Archive for May, 2013
Tuesday Open Thread [5.28.13]
![Tuesday Open Thread [5.28.13]](http://m.static.newsvine.com/servista/imagesizer?file=steve-benen1DAFE611-D323-14A6-295F-912F22FE0ACB.jpg "Tuesday Open Thread [5.28.13]")
As we get closer to the 2014 midterm elections, you are going to start hearing more and more about the generic ballot. It is a poll question where polling organizations ask their respondents whether they are voting for the Democratic candidate or the Republican candidate as their Representative in Congress. Now, generally, this question only tells so much if the results are relatively close together, for example, Dems 42, GOP 40. Because in that instance, local politics, gerrymandering, and the incumbency advantage all play a part in deciding the race no matter the national preference for one party over the other. However, when the disparity between the two parties on this question becomes wider, it often indicates that a wave election is coming where one political party gets their candidates elected over the other. For example, in 2006, the ABC/Washington Post poll right before the election showed the Dems enjoying a 6 point lead over the GOP on the generic ballot question. The Dems won 30 plus seats and the House.
A new Washington Post/ABC News poll found that the Democrats lead Republicans on the generic ballot by 8 points, 48% to 40%.
Meanwhile, the Republicans are really going to regret naming the Affordable Care Act… “Obamacare.”
Yuck — A 4th Grader’s Short Documentary About School Lunch
This all started when young Zachary Maxwell wanted to start packing and taking his lunch to school. His parents, however, thought that the school lunches as described and pictured on line looked like they would be just fine. So young Zachary smuggled in a camera to school in order to show his parents the reality of those school meals. He kept filming (even got busted once) and made a short documentary called Yuck — A 4th Grader’s Short Documentary About School Lunch. Love this kid. Anyway, this doc has won some awards and has been playing the festival circuit. I’m posting the trailer and another piece with clips below. It sounds as if this entire film will be online shortly, but I don’t know when:
![Tuesday Daily Delawhere [5.28.13]](http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2828/8857061415_03b9daeab9_z.jpg "Tuesday Daily Delawhere [5.28.13]")
Here is the thing about Jack Markell
Bob Yearik was kind enough to include me along with a bunch of other luminaries (like that goddam idiot from Caesar Rodney Institute, “Doctor” John Stapleford) in this Delaware Today piece about Governor Markell. Yearick does a pretty good job collecting a bunch of puzzle pieces but never really tries to fit them together. So, what the hell? I’ll put them together here. …
Memorial Day Open Thread [5.27.13]
Memorial Day has come to be a day when we are all urged to remember those armed services members who have served and who are currently serving the country. This is important and I hope we all have some time to reflect on the sacrifices made by these men and women on our behalf.
Memorial Day Daily Delawhere [5.27.13]
Image removed at the request of its owner. From Family Man Studios on Flickr.
Late Night Video — Know Your Food
This is a xTed Talk (approx. 8.5 mins long) featuring an 11-year old who has figured out how conglomerate-produced food isn’t exactly the healthiest choice. Since we’re close to the point where locally grown food will be getting plentiful, this guy has good advice:
Sunday Open Thread [5.26.13]
Even more details of how DelDOT was organized as a conduit of taxpayer dollars directly to developers is in this morning’s News Journal. This is a remarkable story — including some detail on how DelDOT specifically locked in higher appraisal values just to ensure that developers could loot the Treasury for the maximum amount.
![Sunday Daily Delawhere [5.26.13]](http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2809/8755514742_a5391a7f6f_z.jpg "Sunday Daily Delawhere [5.26.13]")
Late Night Video — This is Water
An edited version (approx. 9.5 minutes long) of the famous (and gorgeous) David Foster Wallace graduation speech at Kenyon College. It is well worth finding the entire speech to read or listen to:
Saturday Open Thread [5.25.13]
![Saturday Open Thread [5.25.13]](http://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/423838_459600407466352_773180176_n.jpg "Saturday Open Thread [5.25.13]")
In case there is anyone taking a break from holiday festivities long enough to check in here, here’s an Open Thread for you!
![Saturday Daily Delawhere [5.25.13]](http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2820/8755514768_dd126221c0_z.jpg "Saturday Daily Delawhere [5.25.13]")
Friday Open Thread [5.24.13]
It is the beginning of a long weekend — for me, this is the first long holiday weekend of the year. From here on out, there is a scheduled holiday weekend pretty much every other month now. Yay!
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