You might remember that a bunch of conservative Ohio ministers banded together to overtly support both George W. Bush in 2004 and even more overtly to support Ken Blackwell's bid for Governor in 2006. Blackwell was Secretary of State and ran the vote in Ohio in 2004--and of course, was the state's Bush for Ohio co-chair.

One of those ministers is leaving his church ostensibly to work as a fund-raiser for his alma mater.  Or perhaps to spend more time with his family. Or to work on his defense ...

More below the fold.

Ohio State University (OSU) has had recent trouble with two sets of threatening letters. Letters have been sent to athletic departments at several schools in addition to OSU, but the most recent letters to OSU included some potentially harmful insecticide. Similar letters have been received from as long ago as 2004. The FBI has been called in.

Columbus Dispatch article about the cheerleader letters
The weirdest part is the 'complaint' of the letter writer(s):

For the last 6 years Ohio State cheerleaders have received more TV time than any other Division 1A cheer squad on ESPN, because they wear long sleeved red/white outfits. If they wore sleeveless outfits, they would not get ANY TV time. So, we are fed up with this constant exploitation.

More below the fold ...

This guide, Young Voter Mobilization Tactics compiles research on how to get out youth voters. It's only 14 pages and goes so far as to estimate the bang for the buck of different techniques.

For a quick overview of some of the information ...

For those with strong stomachs, this is the ad that Ken Blackwell has been showing for the last week or so: Blackwell ad

What I find creepy about the ad is his height compared to everyone else.  He walks down the street with a woman who I swear doesn't reach his elbow.  He speaks to another woman who is shoulder high. He finishes up in front of a group of (mostly white) clapping syncophants gazing up at him. I know he's tall, but looks like he is 8 feet tall, or doing the ad with little people. I keep expecting to see bolts sticking out of his neck.

Some other thoughts below the fold. And, what the heck, a silly poll.

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) issued a report on April 4th detailing the costs of S. 256 Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005

More below ...

If this technology is the real deal (and not the latest version of 'cold fusion') this would solve a whole boatload of problems.  Of course, there would likely be a new boatload of problems coming in to shore, but still ...

The latest edition of EETimes Online has the article, Nanotubes promise fuel from water.

More below ...

This is March 2, 2005 testimony by Thomas Blanton from the National Security Archive at George Washington University about secrecy and the out-of-control tendency of this administration to redact, over-classify and now, to pseudo-classify to keep information out of public view. (see graphic below)

This testimony includes a frame that links open government with more rather than less security. This seems like a frame it would do us good to adopt.

more below the fold

This article in the January/February 2005 issue of Academe, Wedging Creationism into the Academy discusses something that should sound familiar ... and chilling--the attempt to insert Intelligent Design (ID aka Creationism) into higher education.

This is a little crude, but I hope someone will do a more sophisticated one at some point (maybe someone has).  OK here we go:

Someone born in 1980 and earning $15,000/year (about $7.00/hr. 40/hrs./week 52 weeks/year) for 35 years, will receive $763/mo. beginning at age 67 (full retirement) according to the Social Security Benefits calculator.

More below the fold.