200 Posts

Dats a'lot'a meatball.

Damn thesis.

I have in my hand, or to be more precise behind the bottle of coke (diet) that is near my left hand which is currently typing... a letter congratulating me on my awesomeness and asking for an interview.

Job = tutor type at a hall of residence.
Significance = afford to do PhD.
State of mind = oscillating between rapture and terror.

I'm not the most accomplished interviewee. I'm more like the dude in Trainspotting who goes to an interview while on speed - except I'm not the speed taking type. I'm high on the effects of the magic cauldron I was dropped in as a child. I lost a big, kick arse scholarship which would have taken care of my student loan because I couldn't help making a stupid joke.

Interviewers: Do you have any questions you'd like to ask.
Dave: Nah. I read John Grisham. I know what you like are lot.
Interviewers to each other through body language: The boy knows too much. The previous girl was much more naive/tactful. On the other hand he is kinda cute.
Dave to self through body language: damn damn damn damn damn I think they're coming on to me damn damn damn damn damn.

The interview is next week. Expect me to lose more hair and rant for longer periods of time.

Fortunately there is a bonus to this muhwahwah. I can see into the future. Which is useful although I'm not sure if I'm seeing a 6 or an 8 on the lotto ticket. While I can't see your specific futures (I'm sure you'll all end up fantastic, finish writing book/novel/thesis, see SW3, cry, find appropriate hot man/woman, get awesome job/reapply for dole, end up happy blah blah blah) I can see the wider implications of global events.

Israel: Continues to fight the Palestinians.
Palestine: Continues to fight the Israelis.
Children: Continue to die.
Iraq: US and Britain pull out citing successful elections.
Iraqis: Wondering where the elections took place.
US: Terror attack on home soil.
Russia: Terror attack on home soil.
Chechnya: Terror attack on home soil.
Australia: Terror attack on home soil.
US: Bush wins 'election'. Carter angry.
Britain: Blair wins.
Russia: Putin wins 'election'. No-one that angry (in public).
Australia: Howard wins. Strike one up for human rights.
NZ: Labour win. Brash resigns. Greens, Act, United Future (damn), National, NZ First, Maori Party all in.
Rugby: British Lions beat All Blacks.
Japan: Cautiously rearms.
Petrol: Pretty dang expensive. Damn SUVs.
Ozone hole. Shrinks. yay.

Come with me if you want to laugh

As most of us are aware, Corey is in Japan. There's nothing particularly surprising about this, and even when he was in Chch he was often absent. But he has recently blogged. I know! First Nic tries is hand at blogging and then Corey has a go. Who knows, maybe even Ben will give it a whirl one day. Unlike Ben and Nic, however, Corey understands that three lines is not nearly enough. And I'm still laughing. Do it. Read it. Be there.

Also: for those of you that don't know Corey it won't really matter too much. All you need to know is that he's in Japan and traditionally white.

Live from the battlefield

There is a place I know which is safe, away from all the mad-capped action and fast-paced life that tends to go on around me. It's like a big bunker with thick concrete walls for reinforcement and only an old fashioned morse code system for interactions with the outside world - tends to take a while. Most of you will know it as my head. It resides in my office. I might be some time.

In the meantime I'll be running around screaming peace and putting flowers down barrels and the like. Just like rugby.

These kids will try anything

to get you to vote.

If you go down to the woods today...

Went and saw The Village on Saturday with Fi. It was pretty good. I've heard really good reviews and really bad. I thought it fell somewhere inbetween.

The basic premise of the movie is that an isolated village exists in a valley. On the hills are the woods. There is a truce between the villagers and the creatures that live in the woods. The villagers are not allowed into the woods. Being an M. Night Shyamalan movie there is an expectation of a twist aka The Sixth Sense or, to a lesser extent, Signs. Reviewers have either loved or hated the 'twist' in The Village. I saw it coming but there will still enough 'huh?' moments to keep me interested. Perhaps I wasn't in the mood to think. The script was good, the plot was reasonable, and there were some fantastic landscape shots that added to the atmosphere. The acting was very good and I think this was the main reason the moive worked. Signourney Weaver and William Hurt were convincing, if nothing spectacular, as two of the Elders. Adrian Brody was good - completely and utterly different to his role in The Pianist, which was nice. Joaquin Phoenix was typically understated and quietly brilliant. He's rapidly becoming one of my favourite actors - and clearly one of Shyamalan's. The star performance, however, was Bryce Dallas Howard who played the blind daughter of Hurt. Howard, daughter of Happy Days' and A Beautiful Mind's Ron Howard, managed to convey both vulnerability and strength without resorting to cliche. I think most other actresses would have struggled.

