Tensegrities

Here’s a great, concise, guide to ways to use multimedia tools with youth.

Hat tip to Andy Carvin for pointing to ways that the rest of us can work online to support efforts to help people in the path of Gustav.

A list of 45 policy reasons to oppose her.

A list of Republican women more qualified.

Newt Gingrich’s argument about why authenticity matters in this election, and why Palin has it in spades. Given my own work on this subject, I have to admit he has a point — particularly for people who are intimidated by, or haven’t taken the time to actually listen to, Sen. Obama.

I don’t know if it’s possible to “understand” hurricanes, but I found this explanation of how they work informative. Clearly a lot of people are in harm’s way. I pray that the people who are there and can help might find sufficient strength, wisdom, courage and compassion in the wake of this storm.

Hat tip to Joho for pointing to the discussion page at the Wikipedia concerning Sarah Palin’s entry. It’s fascinating, and a great example of the Wikipedia’s community of editors.

It seems that Gustav is gaining strength. Many people have already died in the wake of this storm, and there may be more at risk ahead of it. I remember vividly a couple of years ago waiting to see what Katrina wrought. Given that experience, my hopes and prayers are even more strongly fastened on the hands and the skills that may keep people out of the path of this (and the other) storms. I pray that they be strengthened, compassionate, and smart.

Here’s a much more substantive post on Gov. Palin.

I keep puzzling and puzzling over McCain’s choice. Perhaps this post, back in early August, with its polling numbers on white evangelicals, points to part of the reason she’s a good choice for him? But then that suggests he’s willing to put her in a terrible position, he’s willing to ignore the foreign policy questions — that basically he’s willing to do anything to shore up that vote. As much as I do not like Tim Pawlenty’s policy stances, at least he’s a smart guy with a lot of actual experience leading in a complex environment. He, too, would have shored up the evangelical vote. I think this choice says more about McCain than just about anything else he’s done this election cycle.

Finally. In addition to the DNC Silverlight version, there’s finally a decent YouTube version of the speech.

So if you don’t have time to learn anything else about the recent DNC convention, watch these three speeches (I’ve linked them to the DNC versions, which are high quality but require the free Silverlight download):

Sen. Obama

Vice President Al Gore

Sen. Kerry

Incidentally, the site where these videos lives ALSO has all of the rest of the videos, including some wonderful short films produced by Steven Spielberg, and the moving speeches by several military folk and so-called “ordinary people.”