From http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/

In Oregon, Turnout is Down, But Especially in Red Counties
Uniquely among the 50 states, Oregon conducts the entirety of its voting by mail, which among other things can provide early clues as to what the electoral battlefield might look like elsewhere in the country.

Surprisingly, perhaps, turnout is down this year in Oregon. According to statistics compiled by the state’s Elections Division, the state has received 522,188 ballots through the first seven days of its early voting window. This compares with 645,473 ballots received during the first seven days of 2004 — a 19 percent decline.

There are many possible reasons why turnout has been sluggish in Oregon. The state, a hotly-contested battleground in 2004, has been largely ignored by the presidential candidates this year. But also, Oregon has been subject to a relatively nasty and senate race, and there is some feeling among voting officials that Oregonians are turning in their ballots later and later each year as they familiarize themselves with the early voting process (in which case, turnout should eventually catch up to its norms).

More importantly, however, the counties most culpable for the depressed turnout appear to be those that voted substantially for George W. Bush in 2004. For example, in Multnomah County, which is largely coincident with the reliably liberal Portland, turnout is down 16 percent as compared with the comparable period in 2004. Downstate in more rural Douglas County, meanwhile, where Bush received two-thirds of the vote in 2004, turnout is 27 percent off-pace.

We can look on this a bit more systematically, focusing at the 16 Oregon counties where population exceeds 50,000. In all 16 counties, turnout is behind its 2004 pace. As you can see, however, the counties experiencing the steepest declines are mostly red counties, whereas the drop-off has been milder in the blue portions of the state:

We can also look at a scatterplot of these results:

Although the data contain a handful of outliers, that is a reasonably strong trend. Note also that I have extended the regression line to predict the behavior of hypothetical counties consisting entirely of Bush voters, or entirely of Kerry voters. In regression line predicts that, in a county consisting of 100 percent Bush voters, turnout would be off by about 40 percent. Conversely, in a county consisting entirely of Kerry voters, it would be essentially unchanged.

(I checked to see whether these results may have been dictated by patterns of population growth — perhaps people have been moving out of the Republican counties and into the Democratic ones. Growth, however, has been fairly uniform across Oregon over the past four years, and so this did not materially affect the results.)

One underdiscussed scenario in this election is the one wherein Republican base
turnout is relatively low. Although this has generally been an engaging election with engaging candidates, the base remains considerably less enthusiastic about John McCain than it was about George W. Bush, and McCain is also lacking Bush’s ground game. While the natural assumption is that Democrats would prefer a large turnout, what they are really aiming for is something in the medium-to-high range: one where their base turns out but the Republican one doesn’t.

Almost finis!

Yes I have a dinosaur of a computer- 2 USB ports and then the old school keyboard and mouse ps/2 ports. The speaker I had connected via the USB port along with my mouse left me having to use an old school keyboard that was only detected part of the time. Tonight the keyboard port went out completely forcing me to decide between sound and the ability to type. It was tough!

Thankfully I recalled a very old monitor sitting in my closet that had built in speakers- I thought about my home theater set up and realized that I had the cables and tools necessary to do the needful. I disassembled the monitor and pieced together a new surround sound for my computer freeing up ALL ports so I was able to hook up one of my USB keyboards without compromising sound! Yay me! Thankfully I had that monitor because I was starting to scroll through the things around the apartment with speakers and the only other thing was my television in my bedroom. I am a frugal geek.

Now that I have my system set up and a reliable keyboard hooked up, I can probably get to my e-mail that has been collecting in my inbox for almost a month. Not tonight though. Nope- tonight I’m going to put down my keyboard and click on a Netflix Watch Now horror film (I have to- it’s Halloween week) and enjoy my new sound system.

Tomorrow I will place my ballot in the mail and then bate my breath for the next week.

I FINALLY got to cast my vote and I’m a very happy woman! I feel good. I’m going to watch people get slaughtered now on Netflix.

Ciao!

My ballot arrived! I am a citizen! I shall be off doing the voting thing and savoring it a little as I told Ash and Jesse- should McCain get elected into office… I will state that Scientology is the chosen religion not a drunken bet gone wrong and Tom Cruise is NOT weird, he’s in fact normal and I will apologize for ever thinking otherwise.

I’m working and thinking and thinking about work stuff and thinking about non work stuff- like “Maybe the mailman is delivering later in the evening and I’ll have mail if I check it en route to work.” I was right! I checked the mail five times yesterday and once this morning for… a Safeway coupon!!! YAY! 2 bucks off their signature meal.

