff. Heh.

Red Arrows are District Champs!

Final from Red Arrow Stadium: LHS 35, Caledonia 7. Great work by the defense all night long to keep Cali's offense out of the end zone. Their only touchdown came on an interception in the second quarter. Rebroadcast of the game at 1 PM tomorrow on Lowell Comcast Cable 20, and again Wednesday on Comcast channel 900 (check listings for time).

GO ARROWS!

Best post-election cartoon

from Tom Toles

A whole new world

Blue counties indicate an overall increase in votes for Democrats, red for an increase in votes for Republicans (from the NY Times).

And now, back to the satire

From The Onion:

Another contributing factor to Obama's victory, political experts said, may have been the growing number of Americans who, faced with the complete collapse of their country, were at last able to abandon their preconceptions and cast their vote for a progressive African-American.After enduring eight years of near constant trauma, the United States is, at long last, ready for equality.

Citizens with eyes, ears, and the ability to wake up and realize what truly matters in the end are also believed to have played a crucial role in Tuesday's election.

Question of the Day

From my daughter Emily, "Will he get his own coin?" Someday, he just might.

Two speeches for the history books

Obama's was inspiring and sensational, McCain's honest and bittersweet. Watch both below, or read them here and here.

Today's cartoons

Sometimes, a picture - or an editorial cartoon - is worth a thousand words. Trudeau, Oliphant, and Danziger are pitch perfect.

64%

That's the turnout rate for this year's election, the highest since 1960.

Extra Credit Alert!

WANTED: Copies of Wednesday's Grand Rapids Press (just the first section). Will trade for extra credit. Will also accept first sections of other Wednesday papers. Bring them in Friday if you have them!

Change in Kent County

Kent County goes with Barack Obama. Wow. This is stunning.

Our 44th President

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA!

Know hope. God bless America. 

Live blogging again

10:33 PM: All networks playing it safe. Prediction: They'll all call it for Obama at 11 PM. 

10:17 PM: Still no results from Grand Rapids. One person I talked to this afternoon waited 3 hours to vote at Alexander Elementary. Most everyone else I've talked to (from all over the county) had little or no wait this morning and afternoon.

9:43 PM: Chuck Todd says that the demographic of the night is the white, college-educated voter. And Obama is getting them big time.

9:40 PM: No results from Grand Rapids yet, but the rest of Kent County is typically solid Republican. 

9:38 PM: Olbermann attempts basic math, takes MSNBC's current projections, adds likely Obama wins, gets a likely Obama victory. David Gregory gives a noticable reaction in an attempt to keep Keith from calling it a done deal. Heh.

Way to go. O. Hi. O.

MSNBC calls Ohio for Obama. 

Michigan proposal shocker

Didn't see this coming. According to WOOD TV, both Proposal 1 (medical marijuana) and Proposal 2 (embryonic stem cell research) have passed. 

Cue fat lady

9:01 PM: Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, NY, and Rhode Island to Obama; Wyoming, North Dakota, and Kansas to McCain (all according to MSNBC). Less than 100 electoral votes to go. And Arizona is too close to call.

8:57 PM: No change for Obama since I bolted out of GRCC and headed back to the not-so-elite Hollywood hills. Right now, Indiana is the one to watch. It's close, and the exit polls show a huge amount of independent voter support for Obama. 

8:13 PM: ABC and MSNBC are projecting victory for Obama based on exit polls. If they're accurate, it's all over for McCain. 

While we wait - top election movies

From Politico.com, a list of eight great political flicks (no Bulworth - that's a crime). Citizen Kane, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, and one of my favorites, Dave, made the list:

Live blogging the election returns

7:51 PM - Sign of the times: NBC is using an ice rink as its electoral map; CNN is using holograms. Insert Obi Wan Kenobi joke here. What a desperate attempt to draw viewers.

7:40 PM - Dismissed fellow election junkies/EN 102 students for the night. Waiting to see what happens in Florida, Virginia, and Indiana. If the Hoosiers go Obama, it's all over. But it's too close to call right now. But if Florida and Virginia go blue, the rest of the night won't matter.

Still, there's plenty of drama in Michigan. Will Props 1 and 2 pass? And will Al Franken eek out a victory in Minnesota? Stay tuned. 

Seriously, I haven't been this excited since my first election in 1984 (voted for The Gipper). 

How to wait for results in Denver

Why, by taking in a Metallica concert, of course. I'd give a shout out to the Right Reverend Greg and sis-in-law Melissa, but I don't think they'd be able to hear it . . . 

How to watch tonight's results - hour-by-hour

Let Fivethirtyeight's Nate Silver take you through the process. We might know all we need to after Virginia closes at 7 PM.

FREE STARBUCKS FOR EVERYONE!