Anyway, if you haven't seen it yet make sure you do.

In other news... someone put Jaguar F1 on Ebay.

Damn brain.

ARgh

I've handed in my uni hall application. Hopefully this will provide me with a good job, free food, accomodation, power, decent showers and sublime water pressure and potenitally decent cash. Also fat fat internet cable *slobbers*. A number of older lads have requested visitation rights in order to inspect the local talent. And the aforementioned fat fat internet cable *still slobbering*.

This has come with a little stress. It throws up nexts years prospects and the insecure fears that any self-respecting Arts student possesses. Also family is concerned about thesis - which is odd given that it's going well. Brother dearest told me that I'd better bloody well finish before whacking me in the arm. I hadn't even considered the possibility of not finishing before this - and the rational side of my brain reassures me that some members of my family can act in rather odd and surprising ways. The irrational side of my brain has seized upon this as another stress and I'm thus malfunctioning.

Stupid brain.

Which means a large number of our Chch posse are manically stressed. Nic has his job interview and thesis mark back (you'd know this if he bothered to blog). Fi has hons to worry about. Claire has insane amounts of work as well as hunting for the mythical 'grey hair'. Ben is angsting over how best to write a blog. Tim lost his text messages. Others tend to be wrapped up in the day to day 'muh'. The only people around here that seem to be blissfully happy/unaware are Charlie and Si and that's probably due to the drugs.

Shanghai GP... pretty. *slobbers*

'Peace Train' author terrorist mastermind

Yusuf Islam, once Cat Stevens is going to be deported from the United States to Britain after he was accused of supporting militant terrorist organisations. He says he was giving money to charity.

A number of people are complaining about this. Personally, I think the authorities have probably got this right. Why? Let's look a combination of several songs lyrics in a random and unusual order..


Watch them run down to platform one...Well I think it's fine, building jumbo planes...thinking about the world as it is ... out on the edge of darkness... scrapers fill the air...why can't we live in bliss...there's no more room up there...Oh jumbo train take this scraper...I've been hating...Do doot do, do de do doot do.

This is mad. Am angry. Grrr. So angry I'll cut and paste lyrics to Peace Train - which is a much better read than the Patriot Act. When he wrote this I doubt he could have imagined one day he'd be on a list of potential terrorists.

Now I’ve been happy lately, thinking about the good things to come
And I believe it could be, something good has begun
Oh I’ve been smiling lately, dreaming about the world as one
And I believe it could be, some day it’s going to come
Cause out on the edge of darkness, there rides a peace train
Oh peace train take this country, come take me home again
Now I’ve been smiling lately, thinking about the good things to come
And I believe it could be, something good has begun
Oh peace train sounding louder
Glide on the peace train
Come on now peace train
Yes, peace train holy roller
Everyone jump upon the peace train
Come on now peace train
Get your bags together, go bring your good friends too
Cause it’s getting nearer, it soon will be with you
Now come and join the living, it’s not so far from you
And it’s getting nearer, soon it will all be true
Now I’ve been crying lately, thinking about the world as it is
Why must we go on hating, why can’t we live in bliss
Cause out on the edge of darkness, there rides a peace train
Oh peace train take this country, come take me home again

When I was a lad

When I was younger - years ago - we had proper licorice. I was thinking of this earlier as Nic and I procrastinated outside 101 while drinking coke, eating licorice and eavesdropping on evangelical North Americans discussing how Jesus died for Hitler. I'm stunned. If I'd known about Hitler back in 33AD I would have focused my impressive powers of foresight on the local gladatorial league and put my money on Maximus instead of Minimus. Damn.