There was definite good though. Aside from another sleepless night, I had a wonderful hair morning! It was beautiful and shiny and happy and looked GREAT! As soon as I got to work it was frizzy and fallen, so I ran in the restroom with the emergency bobbypins and did the defeated ‘upsweep’.

Alright- enough about that. On to the topic that hasn’t been over done… Palin. Wonderful person I’m sure, the kind you might want to grab a drink with or beat the crap out of in a bar… but run the country? I do have to stand up for her. The people who got on her case for the $150,000 wardrobe spending (that apparently is on loan her and her family are not keeping any of it). You have to take in consideration that she’s from Alaska and I know what that’s like. Her idea of the Lower 48 is from satellite tv. She probably thinks $150,000 is a normal spending amount for anything non-flannel.

She has to buy her clothing at a place NBC in Manhattan can easily purchase for Tina Fey. I’ve been to Manhattan and I don’t recall seeing any Walmarts. Washington is quite sure how to dress a female politician, Hilary always got her clothes at the Mens Warehouse (kidding Hilary).

I am really getting sick of hearing about her! I don’t recall the last time a VP candidate received so much attention BEFORE the election. The countries reaction mimicks that of a comic book or RPG store when a female walks in. You’re met with confusion, assumptions and once in awhile harrassment from those who didn’t pass out or mess themselves. OMG people- the VP has a uterus!! Let’s either hoist her on our shoulders and let her be the ruler of all because of that- or create a lynch mob and burn her at stake.

McCain-Palin Rift Grows

The divisions in the McCain-Palin campaign continue to widen with one senior McCain aide telling Mike Allen that Gov. Sarah Palin is “a whack job.”

Meanwhile, George Stephanopoulos said this about the “demoralized” McCain campaign on ABC News this morning: “Palin is going to be the most vivid chapter of the McCain campaign’s post-mortem… Those loyal to McCain believe they have been unfairly blamed for over-handling Palin. They say they did the best they could with what they got.” heh

I’m finished for now with that topic.

I watched a movie last night, “Otis”. Wow. All I can say is “Wow”. It was good at first along with disturbing, then it was REALLY disturbing and then OMG this really f’ed up! Daniel Stern and Ashley Johnson, Illeana Douglas, and that guy who played the player in Dear John and had his own show for a short period of time starred in it.

IMDB: Otis (2008) (V)
Suburban America gone haywire. In the midst of a serial abductor/killer’s rampage, a beautiful young teen, Riley Lawson, goes missing. When her desperate parents, Will and Kate, are contacted by her kidnapper, an insufferable FBI Special Agent takes charge of the case.But, from deep within the psychopathic subterranean world created by Otis, Riley turns the tables on her tormentor, manages to escape and to contact her parents. And, fed up with the tragi-comic inability of the FBI to find their girl, Will, Kate, and Riley’s brother, Reed decide to take matters – and justice – into their own hands. Written by Anonymous

My break is over… back to work and more coffee.

 First of all I have to put out there: My heart goes to Jennifer Hudson and her sister who’s son/Jennifer’s 7 year old nephew was found dead this morning. To lose your mother, brother and nephew/son at once- I pray for them to find the strength to make it through this, rise above and let their loved ones live on through them. I hope justice is done ten fold.

November 5th I plan on being back to normal. I’m half tempted to vow that if McCain wins the election then I shall move to Canada! I’ve learned not to tempt fate. There was still nothing in the mail today and if I don’t receive anything tomorrow then I’ll call the elections office and see if there’s ANY WAY I can just get a freaking ballot. I love how much faith they have in our postal service- but it’s the freaking postal system.

I did remember self neglect from the mail obsession. Today when I was getting Jonathon out of the car to go into the store for trick-or-treater supplies, I felt a snap (I ran out of muscle relaxers over a week ago and I didn’t get anything over the counter to assist in muscle swelling- or tightness, and BOOM, I lost all feeling in my right leg. I can feel pressure… much like the last time I ran out of relaxers but it was primarily in my hands and feet, now it’s my entire leg. It feels odd shaving! My neck is back to being painfully straight and I’m still fighting the insomnia. I forgot to buy anything for pain again, HOWEVER, I did get more stuff to try to help knock me out. Last night I popped Benedryl until I was sound asleep (heading to bed at 9pm, fast asleep by 1ish only to wake up every hour until it became every 20 minutes, then ten minutes then five minutes until the clock finally allowed me to get up at 5:45 (my clock is ten minutes fast, so it was actually 5:35am). An hour to get myself and the boy ready/out the door.

