The Obama O, made from gum wrappers

I strictly ration my gum, and always have some with me (Don’t ask for it though) so I soon amassed a pretty hefty collection. It totaled about 30 pieces of normal aluminum plus Five’s red, blue and green wrappers. I realized the potential of these wrappers. I could create…art.

First I had to figure out what to make. It would have to be a simple image with not too many colors. The Obama O-bingo. Wrigleys wrappers for white, Flare red, Cobalt blue and Rain green letters.

How I converted the Obama logo into a 3-color pixelated was pretty sophisticated. I’m pretty sure I applied some saturation layers, created a grid, then created three duplicate layers of one individual square to replace squares with the right color. One square equaled one half of a wrapper.

I spent about 45 minutes figuring out how to draw the gird but eventually got it on the two pieces of posterboard, along with the gum wrappers. I had to chew more Big Red, and finished it up with “2008” made with Rain green.

Eventually my art was finished. This was my masterpiece. You know the Obama poster that says “Hope” underneath? Mine was cool like that. What to do with it though?

Great idea-frame it and put it in the nearest Obama HQ. One opens in my county tomorrow morning.

Click for bigger images…

More Obama art:
Lincoln-Obama fusion

An essay on religion

As a Catholic I get flak about our traditions. But they’re actually pretty well-grounded. One example is at end of Mass-the pastor proclaims “The Mass has ended” and the congregation enthusiastically responds “Thanks be to God.”

3 2 1

When you’re working, you do really dumb stuff to keep you amused during those slow times. Kinda like college, but safer.

The setting was my place of employment, Chick Fil A. Saturday nights are the slowest, and in my opinion, have the funnest people on the clock.

Our styrofoam cups come in long plastic bags that you poke open at one end. One employee was casually inflating one. Not only do we stock inflatable toys at Chick Fil A, we have helium for balloons.

Soon helium usage was spiraling out of control. We moved onto bigger and badder inflatable items, like gallon jugs.

Yes, you can inflate an empty gallon jug. Of course, the nozzle stays inserted for only about three seconds before the cap blows off. Have you ever heard a gun shot from fifty feet away? That’s what it sounded like.

Things quickly escalated to inflating garbage bags. We wrote our names on promotional materials for new menu items and taped them to the bag. It sounds dumb but you had no idea. This was momentous. We wrote the store’s number on one, then prepared to release the bag into space.

“Wouldn’t it be hilarious if we actually got a call from someone? ‘Yeah, I found a trash bag with this number on it.’”

We rushed out the trash door.

“Jake, get in the picture! Wait for Mandi Karen!”

We were making history.

“Hey guys, Mr. Johnson just pulled up.” He actually didn’t.

I took a picture on my horrible camera phone. It’s still my wallpaper.

The Pirate Bay does a Google

http://thepiratebay.org/
Found this when I went to the site 5 minutes ago:

The image is a link thats takes you to this website.

The website is apparently designed to combat this FRA. “Everything you do on the network will be monitored,
All your phone calls will be intercepted” is the headline.

Google translator says the title, StoppaFraLagen, means “Stop the FRA Law”

On Wikipedia it says it’s Sweden’s version of the NSA combined with the RIAA. It’s had a run-in with the Swedish Pirate Party plus conducts email and phone wiretapping. Hm. Not only does the Pirate Bay borrow the front page, now they’re using it for social and political issues. I’m looking forward to seeing the ship decked with Christmas lights.

I hereby formally endorse Paul Burns for President of the United States

Paul Burns has proven himself to be an exceptional leader. He has devoted years of service to advancing the social state of this nation. He is a fighter for kitten rights.

Once in a generation a public servant appears in the spotlight. That time is now, and the servant is Paul Burns.

As he himself would say, “PB&J: Spread the word.”

6/6 News

McCain compounds wiretapping problem

A recent statement from the McCain campaign asserted McCain’s often-criticized view that Bush’s warrantless-wiretapping was lawful, bringing the hopeful President even closer to Bush’s executive power grabs.

The advisor, Douglas Holtz-Eakin, posted in the National Review that Bush’s authorization of NSA international and email monitoring was within the bounds of the Constitution. “Neither the administration nor the telecoms need apologize for actions that most people, except for the A.C.L.U. and trial lawyers, understand were constitutional and appropriate in the wake of the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.”

