Chemistry Pick-Up Lines!

1. You light up my Bunsen burner!

2. I feel a bond between us!

3. Hey, baby, what's your empirical formula?

4. Call me - my number is 6.02 x 10²³!

5. Wanna be my lab partner?

6. I'm positive, you're negative, let's get together and make a compound!

7. My name? Bond. Covalent Bond!

8. Come on, baby, light up my Bunsen burner!

9. If I could rewrite the periodic table, I would put Uranium and Iodine together, for U and I!

10. I lost my atomic number. Can I have yours?

11. Taken any good spectra lately?

12. Hey baby! I'll be the nucleophile if you'll be the electrophile!

13. I'd really like to titrate with you.

14. Let me show you my Schlenk line…

15. My favorite mechanism is a backside attack. And you?

16. I'm…an economics major…going for my MBA!

17. What does it take to get over YOUR activation barrier?

18. Your lab or mine?

19. Have you seen the latest issue of J.A.C.S.?

20. I feel exothermic tonight!

21. My favorite element is uranium, because I love U!

22. It's true that opposites attract. We're like an electron and a proton, we come together and now we're stable... and steady!

23. You're just like an energetic exothermic reaction, hot stuff!

24. You want to see if we can make some new compounds from an "energetic" reaction?

25. If I could make any compound, I would make uranium iodide, so I could put U and I together!

26. You must be one of those new neon compounds with fluorine and iodine, because you are FINe!

27. If I were a Bunsen burner, you would light my flame.

28. If I were a Bunsen burner, you would be my flame, hot enough to melt a few things.

29. You are a photon quanta to my valence electron. You excite me to a higher energy level.

30. Could you tell me the oxidation state of this atom and your phone number?

31. You must be a copper-tellurium alloy, because you are CuTe.

32. Hey baby, wanna fusion?

33. I got a charge out of bonding with you.

34. You're the proton to my electron.

35. You make my atomic number rise.

36. You're the center of my nucleus.

37. You get under my valence shell.

38. How hot is your blue flame?

39. You're hydrogen (#1) on my Periodic Table.

40. Our chemical reactions give way to interesting products.

41. You make me reach my melting point.

42. You're so cool, molecules stop in your presence.

43. I have mass. You have mass. We’re naturally attracted!

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Organic Chemistry pick-up lines!

1. Hey baby, I’ll lower your kinetic energy

2. You make me hotter than sulfur hydroxide mixed with ethyl acetate

3. You can hydrolyze me anytime

4. I’d like to conjugate your system

5. I’ll raise your orbital

6. You really push my electrons

7. Why the electronegativity?

8. You must be a good benzene ring, because you are pleasantly aromatic.

9. You're an electrophile and I'm a nucleophile, we're attracted and we can make each other happy.

10. You're an alcohol and I'm your ketone. I'll protect your from the Grignards of life.

Democrats Fight To Raise Minimum Wage, Republicans Fight To Give Themselves A Raise...

Need a more vivid illustration of the differences between Democrats and Republicans?

Democrats in the House and Senate want the $5.15-per-hour federal minimum wage, in place since 1997, to rise in 70-cent increments to $7.25 by January 1, 2009.

In arguing for the minimum-wage increase, Democrats are emphasizing that salaries for members of Congress have risen $31,600 during the time the minimum wage has been frozen.
They complain that rising costs for gasoline, utilities, education and food have taken a chunk out of minimum-wage paychecks, which sometimes have to support entire families.
Republicans in Congress have blocked numerous attempts to raise the minimum wage, saying it would backfire by causing small businesses to hire fewer entry-level workers.

But with Republican control of the House and Senate uncertain after the November congressional elections, some moderate Republicans have been joining with Democrats to support a minimum-wage increase.

To be fair, 8 Senate Republicans did vote last week to raise the minimum wage for the first time in almost 10 years.

It's just a shame that 46 of their fellow GOP'ers disagreed.

That includes you, Katie and Johnny...

Minimum Wage Vote Vexing for GOP

After Wednesday's Senate showdown rejecting a hike, Democrats hope to gain a potent campaign issue for fall.

WASHINGTON – In an election year, it's a dream issue for the Democrats: The Republican-controlled Congress has not raised the federal minimum wage in nine years, despite strong public support for an increase. Wednesday, the Senate voted down a Democratic proposal to raise the minimum wage, by a vote of 52 to 46, and also struck down a Republican version that included provisions the Democrats consider poisonous.

