WIRED LOVE
According to a September report on Wired.com, a computer gadget that is equipped with wireless a receiver, can be activated remotely at different speeds and force by one person who uses the device's password at Sinulator's Web site, and that manipulation can be done not only by keyboard and mouse, but by a male placing the Sinulator's transmitting sleeve ('Interactive Fleshlight') over his penis and thrusting at his (or the recipient's) preferred speed and force. 'Thus, a man can be thrusting in Cleveland while a woman is penetrated in Seattle.' [Wired.com, 9-24-04] "
(CHUCK SHEPHER'S NEWS OF THE WEIRD)

HOW CAN WE GO WRONG? GOD TALKS TO OUR PRESIDENT
"a domestic policy adviser to Ronald Reagan and a treasury official for the first President Bush, told me recently that ''if Bush wins, there will be a civil war in the Republican Party starting on Nov. 3.'' The nature of that conflict, as Bartlett sees it? Essentially, the same as the one raging across much of the world: a battle between modernists and fundamentalists, pragmatists and true believers, reason and religion. " What makes Bush's presidency so radical — even to some Republicans — is his preternatural, faith-infused certainty in uncertain times.
(NYT MAGAZINE, unearthed by Illruminations and Boing, Boing)

SHRIMP IMPORT TARIFFS TOUTED
TREY BRYANT HAS THIS TO SAY: To all of my friends who may or may not be aware of the massive dumping of foreign shrimp into the U.S. market I am forwarding this message which I received from a friend this morning. PLEASE read it and support your U.S. Congressmen in the imposition of the tariffs on these countries. There are two reasons. First, the U.S. domestic shrimp tastes MUCH BETTER; Second, and much more importantly, the plight of the American shrimping industry is in dire need of our support. While wholesale (and I emphasize the term wholesale) shrimp prices have dropped to levels below those of some twenty years ago, the price of fuel and the other necessities to operate our shrimp boats has risen drastically. Also important to note is that your prices at the market or restaurants has not noticeably changed. The tariffs ARE working! Take a look and help our domestic shrimp markets from the local shrimpers to the processors. ORDER DOMESTIC SHRIMP AND SUPPORT THESE TARIFFS! The prices you will pay at the store or restaurant will NOT differ signifigantly, as it is the wholsale food brokers who are making the killing on the margins. You will be saving an American way of life!
(SEAFOODBUSINESS.COM)

DEMS EYE 8 KEY SENATE SEATS
"With Republican senators retiring in Oklahoma and Colorado and a third battling for her seat in Alaska, Democrats have a chance to pick up three seats on Nov. 2. That would be enough to control the chamber, where there are 51 Republicans, 48 Democrats and one independent who sides with the Democrats. "
(WASHINGTON POST)

BEST OF NEW YORK 2004
Each year the Village Voice presents The Best of New York, a supplent offering inside information—essays, characters, leisure, drinks, shopping, food, music, bodily pleasures, and politics—you just won't find anywhere else.
(VILLAGE VOICE)

EXPEDITED REMOVAL LAW SOUGHT
Here's a review of a new bill, introduced last week in Congress by House Speaker Dennis Hastert and others, that would allow the U.S. government to transfer prisoners under its control to the security forces of countries like Saudi Arabia and Egypt for questioning. In these countries, prisoners are likely to face torture. This practice is called "rendering." The new legislation would serve to annul U.S. treaty obligations under the U.N. Convention Against Torture; the U.S. is a party this treaty.
(HUMAN RIGHTS FIRST)

ARCHIVE OF POLITICAL ADS
The Living Room Candidate: Presidential Campaign Commercials 1952-2004 is an innovative online exhibition presenting more than 250 television commercials from every election year beginning in 1952, when the first campaign ads aired, and including ads from this year’s campaign. Users can watch nearly four hours of TV commercials and explore the expanding world of Web-based political advertising. The site includes a searchable database and features commentary, historical background, election results, and navigation organized by both year and theme.
(Suggested by Vote 121, see below)