1 more week until the cranky is gone! Maybe. As Jesse said, perhaps it’d be wise to take the 5th off regardless of the outcome. Either it’s crying and planning on moving to Canada or it’s dancing in the streets. Election day SHOULD be a national holiday or the day after. If I were President it would be.

Ohh I did the A-typical girl thing, I brought myself a new outfit to help my neck feel better It’s my old mentality when I was younger and a fashion plate- “Just because you feel like crap does not mean you have to look like crap! If you look good you’ll feel good.” Then again at the same time I’d also say in reference to my shoes, “if it doesn’t hurt, it’s not fashion.” And THAT is one of the many reasons I was doing survival 101 from WA – AK – OR instead of going to Yale and ruling the world. One of many MANY reasons.

I have my dinosaur PC hooked up and it took an hour for me to get it to detect the keyboard- I mean I had it hooked up the other day, but I really didn’t have a place for it. This time I moved a few more things around and I think I have a computer station I can possibly get creative at. We’ll see eh.

OH- and people who are waiting for the 30 Rock premiere, they’ve had it up at Hulu for the past week if anyone cares. I liked it

**update** You know, I’m sitting here watching Netflix Watch Now “Otis” on the computer and I was going to put the tv on mute when I saw a negative local ad. It’s really sad when the negative ad shows a candidate who was working for and agreeing with the President of the United States. Really truly sad when being loyal to your countries leader puts you in the ‘bad’category. It was odd to me. I’ve never witnessed a negative ad or mud slinging with the presidential candidates where both of them- the mud being slung was agreeing with President Bush on any given topic. I question what W is going to do when it’s all over. It’s not that I feel for the guy but is he even aware that he’s being marked down as one of the worst things to happen to America other than “Reality TV”?  Does he care? Is he going to be on suicide watch after January? Does anyone care? Do I care?

The following is one reason it irks me that I can’t just go get a ballot so I can vote- (I’m still waiting for my official one to arrive).

(CNN) – Barack Obama delivered a speech in Canton, Ohio earlier Monday that his campaign described as the Illinois senator’s “closing argument.”

“In one week, at this defining moment in history, you can give this country the change we need,” Obama said. “We began this journey in the depths of winter nearly two years ago, on the steps of the Old State Capitol in Springfield, Illinois. Back then, we didn’t have much money or many endorsements. We weren’t given much of a chance by the polls or the pundits, and we knew how steep our climb would be.”

One week.

After decades of broken politics in Washington, eight years of failed policies from George Bush, and twenty-one months of a campaign that has taken us from the rocky coast of Maine to the sunshine of California, we are one week away from change in America.

In one week, you can turn the page on policies that have put the greed and irresponsibility of Wall Street before the hard work and sacrifice of folks on Main Street.

In one week, you can choose policies that invest in our middle-class, create new jobs, and grow this economy from the bottom-up so that everyone has a chance to succeed; from the CEO to the secretary and the janitor; from the factory owner to the men and women who work on its floor.

In one week, you can put an end to the politics that would divide a nation just to win an election; that tries to pit region against region, city against town, Republican against Democrat; that asks us to fear at a time when we need hope.

In one week, at this defining moment in history, you can give this country the change we need.

We began this journey in the depths of winter nearly two years ago, on the steps of the Old State Capitol in Springfield, Illinois. Back then, we didn’t have much money or many endorsements. We weren’t given much of a chance by the polls or the pundits, and we knew how steep our climb would be.

But I also knew this. I knew that the size of our challenges had outgrown the smallness of our politics. I believed that Democrats and Republicans and Americans of every political stripe were hungry for new ideas, new leadership, and a new kind of politics – one that favors common sense over ideology; one that focuses on those values and ideals we hold in common as Americans.

Most of all, I believed in your ability to make change happen. I knew that the American people were a decent, generous people who are willing to work hard and sacrifice for future generations. And I was convinced that when we come together, our voices are more powerful than the most entrenched lobbyists, or the most vicious political attacks, or the full force of a status quo in Washington that wants to keep things just the way they are.

Twenty-one months later, my faith in the American people has been vindicated. That’s how we’ve come so far and so close – because of you. That’s how we’ll change this country – with your help. And that’s why we can’t afford to slow down, sit back, or let up for one day, one minute, or one second in this last week. Not now. Not when so much is at stake.