Seems that handing out free "tall" brewed coffees to voters violates laws in some states regarding giving gifts to voters. So we all get a freebie today! (NOTE: Free is the ONLY way I'd drink their coffee instead of my favorite, BIGGBY COFFEE.)

How you doin?

The NY Times checks our collective state of mind this Election Day. Two of the most common words (across party lines) used to describe how we're feeling: hopeful and anxious.

Just do it.

Vote.

Savor the long line at your polling place. Celebrate this awesome privledge. Thank the polling place workers. Thank the people who've fought and died for your right to vote.

Vote.

See you tomorrow night.

Obama's loss, and a final endorsement

The loss of his grandmother, who died today at 86, leaves Barack Obama without his biggest supporter one day before the election. 

Andrew Sullivan, who I consider the wisest conservative voice, offers his thoughts on her death, as well as his endorsement of Obama. You won't find a more eloquent rationale in support of Obama as president:

I do know that he will handle these wars with reason, with prudence and with care. Those are three qualities absent from the White House for eight years. And I do know that Obama's very person, and what he symbolizes, will do more to restore America's image and repair our global public relations than any single measure any new administration will be able to accomplish.

And he can't even vote. Wouldn't it be nice if those who disagreed with either candidate wrote with such clarity and passion?

It's the economy - DUH!

Perhaps this is a prediction of things to come on Tuesday. 

OBAMA WINS! According to Doonesbury.

Garry Trudeau goes all in on Barack Obama. This Wednesday's strip (and the rest of the week's strips) features life in an Obama-as-president-elect world. Like my McCain bobblehead, it could be a collector's item if there's a big upset Tuesday night.

Palin gets mavrique - c'est pa?

I don't know how to speak French. Apparently, neither does Sarah Palin. But I don't think I'd fall for a prank phone call from "the French President."

Key Michigan Demographics from fivethirtyeight.com

What if? 

What if Michigan hadn't pushed for an early Democratic primary?

What if John McCain hadn't pulled out nearly a month ago? More here.

The plumber springs a leak

Joe the Plumber continues his campaign for John McCain (or a post-election talk radio program), questioning Barack Obama's patriotism. 

Bone. Head.

John, we hardly knew ye. . .

If only John McCain had been this self-deprecating throughout the campaign. . .


Then again, if he hadn't made so many bonehead, mavericky decisions. . .

You Can Vote However You Like

The latest viral video of the campaign. . . enjoy.

One in Ten Americans Watched

At this point, the infomercial probably won't change anyone's mind or convince the undecided. But from a production standpoint, it was excellent. Even better was the rally with Obama and Bill Clinton late last night. For the critics who refer to him as a socialist, Obama reminded them of "do unto others" and "my brother's keeper" from the Bible. Well played, Mr. Obama. Your move, Mr. McCain.

Stephen Colbert Endorses Barack Obama (sort of)

Are you biased?

How much does race enter into our decisions? Nicholas Kristof's column in today's NY Times explores how people are seen as "more" American than others based on their appearance. The study

"found that the research subjects — Californian college students, many of them Democrats supportive of Mr. Obama — unconsciously perceived him as less American even than the former British Prime Minister Tony Blair."

I tried both of the tests mentioned in the column, and you can by going here or here. My result from the Harvard's Project Implicit are above. Below are my final statistics from the University of Chicago's "Shooter Effect" test.

Game Over
Your Score: 545
Average reaction time:
Black Armed:641.4ms
Black Unarmed:802.8ms
White Armed:637.32ms
White Unarmed:676.32ms

Want to know who will win November 4? Watch The West Wing.

Take a look at the final two seasons of The West Wing, and you'll see a number of parallels between the fictitious race between Santos and Vinick and the real one between Obama and McCain. Even the Philadelphia Phillies made the fictitious World Series in that final season.

Barack on the Bradley Effect

Only Jon Stewart could get away with this. Priceless.

Massey ranks Red Arrows #1 in NATION!

Pretty cool. But Coach Dean and the boys know they have to take the season one game at a time. First up: Lansing Everett, Friday night, 7:30. Gates open at 6:00 PM, and everyone pays $5 to get in. If you can't make it, tune in as I call the play-by-play on WLHS.

Vote, vote, VOTE!

Joe the Plumber, Alaskan, Veteran. . .

There's no stopping Sarah Palin. Today she claimed good ol' Joe is a

"fellow Alaska[n], and he’s a fellow military man who has served our country proudly"

He did live in Alaska for four years, but never served in the military. Just six more days. I wonder how she'll describe Joe then? My prediction: answer to a future Trivial Pursuit question.

Damn kids! Get off the lawn!

Ohio man shoots teen attempting to take his McCain sign. Guns? Really? I just have a 5,000 volt current running through my yard sign.

