Microsoft will release Vista Service Pack 2 in April 2009. Ed Bott says they are "back on track" with their releases.

Dear Apple Cultists:

Please install antivirus software on your perfect computers.

That is all.

Your Buddy,

Donny

"A closed mind . . . could even be a sign of uncertainty or doubt. For example, if we are unable to defend our religious views, we may find ourselves lashing out against those who challenge our beliefs, not with logical arguments, but with slurs and innuendos. This smacks of prejudice and of a closed mind." -- Awake!, November 22, 1984, page 4.

All the best to you and yours during this holiday season.

I would describe this video to you, but it's beyond description. It evokes several different unique emotions from me.

Drop everything and watch this 10-minute video. (via BigJim)

So what is a "phobia"? In Steve Hassan's book, "Releasing the Bonds", he states it as, "a persistent, irrational fear of an object or situation. All phobias are triggered by a cue that initiates a closed cycle of fearful images, thoughts, and feelings." So, people project that their worst fears will happen.

What are some common cult phobia's? Hassan states that, "Cults try to keep family members who are still in the cult away from ex-members. " He continues, " Programmed phobias can be so strong that cult members cannot imagine themselves happy, safe, and fulfilled outside of the group. They can generate only negative images of life outside of the cult. When they think of leaving the group, they imagine themselves being destroyed, along with all the other non-believers, by the fiery judgement of Armageddon." Cult members only have fear and dread of the outside world!

Religious cults use this fear to manipulate minds and thoughts. Members are told they will suffer badly if they leave the group. They are told that they might die, commit suicide, become sexually promiscuous, become a drug addict -- anything to inspire "false fears". One tactic the leaders of cults use is "anything which is designated as a threat to the cult identity".

Examples of this:

Any thoughts, feelings, or information critical of the cult leader, doctrine, or organization

Former members or critics of the group

Doubts or thoughts about leaving the group

"Once these phobias are in place , the cult member becomes a dependent personality, filled with a sense of helplessness and hopelessness about leaving the group. Cult leaders want their members to be filled with such fear and self-doubt. They want to cultivate low self-esteem and manipulate members to work harder for praise and promotion."

(Thanks, Flipper.)

Washington Post: Bailout Lacks Oversight Despite Billions Pledged.

"In the six weeks since lawmakers approved the Treasury's massive bailout of financial firms, the government has poured money into the country's largest banks, recruited smaller banks into the program and repeatedly widened its scope to cover yet other types of businesses, from insurers to consumer lenders."

"Along the way, the Bush administration has committed $290 billion of the $700 billion rescue package."

"Yet for all this activity, no formal action has been taken to fill the independent oversight posts established by Congress when it approved the bailout to prevent corruption and government waste. Nor has the first monitoring report required by lawmakers been completed, though the initial deadline has passed."

As of 8:50 PM CST, we can predict that Senator Obama will be the next President of the United States. Congratulations, Senator.

There was a twenty-minute wait at the polling place, today. Everyone seemed to be in a good mood and the weather was marvelous. It was a touchscreen electronic voting machine and there were no snags.

Paul Thurrot: "Well, let me ruin the surprise up front. Windows 7 is Windows Vista done right. If you're already a fan of Windows Vista, you'll love Windows 7 because it's a better rendition of that earlier OS. If you're a Vista hater, take heart: The makers of Windows 7 have reevaluated virtually everything about Vista and made changes small and large across the board. The result is a better Windows, no matter how you slice it."

Obama on Wealth Redistribution

The Comprehensive Argument Against Barack Obama

I'm not excited about either candidate. The details in this argument are why I do not understand the Cult of Obama. However, these things do not prove that he cannot be a good President. The proof is in the pudding, as they say.

It's still a contest, according to today's Gallup poll. Obama leads by six, but that is far from a slam dunk, at two weeks out.

McCain held his own, but didn't gain any ground in last night's debate. Obama will sail to an Electoral College landslide victory unless something big happens before Election Day. (NOTE: The popular vote will be close.) The only "big" thing that could put McCain back on top is a National Security incident, in my opinion. I recall the OBL tape that was released before the 2004 election, giving W an edge over Kerry.

Will there be another October surprise?

Continuing on the theme of How Cults Work, today let's examine what is known as Information Control.

"Those who control the information control the person. In a mind control cult any information from outside the cult is considered evil, especially if it is opposing the cult. Members are told not to read it or believe it. Only information supplied by the cult is true. One cult labels any information against it as "persecution" or "spiritual pornography", another cult calls it "apostate literature" and will expel you from the group if you are caught with it. Cults train their members to instantly destroy any critical information given to them, and to not even entertain the thought that the information could be true."

