Candidate’s Advantage Tool

The Washington Post has generated an aggregate of early voting data and the most current polls organized by state in a nifty spreadsheet.

Each day, the bars for each state will reflect either the current average of polls in the state (as tallied by RealClearPolitics) or the state’s likely vote relative to current national polling. As the bars approach and enter the early voting period, you’ll be able to track where the advantage lies for either candidate. Mouse over the bars for daily data.

The gadget is meant to keep the voter connected to the election process by detailing the average daily tally advantage for each candidate from the start of early voting through to election day.

Kim Jong-un Represents at Rio Olympics

It was just another Olympic track and field crowd until the unsteady hand-cam guy zoomed on Kim Jong-un. “Kim,” in reality, is a Hong Konger/Aussie/musician who made a name for himself, “Howard X,” after the North Korean Supreme Leader (now Dear Respected Comrade) made a nuisance of himself with a series of missile tests and nuclear threats in 2013.

*However, Howard goes beyond the anecdote in his reincarnation of Kim, who also used for political purposes…”I want to make clear that, even if you use your image humorously, I am fully aware that Kim is a tyrant and has his terrified people. Therefore, my presence also try to raise awareness of what is happening in their country. “ – El Diario Montanes, Spain *forgive the “e” for effort google auto-translator.

English: America’s Second Language

Speaking of nuisance dictators, NYC’s Mayor, Bill de Blasio’s, most recent attack to our constitution is the ability to, well, read the constitution. As if there is a current bias against non-English speaking, foreign cabbies who comprise 96% of the total employed, de Blasio is changing the rules to end the clearly overt discrimination plaguing the taxi driver community.

New York City taxi drivers will no longer have to pass an English test under new rules designed to make it easier for immigrants to get behind the wheel of a yellow cab. – CBS New York

Welcome to the Tower of Babel, Nimrod.

Assimilation is the unprecedented construct within the idea of The Great American Melting Pot and a common language is uber important for the construct to proliferate. Cultural differences are inherent, and welcomed, but hailing a driver who confuses Trump Tower with Motel 6 could put a fare in a real pickle.

Iran’s Latin BFFs

Iran’s Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zariff, begins a Latin American jaunt Sunday in Cuba to shore up their new BFF status with Cuba following a Cuban visit to Iran earlier this year.

Zarif will begin on August 21 in Havana tour that is scheduled to then continue on Nicaragua, Ecuador, Chile, Bolivia and Venezuela with the aim of opening a new chapter in relations between Iran and Latin America, and will accompanied by 60 representatives political and business.  – Radio Havana Cuba

There’s bound to be a lot of hand shaking, head shaking, hand wringing and agreements to agree and politics, politics, politics. I can’t see any chance Russia’s not kneading the dough via Iranian means in an attempt to influence Latin American disenfranchised dictator regimes. Coincidental? I don’t think so.

Welcome RedStaters! It’s Open Thread day, every day here at the WaterCooler. Spout out about anything that interests you. Enjoy!