At the current minimum wage, $5.15 an hour, a full-time worker would earn $10,712 a year, which is below the federal poverty line for a family of three. The Democrats propose an hourly increase of $2.10, and promise that if they take over control of Congress after the fall elections, they will raise the minimum wage on their first day in power.

The public backs the Democrats. An April survey by the Pew Research Center shows 83 percent of the public favors raising the minimum wage by $2. That figure includes 72 percent of Republicans, and 76 percent of people with household incomes of $75,000 or higher.

Read the whole thing here.

Quote of the Day

“Focus Group-Tested Buzz Words…Like ‘Cut and Run’ Demean the Debate and Debase the Seriousness of War”
Guess who said this.

John Murtha? Nope.

Ted Kennedy? Wrong again!

Nancy Pelosi? Three strikes, you're out, dude!

It is actually Chuck Hagel, Republican of Nebraska.


Watch the video.

Here's the full transcript:

Congress fails in its duty when we do not probe, when we fail, we do not ask tough questions, and we fail when we do not debate the gate issues of our day. There is no issue more important than war. The war in Iraq is the defining issue on which this Congress and the administration will be judged. The American people want to see serious debate about serious issues from serious leaders. They deserve more than a political debate. This debate should transcend cynical attempts to turn public frustration with the war in Iraq into an electoral advantage. It should be taken more seriously than to simply retreat into focus-group tested buzz words and phrases like “cut and run,” catchy political slogans that debase the seriousness of war. War’s not a partisan issue, Mr. President. It should not be held hostage to political agendas. War should not be drug down into the political muck. America deserves better. Our men and women fighting and dying deserve better.

Deep in the Red of Texas

TEXAS – THE LONE STAR STATE

Texas is the 10th most Republican state, voting 20.8% more GOP than the national average.

Based on voting records since 1992, Texas is Steady.
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Governor: This will probably be the most interesting race of the year. Budget woes, battles over school financing reform, and a contentious redistricting battle dropped Rick Perry's (R) approval ratings to 38% near the end of the 2005 legislative session but rebounded, largely due to his response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Republican State Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn, a bitter political enemy of Perry, was expected to wage a primary challenge. However, according to recent news, Strayhorn will run as an independent, like the Jewish Cowboy Kinky Friedman, who has had remarkable success as of late. Former Congressman Chris Bell is the Democrat nominee.

Margin of last three polls* (averaged): 14.25 x 0.75 = 10.69
Survey USA: 39-15-25-16 (24 – 10 = 14)
Rasmussen: 40-17-19-15 (23 – 8.5 = 14.5)

Net approval (Survey USA): 2 x 0.15 = 0.3
State partisan leaning (38-31 GOP): 7 x 0.1 = 0.7

Perry will win by 11.69%

*Due to the presence of two significant Independent candidates on the ballot here, I am factoring their polling into this formula, by subtracting a quarter of the combined Strayhorn-Friedman numbers from the Perry-Bell difference. For example, the Survey USA poll has Strayhorn at 25% and Friedman at 16%, resulting in a combined 41%. Subtracting a quarter of this total (10) from the Perry-Bell difference (24) gives 14. (And FYI, the number order is Perry-Bell-Strayhorn-Friedman.)
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Senate: Kay Bailey Hutchison (R) will easily win reelection.

Margin of last three polls (averaged): 39 x 0.75 = 29.25
Rasmussen: 64-25 Hutchison (+39)

Net approval (Survey USA 57-31): 26 x 0.1 = 2.6
State partisan leaning (38-31 GOP): 7 x 0.8 = 0.56
Ratio of money advantage (7:1 Hutchison): 35 x 0.05 = 1.75
Bush net approval (Survey USA 42-56): -14 x 0.02 = 0.28

Hutchison will win by 33.88%
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House: District 1: Prior to the 2003 redistricting all three seats which represented the current TX-1 had been held by Democrats for at least 12 years. Louis Gohmert (R) won the seat but received 7% less than President Bush in the same region. Bush's presence on the ballot was the only reason Gohmert won. Roger Owen (D) may win the district, and Donald Perkison (L) is also in the running. VERY WEAK GOP HOLD

District 2: Ted Poe (R) unseated Nick Lampson (D) after the mid-decade redistricting got him 55% of the vote in this competitive district, and will face a challenge from Gary Binderim (D), who has criticized Poe for his party-line votes. Poe also refused to turn in money he received from Tom DeLay's ARMPAC. Justo Perez (L) is also in the running. WEAK GOP HOLD

District 10: Michael McCaul (R) will face a unique and tough race this year in his district, which stretches from Austin to Houston. His main challenger is 2004 Libertarian presidential candidate Michael Badnarik, in addition to Ted Ankrum (D). WEAK GOP HOLD