Misunderestimating Al Franken

Once the race for president is decided, I'm watching Minnesota decide between Coleman and Franken. We have plenty of accidental humorists on Capital Hill; it would be nice to see one who's intentionally funny:

To get the joke of Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot, you need only to look at the cover, which features Franken posing in a tweed jacket in front of a wall of musty bound volumes, clutching a pipe, looking comically pompous. Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right has the joke in the title itself. Coulter writes books with titles like Slander: Liberal Lies About the American Right, whose charge is meant to be taken at face value. Franken's title mocks the accusation itself with over-the-top redundancy and subverts its own claim to truth by appropriating the corrupted slogan "Fair and Balanced."

The Audacity of Hope - Beagle Edition

Watch for the look on the pair of pooches left behind.

"Clean Coal" - NO SUCH THING!

Neither Obama or McCain has a leg to stand on regarding this issue; both seem to think "clean coal" is one energy source for America's future. It isn't clean, and it won't be around much longer at the rate we're using it. More here.

Freedom of the Press: We're Number 36!

Reporters Without Borders released its annual Press Freedom Index this week. Land of the Free Press finished 36th; Iceland, Luxembourg, and Norway tied for 1st, with Estonia (!) in 4th. According to the report, keeping war-free is the surest way to maintain press freedom.

Ted Stevens, Alaska's Tragic Hero

Senator Ted Stevens was found guilty today on seven counts of corruption. According to Mudflats, Alaskans are "stunned." Stevens many positive contributions to Alaska have been overshadowed by his own hubris:

It’s hard to dispute the fact that Stevens has worked hard, and was a stubborn advocate for his fledgling state when he took power. He brought much to the state that anyone with a lesser constitution would never have been able to pull off. And now, stalwart Alaskan icon Ted Stevens has become a frail, almost dottering, 84-year old convicted felon. The mighty have indeed, fallen. So, it is with a mixture of sadness and elation that even Progressive Alaskans view the outcome of this trial.

Power has corrupted. Arrogance has become karma. Justice has been served.

Oedipus, King Lear, Ted Stevens. Tragic.

Are you SURE you're registered?

Michiganders can check their voter registration status here and print a sample ballot.

He's good enough, he's smart enough. . .

. . . and, doggone it, people like Al Franken. Maybe just enough to elect the one-time SNL player to the US Senate. Is this a great country or what?

Newspaper endorsements - 4 to 1 favor Obama

This interactive map from Infochimps.org is pretty cool, even if it's not updated with the latest endorsements (The Anchorage Daily News endorsed Obama, while the GR Press endorsed McCain - in other shocking news, the sun came up this morning). A complete list of papers, with their circulation figures and endorsements, can be found here.

Mad Men meets SNL

Like chocolate and peanut butter in a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup, Mad Men's Jon Hamm and the SNL cast are two great tastes that taste great together:



And Andy's rip on white college Rasta-wannabes? Spot on.

Friends don't let friends vote for McCain

Growing up Republican isn't easy. Help the conservatives you love by sharing these Top Ten Reasons Why Conservatives Should Vote For Obama by a true conservative, Andrew Sullivan.

Refutation 101: Christopher Buckley on Rush Limbaugh

Snarky never looked so good. Buckley takes Rush - the "heir" to William F. Buckley - down a peg or twenty.

To which, let me add a personal, affectionately-intended note: Rush, I knew William F. Buckley, Jr. William F. Buckley, Jr. was a father of mine. Rush, you’re no William F. Buckley, Jr.

Wazzup! - Election 2008

Brilliant.

Red Arrows - OK White Champs!

Congrats to the Lowell High School Red Arrows on their OK White championship! A convincing 35-12 win over East Grand Rapids gives LHS a 9-0 record heading into the playoffs next week. Playoff pairings will be posted Sunday at 7 PM on MHSAA.com. Go Arrows!

NY Times endorses Obama

For those who cling to calling the MSM and the NY Times part of the "elite liberal media" (hello, Fox News), this will come as no surprise: the NY Times editorial board has endorsed Barack Obama for President. To those of us who've followed the Times throughout the campaign, it represents a change in the paper's position. They backed Hillary Clinton and John McCain in the New York primaries, and McCain has, up until a few weeks ago, a strong relationship with the paper of record. 

From the endorsement:

(L)eading America forward, will require strength of will, character and intellect, sober judgment and a cool, steady hand. . . Mr. Obama has those qualities in abundance.

 

"Nonstop Barrage of Spunky Fun"

High School Musical 3 hits the silver screen this weekend. All of those nagging questions - Will Troy and Gabriella stay together? How did Sharpay get her name? - will be answered. 

