So McCain and his strategists clearly understand the incredible impact of women in the upcoming election. They also want to grab and keep the avid Hillary followers who are still refusing to vote for Obama. What better way to do both by putting a highly conservative woman on the McCain ticket? In what should be a quiet morning following a stunningly powerful speech by Barack Obama at the Democratic National Convention, the country is buzzing with Fox News' confirmation of Sarah Palin as the GOP vice presidential candadate. As a 44 year old woman with only one gubernatorial term under her belt, she instantly brings life to what was beginning to look like a stale, old McCain ticket. However, her lack of experience certainly hampers the Republican strategy of projecting Obama as inexperienced and "not ready" (notready08.com). Political pundants across the nation are debating the GOP's historical move as the Republican National Convention creeps closer.


Or does it?


Far away in the tropics, something is brewing. Tropical Storm Gustav, currently located below Cuba, is gaining strength and picking up speed. Forcast models show Gustav becoming a category 3 hurricane (or higher) and making landfall in Louisianna, slightly west of New Orleans.

So what does the mean for the Republicans?



Katrina part 2? Perhaps. But more importantly, the GOP is worried that a major hurricane will take away from the Convention, distracting US citizens from the riveting schedule of speakers that includes George Bush, Dick Cheney, Rudy Gullianni, and Arnold Schwarzenegger.


We certainly wouldn't want a devastating natural disaster to take away the Republican spotlight. So, FoxNews.com reports that the Republicans are ready to postpone the Convention if Gustav lives up to its badass name.


Good thing. I know I don't want to miss a second of the 2008 presidential election's Republican National Convention. I wouldn't want Hurricane Gustav getting in the way of seeing my anti-human rights good old boys. Whew.

So City Girl

After countless resumes, cover letters, emails and interviews I finally found an internship willing to pay me AND give me college credit! Truthfully I didn't even want to go on this interview yesterday. I was having a mild panic attack and screaming about my cat hair covered trousers all morning. But I managed to pull it together and I made the woman intervewing me laugh several times. Now I'll be commuting into New York City twice a week for the next four months. The office is very small and the buisness ittself isn't too big either but I actually perfer it. I'd rather not be just another drone sitting at a computer in some huge corporate office. If the work is rewarding and I like the people then I'm set. I just wish I could bring my little office buddy with me. Although leaving the Financial Aid Office high and dry isn't one of my goals. Perhaps I'll just do both jobs. All I know is that I'm dropping photography in order to do this internship so it better be a rewarding experience.




[cosimo books/my internship]

Things Are Getting Fatter.

According to an article on WebMD, Americans are getting fatter. Obesity rates have been on the rise since officials began investigating the growing problem years ago, and despite efforts across the country to slim down the obesity epidemic, the number of obese adults rose in 37 states. Of course, you don't really need to consult an online medical directory to figure that out for yourself. Just drive by your local Applebee's.

It's not really that hard to eat healthy. It does, however, require a level of commitment and food common sense that seems to be too challenging for a third of the country. But the most interesting thing happens when you break the statistics down:

Mississippi: Rank, 1 -- 31.7% of adults obese
West Virginia: Rank, 2 -- 30.6% of adults obese
Alabama: Rank, 3 -- 30.1% of adults obese
Louisiana: Rank, 4 -- 29.5% of adults obese
South Carolina: Rank, 5 -- 29.2% of adults obese
Tennessee: Rank, 6 -- 29.0% of adults obese
Kentucky: Rank, 7 -- 28.4% of adults obese
Arkansas: Rank, 8 -- 28.1% of adults obese
Oklahoma: Rank, 8 -- 28.1% of adults obese
Michigan: Rank, 10 -- 27.7% of adults obese

Hey, I didn't say the article could count. But look at a map I made with the data from the article. Red states are the fattest, blue and purple are not. See the pattern? The bible belt seems to be swimming in its own glutinous lard, while the Northeast and the West Coast have their waist lines under control. With simple deductive logic, one could reasonably imply that the only "cure" for obesity is intelligence. Or surfing and snowboaring in Colorado and Hawaii. Peace, man.

Marriage?!

Congrats Ellen and Portia!
Yay for lesbian weddings! Nice job snagging a hot lady who is fifteen years younger than you, Ellen. I'm very impressed. And Tila Tequila...there was no way in hell your trashy ass was going to get an invite. pfft.

"I love Ellen (DeGeneres) I watch her show all the time," Tequila told AP Television. "I just want to say congratulations and I am really sorry you didn't invite me to your wedding."

(Ellen Wedding Article)