District 17: Chet Edwards, the only Democrat to survive the Tom DeLay redistricting scheme, will probably keep his seat again, as he has enough Republican support to withstand any GOP challenger; this year it is Van Taylor (R). Also in the running is Guillermo Acosta (L). VERY, VERY WEAK DEM HOLD

District 22: Tom DeLay (R), under indictment on state and federal charges, will resign his seat in May. Nick Lampson (D), a formidable opponent who was ousted in the redistricting, is in the running, as is ex-Republican Steve Stockman (I). Lampson is less likely to win now than against DeLay, but there may be factors working in Lampson's favor. For one, he is well-known and liked in the district (which contains parts of his old district). The lingering resentment over DeLay and the GOP may also work to Lampson's advantage. Stockman could also draw voters that would otherwise vote Republican. Due to the rightward tendencies of this district, the district will likely remain Republican. VERY WEAK GOP HOLD

Other House races:

District 3: Sam Johnson (R-inc) vs. Dan Dodd (D) vs. Christopher Claytor (L)
District 4: Ralph Hall (R-inc) vs. Glenn Melancon (D) vs. Kurt Helm (L)
District 5: Jeb Hensarling (R-inc) vs. Charlie Thompson (D) vs. Mike Nelson (L)
District 6: Joe Barton (R-inc) vs. David Harris (D) vs. Carl Nulsen (L)
District 7: John Culberson (R-inc) vs. Jim Henley (D) vs. Drew Parks (L)
District 8: Kevin Brady (R-inc) vs. Jim Wright (D) vs. J. Michael McLauchlan (L)
District 9: Al Green (D-inc) - unopposed
District 11: K. Michael Conaway (R-inc) - unopposed
District 12: Kay Granger (R-inc) vs. John Morris (D) vs. Garder Osborne (L)
District 13: William "Mac" Thornberry (R-inc) vs. Roger J. Waun (D) vs. Ian Thompson (L)
District 14: Ronald Paul (R-inc) vs. Shane Sklar (D) vs. Eugene J. Flynn (L)
District 15: Ruben Hinojosa (D-inc) vs. Paul Haring (R) vs. Alex Bischoff (L)
District 16: Silvestre Reyes (D-inc) vs. Gordon R. Strickland (L)
District 18: Sheila Jackson Lee (D-inc) vs. Ahmad Hassan (R) vs. Patrick Warren (L)
District 19: Randy Neugebaeur (R-inc) vs. Robert Ricketts (D) vs. Fred Jones (L)
District 20: Charlie Gonzalez (D-inc) - unopposed
District 21: Lamar Smith (R-inc) vs. John Courage (D) vs. James Arthur Strohm (L)
District 23: Henry Bonilla (R-inc) vs. Rick Bolaños (D) vs. Cecil H. Lamb (L)
District 24: Kenny Marchant (R-inc) vs. Gary Page (D) vs. Mark Frohman (L)
District 25: Lloyd Doggett (D-inc) vs. Grant Rostig (L)
District 26: Michael Burgess (R-inc) vs. Tim Barnwell (D) vs. Rich Haas (L)
District 27: Solomon Ortiz (D-inc) vs. Willie Vaden (R) vs. Robert Powell (L)
District 28: Henry Cuellar (D-inc) vs. Glenda B. Moyes (L)
District 29: Gene Green (D-inc) vs. Eric Story (R) vs. Clifford Lee Messina (L)
District 30: Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-inc) vs. Wilson Aurbach (R) vs. Ken Ashby (L)
District 31: John Carter (R-inc) vs. Mary Beth Harrell (D) vs. Matt McAdoo (L)
District 32: Pete Sessions (R-inc) vs. Will Pryor (D) vs. Philip Scheps (I)

Current Office Holders
Governor: Rick Perry (R) – 1st term, up for reelection in 2006 (Approval: 47%)
Lieutenant Governor: David Dewhurst (R) – 1st term, up for reelection in 2006

U.S. Senior Senator: Kay Bailey Hutchison (R) – 2nd term, up for reelection in 2006 (Approval: 57%)
U.S. Junior Senator: John Cornyn (R) – 1st term, up for reelection in 2008 (Approval: 41%) *Note: 21% are undecided