The licorice we were eating was soft, flavoursome and somewhat enjoyable. This is not how licorice should be. Licorice should be how it was when I was younger. Down by Tairei Mouth, South Otago there used to be a dairy by the sea. We'd stay in the crib we had there every so often. On Sundays Dad would walk down to the dairy to purchase the paper with little Dave and little Greg and buy us a lolly. I would inevitably go for either the licorice or the fake cigarettes which made me look 7 and therefore grownup. For 50 cents you could get this huge piece of licorice. It would take an age to eat because it was so tough. You would bite into it and get a migraine. This was usually solved by going for a swim or running into a tree. The licorice had a tough, rubbery texture. It was long, wide and had grooves in it, and smelled like the dust that came into the store from cars driving past the dairy after going over the metal roads that zig-zagged the area. Sadly there were one or two downsides. Whenever we took the car anywhere where there might be kids we had to leave Greg standing guard over the car in case any of the locals started gnawing on the tires. You'd be surprised how scary a three year old with a baseball bat can be. Even to a five year old who had fake sugary cigarettes. He'd take my smokes and beat me. I was sad. Fortunately it was the eighties and no-one seemed to notice.

It is spring

Switzerland is on campus. I repeat, Switzerland is on campus.

Tragedy

Perhaps it was one of the more ironic titles in pop music. Sadly, not I've thought of it I can't get it out of my head with no one to love you your going nowhere. din din din din.

I wrote a fantastic blog last night. Full of wit, charm and humour you never knew I had. Comments that would have made you laugh, think, perhaps cry a little if you respect George Lucas as a scriptwriter, and a line that may have solved the middle east violence. If only it had the chance. Instead the server decided that it wasn't going to post it. Oh yes, the 'server'. The Man is cracking down on me, man. They're everywhere. It's all about the feds. The CIA, the Bloods and the Crips, and the KKK.

Goddamn musical blog.

Anyway, there have been a few changes around here. I hope they work. Otherwise I'd attempt to raise a frown but too many cows have died to bring me my smooth complexion and it'd be disrespectful.

To the batmobile.

I am Man

And I can back that up.

Episode 1. Thursday night.
Gave a talk to prospective postgrads. My reward was a movie ticket and free alcohol. The ticket first came in an empty envelope. I complained and was rewarded with an envelope with a ticket inside. Then proceeded to drink with lecturers and solved most of the worlds problems. Or, rather, realised rather glumly that Bush will still be there this time next year. Solved no problems at all. Once they'd thrown us out some of us continued to Bentleys. Lo and behold half of Debsoc was there and I continued in my merry drunken path. Memory starts to become fuzzy now. Had seen Ben and Karen when I'd arrived but they had a show to do, although they promised to return. As did Tim when he stuck his head in. I was so happy there. Anyway, after more drinking I found myself in the backseat of a car being pulled over by the cops. I played the drunk guy in the backseat largely because I was the drunk guy in the back seat. Then we were at the Dramasoc after party. I was incoherent, apparently, although I made perfect sense in my head. Offered to kill someone for Ben and Karen. They declined. Offered to kill Ben for Karen. She declined. Started texting people telling them how drunk I was. Walked home with Tim to his place and crashed on couch where I was molested by cat.

That was manly. LET US NEVER SPEAK OF THIS NIGHT AGAIN.

Episode 2. Saturday.
After a pre-interview orientation around uni hall which went rather well (I'm rather charming) I had our rugby team's final. The ground was like concrete and my bones were soft like lamington squares. Was bruised and battered by a couple of dodgy tackles and a nice uppercut underneath my right eye. Left me dazed and disoriented. Where was I running? That's right - toward the ground. Pretty. Subbed self off halfway through second half. After a first half that last 40 minutes and a second half that lasted 50 (we normally play 30) we had won the game. We got trophy. And beer.

Manly.

Episode 3. Indoor Soccer.
My soccer form has been abysmal lately. But I've improved my aggressive 'man' technique. Was subbed off last week after being hit below the belt. Was hit there twice today. Crowd groaned. I squealed. Carried on playing.

Manly.

Also... bad news. Karen has killed angry drunk Ben. He no longer exists. Instead we have a deliriously happy drunk Ben. Not as much entertainment at Vertigo last night for above reason.

Ford has pulled out of F1 - which means no more Jaguar. Hopefully the team gets bought by someone so we can still have 20 cars per race. Perhaps Arden?

But in cool news I came 3rd= in the F1 Fantasy competition run by newsonf1.com for Monza. This is the highest position someone from New Zealand has come this year. Fear me.

Jacques' Back


Jacques Villeneuve has signed to race for Sauber for another two years. This is very, very awesome. Probably not appreciated by the majority of you. It's like Jango Fett returning for Episode 3. Not that I follow, or anything.

