Looking at electoral returns, the Libertarian Party received just over a half million votes nationwide. The LP was not on the ballot in every state (mid 40s of 50), and has rarely received this many votes nationally. Far from expectations, of course. Wait a few years, though, when big government looks less desirable, and these…

From the Onion, America’s Finest News Source, one finds election results I’ve yet seen reported elsewhere. Voting Machines Elect One Of Their Own As President For more on electronic voting systems, in a serious way, see HBO’s Hacking Democracy. (The documentary contends, I recall, that optical scanners of paper ballots such as those used in…

In the film The Good Shepherd, about the formation of the Central Intelligence Agency, there’s an exchange between an Italian American and a patrician WASP. Joseph Palmi: Let me ask you something… we Italians, we got our families, and we got the church; the Irish, they have the homeland, Jews their tradition… What about you…

Congratulations, Obama supporters. There used to be a decent honeymoon for a winning candidate and his supporters. There will be one for the President-Elect. Unfortunately, not for his supporters. The Onion‘s already teasing you. Obama Win Causes Obsessive Supporters To Realize How Empty Their Lives Are

Yesterday, I posted on the serious, if unpopular argument, for Rational Voter Ignorance. Are there, even beyond opposing arguments, other options for voters and society? Yes, of course. A few quick points — these being ones that interest me for Whitewater, specifically — 1. Political Ignorance Isn’t Rational in Whitewater, as Our Election Results are…

In this contentious election season (and what elections are not?), what to make of the case for rational voter ignorance, that being informed about candidates and issues is of slight value, and may rationally, sensibly be ignored? Today, I’ll briefly set out the case that proponents of the concept make. Tomorrow, I’ll reply to it.…

There’s been a shocking, absolutely shocking, discovery from Japan: plants are able to blog.  The Reuters news agency has the story.  I have embedded a Reuters video that describes this astonishing Japanese research.   (The nation that brought the world “Hello Kitty” never disappoints.) The video does not describe the full story, though.  I have…

Christmas on Mars, a film from The Flaming Lips, one of America’s finest psychedelic alternative rock bands, will soon be in Whitewater. Yes, Whitewater, Wisconsin. I received a helpful heads up from Ray Privett of Cinema Purgatorio announcing upcoming dates for the film. Here are the dates for our area — Wisconsin: Whitewater, Wisconsin: Theatres…

Good morning, Whitewater There are no public meetings scheduled for the city today. You stay private, Whitewater! (Hat tip to the fine screenwriters of Anchorman.) The National Weather Service forecasts sunny weather, with temperature of 79 degrees. The Farmers’ Almanac predicts that pleasant conditions will continue. Yesterday’s better prediction: Even. An FA forecast of pleasant…

I have enjoyed this first half of September, and the beginning of fall weather.  As much as I have enjoyed the repose of these several days, I prefer blogging far more.  For the remainder of the week, beginning Wednesday, here’s a partial list of upcoming topics:   The LP campaign through mid-September Empty Accountability Register…

Twitter.com is a program that allows one to post messages of less than one-hundred forty characters, via the Web, email, or text. The messages are formally supposed to respond to a single question: What are you doing now?  Each message is called a ‘tweet,’ and others can follow those tweets, to learn what a friend,…