The Michael Canfield Channel

Barbara Boxer on McCain's "fights."

Daily Kos: Boxer Fights Back: "Last night at the Republican National Convention, John McCain used the word 'fight' more than 40 times in his speech."

In the 16 years that we have served together in the Senate, I have seen John McCain fight. I have seen him fight against raising the federal minimum wage 14 times. I have seen him fight against making sure that women earn equal pay for equal work. I have seen him fight against a women's right to choose so consistently that he received a zero percent vote rating from pro-choice organizations. I have seen him fight against helping families gain access to birth control. I have seen him fight against Social Security, even going so far as to call its current funding system 'an absolute disgrace.' And I saw him fight against the new GI Bill of Rights until it became politically untenable for him to do so. John McCain voted with President Bush 95 percent of the time in 2007 and 100 percent of the time in 2008 -- that's no maverick. We do have two real fighters for change in this election -- their names are Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

What do Tarzan of the Apes, Twelfth Night, and Death of Salesman have in common?

1. A. They are all known beloved stories stories.
2. B. Among my personal favorites.
3. C. Mayor Sarah Palin tried to ban them from her hometown public library.
4. D. All of the above.

If you said "D." you win a front row seat to the decline and fall. Here is a list: Stop Sarah Palin! The Books She Wanted BANNED! « Mike Cane 2008. These books she wanted banned from the PUBLIC library, not, say, a school library (which would have been bad enough)> Honestly, I've never heard of a public servant trying anything on the level in book banning. I'm sure there are others, but I just haven't heard about them. Palin later tried to fire the librarian.

It's not sexist to bring this stuff up, is it Mr. McCain?

Update: This list has not been validated (or vetted). The article in TIME discusses the allegation that Palin sought to bans books she found objectionable, and also that she tried to fire the city librarian as well as other city officials over "loyalty issues" but so far I can't find any confirmed list of what books, if any, she actually identified for banning.

Middleman!

When I first caught The Middleman I thought it was a mildly amusing Men in Black meets "Buffy-parody" fun summer series, with the added advantage of a very fetching Natalie Morales as Wendy "Dub-dub" Watson. As the season continued and the pop culture references piled up, I thinks it's more that that: a charming campy, sci-fi/hipster/comic book nutty soup of clever goodness. Sort of like the 1960's Batman series, but with story continuity. I hope it comes back next year. Ratings were weak, I heard. First couple episodes aren't much, but it gets better each week. All online now. ABC Family: The Middleman videos: watch free.

The series is created and written by the original comic's creator, Javier Grillo-Marxuach; is that a first? By the season finale, in which every single man in the mirror universe sported a goatee, I found myself looking for the "more like this" button on my remote. UPDATE: Apparently all but the finale episode have already expired at ABC Family website, (but will return at somepoint?). Meanwhile there is iTunes for just under $24, and the other method people resort to when networks fail to make their content easily accessible, in an on-demand advertising-supported web format.

The Palin Equation (first draft)

Jesus (Thatcher - Foreign Policy Experience - evolution + Succession Party Background+Trooper Gate) / Palin = Armageddon 2013.

Could Palin be the most effective VP pick for McCain?

No they were not going to dump her ala Eagleton no matter how many scandals came out. The Republicans make their own reality. But Palin is clearly energizing the religious base of the party who might have stayed home this time. Add that votes lost to the expertise Republicans have gained over the past decade in vote stealing (Greg Palast » Steal Back Your Vote!) and it might be just enough for McCain to take the Electoral College plurality.

Then an increasingly infirm McCain, embittered and withdrawn after being bogged down with military actions in Iraq and Iran without an end in sight, is convinced to resign three and a half years into his third term. Palin/Huckabee 2012. The religious right can put up with McCain for one term or less. They've waited 2000 years for the Second Coming after all.

Peggy Noonan, Mike Murphy Caught On Tape Disparaging Palin Choice: "It's Over," "Political Bullshit," "Gimmicky"

I love it when pundits -- who get msm air time to say what they think -- get caught on tape actually SAYING WHAT THEY THINK!
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

The 39 Clues: Harry Potter Publisher Promotes Next Big Thing

Gimmicks, a different writer each volume: no way this will be anything near the success of Harry Potter. This time next year, the press releases and blog posts about this product will be as funny as last year's "Zunes/iPod Killer" hyperbole is today.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Leave her kids alone.

This needs to stop. There are plenty of Sarah Palin stories out there: troopergate, bridge to nowhere flip-flop, mayorial recall attempt, poor vetting proves McCain in too impulsive, former member of a separatist party, doesn't believe in global warming, thinks I.D. should be taught alongside evolution.

Anyone Can Become President

[snip] "who don't communicate with their own child that possibly having a baby a year after you get your drivers license is not the smartest thing to do?"

These people are from the 1950's, they don't believe in abortion, sex education, or giving birth control to tennagers. The consequence?

Teen pregnancy.

Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Kanye West "Good Morning" video.

Cool Murakami furry-scifi animation:

Kanye West - Good Morning
Uploaded by kanyewestofficial