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 Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 1:13 pm
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 Executive Editor: Gear-Richie ; Established 2004 ; Not affiliated with Gaia Online ; Opinions reflect only the views of the authorElection 2010In-depth coverage
With the exception of a few races remaining to be called, the ink is dry on the paper and election 2010 has been written. The end result is a split Congress, with Democrats retaining control of the Senate by a reduced margin, and Republicans controlling the House with historic gains. Just two years ago Democrats had clear majorities in both houses and the White House in a decisive electoral mandate. The election stands as a stark reversal of this. How did it all happen?
The House
Republicans picked up a net 61 seats in the House surpassing their gains in the 1994 elections, and as a handful of races are resolved over the next month that total could rise. Exit polls from most agencies revealed that the economy was the single most pressing issue on voters minds. A distant second was the health care bill. Turnout was down over the 2008 elections, primarily among the Obama coalition. Furthermore, independent voters swung decisively to the GOP.
Some of Democrats biggest reversals came in the Great Lakes region, where the states of Wisconsin, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, and Pennsylvania delivered a combined 19 seats to the GOP. The Democrats also suffered major losses in the south and the plains states. The Democrats made their best showing in the northeast, where they staved off challenges in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Maine. The northeastern firewall Democrats erected may be the biggest frustration for the Republican party which had high hopes for a comeback in the region. After Scott Brown's win in Massachusetts last year, many were hoping to carry seats in these states. Republicans were able to win several house seats in New York, and sweep the house seats in New Hampshire, but on the whole are still at a loss in this region.
The Senate
Republicans picked up a net six seats in the Senate, though Democrats were able to retain the majority. The Democrats biggest setbacks came, once again, in the Great Lakes region, where Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin all sent Republican senators to Washington. Particularly stinging is the Illinois Senate seat, won by moderate GOP congressman Mark Kirk, who will be taking over Barack Obama's old Senate seat in one of the most deeply blue states in the country.
But Republicans also met with frustrations of their own. Once considered one of the most embattled incumbents in the nation, to the degree that Senate Democrats were informally jockeying for his job, Harry Reid narrowly held on against Tea Party favorite Sharron Angle in Nevada. In West Virginia Republicans also came up short against Joe Manchin in a special election that become competitive late into the season. Republicans also came up short in Colorado and Delaware, two closely watched races, and are currently trailing in the still unresolved Washington Senate race.
An odd side note is the Alaska senate race. Incumbent senator Lisa Murkowski was ousted in the Republican primary by Tea Party backed candidate Joe Miller. However, waging a write-in bid she has apparently defeated Miller in the general election. There is sure to be a lengthy period of legal wrangling before the results are certified, but Murkowski has already said she will return to the Republican caucus if and when she prevails. If she does, she will be the first ever Senate candidate from Alaska to win a write-in candidacy, and only the second in US history.
State Houses and Redistricting
Though several of the gubernatorial races are still unresolved, Republicans have walked away with the edge here too. Again, the Great Lakes region provided the biggest reversals. Wisconsin, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Michigan all switched to Republican governors. The margins ranged from Kasich's narrow 2 point win in Ohio, to Rick Snyder's commanding 18 point win in Michigan. The plains and west provided the bulk of the GOP's additional pickups, turning over governorships in Iowa, Kansas, Oklahoma, Wyoming, and New Mexico.
This year above all others wins in the governor's mansions are critical as these governors will control the redistricting process. The once a decade process follows the census and draws the new boundaries for congressional districts. The census also determines which states will receive more congressional representation, and which states receive less. Seven of the eight states gaining seats in this process had successful Republican candidacies for governor. The eighth, Washington, was not up this year and has a Democratic governor. The biggest of these prizes was Texas, which is estimated to pick up four additional seats during redistricting. There incumbent governor Rick Perry won a commanding win.
Of the states losing seats, 6 will have Republican governors, 4 will have or are likely to have Democratic governors. Just as important as determining the leanings of new districts is determining whose districts are phased out when states lose seats. With states like Michigan electing a Republican governor, Republican House, Republican Senate, and the Republican backed state Supreme Court candidates, there is a strong likelihood that the expected lost seat will come out of Democratic hands (likely candidates for this in Michigan being the 9th congressional district).
The Tea Parties
A big issue hanging over this election has been the role of the Tea Parties in Republican electoral success. The results of Tuesdays election were decidedly mixed on this note. The Tea Parties provided energy, which certainly helped the Republicans. However, in the Senate contests at the very least, results were far from convincing. In competitive Senate races where Tea Party candidates competed for Democratically held seats, the Tea Parties were two for eight. Of particular disappointment were the Delaware, Colorado, and Nevada senate races. In all three races Tea Party backed candidates defeated party establishment candidates in the primaries, even though the establishment candidates polled far better against Democratic opponents. In the end all three lost to their Democratic opponents. Only Tea Party candidates Ron Johnson and Pat Toomey managed to pick off Democratic seats. An asterisk, though, goes to Toomey as prior to his involvement in the primary the seat was held by Arlen Specter who had been a Republican.
