So I've been watching the coverage of the major flooding in the Mississippi River basin (CNN, of course, they're my network of choice) and I'm noting there seems to be some confusion as to the terms 100-year flood and 500-year flood. This is just a short diary and it has a call to action at the end. Jump!

Generational diaries are lame but I feel like poking the hornets nest today.

I read a fascinating article on how blogs and social networking sites helped to get the word out in the earthquake in China this week, and will probably help keep the Chinese government honest in their assessments.

Kossacks Under 35 is a weekly diary series designed to create a community within DailyKos that focuses on young people. Our overall goals are to work on increasing young voters' Democratic majority, and to raise awareness about issues that particularly affect young people, with a potential eye to policy solutions. Kossacks of all ages are welcome to participate (and do!), but the overall framework of each diary will likely be on or from a younger person's perspective. If you would like more information or want to contribute a diary, please email kath25 at kossacksunder35 (at) gmail dot com

This is kind of a stream-of-consciousness type of diary tonight. I plum forgot it was my turn to do this until Kath25 reminded me, and I don't have too many things on my mind that could apply to the entire group aged 35 and younger.

listen to the song here in my heart
A melody I start but can't complete

Ohh the time has come for my dreams to be heard
They will not be pushed aside and turned
Into your own, all 'cause you won't listen

This is largely a response to Jerome's diary written this afternoon.

I can't say I agree with the concept, given the state of politics in the US. But in the attempt to be fair, I'll look at why I'd support it on paper, and why in the real world it'd probably not pass legislative muster. I also think the gas tax holiday is the most idiotic idea to come down the pike. For the record, I'm not interested in having a conversation about peak oil and climate change right now.

Here's a break from the silly season.

As it stands the only way I can get to Austin is by air. It sucks and I'm not happy about it because there's something unseemly about flying in a potential aluminum bomb 30,000 feet above the ground but here are my choices:

I'm a nerd, total nerd. And I love Star Trek! The coolest thing about Star Trek was Dr. Crusher and her Tricorder. She'd whip that thing out, wave it over someone, and deterimine if their insides were all busted up, and then beam the patient back up to the ship to get em all fixed up.

Guess what?

They'll get here before the 24th Century

Pennsylvania wants to join the legion of states that think protecting marriage means limiting it to certain consenting adults of the opposite sex.

"No union other than a marriage between one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as marriage or the functional equivalent of marriage by the commonwealth."

I've been meaning to write this diary for awhile now. Even though we're eyebrows deep in the Silly Season, we should take the time to take a look at other issues that affect us. I hope you'll give my diary and observations a read and offer me some thoughts.

Voting is important, so here's a brief guide. I expect most of you already know how to vote, so pass these tips along to a new registrant.

Actually, the entire Mississippi Valley. A look at the National Weather Service's map of current weather warnings is amazing. At any rate, the flooding is enough of a concern to metro New Orleans that the Bonnet Carre Floodway near New Orleanswill be opened tomorrow.

The inspiration for this off topic Non Candidate fest comes from the midday open thread. Thanks, Kos!

Apparently the worst movie ever made has been made.

I'll start this out with just the text of the bill:

Appeal to depressed emotional state. Concern. More concern. Appeal to make the jump to share the concern.

So for the second time this year, they've denied payment a major medical procedure.

One thing that has irked me about this whole process, now that Pennsylvania is a Very Important State that Matters and not a Boutique State with Cute Latte Volvo Caucuses, is the comparison that Pennsylvania is Ohio.

It is not. Pennsylvania is NOT Ohio. It's its own special animal of crazy!

I am going to go region by region across the state, using the recent SUSA poll.

There are caveats to the poll I'm using in the analysis: I expect the gap to close significantly, especially 6 weeks out, and the polling was done last week after Clinton had 3 big (2, depending on who you ask) wins. I am waiting for the latest Keystone Poll which may or may not (I have had issues in the past with the way they sample) close the gap some.

Bring it the fuck here. We're ready.

We are so ready

We want you.