In other news I get free wine tonight.

Some people

That Canadian visitor who was hoping to find a real cannibal girl to eat him/her has returned. They first checked into the site a few months ago using yahoo to search for suitable candidates. I think this is their third visit. I'm impressed at the mindless dedication to serving oneself on a platter that would drive someone to read this drivel on three separate occasions.

There is an irony in being mindless but wanting someone to eat it.

If you return, Canadian friend, stick with the vegetables or animal meat. If you are really keen on a slow and painful death, try politics. Or Episode 1.

Or Episode 2.

Student politics on campus are in full swing with all the back stabbing and bitchiness that is commonly associated and universally loathed by everyone not actually involved. I wish I could remember the days when Tim was elected to the council on the basis of his wang orange shirt. Now people are involved with 'issues' which eventually turn out to be themselves. And who really cares? I voted for people who I knew. Or would have had one of them not been disqualified. Something a little suspect there - I know people who know things and are impartial so I'll have to check up on that. It's not a perfect selection process, voting for who you know, but it's based on the assumption that legal advice will usually be followed. Then again, I'm consistently surprised by how thick some people are.

Such as John Kerry. For a man who can actually string a sentence together he is remarkably thick. He is certainly not doing as well as the majority of us would have liked. Being compared to Dukakis is not something he can afford to let happen. But he'll probably take a few days to think about how to appear decisive, and then change his mind again. Grrr.

Tony Blair is looking to force climate change to the top of the G8 agenda. Bush won't like this. Blair will back down. It won't be quite as obvious as that but that's what the effect will be.

We're playing the top of the league tonight in indoor soccer. This is not good. Nic is stuck with the show. Tim will need a big effort in defense, and Johnny will have to play like Pele on acid. I've got a sprained ankle which has only partially healed, and am hamstrung (hehe) by a general lack of talent. Since I've got back from Blenheim I've played 2 games for our team and only scored 1 goal. Shoddy munter. Must improve.

Oh. That's right. Thesis.

Times like these

Every now and then something happens to reaffirm my faith in thesis. I've just got back the scanned sketches of Davis from the copy centre and they are awesome. Better than the original. Shiny. Cheers to Sarah for the scanning. I'm taking them around to Davis' daughter tonight and I'm certain she'll be thrilled.

The weather is getting worse. This is also good. Less chance to go outside and be distracted by skin. Although some girls persist in looking good. Very inconsiderate. And I have a sprained ankle and a walk home so I hope it doesn't rain.

We played A Game of Thrones last night at James C's. It was very good. Tim was banished to an island. Ben continued to ignore a more strategic gameplay and continually frustrated Nic with his threat of attack. James came close to winning but made two fatal lapses of judgment which lead to him not winning and Tim coming back from the dead to lay the smack down. I managed to bumble my way to victory and rightly assumed the throne. Hail to the king, baby.

Ohhh, bad

Rugby is mostly a very awesome game. It is hard, tough, makes you realise just how unfit you are, and lets soft, soft pansies like myself believe that they are hard and stereotypically masculine for a minute or two. But.... We had our semifinal today. The ground was damn hard and after subbing on for 20 minutes and getting taken out off the ball (wanker) I was pretty much done in. We were looking pretty good in the second half (playing Lincoln - dirty, dirty players ordinarily but since it's finals they were playing it mostly clean) up four tries to one. A mall had just descended into a bit of anarchy when this high pitched, blood curdling scream went out. At first I thought someone was taking the piss... no. One of our props had been picked up and twisted, badly dislocating his knee. I've seen some really munted and freaky stuff happen, but this scream.... argh. His knees are pretty screwed and this isn't as unusual an event as we'd like it to be. Anyway,the bloke is damn hard and relocated it by himself. Ref stopped play, which was good because all of us on the bench were looking to hide under rubbish bins and in the trees. No-one wants to go on after that. Anyway, we won and are now in the plate final. Awesome. I'm just hoping I can get rid of that bloodcurdling scream before kickoff.

At least Charlie is back. This numbs the pain. Already conversation has dropped through the gutter. I think Ben's comment to Charlie and I 'Why don't you two go outside and try and beat each other up - that'd be arousing' in the context of us sitting on a couch and playing guitar is up there for the best random quote.