We are in the middle of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. 760,000 workers have lost their jobs this year. Businesses and families can’t get credit. Home values are falling. Pensions are disappearing. Wages are lower than they’ve been in a decade, at a time when the cost of health care and college have never been higher. It’s getting harder and harder to make the mortgage, or fill up your gas tank, or even keep the electricity on at the end of the month.

At a moment like this, the last thing we can afford is four more years of the tired, old theory that says we should give more to billionaires and big corporations and hope that prosperity trickles down to everyone else. The last thing we can afford is four more years where no one in Washington is watching anyone on Wall Street because politicians and lobbyists killed common-sense regulations. Those are the theories that got us into this mess. They haven’t worked, and it’s time for change. That’s why I’m running for President of the United States.

Now, Senator McCain has served this country honorably. And he can point to a few moments over the past eight years where he has broken from George Bush – on torture, for example. He deserves credit for that. But when it comes to the economy – when it comes to the central issue of this election – the plain truth is that John McCain has stood with this President every step of the way. Voting for the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy that he once opposed. Voting for the Bush budgets that spent us into debt. Calling for less regulation twenty-one times just this year. Those are the facts.

And now, after twenty-one months and three debates, Senator McCain still has not been able to tell the American people a single major thing he’d do differently from George Bush when it comes to the economy. Senator McCain says that we can’t spend the next four years waiting for our luck to change, but you understand that the biggest gamble we can take is embracing the same old Bush-McCain policies that have failed us for the last eight years.

It’s not change when John McCain wants to give a $700,000 tax cut to the average Fortune 500 CEO. It’s not change when he wants to give $200 billion to the biggest corporations or $4 billion to the oil companies or $300 billion to the same Wall Street banks that got us into this mess. It’s not change when he comes up with a tax plan that doesn’t give a penny of relief to more than 100 million middle-class Americans. That’s not change.

Look – we’ve tried it John McCain’s way. We’ve tried it George Bush’s way. Deep down, Senator McCain knows that, which is why his campaign said that “if we keep talking about the economy, we’re going to lose.” That’s why he’s spending these last weeks calling me every name in the book. Because that’s how you play the game in Washington. If you can’t beat your opponent’s ideas, you distort those ideas and maybe make some up. If you don’t have a record to run on, then you paint your opponent as someone people should run away from. You make a big election about small things.

Ohio, we are here to say “Not this time. Not this year. Not when so much is at stake.” Senator McCain might be worried about losing an election, but I’m worried about Americans who are losing their homes, and their jobs, and their life savings. I can take one more week of John McCain’s attacks, but this country can’t take four more years of the same old politics and the same failed policies. It’s time for something new.

The question in this election is not “Are you better off than you were four years ago?” We know the answer to that. The real question is, “Will this country be better off four years from now?”

I know these are difficult times for America. But I also know that we have faced difficult times before. The American story has never been about things coming easy – it’s been about rising to the moment when the moment was hard. It’s about seeing the highest mountaintop from the deepest of valleys. It’s about rejecting fear and division for unity of purpose. That’s how we’ve overcome war and depression. That’s how we’ve won great struggles for civil rights and women’s rights and worker’s rights. And that’s how we’ll emerge from this crisis stronger and more prosperous than we were before – as one nation; as one people.

Remember, we still have the most talented, most productive workers of any country on Earth. We’re still home to innovation and technology, colleges and universities that are the envy of the world. Some of the biggest ideas in history have come from our small businesses and our research facilities. So there’s no reason we can’t make this century another American century. We just need a new direction. We need a new politics.

Now, I don’t believe that government can or should try to solve all our problems. I know you don’t either. But I do believe that government should do that which we cannot do for ourselves – protect us from harm and provide a decent education for our children; invest in new roads and new science and technology. It should reward drive and innovation and growth in the free market, but it should also make sure businesses live up to their responsibility to create American jobs, and look out for American workers, and play by the rules of the road. It should ensure a shot at success not only for those with money and power and influence, but for every single American who’s willing to work. That’s how we create not just more millionaires, but more middle-class families. That’s how we make sure businesses have customers that can afford their products and services. That’s how we’ve always grown the American economy – from the bottom-up. John McCain calls this socialism. I call it opportunity, and there is nothing more American than that.

Understand, if we want get through this crisis, we need to get beyond the old ideological debates and divides between left and right. We don’t need bigger government or smaller government. We need a better government – a more competent government – a government that upholds the values we hold in common as Americans.