TWO VIEWS ON WORLD STABILITY
"One of the sharpest differences between the U.S. and its longtime allies is over the issue of when to use force. A June poll conducted in part by the German Marshall Fund of the United States found that 54% of the Americans surveyed, compared with 28% of the Europeans, believed that military strength would ensure peace. Among Europeans, 73% said the war in Iraq had increased the threat of terrorism.
The disparity represents two dynamics: The world has yet to understand how Sept. 11, 2001, jolted America's sense of security, and the U.S. has underestimated how much international credibility it sacrificed in the Iraq war. "
(LA TIMES, unearthed by Common Dreams)

PATIENT DIES DURING TELEVISED OPERATION
"Hundreds of doctors watched on live video as Italian surgeons replaced a man's heart valve without cutting open his chest. Then something went wrong. The valve was in place, but his heart was failing as the live telecast to Washington ended. Two hours later, the 77-year-old died in a Milan hospital."
(FINDLAW/AP)

TORTURE BY PROXY
"Our intelligence agencies have a name for this torture-by-proxy. They call it 'extraordinary rendition.' As one intelligence official explained: 'We don't kick the s -- out of them. We send them to other countries so they can kick the s -- out of them.' "
(SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE topic suggested by Joel Sogol)

DEBATE PRIMER
"At first glance, the candidates' assertions may have the ring of truth. But on close examination, many of their pronouncements turn out to be exaggerated, lacking in context or wrong. "
(WASHINGTON POST)

FOURTH ESTATE OR FIFTH COLUMN?
"If you were watching the network evening news in June, July and August, you would have seen somewhat favorable coverage of John Kerry -- six out of 10 evaluations were positive -- and somewhat unfavorable coverage of President Bush.
If you were watching Fox News Channel's 6 p.m. newscast, you would have seen about the same coverage of the president. But Kerry's evaluations were negative by a 5 to 1 margin."
(WASHINGTON POST)

HANDY TOOLBAR LETS YOU KEEP UP WITH POLITICS
Here's a pretty valuable little toolbar: Vote121, a browser toolbar that brings all the latest campaign news and opinion straight to your browser. Without interrupting your normal browsing routine, you can learn more about the presidential candidates, get an active countdown to the election and an up-to-the-minute display of the projected election results – and it’s all free! -- Vote121 Toolbar.
And, thanx to Paul Whitehurst who steered me to Political State Report. The site, which is hosted by Temple Stark, is dedicated to giving its readers thoughts and facts about politics and politicians in all 50 states, and DC.
From that site I found some nice Alabama sites:
VoteLaw,
my friend Ed Still's blog from Birmingham.
States Writes
a Progressive Peer Directory from The American Street.
Alabama Politics
"Political news and commentary from the Heart of Dixie."
Illruminations
another interesting site whose motto is "It's more complicated than that."
The World Around You
An informed perspective on local (Prattville/Montgomery), state (Alabama), regional (southeast), national (US), and world politics and events.
The Haze Filter
DESPERATELY SEEKING SOME CLARITY IN THIS MADHOUSE WE CALL OUR WORLD!

CAT STEVENS TO BE DEPORTED
"Reuter's is reporting that former pop singer Cat Stevens, a Muslim, will be deported to Britain because his activities could be 'linked to terrorism,' a U.S. official said on Wednesday.
In case you've forgotten, Stevens was the composer of, among many hits, Peace Train:
Now, I've been cryin' lately,
Thinkin' about the world as it is.
Why must we go on hating?
Why can't we live in bliss?

(REUTER'S)

"SMOKETOWN SIX" CHARGED FOR FLASHING PREZ
"Six Lancaster city men are headed to court next month, accused of dropping their pants this summer in protest during President George W. Bush's visit to Smoketown Elementary School. Each of the self-monikered 'Smoketown Six' has been charged with one count of disorderly conduct for stripping down to thong underwear minutes before the president's bus rolled by on its way to the school."
(POLITICAL STATE REPORT, unearthed by Paul Whitehurst)