SW spoiler
Apparently the DVD of Star Wars has edited out that dude at the end of ROTJ and put in Hayden Christensen. I don't like that so much. The original trilogy was awesome and I'm wary of Lucas playing around with it. Then again, apparently Whanau II is better than Whanau, so revising classics can work.

The roof is on fire

It is insanely warm in the Masters room today. Someone said it was nearing 19 degrees outside, which is probably accurate. Triple that for the Masters room. The old newspapers have caught on fire and my will to work in the boiler room has correspondingly gone up in smoke.

I can find something to complain about in everything.

In other news... The plant Hayley left behind in the Masters room has been renamed 'Jamie the Love God III'. Not my idea. Sorry.

Our soccer team was beaten last night 5-6. It shouldn't have been, but that's how it goes sometimes. I couldn't get a shot on goal which isn't too flash for someone playing up front. Nic scored 4 and Tim (yes, Tim) scored the other. The Man thought Tim was taking it to him and Tim was sent off in a decision I thought was harsh. I was kicked somewhere painful and had to take myself off to howls of cruel and hurtful laughter.

Ben promised me a decent blog on Tuesday. He has not delivered. Dan hasn't blogged in about 6 weeks. Perhaps he's emulating Hamish. Si is also slack. As is Nic and Tim, although at least Tim has the excuse of no real computer. The last I heard of Corey he was getting boozed in Japan and while I doubt anything has changed I still want to laugh. The only people who have really blogged with any real pizzaz and regularity are Mark and Miche.

Charlie is back tomorrow. I'm picking him up from the airport. I can either drop him off at his flat or set him free in the woods by the airport. Any suggestions?

For crying out loud

The sun is shining. It is warm outside. Girls are reveling more skin underneath my window. The only thing that's missing is Charlies chasing the birds and playing hack. And he's back in a couple of days.

I want a blizzard. And for guys to stop hitting on me.

Also, you need to blog more.

Statements from the Bush Clan

"We don't want to have people lose their lives because of abject stupidity." Jeb Bush.

"If a person doesn't have the capacity that we all want that person to have, I suspect hope is in the far distant future, if at all." George W.

"But I also made it clear to (Vladimir Putin) that it's important to think beyond the old days of when we had the concept that if we blew each other up, the world would be safe." George W.

"This administration is doing everything we can to end the stalemate in an efficient way. We're making the right decisions to bring the solution to an end." George W.

"I've coined new words, like, misunderstanding and Hispanically." George W.

"You teach a child to read, and he or her will be able to pass a literacy test." George W.

"I've been to war. I've raised twins. If I had a choice, I'd rather go to war." George W.

"I am not part of the problem. I am a Republican" George W.

"These, they're very dangerous. They trap you. Especially these furry ones...it's these furry guys that get you in real trouble. They can reach out and listen to something so - keep it respectful here." George Bush Sr., speaking to Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1991 about the need to be careful when speaking near open microphones.

"It has been said by some cynic, maybe it was a former president, 'If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog.' Well, we took them literally - that advice - as you know. But I didn't need that because I have Barbara Bush." George Bush Sr

"When I need a little advice about Saddam Hussein, I turn to country music." George Bush Sr.

"If a frog had wings, he wouldn't hit his tail on the ground. Too hypothetical." George Bush Sr.

"I had to give it up. That car was an invitation for one of the grandchildren to get arrested. And that’s all we need, is for another one of them ..." Former First Lady Barbara Bush, on giving up the black TransAm she used to tool around Kennebunkport

Because I am awesome even when drunk

Colin Meads WAS sent off in 1967. He was the second All Black to have been sent off in an international rugby game. I said he was the first. Others said he had finished every game he started. Clearly that was incorrect. However, he did finish one game after breaking his arm halfway through. That is mighty.

The site proves it.

Bus trip was good. Lots of alcohol. Every pub seemed to be playing the same songs over and over again. We nearly left Hamish at the Redwood. I ended up calling most people 'Brian'. And I got abused by two girls for not hitting on them when I took the late bus home. Sat at home and watched the Russian school seige unseige spectacularly.

Does anyone know if the 'blue' taxi managed to find Richard's home ok?

Bush

This is a recurring theme throughout my blog, along with Star Wars rants, self depreciating comments and really really poor/bad jokes. Make me wonder why people actually bother to read. Probably the same reason I write. Procrastination.

