Grasp the broom of reform

Today I get to do something I hardly ever get to do-- cast a vote in a competitive election. In fact, I think this might be a first.

I turned 18 in Kansas, and went to college in Utah, both of which are thoroughly Republican. How thoroughly? In 1992, Perot beat Clinton in Utah. And Kansas is so dominated by Republicans that some dumb Democrat went and wrote a book trying to explain it.

I've also spent almost 8 years in Massachusetts, which is practically a one-party state. It's the only state that voted for McGovern in 1972. When I pick up a ballot out here, I see mostly uncontested elections. And contested elections are as likely to have a third party candidate as a Republican.

So it's amazing to me that today I can cast a vote in an election that the Boston Globe now says is "up for grabs," although less than ten days ago they had Democratic candidate Martha Coakley up by 15 points.

The whole country is watching, and I get to be one of the lucky ones to vote! I don't know if I have ever been this excited to cast a ballot.

Yay democracy!

--CASA DE DOLOR

(Update 3:00 PM - I voted! And my roommate went with me to cancel out my vote! Hooray! Long live the republic!)

Happy New Year!

So, this is 2010. I always thought by now the future would have arrived, and then blown up and left civilization a devastated ruin. Well, there's always next year.

In the meanwhile, I am thinking about resolutions. After all, if a stupid prion can adapt and change, why can't I?

So, my imaginary readers, what should I resolve to do in 2010? And what have you resolved to do (besides be less imaginary and more real, of course)?

--JUAN PENA

Happy Christmas!

Hey, imaginary readers! I meant to put up a holiday post, and then I was having a good time with my family and I forgot. So here's a song from me and Hugh to say Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, too.



Sinifesela Ukhisimusi Omuhle Nonyaka Omusha Onempumelelo!

--SOLOMON MBANASO

Ultimate links of 2009

And by ultimate, I mean the last ones I am going to post this year. Yatta!

* After the scary underwear attack of the pantybomber, airlines are apparently considering banning the use of laptop computers during flight. So I'm going to start bringing my desktop machine.

* Apparently, Star Trek appeals to liberals, and Star Wars appeals to conservatives. Of course, I proved this with a survey a dozen years ago as an undergrad, back before the data was muddied by the prequels.

* Plants want to live, and try to avoid being eaten. If you're a vegetarian for ethical reasons, how do you feel about that?

* An Arizona girl with no arms can fly a plane. In comparison, I have two arms and change, and I can barely drive a car.

* A computer doesn't work like your brain. This might mean we are even farther from artificial intelligence than we think.

* Yay America! Yay flag!

* This one is really interesting. This guy has written a series of very short science fiction stories, each one centered around a different element from the periodic table. For example, the Hydrogen story is about zeppelins. Awesome!

* And finally, a blog that tracks funny acronyms.

Enjoy!

--JOHANNES CLERK

Just a bunch of stuff

So, it's Thanksgiving. RB is at her sister's in Atlanta (the other sister, not the one who wanted my chili recipe). And I am trying not to think about all the pie in the fridge. So, basically, I'm bored and grouchy.

Time for a link-fest!

* Did you know that Africa + South America = Dinosaur? Because it does.

* Did you know that European children are just as stupid as American children? Because they are.

* Lots of straight lines on maps are crooked, sometimes because the surveyors were drunk.

* Iraqis are relying on high-tech dowsing rods to detect bombs at security checkpoints.

* Good news for RB: Catching up on lost sleep works, according to a new study.

* My friend Marc is in a BBC documentary you can listen to online. I myself was once interviewed by the campus newspaper. Well, not the official campus newspaper, just something some students were putting out. But, you know, it was still a big deal.

* New favorite blog to waste fifteen minutes with: Asian Poses, documenting the ways Asians (particularly Japanese and Koreans) pose when someone points a camera at them.

* Aliens do not love synthesizer music as much as you have been led to believe.

* Do you feel like eating fast food, but you're not sure where to go? Wonder no longer!

* Speaking of food, a farmer speaks up on Thanksgiving about the miracle that is modern agriculture. (Thank you!)

* Apparently, pink is the new black. (Yes, I know. Lazy hack joke. But it's late.)

It's over!!!

--PADDY O'PAGAN

The underground music scene

Lately the musicians who play for tips in the Davis Square T stop have been playing some really beautiful music. This morning, a guy on guitar wans playing something that sounded a great deal like Come Unto Jesus. I had to get on the train before I had a chance to talk to him, but certainly a few bars were the same.

And last week, there was a guy playing Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, on the trumpet. Very cool! I actually got a chance to talk to him for a minute, and mentioned that I knew the guy that had arranged the piece.

I was referring to Mack Wilberg, because what he was playing sounded just like the trumpet part in the choral arrangement I had sung in Men's Chorus. But he had never heard of Mack Wilberg, and mentioned another composer who had arranged the entire piece just for solo trumpet. I've been trying to remember the name for the last week, but I can't, and I'd really like to hear more than I got from a hurried morning waiting for the subway.

