Today's Shared Google Reader Items, 11/6

Here's what I've shared today. I lied about that no politics thing yesterday. Sorry, but I simply can't resist:

• Sarah Palin did not know that Africa was a continent (she thought it was a country). She also couldn't name the three countries in NAFTA, and refused to allow the McCain staff to prep her for the Katie Couric interview. While all this is being dumped on her by bitter staffers trying to blame her, remember: McCain picker her. I'm excited to see what he's like now that he'll never run for another office (unless he tries to stay in the Senate forever, of course).
• There's a live webcame in Alaska to allow us southerners to see the Aurora. Very cool.
• I actually shared a couple things pointing to it, rather than the article itself, but this preview of the stuff Newsweek promised not to release until after the election has some good stuff. The best: Obama: "...I often find myself trapped by the questions and thinking to myself, 'You know, this is a stupid question, but let me … answer it.' So when Brian Williams is asking me about what's a personal thing that you've done [that's green], and I say, you know, 'Well, I planted a bunch of trees.' And he says, 'I'm talking about personal.' What I'm thinking in my head is, 'Well, the truth is, Brian, we can't solve global warming because I f---ing changed light bulbs in my house. It's because of something collective'."
• This duplicate files finder is very cool, especiall if, like me, you have a large shared music collection. Time to do some cleaning!
• There officially wasn't a significant "Bradley Effect" (people telling pollsters they'll vote for the black guy, but actually being racist bastards at the polls). It looked to me like there might be in VA on election night, but it just took a while for the dem precincts to come in; when everything was counted, the actual results very closely matched the polls.
• Obama won Maverick County, TX convincingly. Giggle.
• Rahm Emanuel is Barack's Chief of Staff (as hinted at a day or three before the election). Stop complaining about this, people! You don't throw a bone to the opposite party with this pick, you choose someone who will effectively execute the things you want to do as President. Obama never pretended to be centrist; he ran as a liberal alternative to the "failed philosophy"of conservatism. Don't be surprised that he picked someone who will execute his liberal philosophy! You also don't wait to pick this position if you want to get things done; you get them involved right away. Rahm Emanual was an excellent pick. In addition, it shows that Obama plans to work with Congress, rather than ruling by fiat. I'm very happy with this pick, as should be anyone who supports Obama (and, dammit, if you're against him, you should at least admit that this pick isn't surprising or a slap in the face or whatever other BS people are saying).
• Obama now has an official US government website. My favorite thing about this site is that he published the transition directory (the book they give to the transition teams to get them ready to take over on inauguration day). Open government (the #1 thing on the long list of what I like about Obama) is a reality, woohoo!

Comment on these or any other shared items below.