So over at Grammar.Police, Kriston has found himself a troll -- Wunderkacker Dellis appears to have been leaving comments advocating voting for Nader. Shades of the John Lott affair, although obviously on a smaller scale. Still entertaining, though!

Anyway, Dellis' biggest mistake was to post messages claiming to be a Cleveland resident when his IP address came from a tiny Virginian ISP -- one that happens to have a contract with UVA, where Dellis goes to law school.

I find all of this hilarious. But it brings up the question: if someone really wanted to sway the election by mildly criticizing Kerry from a left-wing perspective in a blog comment section, what should they do? Besides finding a better use for their time, I mean.

Well, there are a couple of options. The simplest: use a web anonymizer. Here's one of the better ones, to get your career of political subterfuge started on the right foot. You basically view a web page within a web page. It's slow, usually has a lot of ads, and it'll be obvious you're trying to hide your identity if anyone tries to track you down. But it's a start.

Somewhat more sophisticated: SwitchProxy, a plugin for Firefox. If you can find some good anonymous proxies -- and they're out there, although the free ones are slow and spotty -- this tool lets you switch between them quickly, and surf from within your browser as normal. Those proxies might keep track of your IP, but it's probably enough to keep it out of the hands of folks like me, if not exactly a subpoena-proof solution. Try to use SOCKS proxies for maximum usability and anonymity.

Finally, there are the ultimate solutions, the cadillacs of right wing conspiracy vehicles. First, email Mr. Scaife and ask for a few bucks. Then use a site like this one to find an ISP in your chosen swing-state -- alternately, just sign up with AOL, or a cheap, pay-as-you-go nationwide ISP like MyFreeI (great service -- I use it). Presto! Authentic-looking IP addresses. Unfortunately, you'll be paying long distance telephone charges. Well, it might take a little more work, but you can look through the lists linked here -- a lot of small ISPs offer 800 numbers for access from the road. Find one of those located in your chosen pretend location and you're golden.

So folks, please keep this in mind the next time you get the urge to subvert the public discourse. It's a natural urge for a healthy young demagogue to have, and one that he should only feel kind of ashamed of.

i'm going to the libertines tonight at the 9:30 club avec kyle and a few other bloggers. we're meeting at dc9 for drinks, then kyle and i are going to try to catch some of the sox game before the libertines are on at 10. anyone else in?

speaking of d.c. bloggers, yall should be reading the dceiver. he's mucho funny. and a former wahoo to boot, apparently. reads like the declaration before it started sucking.

i was sad to learn that i missed the washington social club this weekend at dc9, since i've heard good things about them. BUT, they will be playing the black cat on friday, november 5th. and i would like to go. and you should go with me. you know why? because that will be the first friday post marathon, and i will be so drunk you won't even know what to do with yourself. it'll be awesome. i might like, bite your face off or something because i'll be so drunk, but it'll be great. i swear.

oh also, more bands: pinback and mates of state are playing the black cat next monday and i would also like very much to see them. tommy will be gone that week in the golden state of california, so i need some buddies to keep me occupied. sigh. take pity.

i'm back from boston! back from a lovely, perfect new england weekend! back from spending time with dear friends, some of whom i haven't seen in a year and a half! back from eating clam chowder and italian food in the north end! back from wandering around taking pictures of beautiful foliage! back to...rainy d.c. and work. oh well. anyway, excuse my absence. and excuse any future absences as i decide to move permanently to boston because i just loved it so goddamn much. of course, the pefect fall weather and excellent company had something to do with it, so i'm probably looking at the city through rose-colored glasses, but it was still wonderful. a few pics behind the cut, along with some more commentary...