The Tea Party was more convincing on the defensive. Tea Party candidates Marco Rubio, Rand Paul, and Mike Lee easily held Republican held seats in Florida, Kentucky, and Utah respectively. In Alaska, however, Tea Party backed candidate Joe Miller seems to have been defeated by Lisa Murkowski in one of the more deeply red states in America.
In comparison, more establishment oriented candidates were 4 for 7 on the offense in competitive races. Most notable among these were Mark Kirk's win in Illinois and Dan Coats' win in Indiana. In defending seats these candidates saw no losses, and in particular Rob Portman decisively defeated Lee Fisher in Ohio which was, for a time, considered Democrats biggest hope for pickup against a GOP held seat.
The Way Forward
It's difficult to say where things will go once the new Congress is seated. Obama will be unable to advance an agenda without the cooperation of congressional Republicans. Similarly, House Republicans will need the cooperation of Democrats in the Senate and the White House to advance their agenda. In recent press conferences Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell has indicated that the foremost concern of the Republicans going forward is to make President Obama a one term president. Similarly, in President Obama's post-election press conference, he was firm in suggesting that no deep concessions on the new health care law will be forthcoming.
Complicating matters, early posturing for the 2012 presidential election will almost certainly be underway in the coming months. Prominent Republican House member Eric Cantor has already been widely speculated to be a candidate for the Republican nomination, and speculation has started to mount around Senators John Thune and Jim DeMint. As the Tea Parties will likely be a factor in those presidential primaries a certain amount of fealty will be required of potential candidates like this. That could severely stymie legislative progress which will require compromises between the parties.
Obama himself could be trapped between a restive base and the political need to compromise. Already voices on the left are urging the President to abandon the prospect of legislative compromise, and instead to govern more through the executive departments. If he aligns with such voices he risks negating his post-partisan message from 2008. If he fails to placate the liberal base of the Democratic party, he could see a fierce primary challenge dragging him further away from the center than he needs to be to win a second term.
Certainly, some delicate maneuvering will be required over the next two years on both sides. |
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Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 1:21 pm
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Thanksgiving Classics
Pumpkin Pecan Spice Bread
By Dragoness Arleeana
Feature Writer
 3 cups sugar
1 cup applesauce
4 eggs, lightly beaten
1 (16 ounce) can solid pack pumpkin
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 cup water
2 cups chopped pecans (optional)
In a large bowl, combine sugar, oil and eggs. Add pumpkin and mix well. Combine dry ingredients; add to the pumpkin mixture alternately with water. Pour into two greased 9-in. x 5-in. x 3-in. loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees F for 65-70 minutes or until bread tests done. Cool COMPLETELY before removing from pan. This bread is very moist and may fall apart (more likely to happen with the pecans) . I suggest letting it sit out over night to dry out a bit before removing it from the pan.
Post of the Month
This month's post comes from Timeless Blood Beginnings created by BD Veloco. The post was written by Dr Tora.
Dr Tora Was she truly so bored that she would actually bother following this fresh smell of blood and death when she could find a nice little village, make the women suffer of fears, murder their own family and have her fill of men for at least a day or perhaps a handful of hours? Yes, it seemed so for she truly was making her casual way along the way, the smell of animal blood sharp in the air as she drew closer. Though she had more of a taste for human or elven blood, that did not mean she hated the blood of other creatures, perhaps she hated the Dwarfs, they were rather disgusting little things but she swore their blood was made of wine, the little drunks that they were and all. Of course she had nothing to do other then random destruction which could surprisingly get boring after the fifth village in a row, but still she lost all care, so long as she got the little things.. perhaps she should get herself a little pet or toy to amuse herself for maybe an hour or a day, if she was lucky.
As she was thinking so boredly to herself, a new smell reached her nose, the smell of a demon, but more noticeably, a male. Maybe he could be her new pet! Highly unlikely though, a demon male was usually very powerful, uncaring of anything in particulate, especially the idea of being ruled by a woman of all things, demons or not, they were stubborn like that. If it was ever possible to over power a male demon they were weak to start with, meant to be minions, little followers that no one would particularly give much of a care for other then a meat shield and a slave of sorts, usually used in armies because let's face it, Mortal beings were so much more fun to have as pets. Within no time she caught sight of the demon. He was one of the more Draconian Demons, shame, she liked her men less scrawny. She shrugged, not even bothering to hide her presence.