And I'll take my daughter and niece to see it. Okay, I'll drop her off and go see Quantum of Solace with my son.

On seeing America for the first time - Palin-style

How "real Americans" see the USA (apologies to Jamaica Kincaid).

Miss Teen Louisiana busted for dine-n-dash, drugs

On the upside, Lindsey Evans can run for Vice President in twenty years. 

Carve the Vote!

Obama's campaign has brought out a whole bunch of creative types and stunning posters, many of which are featured in this NY Times blog post. My favorite: yeswecarve.com, your source for Obama-related pumpkin carving stencils. 

Oh crap, part two. The silver lining.

Yes, that's a scarf covered with donkeys. Jeff Larson might have an eye for fashion, but the dude can't tell an elephant from his. . .

Oh crap. Palin's personal shopper is. . .

. . . a republican operative named Jeff Larson. For the record, I, Jeff Larsen, have never met Sarah Palin, nor have I shopped for women's clothes (or any other) at Saks, Bloomingdales, or Needless Markups. 

"Why I Blog"

I cannot hope to reach the millions that read Andrew Sullivan's blog on The Atlantic, nor can I hope to write as frequently or as eloquently. Simply put, the man is the best in the business. "Why I Blog" examines blogging as a new type of broadcasting:

"(T)he key to understanding a blog is to realize that it’s a broadcast, not a publication. If it stops moving, it dies. If it stops paddling, it sinks."

And of the skills required for this new media:

"People have a voice for radio and a face for television. For blogging, they have a sensibility."

But above all, there is this new sense of community, of belonging that only blogging provides:

"(Blogging) renders a writer and a reader not just connected but linked in a visceral, personal way. The only term that really describes this is friendship. And it is a relatively new thing to write for thousands and thousands of friends."

It's also nice to write for a couple dozen or so who drop by every day.

Dressing Up Caribou Barbie

It seems that dressing Sarah Palin and family is an expensive endeavor. The RNC spent over $150,000 in September for clothes and hairdos. Doesn't look they got Todd a new goatee trimmer, though. 

Makes me long for the days when we griped about John Edwards' $400 haircut. 

"You posted it for her, you can post it for me. Post it."

Too funny. This blog is read in South Korea, Canada, and Casablanca. Round up the usual suspects in Grand Rapids, Athens (GA), New Rochelle (NY), Collbran (CO), Florence (MT), and Imperial (MO). I don't know who you are, or why you're dropping by the Lit Lounge, but I'm happy you have.

Keepin' it real in Wasilla

Who dares show us the real Wasilla? Why, The Daily Show, of course:

Please note: these Alaskans do not reflect, in any way, my cousin Gary and his family, who live waaaaay up north.

It's for your own good!

No school on Election Day. Wouldn't that be nice? Safety first, country second. 

Sign of Hope: AMC renews Mad Men

Life is good. A third year of Don Draper and Company on AMC. 

How satirists vote

Christopher Buckley explains it all for you in today's Daily Beast. Here's a clue:

Satirists can work with earnest, but it’s not a long-hanging fruit by any means. We prefer, well, something broader. A president who can’t speak English, say, or who talks to God and launches cockamamie wars.

Mudslinging 101: If Ayers doesn't work. . .

. . . then bring up Reverend Wright. If you can't win with your own message, why not try a wedge issue or two? What's that, you say? You say that 60% of the electorate doesn't think Ayers is a legitimate issue? Well, he's a former angry white guy. Better try the angry black guy card instead. 

That'll rally the baser instincts of the base.

Why "Clean Coal" is an oxymoron

Don't take it from me. Ask Pablo. He'll tell you this:

As nice as it sounds, clean coal is an oxymoron of epic proportions, promoted by the coal industry, a sort of Orwellian doublespeak meant to introduce the notion that coal can be environmentally friendly. . .  clean coal does not . . . remove any carbon dioxide, the primary culprit behind climate change, from the emissions. 

Goodbye, Opus

Berkeley Breathed is sending Opus, beloved Bloom County penguin, to his "final paradise" next month. Only two more installments in the life of this lovable penguin. He'll be missed.

Something to fear

While robo-calls put fear and doubt in the minds of voters, Jeffrey Goldberg discovers that airport security checkpoints are all style and little substance. How does he know? It's all here. In addition, former TSA employees never turned in their uniforms and security passes. 

That is scary. (photo from The Atlantic)

Was picking Palin a cold, calculated choice?

Why don't we ask John McCain:

SNL Recap

Palin and Wahlberg take it to Fey and Samberg in this week's SNL highlights.

"A transformational figure"

Colin Powell endorses Barack Obama. A textbook example of how to take a position and support it:



More here.

The audacity of 100,000 hopeful people

Today in St. Louis. (photo by AP)