Foreclosing on the vote

Don't know if you've heard about the Michigan GOP's attempt to disenfranchise voters in Macomb County who are on a foreclosure list, but it makes me certain that any party that would fight to eliminate voters -- their rights, their duty as American citizens -- will never, ever receive my vote. Period.

In fact, every day, as I hear more lies, exaggeration, tired arguments, and evil attack ads, I think -- what will I do if this party wins the presidency again? I seriously don't know. This situation boggles my mind.

I've been pondering a move to Canada -- I joke, but only slightly, because Jon and I have discussed migrating to Vancouver before. We've discussed it, not to escape the jacked politics or financial turmoil here, but because it seems like a cool place in proximity to lots of biking, hiking and skiing. But now, the fact that it's not here in the United States is becoming more and more appealing.

Besides, if I move to Vancouver, LUSH beauty products will be a local product, and I don't have to feel guilty about loving them deeply because they'll only be shipped across town and not across the country. Remember -- I have that pesky commitment to reducing my carbon footprint. Local products always win.

Annnnnnnnyyyyyyywaaaaaaaaay, I digress. This tactic is wrong, designed to specifically target African-American voters who traditionally vote democrat.

This campaign season has gotten so ugly that learning the words to "Oh Canada" doesn't seem like a bad idea. A girl has to practice the potential new country's anthem to see if it's a fit.

Anyone watching "Fringe"?

Yeah, it's all right. I'm going to give it a few more episodes, anyway. The pilot was kind of enh, but I do like Joshua Jackson (Pacey!!!!). Plus, I'm a major J.J. Abrams fan (sure, everyone knows about the phenomenon that is "Lost," but he also created that groundbreaking cultural touchstone "Felicity"). Also, I clearly am willing to watch as much TV as I can humanly handle, so there's that, too.

But one great reason to tune in to "Fringe"? Lance Reddick is dreeeeaaaaammmmy.

More thoughts on the new "90210"...

So, I caught last night's episode of "90210" and I'm still digging it. Still not up to the status of appointment television, necessarily, but pretty good. Of course, the healthy dose of a Kelly Taylor storyline, complete with Drunk! Mean! Mom!, was helpful. (Interesting sidenote: The actress that plays Kelly's mom had to take a brief break from her day job at the pulpit to come back and play Sloshy McBoozerton.)

The teens are still a little enh. The lead actress is all right, but a little too bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for me. And it's hard to watch the guy who plays her bro, Tristan Wilds, do anything this soap-lite after his superb performance as Michael in "The Wire."

Also, I kind of expect the teen set to be engaging in a bit more, uh, debauchery. I mean, we're two episodes in, and all we've dealt with is some cheating (at least it's among both the kids AND the adults) and one flimsy drug problem (but it's just the annoying theater girl, so I'm not really invested her struggle). More drama! More turmoil! More reasons for parents to not want teens to watch, please! Don't these kids have tons o' money at their disposal? Surely they can get in more trouble than this.

Also, where was Boozy Grandma last night? Jessica Walters is the best (see any episode of "Arrested Development" for reference), and I hope the show uses her to their full advantage.

Sarah Palin and the Environment

This is the last time I go on a tirade about Sarah Palin, for at least a week. Check out my post on her environmental stances at Laura's Carbon Footprint.

Now, to watch the new version of 90210 so I can comment intelligently when Loree writes about it later.

What I love about Sarah Palin

You guys are probably flipping out by the headline right now, aren't you? Don't fret. What I want to say is that I love how people are digging up every last bit of dirt on the GOP VP nominee because she's so unknown. She doesn't have the benefit of having some of her past indiscretions being "old news". So, after the jump, you'll find a round up of some of my favorite facts -- non-facts -- and blog posts that have come up about good ol' Sarah Palin in the last couple days.

1. Sarah attended four colleges in six years, in Idaho, Alaska and Hawaii.
2. Oprah wants nothing to do with her until AFTER the election. Go Oprah!
3. Palin is being investigated in Alaska for an improper firing -- booting the public safety commissioner because he wouldn't fire her sister's ex-husband.
4. I saw a tweet that referred to Sarah Palin as a VPILF.
5. This article from slate is a great summary of why Sarah Palin is a big government hypocrite -- and why maybe I should consider a move to Alaska.
6. Snopes is even in on the action, verifying a letter from a resident of her hometown.
7. Apparently Todd Palin's business partner has filed an emergency application to have his divorce sealed. Hmmmm. Suspicious, maybe?
8. Here's a really interesting blog post about how Sarah Palin's right to deliver her child when and where she wanted to comes from the same rights that make abortion legal.
9. Great commentary from Jezebel on why so many normal women have such an immediate and terrible reaction to Sarah Palin.
10. And here's a great piece from one of my favorite Cincinnati-based bloggers, Amy in Ohio.

I'm not going to go into any of the Bristol's pregnancy, is Trig really Sarah's child, or any other conspiracy related to Sarah Palin's children. That's just too tacky. I'm pretty tired of seeing that sort of coverage, in part, because it makes a terrible choice for vice president somewhat sympathetic. And, a women who takes her designation as Sarah Barracuda so seriously (see #6), doesn't need any sympathy.

Man, Mitt Romney would have been so much more fun of a choice. I would have had three posts making fun of his hair done by now.

Nothing Guilty About It

One of my great pleasures in life is TV targeted at teenagers. I love it... pretty much all of it: good, bad, mediocre. One of my current favorites is, of course, "Gossip Girl," which has this great campy, soap opera thing going on. "Greek" is also excellent...like, it's actually pretty well-written and well-acted, and despite the fact I was not a member of the Greek system in college, it just makes me happy. "The Secret Life of the American Teenager" is resoundingly terrible. I mean, it's awful. The acting is mostly bad, the romantic lead looks like a young Bob Saget (I do not consider this a plus) and, coming from the creator of "7th Heaven," it is, not surprisingly, incredibly preachy. But yet, oh yet, I watch. I eat up the terrible plotlines and stilted performances like I'm binge-eating the shitty generic leftover candy the day after Halloween.

So, of course, I was very excited about this week's two-hour premiere of the new "90210." And, as someone who willingly spends my precious few available minutes watching shows like "The Secret Life of the American Teenager," I thought it was pretty good. Perhaps a little light on the angst (other than giving a couple of female characters dyed black hair) but that can be fixed over time. I'm looking forward to checking it again next week before I completely formulate an opinion. But, for a remake, I'm optimistic. It helps that Brenda and Kelly made an appearance in the first episode. Bring back Dylan for a guest spot and I'll be sold.