Mintchan's TekTek Corner
One of my friends thought I should start reading Fantasy again, you know that fairy land stuff? Everybody lives happily ever after? Well this gal sure made it true! She is the Queen of Fashion for this month! Her golden tiara shines, what was it called again? Oh ya Regal Adornment, so cheap too! 41k for a golden crown like that? Astonishing! Let's your camera's reflect on her satin golden dress which was named Lyndexer's Journal 4th gen at 1mill and 100k. He wrote it within those pages, naming details of the dress and here it is! It trails behind her and covers her shoes. Next royal piece on her as she walks like a model more than a queen; is the Reversible red bracelets at 900g! I forgot something, you can switch any item on this fashion with something similar, her dress, her eyes, her hair and crown, anything! OK, back to where we were. Can't forget what makeup she is wearing, Masquerade you never cease to amaze me at your price of 500k! Can't you see even I've gotten to it's level? Now for her beautiful, dark red rose hair which style was named The Sentinel or SDPlus#165! On her makeup list again is the famous Masquerade again! Te beautiful pink blush makes her looks innocent and sweet. You already know that price so together it is 1mill! Phew guess no blush for me...our last item on the list is Kanoko's Nightmares! Deary me it's not that bad. Beautiful dark brown or reddish eyes seem cute. It's price though is scary, almost 5mill! Well that's all now, her king will be next month. |
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Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 1:22 pm
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 Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs
 Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs (Known as Locus of Light in Japanese) is the third and latest installment of the popular Pokémon spin-off series, Pokémon Ranger after the initial eponymous release and Shadows of Almia. It was developed by Creatures, Inc., published by Nintendo, and released for the Nintendo DS hand held system on October 4, 2010 in North America. The release date in Europe was November 5th of 2010.
Gameplay
Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs stays true to its previous incarnations, where the player character, a Pokémon Law Enforcement Agent known as a Ranger, uses a Capture Styler to befriend Pokémon temporarily and enlist their aid in various situations. The Capture Styler, like before, is operated by drawing circles around the Pokémon to be captured, while being forced to avoid taking damage by allowing the line being drawn, or the capture line, to be struck by an attack.
Gameplay remains mostly the same with a few exceptions, causing it to differ only slightly from its prequels. For example, using befriended Pokémon in battle will not cause them to be released unless they are struck by an attack in the process. Also, the largest departure of all, a Pokémon Ranger can summon Raikou, Suicune, and Entei by drawing symbols in the sky with his/her Capture Styler. These three Pokémon help the player overcome obstacles such as holes in a massive bridge or giant rocks blocking the path.
Sound/Music
The Sound Effects are virtually identical to previous titles, as is the music style.
Storyline
Without giving too much away, the plot of Guardian Signs takes place in the region of Oblivia. A new enemy team, the Pokémon Pinchers, are after the myths of Oblivia. It is up to the player to capture them, save their kidnapped partner, and free Oblivia.
The game retains its campier tone from previous titles. It is campier than the main series games, but not quite as much as the Mystery Dungeon series.
Final Rating: 
A good game overall, but nothing to write home about.
Professor Layton and the Unwound Future
 Professor Layton and the Unwound Future (Known as Professor Layton and the Last Time Travel in Japanese) is the third and latest installment of the Professor Layton series, after The Curious Village and The Diabolical Box. It was developed by Level-5, published by Nintendo, and released for the Nintendo DS hand held system on September 12, 2010 in North America.
Gameplay
Professor Layton and the Unwound Future, like its two predecessors, is a point-and-click style adventure game riddled with puzzles. The game boasts over 130 puzzles, with more downloadable each week via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. As usual, puzzles are hidden in the environment along with Hint Coins.
Sound/Music
The Sound Effects remain unchanged from previous versions. The music, however, sees changes, though it stays true to the previously popular haunting music box-like music. It also remains one of the few games that makes the accordion tolerable.
The voice acting is still as good as previous games, with actors reprising their roles from previous games in cutscenes and certain dialogue sequences. The game is benefited with the addition of veteran voice actor Yuri Lowenthal.
Storyline
Much like before, the storyline is a very complex one. Professor Hershel Layton and his self-appointed apprentice Luke Triton receive a mysterious letter several weeks after an attempt at time travel resulted in the presumed death of a scientist and the British Prime Minister. The letter beckons Layton and Triton to visit a mysterious clock shop, where they will perhaps be able to fight off an oppressive evil that is all too familiar, yet frighteningly different from what Luke and Layton have seen before.
A sub-plot throughout the game involves the strained friendship between Triton and Layton, and the future of that relationship.
The game holds true to the successes of the past, but does little to change.
