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Main Alaska Newspaper, Anchorage Daily News Endorses Obama

The largest newspaper in Alaska, the Anchorage Daily News, formally endorses Obama for president.

Gov. Palin's nomination clearly alters the landscape for Alaskans as we survey this race for the presidency -- but it does not overwhelm all other judgment. The election, after all is said and done, is not about Sarah Palin, and our sober view is that her running mate, Sen. John McCain, is the wrong choice for president at this critical time for our nation.

Sen. Barack Obama, the Democratic nominee, brings far more promise to the office. In a time of grave economic crisis, he displays thoughtful analysis, enlists wise counsel and operates with a cool, steady hand. The same cannot be said of Sen. McCain.

[...]

Sen. Obama warned regulators and the nation 19 months ago that the subprime lending crisis was a disaster in the making. Sen. McCain backed tighter rules for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, but didn't do much to advance that legislation. Of the two candidates, Sen. Obama better understands the mortgage meltdown's root causes and has the judgment and intelligence to shape a solution, as well as the leadership to rally the country behind it. It is easy to look at Sen. Obama and see a return to the smart, bipartisan economic policies of the last Democratic administration in Washington, which left the country with the momentum of growth and a budget surplus that President George Bush has squandered.

On the most important issue of the day, Sen. Obama is a clear choice.

Read more here.

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Amazing Iceland Vacation Deal

With their country about to go bankrupt, Iceland's airline Icelandair is running an amazing promotion right now in an attempt to woo some tourists there, especially Americans where dollars are suddenly valuable. For $559 per person (before taxes), this deal comes with:

Round-trip airfare, a discount shopping card, 3 nights at the luxurious Hilton Reykjavik Nordica (with Scandinavian/American breakfast buffet each morning after arrival day) and free shuttle service to the old town and the Kringlan Mall.

The only catch is that you have to book by October 31, 2008 and travel between November - December 15, 2008. [Via]

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Scene in New York

This is the scene I encountered this afternoon in Soho.

Uggs aren't going away. If anything you may see even more of them this winter than ever before if these lines outside of the Ugg store in Soho is any trend barometer.

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Brilliant Short Film Created Only with Still Camera

This short silent film by photographer Vincent LaForet is absolutely eye candy. What makes it completely brilliant is the fact LaForet shot it only with a still camera. David Pogue writes:

The Web was buzzing a couple of weeks ago when photographer Vincent LaForet spent a weekend making a short, wordless movie using an early Canon 5D Mark II (an expensive, professional S.L.R.). He hired a couple of models, grabbed a crew, rented a helicopter, pulled together $5,000, and made an absolutely astonishing-looking piece of video.

Watch it here. And then view the awesome behind the scenes video.

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Apple Publicly Opposes Prop 8

Direct from Apple's start page from their website:

Apple is publicly opposing Proposition 8 and making a donation of $100,000 to the No on 8 campaign. Apple was among the first California companies to offer equal rights and benefits to our employees’ same-sex partners, and we strongly believe that a person’s fundamental rights — including the right to marry — should not be affected by their sexual orientation. Apple views this as a civil rights issue, rather than just a political issue, and is therefore speaking out publicly against Proposition 8.

Apple didn't have to do this, but they did so anyways. Very admirable. Along with being an Apple fanboy, this news ought to make freelance contributor, N, happy.

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Heart of Texas Newspaper Endorses Obama

While the endorsement choice of newspapers like the New York Times and other national dailies is largely unsurprising, the endorsement of Barack Obama by the editorial board of the Bryan/College Station Eagle is as Andrew Sullivan remarked, "staggering."

In the past 50 years, The Eagle has never recommended a Democrat for president. We made no recommendations in 1960 and 1964 -- when Texas' own Lyndon B. Johnson was on the Democratic ticket -- nor did we in 1968 -- although we did praise Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey's position on the Vietnam War. We did not in 1976 and 1980. In 1972, The Eagle recommend Richard Nixon, in 1984, Ronald Reagan. We recommended George H.W. Bush in 1988 and 1992 and his son in 2000. We recommended Bob Dole in 1996.

Four years ago, the Editorial Board couldn't recommend George W. Bush for a second term, but we also couldn't recommend Sen. John Kerry either, so we made no choice.

This year is different, in large part because of the very difficult challenges facing this nation after eight years of a failed Bush administration. We are faced with a choice between Sen. John McCain, who claims to be an agent of change but promotes the policies of the past, and Sen. Barack Obama, who also wears the change mantle, but offers a vision for the future, even if he has yet to fully explain how he would carry out that vision if elected president in little more than two weeks.

Read full here.

[Via]

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New York Times Editorial Staff Formally Endorses Obama

No brainer:

Mr. Obama has met challenge after challenge, growing as a leader and putting real flesh on his early promises of hope and change. He has shown a cool head and sound judgment. We believe he has the will and the ability to forge the broad political consensus that is essential to finding solutions to this nation’s problems.

In the same time, Senator John McCain of Arizona has retreated farther and farther to the fringe of American politics, running a campaign on partisan division, class warfare and even hints of racism. His policies and worldview are mired in the past. His choice of a running mate so evidently unfit for the office was a final act of opportunism and bad judgment that eclipsed the accomplishments of 26 years in Congress.

Read full endorsement here.

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Great Poem by Cosmo

My roommate Kate shared this brilliantly hysterical poem titled "While Cuddling Softly" written by one of her guy friends, Cosmo. It's best appreciated if you read it out loud.

While cuddling softly in her bed, "I hook up more with girls," she said. I thought this great at first, but now It sets me ill at ease somehow. Though most would say I'm more the man To win where others scarce began, If women set her heart awhirl, Should this not make me more the girl?

Should this...not...make..me...more the girl? HAHAHA!

I strong feel this poem is very repost, reblog, retwitter worthy.

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FPPS: First Person Paint Shooter

Titled "The Unfinished Swan," this tech demo of a puzzle game combined with a first person shooter created by Ian Dallas made my brain explode. Stunning and beautiful. Seriously, watch this. [vimeo 1807754]

This game is expected to arrive in March 2009 on the Xbox 360.

[Via]

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Conservative Radio Host and the Ohio Flag

On an October 15 broadcast, conservative radio host Bob Grant blasted the Obama campaign for idolatry after a rally in Toledo where one of the flags on stage appeared questionable. Here's what Grant said:

What is that flag that Obama's been standing in front of that looks like an American flag, but instead of having the field of 50 stars representing the 50 states, there's a circle? Is the circle the 'O' for Obama? Is that what it is? Did you notice Obama is not content with just having several American flags, plain old American flags with the 50 states represented by 50 stars? He has the 'O' flag. And that's what that 'O' is. Just like he did with the plane he was using. He had the flag painted over, and the 'O' for Obama.

It DOES sound a bit subversive, ain't it? I mean, look at the flag! The big 'O.' Who the heck does this guy think he is??

So what's up with this flag? It's the fucking official Ohio state flag.

[Via]

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Lotus Exige by Eric Haze

My immediate thought when I saw Eric Haze's interpretation of a Lotus Exige, which was rolled out at the Manhattan Classic Car Club recently, was the following:

Colander, (kŭl'ən-dər, kŏl'-)

...a type of sieve used in cooking for separating liquids and solids. It is much like a strainer. It is conventionally made of a light metal, such as aluminium or thinly rolled stainless steel, although it is not uncommon for it to be made of plastic.

[Via]

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