Parallax

Posted by ND¢:

"Factors in the Democrat's favor this year: a disastrous economy, an unpopular war, an incumbent president with a 30% approval rating, far more money and better organization than the other side, a candidate who is charismatic, smart, accomplished and eloquent, an opponent who is old, out of touch, disliked by a large portion of his own party and a Washington insider when people want change.

Factors in the Republican's favor this year: the Democratic candidate is black.*

Result: the race is dead-even.

No matter who wins, you can learn a lot about America just by looking at where the race stands today."

* I would add, here, that the right finds Palin endearing for reasons I cannot begin to fathom. I keep seeing stuff on the major news sites listing it as "the race between Obama and Palin." They're expecting McCain to die THAT SOON?

Somewhere there is a simple life and a world,
Transparent, warm and joyful. . .
There at evening a neighbor talks with a girl
Across the fence, and only the bees can hear
This most tender murmuring of all.
But we live ceremoniously and with difficulty
And we observe the rites of our bitter meetings,
When suddenly the reckless wind
Breaks off a sentence just begun --
But not for anything would we exchange this splendid
Granite city of fame and calamity,
The wide rivers of glistening ice,
The sunless, gloomy gardens,
And, barely audible, the Muse's voice.

Anna Akhmatova - June 23, 1915

Quote of the day.

"My cock! It's on top!"

(Colby, referring to the metal rooster he'd almost forgotten was up on top of the kitchen cabinets)