While I hated the negativity of this long, arduous campaign, and the campaign b.s. and rhetoric definitely made me lose some respect for both of the candidates, I must, nonetheless, say that they were both very gracious in their speeches this evening. During his speech, McCain once again seemed the man I might have considered voting for 8 years ago had he, rather than Bush, been on the ticket. But who knows, maybe a hard run at the White House back then would have changed him into whomever it was that came out in this campaign. Anyway, I thought Obama’s speech was great too. Nice to see both of them speaking of working together and healing the nation...
YEA! It’s over - tonight - I can finally sleep!
Happy Election to All, and to All a Good Night.
Gardenmama's Journal
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11/05/2008 01:13 #46542
Gracious11/03/2008 18:32 #46498
ELECTION WOEsI find with the closer tomorrow gets, the more apprehensive I become. I know that Obama is ahead in the polls but, 8 years ago, so was Gore (I believe it was by 8 points pre-election day) - we all know how that turned out. Part of my concern is that frequently the polls make teetering, would-be voters stay home if their candidate of choice is the one who is ahead; or makes voters come out if their candidate is behind. A combination of these two things causes really bad things to happen, ala 8 years ago. Thank god I’m off work tomorrow because I just don’t think I’ll be getting much sleep tonight.
On the brighter side, after tomorrow, come what may, it will all be over. No more phone calls, no more flyers, no more dreadful negative TV ads, and on and on and on... that in itself deserves some celebrating.
On the brighter side, after tomorrow, come what may, it will all be over. No more phone calls, no more flyers, no more dreadful negative TV ads, and on and on and on... that in itself deserves some celebrating.
metalpeter - 11/03/08 18:50
Yes it being over is a good thing. Being ahead in polls doesn't mean shit. First of all people don't allways tell the truth in them. Not everyone votes. Not to mention the polls are not given to everyone and I'm sure there selection process could be biased based on who is doing the poll. But see there is another factor that I don't think the polls cover what states will be won. For example you might 10% lead in the polls and even in the election but you win the states you win by a large number of people then you can win the popular vote but if those states don't have enough points then you can still lose.
Yes it being over is a good thing. Being ahead in polls doesn't mean shit. First of all people don't allways tell the truth in them. Not everyone votes. Not to mention the polls are not given to everyone and I'm sure there selection process could be biased based on who is doing the poll. But see there is another factor that I don't think the polls cover what states will be won. For example you might 10% lead in the polls and even in the election but you win the states you win by a large number of people then you can win the popular vote but if those states don't have enough points then you can still lose.
11/01/2008 23:36 #46470
Heating systemDoes anyone have one of these infrared heaters, or has anyone heard anything about them? I was speaking to someone recently who heard good things about them, but I would appreciate some additional opinions. They’re supposed to help save money and be safer than regular space heaters. I keep my heat pretty low and the back of my house tends to be colder than the front- it’s pretty chilly. Also, heating costs are supposed to go up this winter and frankly, I prefer not to have to pay outrageous gas bills. Of course, I don’t want to pay outrageous electric bills either.
Science is not necessarily my strongest knowledge area so maybe if someone can even tell me if the whole premise of the infrared heater as an energy saver makes sense?
Thanks.
http://greenisbetter.org/
Science is not necessarily my strongest knowledge area so maybe if someone can even tell me if the whole premise of the infrared heater as an energy saver makes sense?
Thanks.
http://greenisbetter.org/
tinypliny - 11/02/08 00:37
Basically, these heaters are an all-heat-very little/minor-light-emitting versions of those crazy energy wasting incandescent bulbs - which are now being replaced by CFL spirals.
While a bulb's primary job is to provide light (which it does terribly inefficiently by converting only 5% of the energy to light and the rest to unnecessary heat), the infrared heater's primary job is to provide heat. 95% of the energy that is converted to heat in an incandescent bulb filament is also converted to heat in an infrared heater. In a heater's context, however, this energy efficieny is pretty good. That, and the fact that the heater filament gives out very little light as compared to a regular incandescent bulb filament - thus upping the 95% energy-heat conversion rate (<5% is converted to a very dull glow)
But apparently all this is not enough for efficiency ->http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1137854/infrared_heaters_vs_conventional_heaters.html?cat=15
So the bottomline is I am confused as well...
Basically, these heaters are an all-heat-very little/minor-light-emitting versions of those crazy energy wasting incandescent bulbs - which are now being replaced by CFL spirals.
While a bulb's primary job is to provide light (which it does terribly inefficiently by converting only 5% of the energy to light and the rest to unnecessary heat), the infrared heater's primary job is to provide heat. 95% of the energy that is converted to heat in an incandescent bulb filament is also converted to heat in an infrared heater. In a heater's context, however, this energy efficieny is pretty good. That, and the fact that the heater filament gives out very little light as compared to a regular incandescent bulb filament - thus upping the 95% energy-heat conversion rate (<5% is converted to a very dull glow)
But apparently all this is not enough for efficiency ->http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1137854/infrared_heaters_vs_conventional_heaters.html?cat=15
So the bottomline is I am confused as well...
10/31/2008 18:17 #46453
H A P P Y H A L L O W E E N ! ! !Here's wishing you all a very happy, spooky, silly, haunted halloween! Hope you all have a blast at the party - I, regretfully, will be unable to attend. ENJOY!!
