Not Your Usual Mid-April Post

So. Did Obama’s campaign effectively end out in San Francisco last week? Were his condescending remarks about small-town folks in Pennsylvania enough to sink his ship? One can only hope, Gentle Reader. In the meantime, the political blogosphere, not to mention the paid pundits, are all a-twitter over this latest tempest-in-the-political-teapot. Personally, I like what Jules Crittenden had to say:

Surveying the bloody Dem contest, I just keep thinking of the old Clinton campaign theme, “Don’t Stop Thinking About Tomorrow.” This will go on at least until April 22 and more likely June 3, maybe into the convention in August. So many tomorrows to not stop thinking about!

Mickey Kaus has some very astute observations on Obama, as well. Among which, this (emphasis in the original article):

Yes, he's condescending. It's not just that in explaining everyone to everyone Obama winds up patronizing everyone. He doesn't patronize everyone equally. Specifically, he regards the views of these Pennsylvanians as epiphenomena--byproducts of economic stagnation--in a way he doesn't regard, say, his own views as epiphenomena.** Once the Pennsylvanians get some jobs back, they'll change and become as enlightened as Obama the San Franciscans to whom he was talking. That's the clear logic of his argument. Superiority of this sort--not crediting the authenticity and standing of your subject's views--is a violation of social equality, which is a more important value for Americans than money equality. Liberals tend to lose elections when they forget that.

Yet the usual suspects aren’t fazed in the least. If anything, they’re more fired up about the Obamanon than ever. But not everyone is enamored with Barack. (Liberal use [heh] of f-bombs at that last link. You are warned.)

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This is interesting: “Russia’s New Leader: Fan of the Internet.” I’m not being facetious, either. Excerpt:

The incoming Russian president, Dmitri A. Medvedev, has repeatedly promised to follow the course of his patron and predecessor, Vladimir V. Putin. But in one area, Mr. Medvedev is clearly blazing his own trail.

…

The Russian Internet, often called Runet, has 40 million users, or 28 percent of the population. Russian sites do $3 billion in annual transactions and have $370 million in advertising revenue, Mr. Medvedev said. There are over one million Russian language sites on the net, and the average Russian Internet user spends an hour a day online.

Unlike in China, the Internet in Russia is not censored and is full of online newspapers, magazines and videos that criticize the government. By contrast, the Kremlin controls television, and although independent newspapers and radio stations exist, they have relatively small audiences.

Under President Vladimir V. Putin, the Kremlin has considered measures that would tighten control over the Internet. It is currently drafting a law that would force websites to register with the government.

Well, there’s both good and bad news, eh? But a Russian president that’s tech-savvy can’t be ALL bad.

Wait. Lemmee think on that for a minute, or six.

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And then there’s this: “An Engineer’s Guide to Cats.”

You must be asking “Why in God’s Name would you post a seven minute video about cats, when you’re a dog person?” Good question, Gentle Reader. And thanks for not bringing up the “it’s Teh Gay!” point about this vid… I so appreciate your consideration, civility, and deference in this matter. Still, the point remains: Why? Equal time, I guess. And I suppose cats do have a certain place in life… it’s just not here.

You can’t play Frisbee with a cat.

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A pending milestone… sometime this afternoon or early this evening I’ll get my 50,000^th visitor, assuming traffic is at normal levels (we’re at 49,965 as I post). Interestingly, it took 20 months for me to get to 25,000 visits, and only seven months to get to the next 25,000. Still very small potatoes, though.

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Ha! A post without a single mention of athletic activity on ice. And you thought I was obsessed, dint ya? C’mon, you can tell me the truth, even if it hurts…