The criticism has compounded because in a Boston Globe interview six months ago, McCain stated he would obey the 1978 statute requiring a warrant for spying.

NY Times

Democrats may back down on FISA

House Democrats may be ready to compromise on last year’s controversial FISA bill. A version including retroactive immunity for telecom companies managed to pass in the Senate but was stalled until winter recess by the House.

Recently House Intelligence Committee chair Silvestre Reyes said he was “fine” with the wording proposed by Senate Republicans that allows immunity.

The ACLU has responded quickly, stating “Congress should remember that the majority of Americans are against unwarranted and warrantless surveillance.”

Raw Story

Congress passed $3 trillion budget

Congress passed a $3 trillion budget yesterday, which included modest increases in domestic programs but was criticized for piling on the national debt. It’s the first budget passed in an election year since 2000, Democrat Steny Hower proclaims the first budget passed in an election year since 2000 “a demonstration of our ability to govern effectively.”

Republicans attacked the Democrats for loading onto Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security. “We shouldn’t be doing this to our children” says Rep. Paul Ryan.

Budget Committee Chairman John M. Spratt defended the budget. “President Bush told the country we could have it all: guns, butter and tax cuts, too, and never mind the deficits. It takes a long time to turn this battleship around, but that’s what we do in this budget.”

Washington Post

New poll reveals Iran diplomacy is favorable

A recent Public Agenda poll reports that nearly 50% of Americans say diplomacy with Iran is the best solution to the “current situation.” That’s a nearly 15% increase since last fall. The poll also reports that a mere 7% favor military action.

Think Progress

6/5 News

Obama takes control of DNC fundraising

Barack Obama has been the presumptive Democratic nominee for two days but is already changing the party from within. He has instructed the committee to accept his proposal of denying funds from PACs and lobbyists, among growing insider concern about the DNC’s lackluster fundraising. The move not only unifies Obama’s policy with the party but stabs at McCain’s lobbyist ties.

The Republican National Committee has raised twice as the DNC’s 77.6 million this year, and has ten times more than the DNC’s 4.4 million on-hand cash. Leaders hope Obama’s fundraising knack will translate for more funds for the Convention in August.

News Observer

Obama prepared to help Clinton with debt

Barack Obama and second-place finisher Hillary Clinton appear to be reconciling after a bloody 16-month primary season. An Obama campaign advisor says Obama will help Clinton pay back the $20 million dollar campaign debt, including 11.4 million she owes herself.

According to the 2002 McCain-Feingold campaign finance law, Clinton must pay the loan back by the Democratic Convention or she’ll only be able to repay a fraction. Though Obama can’t directly donate from his fund experts predict they will both reach out to Obama’s maxed out donors.

Bloomberg news

Clinton to end her bid

At the same time, a Clinton campaign issued a statement last night announcing that Hillary will voice her support for Obama and end her bid on Saturday. Aides say she originally wanted to wait but by Thursday had been convinced to back down.

“Senator Clinton will be hosting an event in Washington, D.C., to thank her supporters and express her support for Senator Obama and party unity,” said a chief strategist.

The tide turned as Obama declared himself the nominee Tuesday night and soon created a three person vice-president selection group, including longtime supporter Caroline Kennedy. Many Clinton supporters like former Vice President Walter Mondale expressed support for Obama after Tuesdays primaries, which may have prompted her exit.

NY Times

Why Obama will win

1. 36 million people voted in the Democratic presidential primary. Eventually the shock of loss will wear off and most Hillary supporters will support the Democratic nominee. Just the thought of McCain should keep most in line with Obama.

2. Money. Obama has raised over $235 million during the course of his campaign. Money talks, especially when that money comes from more than a million and a half donors.

3. A majority of the country says we’re heading in the wrong direction. McCain and Obama claim they’re about change, but when you vote with Bush 95% of the time and go fundraising with him…it doesn’t help.

4. Fair media coverage. The media hasn’t attacked McCain too much since he got the nomination. The media also loves talking about Obama, whether in a good or bad tone. After the nasty primary race they’re not much more the media can accuse Obama of.