P.S. - My costume was going to be Dr. Seuss' Thing 1 - maybe next year.
P.S. - My costume was going to be Dr. Seuss' Thing 1 - maybe next year.
gardenmama - 11/01/08 17:15
I was sorry to miss the party too. Glad you all had a good time - costumes look great. I'm looking forward to the holiday dinner party (and to meeting everyone) - I love pot-luck.
I was sorry to miss the party too. Glad you all had a good time - costumes look great. I'm looking forward to the holiday dinner party (and to meeting everyone) - I love pot-luck.
paul - 11/01/08 13:46
Ya sorry you missed it. We will have a holiday dinner party.
Ya sorry you missed it. We will have a holiday dinner party.
tinypliny - 11/01/08 10:39
Hope you had a good one! You were sorely missed!!!
Hope you had a good one! You were sorely missed!!!
10/30/2008 17:50 #46432
Life's cruel twistsOne of my dearest friends (my daughter’s god-mother) called me at work yesterday a.m. to tell me that her brother had died from a massive heart attack. He had just turned 56 years old earlier this week. I had been friends with him for 23 years and my children referred to him as Uncle Albert. His family is very close and my heart is breaking for them and, selfishly, for me too. I hate that people have to die. Today I am so very, very sad.
Of Albert...
Wine and tears and music flow...
family and friends (so many) gathered in disbelief
so full of life, how could it possibly be
a heart so strong, so full... should cease
Father, brother, husband, lover, son, uncle, friend
he gave so much to so many
Waves of joy and sadness intermingle,
as, between the tears, love and laughter fill the air,
a reflection of memories so sweet
Together, seeking solace and understanding
we mourn the loss of one so loved and loving, yet
we celebrate a life that touched ours so uniquely
knowing, the gift that was Albert shall live on...
forever in our hearts and souls.
by: KAZ 10/30/08
Picture of Albert toasting - enjoying life at Allegany State Park
Of Albert...
Wine and tears and music flow...
family and friends (so many) gathered in disbelief
so full of life, how could it possibly be
a heart so strong, so full... should cease
Father, brother, husband, lover, son, uncle, friend
he gave so much to so many
Waves of joy and sadness intermingle,
as, between the tears, love and laughter fill the air,
a reflection of memories so sweet
Together, seeking solace and understanding
we mourn the loss of one so loved and loving, yet
we celebrate a life that touched ours so uniquely
knowing, the gift that was Albert shall live on...
forever in our hearts and souls.
by: KAZ 10/30/08
Picture of Albert toasting - enjoying life at Allegany State Park
gardenmama - 11/01/08 17:17
Thanks folks.
Thanks folks.
tinypliny - 11/01/08 10:39
:(
:(
libertad - 10/31/08 08:57
I'm very sorry. Are you KAZ? That is very touching.
I'm very sorry. Are you KAZ? That is very touching.
mrmike - 10/30/08 18:32
Knew the Saladinos a little bit through Al's music and through another family, seemed like good folk. My condolences...
Knew the Saladinos a little bit through Al's music and through another family, seemed like good folk. My condolences...
matthew - 10/30/08 18:00
I'm sorry for your loss.
I'm sorry for your loss.
I too voted for Gore in 2000, and though I don't regret it, I wasn't thrilled either. And had it been McCain running against him, I'm really not sure which way I would have gone but I think I would have given him some real consideration. dragonlady7, I too wish I could believe the theory of throwing the election on purpose - it would serve the R's right after what they did to him. I guess that's part of what surprised me with the campaign, he seemed to be trying a little too hard to please them. I understand there's a whole purse stings thing attached to the kowtowing stuff but it irks me nonetheless. And of the 2012 campaign, MrMike, maybe they'll give us at least until after inauguration day before they start up with that crap - haha.
I voted for Gore, and it was the only vote I've ever regretted! At the time I didn't regret it too much... I was the guy passing around Noam Chomsky in class, to give you some perspective.
Look, McCain has always been this guy. All politicians (the Messiaobama included) have done things in their past they aren't too proud of in order to advance their careers. Neither Obama or McCain are "bad guys" - reasonable people know that.
I wanted McCain in 2000 too!! I wanted him more than Gore!! I was SO ANGRY when Bush got the nomination, I was almost madder about that than him actually winning. McCain is a hawk but he would have buttoned up Afghanistan before going after Iraq. People keep saying "Oh you can't blame W for all that's wrong now" but that's bull, it was his personal batshitness that put so much pressure on us to go after Saddam personally.
Ugh.
But yes. McCain's speech was the way I remember him being, back when I liked him. It was disconcerting, because I had this odd warm-fuzzy feeling. Is it just that he's defeated, that I like him again? No, the things he said were actually nice, and sensible.
I read a theory that he threw the election on purpose because he wanted to screw the Republicans who'd screwed him.
I like that theory, weirdly.
I think the real McCain showed up last night. He was a class act. He was great on SNL last weekend too. Maybe with the campaign over now he can go back to being himself.
Had McCain been that guy all along he might not have had to stuggle so. He spent so much time wanting the country off his front lawn in recent months, it was difficult to tell what he for.
Great speeches and now it is finally over and we can concern ourselves with something else until the 2012 campaign begins next month.