Here is an example. This is a pro-Mormon site, speaking of how to deal with anti-Mormon literature.

"First of all, anti-Mormon literature, Internet sites, conversations, ideas, etc. are like spiritual pornography. Once they are in the mind, they are very difficult to get rid of. As you try to reach out to your husband, I would advise you to avoid any material, even if you think it might help you understand him better. You don't want those seeds of doubt planted in your own mind, because no one is immune to them."

"Secondly, be aware that not all anti-Mormon "stuff" out there comes from non- or ex-Mormons. My friend has found material that is written in a spirit of so-called "enlightenment" on Church history or other topics by church members -- but at the core, it is anti-Mormon and anything but enlightening or faith-promoting. There are some wolves in sheep's clothing out there, right in our midst. And you can detect them -- because they stray from foundational principles."

Bush is speaking on TV, and the Dow continues to drop.

Obama is up five points in national polls, and he is lleading in every single battleground state. The McCain campaign is in serious trouble.

CNN calls out Obama on his relationship with Bill Ayers.

From the site, How Cults Work, we have this explanation of what is known as Exclusivism, something found in many religious cults:

"A normal religious organization would not have any trouble with you moving to another similar organization as long as you stayed in that same religion. Because it is the belief system that matters, not membership in an organization. For example if you were a Christian then you could move from one church to another and still be a Christian."

"However cult leaders will tell you can only be "saved" (or can only be successful) in their organization alone. No other organization has the truth, all others miss the mark. So it is not the belief system that decides your future, but it the belief system AND your membership with that particular group."

Both Ron Paul and Michael Moore are against the bailout. That makes me think it might be good idea, after all. :-)

YouTube: Sing for Change Obama.

McCain supporters, be afraid. Be very afraid.

I have no idea whether this 'Bailout' is a good thing or a bad thing. On the one hand, the people that were in power when the crap hit the fan are crafting the bailout plan. On the other hand, if these people are telling the truth when they warn us of the credit market 'seizing up' if no action is taken, there will indeed be economic consequences throughout the economy.

I need more data. At this point, to quote Obama, "this is above my paygrade".

In general, I'm very opposed to rewarding bad behavior. But, is this the government correcting their own mistake or this government helping out their rich buddies?

Paul Newman has died at the age of 83. He will be greatly missed. He was one of my favorites. His performance in Cool Hand Luke is the stuff of legends. I particularly enjoyed him in Cool Hand Luke, The Hustler, The Color of Money, The Verditct, The Sting, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Nobody's Fool and The Long, Hot Summer. He gave millions of dollars to charity during his life, which is very commendable.

A new trailer for the upcoming Brad Pitt film, 'Benjamin Button' has been released.

New Nvidia display drivers were released on September 25th. If you're a gamer, go get 'em.

GeForce Release 178 WHQL
Version: 178.13
Release Date: September 25, 2008
Operating System: Windows Vista 32-bit
Language: U.S. English
File Size: 86.9 MB

It was a tie. McCain was the agressor, but Obama held his own. They both live to see another poll, another debate and another day.

Fail.

The Democrats have decided not to pursue extending the ban on offshore drilling.

Jeff Goldstein's take: "Bottom line: the Dems feared that the hold-up on drilling was a very potent weapon for McCain to use in his presidential run. So naturally they surrendered their "principles" in order to try to win the election."

PETA has urged Ben & Jerry's to use human milk.

Real Clear Politics: Electoral Map Projection. He is also up by 3 points in national polls.

Obama and McCain: Polls Reveal Tie. It's a dead heat, again. The battleground states are Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Colorado and New Mexico.

My personal sampling of news sites and bloggers that support Senator Obama for President reveal this: they are getting nervous and they don't why Palin has millions of supporters. They have gone from thinking the election will be a "lock" and a "landslide" to wondering if Obama may lose in November.

I don't exactly know why, but it seems that more negative Palin reporting = more votes for the McCain/Palin ticket. The press has hammered Palin with both absurd and legitimate criticsms for almost two weeks and McCain is still ahead in the polls. The swing states are even looking good for McCain.

My own guess is that Palin comes across as "likable". Self-described "regular folks" cannot understand why the majority of the press hates her. Bill Maher recently said that he wants his President to be "Elitist". I think Maher is in the minority, with that opinion. I think Americans want an intelligent President, but I don't think the idea of an Elitist President sits well with most.

So how does Obama win? He proves to the folks that is he has a plan for the economy and he convinces voters in Ohio, Virginia and Michigan that he's not Elitist.

RCP: Latest Electoral Map Count

SNL: Tina Fey as Sarah Palin. (First SNL skit I've laughed at since 'D*** in a Box').

This article pretty much sums up how I feel about George W. Bush: The Terrorists Are Losing