News Roundup for 10/2/09

What the 2016 Olympics won't look like

-Headline of the day-
"Rio wins right to host the 2016 Olympics."

Looks like Republicans get their wish; the 2016 Olympics won't be held in Chicago. Despite a personal appeal by powerful world figures like Barack and Michelle Obama -- bolstered by a pitch by even more powerful Oprah -- the Windy City loses out to Rio De Janiero.

It's kind of shocking. Chicago is well known as an athletic city, with major sports teams and high-stakes competitions like this:



Meanwhile, all Rio has is stuff like this:



I just don't get it... (Associated Press)


-Cartoon time with Mark Fiore-
Hey kids, it's Dogboy and Mr. Dan again! They're here to explain why we should bomb Iran!


Click for animation

Ok, so it's what we grownups call a "unpersuasive argument"... (MarkFiore.com)


-Bonus HotD-
"Palin presidential run would be 'catastrophic,' ex-McCain campaign chief says."

That doesn't sound good...

A former McCain campaign manager told a crowd today that Sarah Palin as a presidential candidate might just end the universe... At least, for Republicans.

"I think that she has talents," said strategist Steve Schmidt, "but my honest view is that she would not be a winning candidate for the Republican candidate in 2012, and in fact, were she to be the nominee, we would have a catastrophic election result."

You assume he means she'd lose big. But I guess there's really no way to go wrong making this call; if she loses, she loses because she's just such an awful candidate -- catastrophic result. If she wins, we go to war with the Yukon Territory over control of the Northern Lights -- catastrophic result.

He's really not going out on a limb here. (Raw Story)