House District 1: Louis Gohmert Jr. (R) – 1st term
House District 2: Lloyd Poe (R) – 1st term
House District 3: Sam Johnson (R) – 8th term
House District 4: Ralph Hall (R) – 13th term
House District 5: Jeb Hensarling (R) – 2nd term
House District 6: Joe Barton (R) – 11th term
House District 7: John Culberson (R) – 3rd term
House District 8: Kevin Brady (R) – 5th term
House District 9: Al Green (D) – 1st term
House District 10: Michael McCaul (R) – 1st term
House District 11: K. Michael Conaway (R) – 1st term
House District 12: Kay Granger (R) – 5th term
House District 13: William Thornberry (R) – 6th term
House District 14: Ronald Paul (R) – 8th term
House District 15: Ruben Hinojosa (D) – 5th term
House District 16: Silvestre Reyes (D) – 5th term
House District 17: Chet Edwards (D) – 8th term
House District 18: Sheila Jackson Lee (D) – 6th term
House District 19: Randy Neugebaeur (R) – 2nd term
House District 20: Charlie Gonzalez (D) – 4th term
House District 21: Lamar Smith (R) – 10th term
House District 22: Tom DeLay (R) – 11th term (resigning)
House District 23: Henry Bonilla (R) – 7th term
House District 24: Kenny Marchant (R) – 1st term
House District 25: Lloyd Doggett (D) – 6th term
House District 26: Michael Burgess (R) – 2nd term
House District 27: Solomon Ortiz (D) – 12th term
House District 28: Henry Cuellar (D) – 1st term
House District 29: Gene Green (D) – 7th term
House District 30: Eddie Bernice Johnson (D) – 7th term
House District 31: John Carter (R) – 2nd term
House District 32: Pete Sessions (R) – 5th term

Current political makeup
U.S. Senate: 2 GOP
U.S. House: 21 GOP, 11 DEM

Governor: GOP
Lieutenant Governor: GOP
State Senate: GOP control (19 GOP, 12 DEM)
State House: GOP control (83 GOP, 63 DEM, 1 vacant)

Party Color Codes
Blue - Democrat
Red - Republican
Purple - Independent
Yellow - Libertarian
Green - Green
Teal - Socialist
Orange - Constitution

Illinois - Land of Lincoln (who would likely be happier with the state's new U.S. Senator than his own party)

ILLINOIS - THE PRAIRIE STATE

Illinois is the 8th most Democratic state, voting 12.1% more Dem than the national average.

Based on voting records since 1992, Illinois is trending Democrat.

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Governor: Rod Blagojevich is running for reelection. While Illinois is solidly blue, Blagojevich may not be safe, as his approval ratings are down and he has been accused of corruption. Challenging him is State Treasurer Judy Barr Topinka. Blago currently leads Topinka, but will be watched closely, as Topinka is part of that increasingly endangered species Republicanus Noncrazius.

Other Candidates
Randy Stufflebeam
Rich Whitney
Scott Summers

Governor (incumbent running)

Polling Company	Date	Blagojevich	Topinka	Margin
Chicago Tribune	9/7-10	45%	33%	12%
Rasmussen	9/7	48%	36%	12%

Factor	Numbers	Raw Value	Weight	Factor
Poll Average	12 + 12	12	75%	9
Approval	44-52	-8	15%	1.2
Partisan leaning	42-24 DEM	-18	10%	1.8

Blagojevich will win by 9.6%

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Senate: Senior Senator Dick Durbin is up for reelection in 2008 and junior Senator Barack Obama is up for reelection in 2010.

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House: District 6: Henry Hyde is retiring. Iraq war veteran Tammy Duckworth has won the Dem nomination; on the GOP side is State Sen. Peter Roskam. This district in the western Chicago burbs has been trending less Republican in recent years. Also in the running is Brian Costin.

House (open seat)

Pundit	Prediction	Numerical Value
Charlie Cook	Toss-Up	0
Larry Sabato	Toss-Up	0
Cong Quarterly	Toss-Up	0
Election Predictions	Very Weak GOP	2.5
Blue In Texas	Very Weak GOP	2.5

Polling Company	Date	Duckworth	Roskam	Margin
Constituent Dynamics	8/27-29	47%	46%	1%

Factor	Numbers	Raw Value	Weight	Factor
Pundit Average (one poll)	0+0+0+2.5+2.5	1	70%	0.7
Poll Average	-1	-1	20%	0.2
Partisan leaning	PVI: +3 GOP	3	7%	0.21
Money advantage	1.49:1 Roskam	1.49	2%	0.03
Statewide incumbent approval	Blagojevich 44-52	-8	1%	0.08
Other issues	None

Roskam will win by 0.82%

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District 8: This is the race to watch in Illinois, with a highly Republican district represented by a Democrat, Melissa Bean, who won only because of her unpopular, geriatric predecessor Phil Crane. Her vote for CAFTA may also hurt, as the unions are rallying behind Bill Scheurer. However, there are some things that may help her: the incumbent factor, Bush's abysmal poll numbers in Illinois, and her incredible fundraising. David McSweeny was neck-and-neck with Bean in funds, but spent a lot of it in the crowded primary. Bean also has support from most of the country club Republicans in the district as well as an endorsement from the Chamber of Commerce.