So I think I'm looking for a CD of brass setting of hymns. Any ideas, imaginary readers?

--YOHANNA BEN-DAVID

Masquerading

I know I should have started thinking about this weeks ago, but I don't know what to be for Halloween. Ideally, it would cost less than twenty dollars, be super original and fun, and work as half of a couple costume. But two out of three ain't bad.

I hunted around this morning for a Captain Hammer t-shirt, but all the official ones my size are sold out. And.. you know... I want to do an official one if I'm going to do this.

Suggestions?

--ABDUL ALEM


PS - Going as one of the groupies is still an option. But I don't like that t-shirt as well.

Recipe fun time

My sweetheart-- let's call her Rainbow Brite-- had her sister in town last week, so we did a little cooking. RB's sister asked me what was my favorite thing to cook, and I said chili. It's a true American art form, like blues, barbecue, and silly t-shirts.

She said that she would like to try my chili, so I cooked some up on Saturday night and we enjoyed it with quesadillas. She then asked for a recipe, which I sent her by email. Here's the report:

Just ate dinner. Jeremy said, "This is easily the best chili you've ever made." :)

Hooray!

And as I rejoiced in having spread my meaty gospel, my thoughts turned (like Lehi) to my loved ones. Since this is the first time I've written the recipe down in several years, I thought I should share it with you, my imaginary readers. It's not the only way I make it, but it's probably the easiest version. Enjoy!

House of Payne Quick and Easy Chili

Ingredients:

2-3 pounds lean (90% or better) ground beef
1 pound pork sausage (bulk sausage, not links or patties)
1-2 medium sweet onions, chopped smallish
2-3 cans (15 oz.) beans (pinto, black, or small red)
1 can (15 oz.)stewed tomatoes (or diced)
1-2 garlic cloves, crushed or chopped fine
1/4 cup brown sugar (or more if you like)

Spices: salt, black pepper, chili powder, cumin, cinnamon, nutmeg,
cayenne (optional), cilantro (optional), oregano (optional).

Brown the pork sausage in a large pot. Do not drain. Add the beef and brown. Turn the heat down to medium-hot and keep it there. Shake on salt and pepper until it tastes good. Add onion and cook until translucent. Add garlic. Shake on chili powder until it's pretty much all red. And add a little cayenne if you want-- about a half a teaspoon, I think.

(You can also do this using stew beef. Just substitute it for ground beef, follow all the above steps, and then put it in a crock pot and cook it for about 6 hours or until it completely falls apart. Then proceed with the recipe as follows.)

Add beans (no need to drain them, but you can if you like). Add cumin to taste-- maybe like a teaspoon or a half a teaspoon. Stir in the brown sugar. Add a tiny, tiny pinch of cinammon, and an equal amount of nutmeg. You don't need hardly any. Stir in tomatoes. Add a can of water or two if you want it thinner. And again, salt to taste. (Wait until it's almost done before you add the oregano and cilantro-- and don't use too much.)

Cook until hot and then serve with a sharp cheddar or some real sour cream. (You can also just turn it down to simmer for another half hour or an hour. This helps the flavors marry, but it's not essential if you don't have a lot of time.)

It takes about 20-30 minutes start to finish. Good luck, and bon appetit!

You're welcome! (And let me know how it turns out!)

--GILBERTO "TURK" BENITEZ

Barack's Nobel Intentions

So apparently everyone in the Norwegian Parliament is in love with Barack Obama. The last sitting US President to get the Nobel Peace Prize was Woodrow Wilson. Let's compare their achievements.

Wilson ended the First World War (in which more than 15 million had been killed and more than 70 million had been mobilized) by sending US troops to break the stalemate and force the Germans to sue for peace. (Most historians now agree that Germany would not have been defeated without the US joining the war.) While the war was still being fought, Wilson drew up a 14 point plan for peace to make sure such wars would never happen again. After the war, he went to Versailles to negotiate the peace treaty. Unlike the other participants, he negotiated not to gain advantage for his country but to implement his plan for peace for all the world. And he founded the League of Nations, a predecessor to the United Nations. All of this had been accomplished when he was awarded the Nobel.

Barack Obama has given several speeches which were well received, some of which were in foreign countries. He has promised to decrease the number of American troops involved in the war in Iraq, and has been publicly considering doing the same in Afghanistan. He has also talked about ending the practice of indefinitely detaining enemy combatants in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, although he has acknowledged that many of them will have to be indefinitely detained somewhere else. In other words, the US has not really been acting more peaceful.

He has also managed to wheedle a new set of promises out of Iran, Venezuela, North Korea, Russia, etc., which greatly resemble the previous set of promises given to Bush. But there is so far no sign that the behavior of any of these countries has changed in any substantive way. In other words, he has not persuaded any other country to behave more peacefully, either.

So, seriously Norway-- what the hell?

--JHON NOONIEN SINGH

Band Names Challenge

Read this Mark Steyn blog post, and pick out the best band name. My pick is Tripedal Catnappers, so just try to beat that if you can.

--REDBEARD