democrats
Latest
The Daily Grind: Go Vote!
The Daily Grind today is super-simple. We want to know if you voted! No, we don't want to know who you voted for; there are plenty of other sites for that. We just want to know if you American readers have participated in the US presidential elections. Apologies for our non-US readers that this question is so USA-specific, but it's a big day in American politics. We want to be sure to remind readers that voting is an important part of the democratic process - even for MMO players.Besides, the WoW servers are down right now. Everybody in your guild is offline at work or in voting lines, and all the seasonal world events are still a few weeks away. You've no excuse, MMO player: go get in line. If you don't know where you need to go to vote, Google has a nonpartisan polling location tracker online and available for your use. All you need to do is enter your registered street address and it'll tell you where to go.So, gamers, we want to know: have you dinged today? Did you vote?
Election '08 coverage to include more HD
Even though this week's Democratic debate was unfortunately-SD on ABC, we can expect more reasons to pay attention to the potential candidates in the days to come. CNN's Election Express has already deployed an HD news truck to cover the campaign trail, but CBS is close behind. The Eye plans to hit the conventions in HD, but it will take a while to move the newscast beyond upconverted standard definition video. NBC and ABC will also have the conventions in HD, but while NBC says its field equipment is HD ready, ABC doesn't plan to move beyond 4x3 newsgathering until the end of the year. Check out the rest of the details on TV Technology, we can't tell you who to vote for, but we wouldn't make a decision based on anything said in 480i.
Kucinich comes to Second Life
Another politician has set up digs in Second Life. Dennis Kucinich, whose biggest talking point as a presidential candidate has probably been his strong stance against the Iraq War from the beginning, has created his own headquarters inside the Lindens' little universe. And as you can see above, things are pretty swank, if a little deserted.Looks like there's a few good discussion and hangout areas (I really like the podium in the atrium with the flowing curtains), and a few tents where you can "purchase" videos or t-shirts. Doesn't seem like the sim will be a huge draw just by itself, but if Kucinich's campaign actually puts it to good use (would be really fun, I'd wager, to spend an night watching the primary returns come in from there), it could be a good time.And Kucinich isn't the only presidential hopeful in SL-- Former Senator from Alaska Mike Gravel has a sim in there as well. Have any of the Republican candidates shown up in a virtual world, or do they just consider the whole thing a waste of time? Wait-- looks like Ron Paul has a setup in-world, too.
Michigan Dems deny iPod initiative, pledge to repay Apple junket
In the only politically responsible move when your party is the focus of national media attention because of a ridiculous budget proposal, Michigan state Democrats have denied that they ever planned to suggest funding an iPod for every student, and also pledged to repay Apple for that controversial "fact-finding trip" where lawmakers are suspected of hatching the supposed initiative. Representative Tim Melton spoke for the three jet setters when he claimed that this whole ordeal has been blown out of proportion, arguing that Dems were actually considering a wide-ranging $38 million technology package, and not just a DAP giveaway. So in the end -- other than bemused readers -- no one seems to have come out a winner here: Melton and his cronies will have to shell out $1,702 each for the Cupertino junket, Michigan kids statewide will have to return all of the iPod accessories they've been buying to prep for their freebies, and worst of all, Apple won't be able to realize its ultimate dream of locking an entire state's children into the iTunes ecosystem for life.[Via The Raw Feed, photo courtesy of Anti iPod]
