dems day 1

I was planning to wait until the end of the convention before blogging about it, but since I'm home sick today, and won't catch Kerry's speech live anyway, now seems as good a time as any to catch up on the rest of it.

Monday:

Can Bill Clinton be President again? Please?

Republicans believe in an America run by the right people, their people, in a world in which we act unilaterally when we can, and cooperate when we have to. They think the role of government is to concentrate wealth and power in the hands of those who embrace their political, economic, and social views, leaving ordinary citizens to fend for themselves on matters like health care and retirement security.

He twists the knife in the President even further when he discusses the tax cuts:

When I was in office, the Republicans were pretty mean to me. When I left and made money, I became part of the most important group in the world to them. At first I thought I should send them a thank you note—until I realized they were sending you the bill.

The other notable event on Monday was USA Today's spiking of Ann Coulter's column. I can't imagine why. Her lede:

Here at the Spawn of Satan convention in Boston, conservatives are deploying a series of covert signals to identify one another, much like gay men do. My allies are the ones wearing crosses or American flags. The people sporting shirts emblazened [sic] with the "F-word" are my opponents. Also, as always, the pretty girls and cops are on my side, most of them barely able to conceal their eye-rolling.

and later:

Support the troops, the signs say, bring them home. That's my new position on all government workers, except the 5% who aren't useless, which is to say cops, prosecutors, firemen and U.S. servicemen....I love public school teachers punishing any mention of God and banning Christmas songs so much -- I think they should go home.

She's gone from moronic and insulting to just plain incoherent. Nice.

i want one!

The Industrial Design Excellence Awards (IDEA) were given out recently. There are a lot of cool products, many not really in the mainstream, though Apple won again, both with its iPod Mini and its G5 system. I think the Circular Printer is supercool, though.

Also on the "this is really slick" radar is Mindball, a game played with your brain. Two players control a ball on a table, with the more relaxed player able to move the ball successfully across the table. And it only costs $19,000. This is ultimately where video games will be going. Playstation 8 anyone?

Two Johns for one America

He was my first choice, and I believe the only choice who gives the Dems a shot at the Senate. I think he's probably also the best running-mate to win the White House, and I figure Kerry will come out of July with an 8-10 point lead over the President. Whether that holds after the Republican convention remains to be seen. I'm also drooling over a Vice-Presidential debate.

For a more thourough analysis of the Edwards pick, read John Hood in the National Review:

To pick Edwards is essentially to pick a fight with the Republicans on their territory, and to up the political stakes down the ballot.

ahhh...seattle

Seattle was awesome last week . There's this great market down by the waterfront with abundances of fresh vegetables, fruits, and fish. There were also a bunch of other cool shops and booths, selling everything from blueberry vinegar to alpaca sweaters and toe rings.

All the food I had on the trip was all very good, especially the very fresh fish. The harbor is beautiful, and it was 75 and cool the entire time I was there. I want to go back.