John Williams a Capella

This is one of the coolest videos I have seen in awhile, a one man a capella tribute to Star Wars and John Williams.



Courtesy of GeekDad.

It Gets Better and Better

The more we learn about Sarah Palin, the more appalling her selection as McCain's running mate becomes.



Words fail.

Hat Tip: Sullivan

Obama's Victory Speech

Wow. I'm a cynical guy, but he can really move me. I love how he says so little "I," but rather "we" and his call for all Americans to work together and sacrifice. This is exactly the kind of leader we need at this moment.



It sounds cheesy, but he does give me hope and a desire to stand together with my fellow Americans to make our great nation even greater. I have never felt this way about any other politician even those I have liked.

President Obama

Unsurprisingly, Barack Obama has been elected President. I think it is hard to overestimate how powerful a moment this is for America whatever your views on Obama's politics.

Well, I guess not everyone feels that way. McCain's concession speech was very good, but the crowd was very ugly. Some people just have no class.

The End is Near

It's almost hard to imagine that tomorrow the Presidential campaign is over. It's been going on for what, five or six years now? Actually, Obama announced his candidacy on February 10 of last year and McCain announced his bid a couple of months later. Still, even for a political junkie like me, it seems that this campaign has been going on for a long, long time and taking place in a galaxy...oh, never mind.

Anyway, it seems virtually impossible for McCain to squeeze out a victory tomorrow, so we can probably expect to inaugurate our first black President. While that is certainly not a reason to vote for Obama, I think it can be said to be a good thing for our country. Much of the world and indeed even much of our own country is not white. Having a leader that is not will help our image in the world and give black kids someone to look up to that looks like them and is not a rap artist or athlete.

I almost feel sorry for Obama, though. Would you want to be taking over our country in a time like this? John Stewart asked Obama about this. Of course Obama gave a standard political answer, but you've got to wonder if he doesn't lay in bed at night thinking to himself, "Damn it! Why now?"

The hardest part for the Democrats will be the fact that they are now going to own the problems America faces - the economy, Iraq, Afghanistan, al-Qaeda, and so on. It's not going to matter much how we got here if they can't get us out of it. Obama's leadership will be tested from day one. I have more faith in his leadership than I do the Congressional Democratic leadership to be sure.

Well, whatever happens tomorrow, the Presidential campaign is over (you hear that, Florida? No hanging chads!) and I think that's something we can all be happy about.

The Urkel Effect?

Joel Stein is concerned.

I am, however, deeply worried about the Urkel effect, which holds that voters leaning toward Obama will walk into the voting booth and suddenly think, I cannot take four years of listening to that giant-eared nerd. Because people are starting to realize that Obama is not all that cool. He's earnest like C-3PO, emotionless like Spock, overly practical like Encyclopedia Brown and incredibly skinny like C-3PO, Spock and Encyclopedia Brown.

Obama seemed cool at first because he uses slang, dresses well and bumps fists. But a lifetime of dangerous undercover work makes it easy for me to spot a fellow nerd. Obama has done a good job passing, with his nice suits, easy smile and attractive wife. But those are just the over-30 nerd trappings of success. Have you seen him try to dance? It's like watching a white guy make fun of other white guys. Sure, he played high school basketball, but how many cool kids play indoor sports in Hawaii? The man is all superego. He never gets angry or flirts with hot chicks by asking them to be his Vice President. Obama has written about using pot and cocaine, but a New York Times article found only school buddies who said he merely dabbled with marijuana. That's because the only people who bring up their drug use didn't really do drugs. Try asking George W. Bush about alleged cocaine use. You'll see how the nonnerds play it.

And my favorite part.

Former TIME reporter Benjamin Nugent, author of American Nerd: The Story of My People, is also worried about the Urkel effect, though he thinks Obama is less nerd than nerd-adjacent. These are the types of terms you have to endure when talking to the author of American Nerd: The Story of My People. "He would be the guy the jocks didn't choose to towel-snap, but he would kind of stand there looking disapproving while they towel-snapped. Whereas McCain would be more likely to towel-snap you, and Sarah Palin would make out with the guy who towel-snapped you," he says.

I'm adding American Nerd to my list of books to read. And praying that the Urkel effect does not come into play on Tuesday. We nerds do not need another setback.

Weekly Music Video

I love this song, but I often wonder how many people listening to it know who Buddy Holly or Mary Tyler Moore are?

Weezer - "Buddy Holly"

Weezer MTV Music

Montana in the News

You know it's a strange election when Republicans are worried about Montana. CNN has changed Montana's status from "Leaning McCain" to "Toss Up." Clinton in '92 was the last Democratic Presidential candidate we voted for. It will be interesting to see how it turns out. If we do flip for Obama, he can Ron Paul who is stealing a substantial minority of votes from McCain.

Weekly Secret

PostSecret