According to this site, Bush has overtaken Kerry in terms of electoral college votes. This more accurately predicts the winner as the US presidential system doesn't use an direct voting system. Which is, to say the least, suck. But, as we all know, polls are pretty worthless and probably do more to influence voters rather than reflect their beliefs. Bush's popularity will probably increase during the RNC, but hopefully it will come back down.

There are some interesting details in the graphic of the site above. Bush has 142 'strong' ec votes to Kerry's 109. Kerry has 107 'weak' ec votes to Bush's 40... and Bush has 98 'barely' ec votes to Kerry's 26. 16 ec votes are exactly even. So, other than stating that Bush has a larger base of staunch Republican states to work with, the election could sill theoretically go either way.

In practice, however....
There are a number of things about this election and the candidates that would scare me if I registered anything more than a cynical apathy over the upcoming election. First and foremost are the candidates. Bush and Cheney are about as attractive as, well, Bush and Cheney. Kerry is largely uninspiring and his only real attraction is that he is not Bush. I admire his conduct and bravery in Vietnam, and the courage it took to stand up against Vietnam when he returned. He's certainly paying for that now. It would have been far better for him to dodge the draft aka Bush and Clinton and flit about the countryside. His changes of heart and mind are irritating. Then again, Bush has recently caused a few laughs by stating that the war on terror is unwinnable (surprised?) and then clarifying that the other day by stating that 'unwinnable' actually meant 'winnable'. A bit like the election. Edwards is an enigma. He's got that good ol' boy Southern Charm, which should help, but little in the way of experience. At least he comes from the honest profession. He is on record as saying he is against free trade because it harms US interests. Bush is similar telling steel workers that he's responsible for tariff rises in steel, but demanding open markets for American products on the world stage. That same old hypocrisy that will exist regardless of who ultimately becomes president.

Yes, the Democrat ticket is better environmentally and will generate some foreign sympathy - particularly in Europe, Africa, Asia, the Pacific, and the Americas. I wonder who Tony B. wants to win. But I still have a sinking feeling that it's like choosing between cancer and a coronary.

Even if Kerry has more people vote for him than Bush, I still think Bush will become president again for the reasons listed below.

1a) Diebold Voting Machines. A Maryland judge ruled today that the Diebold Voting Machines are actually more accurate than paper ballots and will be optional in the November elections. 20% of California will use the machines to cast their votes, perhaps influenced by the Governorship of the T-1000. There are a number of concerns over the safety of the Diebold machines - such as the potentiality for voter fraud and vote manipulation.

1b) The Bush Campaign engaged in actions which can only be described in a public forum as being 'undemocratic' during the last election. The same people are involved this time.

1a) + 1b) = Bush president 2005.

2) Florida. Jeb is still in power. Florida has 27 EC votes and is perceived as one of the most crucial states to win. Currently leaning toward Bush.

3)US Supreme Court is stacked in favour of the Republicans. There are 6 republicans to 3 democrats. One of the republicans is the very scary Antonin Scalia, who is not only an extremely conservative republican, but a good mate of Cheney. To be fair to the court they did invalidate the administration's Guantanamo stance. Any Bush appeal to the Supreme court, however, will probably go his way.

4) Kerry. The Democrats nominated him not because they believed in him, but because they thought he had the best chance of winning. There is a difference between the two.

5) Nader. While I hope his run will inspire democrats to actually get out and vote, there is the danger that he would siphon off votes that would otherwise remove Bush. If anyone who likes Nader but dislikes Bush more actually votes for Nader instead of Kerry in vital state then they probably deserve Bush.

6) Voter turnout. At the last election 70% of the eligible population were registered to vote. 82% of registered voters voted. 60% of the total eligible population voted. In Britain the 2001 elections were marred by an extremely low turnout (and the re-election of Tony) - 59.1% - that was down from 71.6% in 1997. 2001 was the lowest voter turnout in Britain since 1918. The US 60% was actually an increase from the 58% in 1996. In New Zealand voter turnout in the 2001 elections was 77%, which is reasonable for a country where voting is not compulsory (unlike Australia, for instance). So the statements that assert the US 2004 election will be an extremely close election ignore the 40% of eligible Americans who probably won't bother voting. A small election turnout will favour Bush.

Damn Thesis.