We don’t have to choose between allowing our financial system to collapse and spending billions of taxpayer dollars to bail out Wall Street banks. As President, I will ensure that the financial rescue plan helps stop foreclosures and protects your money instead of enriching CEOs. And I will put in place the common-sense regulations I’ve been calling for throughout this campaign so that Wall Street can never cause a crisis like this again. That’s the change we need.

The choice in this election isn’t between tax cuts and no tax cuts. It’s about whether you believe we should only reward wealth, or whether we should also reward the work and workers who create it. I will give a tax break to 95% of Americans who work every day and get taxes taken out of their paychecks every week. I’ll eliminate income taxes for seniors making under $50,000 and give homeowners and working parents more of a break. And I’ll help pay for this by asking the folks who are making more than $250,000 a year to go back to the tax rate they were paying in the 1990s. No matter what Senator McCain may claim, here are the facts – if you make under $250,000, you will not see your taxes increase by a single dime – not your income taxes, not your payroll taxes, not your capital gains taxes. Nothing. Because the last thing we should do in this economy is raise taxes on the middle-class.

When it comes to jobs, the choice in this election is not between putting up a wall around America or allowing every job to disappear overseas. The truth is, we won’t be able to bring back every job that we’ve lost, but that doesn’t mean we should follow John McCain’s plan to keep giving tax breaks to corporations that send American jobs overseas. I will end those breaks as President, and I will give American businesses a $3,000 tax credit for every job they create right here in the United States of America. I’ll eliminate capital gains taxes for small businesses and start-up companies that are the engine of job creation in this country. We’ll create two million new jobs by rebuilding our crumbling roads, and bridges, and schools, and by laying broadband lines to reach every corner of the country. And I will invest $15 billion a year in renewable sources of energy to create five million new energy jobs over the next decade – jobs that pay well and can’t be outsourced; jobs building solar panels and wind turbines and a new electricity grid; jobs building the fuel-efficient cars of tomorrow, not in Japan or South Korea but here in the United States of America; jobs that will help us eliminate the oil we import from the Middle East in ten years and help save the planet in the bargain. That’s how America can lead again.

When it comes to health care, we don’t have to choose between a government-run health care system and the unaffordable one we have now. If you already have health insurance, the only thing that will change under my plan is that we will lower premiums. If you don’t have health insurance, you’ll be able to get the same kind of health insurance that Members of Congress get for themselves. We’ll invest in preventative care and new technology to finally lower the cost of health care for families, businesses, and the entire economy. And as someone who watched his own mother spend the final months of her life arguing with insurance companies because they claimed her cancer was a pre-existing condition and didn’t want to pay for treatment, I will stop insurance companies from discriminating against those who are sick and need care most.

When it comes to giving every child a world-class education so they can compete in this global economy for the jobs of the 21st century, the choice is not between more money and more reform – because our schools need both. As President, I will invest in early childhood education, recruit an army of new teachers, pay them more, and give them more support. But I will also demand higher standards and more accountability from our teachers and our schools. And I will make a deal with every American who has the drive and the will but not the money to go to college: if you commit to serving your community or your country, we will make sure you can afford your tuition. You invest in America, America will invest in you, and together, we will move this country forward.

And when it comes to keeping this country safe, we don’t have to choose between retreating from the world and fighting a war without end in Iraq. It’s time to stop spending $10 billion a month in Iraq while the Iraqi government sits on a huge surplus. As President, I will end this war by asking the Iraqi government to step up, and finally finish the fight against bin Laden and the al Qaeda terrorists who attacked us on 9/11. I will never hesitate to defend this nation, but I will only send our troops into harm’s way with a clear mission and a sacred commitment to give them the equipment they need in battle and the care and benefits they deserve when they come home. I will build new partnerships to defeat the threats of the 21st century, and I will restore our moral standing, so that America is once again that last, best hope for all who are called to the cause of freedom, who long for lives of peace, and who yearn for a better future.

I won’t stand here and pretend that any of this will be easy – especially now. The cost of this economic crisis, and the cost of the war in Iraq, means that Washington will have to tighten its belt and put off spending on things we can afford to do without. On this, there is no other choice. As President, I will go through the federal budget, line-by-line, ending programs that we don’t need and making the ones we do need work better and cost less.

But as I’ve said from the day we began this journey all those months ago, the change we need isn’t just about new programs and policies. It’s about a new politics – a politics that calls on our better angels instead of encouraging our worst instincts; one that reminds us of the obligations we have to ourselves and one another.