5. Different policies. One reason the primary was so nasty was because Clinton and Obama have nearly identical platforms. Obama and McCain have almost polar opposite platforms. The general election will seem a cake-walk when Obama doesn’t have to rely on personal attacks.

6. Volunteers. Obama has a national network of volunteers, the reason for his overwhelming caucus victories. With the nation in full primary swing, momentum has swung to Obama, and it’ll stay that way.

6/4 News

Obama makes history

Barack Obama addressed a roaring crowd yesterday as he declared himself the Democratic presidential candidate after passing the 2,118 delegate threshold. Obama weathered an improbable 17-month long campaign against once likely nominee Hillary Clinton. He praised the New York senator for her hard work and tenacity, as she pledged to unify the party without actually stating she was dropping out.

Obama’s delegate total kicked off the general election, as Republican presumptive nominee John McCain admitted either candidate would bring change. “But the choice is between the right change and the wrong change, between going forward and going backward.”

Obama responded quickly with a similar tone, attacking McCain for supporting Bush’s policies.

“It’s not change when John McCain decided to stand with George Bush 95 percent of the time, as he did in the Senate last year. It’s not change when he offers four more years of Bush economic policies that have failed to create well-paying jobs. … And it’s not change when he promises to continue a policy in Iraq that asks everything of our brave young men and women in uniform and nothing of Iraqi politicians.”

The first-term Illinois senator addressed 17,000 fans in a St. Paul stadium, where the GOP convention will be held in September. The historic campaign kicked off with a surprising Iowa victory on January 3. That began a firefight between the two popular candidates, Obama standing for change and Clinton standing for experience. Obama attracted the support of blacks, younger voters, more liberals and more well-off voters while Clinton was popular among Hispanics, working-class and women.

Clinton stopped shorting of formally ending her campaign as she spoke in New York. She admitted she was open to vice-president during a conference call with a New Mexico representative.

There are mixed numbers about the strength of this “dream ticket.” Critics said he needs Hispanic, southern and female support and point to candidates like New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, Nebraskan Republican Senator Chuck Hagel, Virginia Senator Jim Webb and Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano.

Huffington Post
Yahoo

It’s finally over

The exhausting, drawn-out Democratic Presidential primary has come to an end. After 54 contests and 35,000,000 votes, we finally have an unofficial candidate.

I say unofficial because Clinton hasn’t dropped out yet. What do you expect? A candidate this stubborn and egotistical doesn’t admit defeat easily. Sure, she will. But it’ll take some time, just like it took her time to realize the primary election wasn’t going to be a cakewalk.

The funny thing is that Obama was mathematically guaranteed the nomination by early March. But it kept going. Reverend Wright was brought up. Hillary slammed him to talking about “guns and religion.” Of course, Hillary and her husband haven’t exactly been grassroots for the past sixteen years.

Well now it’s assured. Every time she lost a front, she changed it. First it depended on delegates, then superdelegates, then popular vote. Every time she lost, she changed the goal post. Now Obama has won every front, and there’s nothing she can do.

I don’t think he’ll pick her as vice-president. There are a lot of people that don’t like Hillary Clinton. The kind of people that don’t like Barack Obama wouldn’t vote for him just because he has Clinton on his ticket. During this season, when one candidate loses, his supporters say they won’t support the other candidate. They always do.

So Barack Obama, don’t pick Hillary. Pick Bill Richardson. He’s a governor of a Hispanic state and Hispanic himself, he’s older, and has been Governor, UN Ambassador, Energy Secretary and Representative.

No one can top a beard like that.

Another pick, I think, is Chuck Hagel. Obama could fulfill his promise of reaching across the aisle by picking this Vietnam vet, former VA secretary under Raegan and Nebraska Senator. Hagel has said this will be his last term as Senator.

I think I’ll also plot my candidate support.
Q2 2007: Obama (Thought he was cool)
Q3 2007: Kucinich (Starting Digging)
Q4 2007: Paul (Kucinich can’t win)
Q1 2008: Obama (Paul can’t win)

And here I am. As you can see, I don’t care if they’re Democrats or GOP. Iraq war opposition, good economic policy and stricter foreign policy is what I care about.

Now that all liberals have a common opponent it’s time to throw our weight around. For years pundits have been saying that only a Democrat can win this year. They’re right. He leads in every poll.

YES WE CAN.