Wednesday night, post-Zizek-lecture links.

* President Barack Obama does not plan to accept any of the Afghanistan war options presented by his national security team, pushing instead for revisions to clarify how and when U.S. troops would turn over responsibility to the Afghan government, a senior administration official said Wednesday. Probably the best of a bad set of options.

* How Food Preferences Vary by Political Ideology. I have to confess they have my number on Chinese/Japanese/Thai, not eating fast food, and delicious, delicious Samoas—but my love of pizza and PB&J proves that beneath my leftist facade beats a deeply reactionary heart.

* Already linked everywhere: Scenes From An Alternate Universe Where The Beatles Accepted Lorne Michaels’ Generous Offer.

* Ezra Klein: Four ways to end the filibuster. Related: Steve Benen, Harold Meyerson, Kevin Drum.

* GOP Death Spiral Watch: Lindsay Graham censured by the South Carolina GOP for acknowledging the existence of climate change.

* Salon: Wes Anderson's take on Roald Dahl is possibly the best movie about family, community and poultry thievery ever made.

Friday night links.

* 45 ways of looking at the Mario Brothers. Via Kotaku.

* McSweeney's is hiring.

* Pizza Hut is now "The Hut." First response: How is that any better? Second response: somebody call Mel Brooks.

* Ze Frank is playing "That Makes Me Think Of" for Time Magazine. This week the video's about Iran.

Lots of links to dump today. Here's a preliminary batch...

* There's a new Springsteen album out today, which all right-thinking people have undoubtedly already purchased on iTunes. Slate and Salon both have Boss-centric coverage in celebration.

* The banking crisis has brought down the government of Iceland. More here.

* At one point, The Simpsons was funny. Eye on Springfield has proof. Via Kottke.

* Regional pizza styles of the U.S.

* LEGO Vipers. Oh, BSG, I can't stay mad at you.

* Favorite photos of George W. Bush. My favorite is probably this one, which I've linked to before, but they all have their charms.



You're doing it wrong...

So I guess we still don't know. Rumor has it the notification will come tomorrow, though with Clinton, Bayh, and Kaine all ruled out it's sure looking a lot like Biden:

The United States Secret Service has dispatched a protective detail to assume the immediate protection of Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Del., a source tells ABC News, indicating in all likelihood that Biden has been officially notified that Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, has selected him to be his running mate.

I can't remember where I saw the idea first, but I think it'd be hilarious if they send the text out at 3 AM. How many chances are you going to pull something like that off? A bit like that'd be worth losing the election over.

PS: Well played, Something Awful.

In all the hoopla of the primary race, we Americans are allowing our way of life to be destroyed before our very eyes. Thanks to Patrick Egan for playing Paul Revere tonight.