CSI: Fatal Conspiracy
 CSI: Fatal Conspiracy is a point-and-click adventure/puzzle game, and the ninth game released in the Crime Scene Investigation series. It was developed by Telltale Games, and published by Ubisoft for Microsoft Windows, XBOX 360, Wii, and Playstation 3 on October 26, 2010.
Gameplay
Like the previous games before it, the player appears as a brand-new Crime Scene Investigator in the Las Vegas Forensic Crime Unit, or Crime Lab. The player must locate evidence at crime scenes and other locations and bring it back to the lab for testing. They must also interrogate witnesses for information and confer with the Forensic Pathologist for autopsy findings.
The game's interface is still mildly sloppy, with a sluggish mouse response on the PC making it difficult to locate that tiny red fiber inside the massive brushes in a car wash. The game is also less interactive than previous titles, with many tasks being performed for you, like picking up evidence or choosing the appropriate tool for collection/detection.
Sound/Music
The game boasts a new version of "Who Are You?" by the Who, but this time sung by an unknown (and rather deep-voiced) female. This same song is also used in the Facebook app CSI: Crime City. The rest of the music throughout the game is low-key, as it is in the TV show, and largely unmemorable.
Lawrence Fishburne, Robert David Hall, Eric Szmanza, George Eads, and Paul Guifoile reprise their roles as their characters in the TV show, Dr. Ray Langston, Dr. Al Robbins, Greg Saunders, Nick Stokes, and Capt. Jim Brass respectively. Sara Sidle and Catherine Willows are voiced by sound-alikes, as in previous games. Sara's sound-alike has improved greatly since previous games, making it more difficult to determine that Jorja Fox is not the voice actress. While Catherine's has come a long way as well, there is still a long way to go for her.
Storyline
Much like CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, I hesitate to reveal much. All I can really say is that all five cases are tied together, and players must work with/struggle with an FBI agent who is after a similar goal. The end of the game is a major cliffhanger, however, and one can only hope the next game finishes up that storyline.
Final Rating:
They could have done a lot better, but they have done a lot worse. |
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Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 1:32 pm
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 It Gets Better
After a few days I finally decided to do an "It Gets Better" video, I don't recall what I said, I did it without any notes, I just said what was on my mind-- because I feel I can speak better that way and not sound like I'm reading a script. However, I do have a few things I want to say for those that don't want to watch.
For those that are LGBTQ, perceived as LGBTQ, or are an ally/advocate, I just want to state that "it gets better", but I don't want to say that it gets better, I trust that you understand that I'm not trying to crush your hopes and dreams, and I don't want your feelings that you may have to persist that you are forever trapped in a world like that one we have today where homophobia is present, and is disgustingly sometimes supported; by parents, family members, friends, church members, or politicians that decide to say you're unimportant, that decide to make being gay out to seem like a disease that will destroy American values, and that you're whole sexuality is as simple as a decision or possession by a demonic evil force.
Graduating (whether from middle school, high school, or college) isn't going to change these people. These people will always be there; in your work place, in your school (even college), on your television, on the internet, and they will hunt you down and belittle you until you feel like nothing is left, but you can't let this get to you! As Hillary Rodham Clinton stated tomorrow will be better. This isn't a literal tomorrow, and she's just another politician, but I want you to think about all the changes that have been made in our American society. There has been more progress for the LGBT community in the past two years than there has been in the entire American history of the Civil Rights Movement for the LGBT Community... and if that's only been two years, imagine the changes that will happen in the next four years, the next eight years, and even as far as the next twenty. Times are changing, and so are people.
So what am I trying to say? That life is gonna suck? Yes, it will. We all will get s**t, you might have it worse than I did, than Tim Gunn, than Perez Hilton, and Adam Lambert combined, but not only will it get better as time goes on, we are making it better, and we want you to be part of this change. Those nasty people that go and tease you, they'll grow up, and death isn't going to help them.
Those people that think it's a choice don't feel sorrow when you're bullied. They view it as a choice, which you [should] know is not true, science has proven this already;
The American Psychology Association Is sexual orientation a choice? No, human beings cannot choose to be either gay or straight. For most people, sexual orientation emerges in early adolescence without any prior sexual experience. Although we can choose whether to act on our feelings, psychologists do not consider sexual orientation to be a conscious choice that can be voluntarily changed. Source
this isn't the only modern science group that would agree with this statement, in fact most modern science communities respectively agree-- and the people that believe it's a choice are basing it off of old psychological findings that have been dis-proven and thrown away.
Be the change you want to be for the world. The only way you will change the people is if you change their hearts. So be strong while these times are tough, and learn from the past generations to make a future better for yourself and the LGBT children of our generation. |
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Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 4:31 pm
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