House (incumbent running)

Pundit	Prediction	Numerical Value
Charlie Cook	Lean DEM	5
Larry Sabato	Toss-Up	0
Cong Quarterly	Lean DEM	5
Election Predictions	Very Weak DEM	2.5
Blue In Texas	Very Weak DEM	2.5

Polling Company	Date	Bean	McSweeny	Margin
Constituent Dynamics	8/27-29	48%	45%	3%

Factor	Numbers	Raw Value	Weight	Factor
Pundit Average (one poll)	5+0+5+2.5+2.5	3	70%	2.1
Poll Average	3	3	20%	0.6
Partisan leaning	PVI: +5 GOP; Bean 52-48 in 2004	-0.5	7%	0.04
Money advantage	4.59:1 Bean	4.59	2%	0.09
Statewide incumbent approval	Blagojevich 44-52	-8	1%	0.08
Other issues	County club GOP support (+1); loss of union support (-2)	-0.5		0.5

Bean will win by 2.11%

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Other House races:

District 1: Bobby Rush (inc) vs. Jason Tabour
District 2: Jesse Jackson, Jr. (inc) vs. Robert Belin vs. Anthony William
District 3: Daniel Lipinski (inc) vs. Ray Wardingley
District 4: Luis Gutierrez (inc) vs. Ann Melichar
District 5: Rahm Emanuel (inc) vs. Kevin White
District 7: Danny Davis (inc) vs. Charles Hutchinson
District 9: Jan Schakowsky (inc) vs. Michael ShannonDistrict 10: Mark Kirk (inc) vs. Daniel Seals
District 11: Jerry Weller (inc) vs. John Pavich vs. Jamie Mock
District 12: Jerry Costello (inc) - unopposed
District 13: Judy Biggert (inc) vs. Joseph Shannon
District 14: Dennis Hastert (inc) vs. John Laesch
District 15: Tim Johnson (inc) vs. David Gill
District 16: Donald Manzullo (inc) vs. Richard Auman
District 17: Phil Hare vs. Andrea Zinga
District 18: Ray Lahood (inc) vs. Steve Waterworth vs. Richard Rawlings
District 19: John Shimkus (inc) vs. Danny Stover

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Current Office Holders
Governor: Rod Blagojevich - 1st term, up for reelection in 2006 (Approval: 44%)
Lieutenant Governor: Pat Quinn - 1st term, tied to governor

U.S. Senior Senator: Richard Durbin - 2nd term, up for reelection in 2008 (Approval: 49%)
U.S. Junior Senator: Barack Obama - 1st term, up for reelection in 2010 (Approval: 73%)

House District 1: Bobby Rush - 7th term
House District 2: Jesse Jackson, Jr. - 6th term
House District 3: Daniel Lipinski - 1st term
House District 4: Luis Gutierrez - 7th term
House District 5: Rahm Emanuel - 2nd term
House District 6: Henry Hyde - 16th term (retiring)
House District 7: Danny Davis - 5th term
House District 8: Melissa Bean - 1st term
House District 9: Jan Schakowsky - 4th term
House District 10: Mark Steven Kirk - 3rd term
House District 11: Jerry Weller - 6th term
House District 12: Jerry Costello - 10th term
House District 13: Judy Biggert - 4th term
House District 14: Dennis Hastert - 10th term
House District 15: Tim Johnson - 3rd term
House District 16: Donald Manzullo - 7th term
House District 17: Lane Evans - 12th term (retiring)
House District 18: Ray Lahood - 6th term
House District 19: John Shimkus - 5th term

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Current political makeup
U.S. Senate: 2 DEM
U.S. House: 10 DEM, 9 GOP

Governor: DEM
Lieutenant Governor: DEM
State Senate: DEM control (31 DEM, 27 GOP, 1 IND)
State House: DEM control (65 DEM, 53 GOP)

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Party Color Codes
Blue - Democrat
Red - Republican
Purple - Independent
Yellow - Libertarian
Green - Green
Orange - Constitution
Magenta - Marijuana

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Please don't pronounce the "s"!