1,000 thanks to Joe Lee of ROTK for this find: “You know you start to wonder what the age of the biochem researchers demographic is when they start releasing ads like this.”: It’s called EpMotion

So these results are not completely unexpected, and the results surely range far beyond partisanship:

In a study a couple years ago, Democrats and Republicans both had a hard time correctly assessing information contradictory to their points of view. The test involved hearing contradictory statements from John Kerry and George W. Bush. The candidates on the test subjects’ sides could essentially deny their favored candidate’s statements while jumping on the opponent.

Oh, and right now Bush has a 32% approval rating. 65% Republicans approve of Bush. I would like to ask those of you who do give Bush a thumbs-up two things:

1. Why does Bush get your approval?
2. What do you think Bush has done poorly (if anything)?

If you’re wondering what the picture has to do with this, it’s because the weapon the processioneers are carrying is called a “partisan”. It’s a spear-like weapon, but instead of a simple spear point, the sharp end has little “wings” on the side. Presumably this was to aid in catching incoming swordstrokes, but I’m not convinced it made a partisan wielder that much more capable against swordsman than a spear wielder.

Sources: Democrats and Republicans Both Adept at Ignoring Facts, Study Finds

President Bush Job Approval

A lot of people were on the road, or otherwise had difficulties completing games this week. So this will be a “catch-up” week, and also it saves me the time of posting a cross-table, etc.

With the Olympic games in Beijing next month, the Brits are pondering 4 years down the line when they hold the 2012 games. The BBC asked their readers to submit ideas for their own mascots–and considering the number of readers, you’d think someone could come up with something that’s not either ridiculous or mundane. Frighteningly, if you threw the LEP Mascot into the mix, it might not be the worst one.

The one featured in the picture to the right is an aerosol can wearing a Burberry hat named Charlie Chav. Now this is something I wish I’d thought of. Maybe if the Olympic committee decides an aerosol can mascot is not the direction they want to go in, I’ll hire him myself.

Source: In pictures: Your Olympic mascots

Rasputin was this weird mystical dude who had mystical powers over the last Tsarina of Russia. He had this weird scraggly beard, too; unfortunately the prop that I used had hair too thick so it’s not realistic. (It was a rental so I couldn’t rip out half the hairs as I would have liked.)

This guy is kind of mysterious. He was supposedly some combination of mystic, priest, healer, hypnotist, manipulator. Pretty much a perfect topic for the late-night Coast to Coast radio program with George Noory.

During WWI, Rasputin claimed that the Russian army would not win unless Tsar Nicholas II took command of the army. That was pretty much asking for it because the Tsar didn’t know anything about that stuff. But maybe he just wanted more power, ’cause he exerted an undue influence on the Tsarina while Nick was at the front. And got more power.

To make a long story short, a lot of people didn’t like him, and he got assassinated.

Now this is the kind of spark the chess world could use (NSFW): Shaq vs Kobe is not over

Topalov burning Kramnik in a freestyle rap…that would be cool.

This next video is not something the chess world needs, but it’s related to the first. Its quality is 100% worthy of this website, though…