Peruvian shamans perform a ritual with photos of US Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., bottom left, and Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., to send good vibes to their favorite candidate on La Herradura Beach in Lima, Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2008. Nine of the 11 faith-healers from the Apus-Inka healers' association said they foresee Obama winning the election.(AP Photo/Martin Mejia)
Three of my coworkers independently approached me today, wringing their hands, agitated 'n' such, about being worried that McCain is somehow going to be our next president. Each time their reasons were vague but the same: I saw this poll, that poll, race tightening, etc., etc. It was kinda cute but got old real fast. I pointed them all to fivethirtyeight.com, explained to them about, you know, how the electoral college works and that the state polls were more important and totally in the tank for Obama. I pointed them to this article, for instance, so that they would calm down.
But, hey! Now I really know how to ease their fears, because the shamans have spoken and, you know, that's that.
Here's another photo from AP's set, because it's hard to imagine getting any cooler an election-related shot than this:
8 comments:
You're right, that is the coolest election-related photo I've seen, especially with the Dia de los Muertos skulls and the illuminated pictures of angels surrounding the candidates.
OMG--what adorable skulls!
Let me be all math-y for a second. The latest polls give Obama an expected value of 360 to 178. He has 90 electoral votes to spare, which is more than Ohio, Florida and Pennsylvania combined.
The odds as calculated on my blog last Sunday are about 16,000 to 1 against McCain.
I'm a gambler, and I always warn against celebrating early. I have won games of backgammon when I was a 16,000 to 1 underdog by rolling double sixes twice in a row, followed by double fours or better, when my opponent did not roll doubles in the rolls in between.
But as my opponent correctly pointed out after I posted this game in the win column, I am the luckiest motherfucker on the planet.
My money is on the way cool Peruvian shamans & their accoutrements -- Pastor Muthee's kente cloth-draped "stone the witch" act really can't compete.
Hey... look at the rainbow stripes on the lead guy's sleeves.
Hairdresser?
I like the guy's Saturn-bedecked outfit on the far left.
But why is Greedo from Star Wars blessing everyone (in front of Hairdresser Rainbow Guy)?
This truly "closes the deal" for Obama, Your Highness, and your subjects are grateful for your sagacity in finding this unique indicator. By the way, I hope in speaking to your co-workers you never fail to use the shopworn expression "key battleground states," as all Official Journalist Persons are apparently required by their oath of office to do.
The things you find are truly amazing. I hope that PSP pays you a lot of money for bringing these stories to our attention.
I also still don't understand half of what Nate says at fivethirtyeight, but somehow all of those numbers make me feel better.
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