Part of the reason this economic crisis occurred is because we have been living through an era of profound irresponsibility. On Wall Street, easy money and an ethic of “what’s good for me is good enough” blinded greedy executives to the danger in the decisions they were making. On Main Street, lenders tricked people into buying homes they couldn’t afford. Some folks knew they couldn’t afford those houses and bought them anyway. In Washington, politicians spent money they didn’t have and allowed lobbyists to set the agenda. They scored political points instead of solving our problems, and even after the greatest attack on American soil since Pearl Harbor, all we were asked to do by our President was to go out and shop.

That is why what we have lost in these last eight years cannot be measured by lost wages or bigger trade deficits alone. What has also been lost is the idea that in this American story, each of us has a role to play. Each of us has a responsibility to work hard and look after ourselves and our families, and each of us has a responsibility to our fellow citizens. That’s what’s been lost these last eight years – our sense of common purpose; of higher purpose. And that’s what we need to restore right now.

Yes, government must lead the way on energy independence, but each of us must do our part to make our homes and our businesses more efficient. Yes, we must provide more ladders to success for young men who fall into lives of crime and despair. But all of us must do our part as parents to turn off the television and read to our children and take responsibility for providing the love and guidance they need. Yes, we can argue and debate our positions passionately, but at this defining moment, all of us must summon the strength and grace to bridge our differences and unite in common effort – black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American; Democrat and Republican, young and old, rich and poor, gay and straight, disabled or not.

In this election, we cannot afford the same political games and tactics that are being used to pit us against one another and make us afraid of one another. The stakes are too high to divide us by class and region and background; by who we are or what we believe.

Because despite what our opponents may claim, there are no real or fake parts of this country. There is no city or town that is more pro-America than anywhere else – we are one nation, all of us proud, all of us patriots. There are patriots who supported this war in Iraq and patriots who opposed it; patriots who believe in Democratic policies and those who believe in Republican policies. The men and women who serve in our battlefields may be Democrats and Republicans and Independents, but they have fought together and bled together and some died together under the same proud flag. They have not served a Red America or a Blue America – they have served the United States of America.

It won’t be easy, Ohio. It won’t be quick. But you and I know that it is time to come together and change this country. Some of you may be cynical and fed up with politics. A lot of you may be disappointed and even angry with your leaders. You have every right to be. But despite all of this, I ask of you what has been asked of Americans throughout our history.

I ask you to believe – not just in my ability to bring about change, but in yours.

I know this change is possible. Because I have seen it over the last twenty-one months. Because in this campaign, I have had the privilege to witness what is best in America.

I’ve seen it in lines of voters that stretched around schools and churches; in the young people who cast their ballot for the first time, and those not so young folks who got involved again after a very long time. I’ve seen it in the workers who would rather cut back their hours than see their friends lose their jobs; in the neighbors who take a stranger in when the floodwaters rise; in the soldiers who re-enlist after losing a limb. I’ve seen it in the faces of the men and women I’ve met at countless rallies and town halls across the country, men and women who speak of their struggles but also of their hopes and dreams.

I still remember the email that a woman named Robyn sent me after I met her in Ft. Lauderdale. Sometime after our event, her son nearly went into cardiac arrest, and was diagnosed with a heart condition that could only be treated with a procedure that cost tens of thousands of dollars. Her insurance company refused to pay, and their family just didn’t have that kind of money.

In her email, Robyn wrote, “I ask only this of you – on the days where you feel so tired you can’t think of uttering another word to the people, think of us. When those who oppose you have you down, reach deep and fight back harder.”

Ohio, that’s what hope is – that thing inside us that insists, despite all evidence to the contrary, that something better is waiting around the bend; that insists there are better days ahead. If we’re willing to work for it. If we’re willing to shed our fears and our doubts. If we’re willing to reach deep down inside ourselves when we’re tired and come back fighting harder.

Hope! That’s what kept some of our parents and grandparents going when times were tough. What led them to say, “Maybe I can’t go to college, but if I save a little bit each week my child can; maybe I can’t have my own business but if I work really hard my child can open one of her own.” It’s what led immigrants from distant lands to come to these shores against great odds and carve a new life for their families in America; what led those who couldn’t vote to march and organize and stand for freedom; that led them to cry out, “It may look dark tonight, but if I hold on to hope, tomorrow will be brighter.”

That’s what this election is about. That is the choice we face right now.

Don’t believe for a second this election is over. Don’t think for a minute that power concedes. We have to work like our future depends on it in this last week, because it does.

In one week, we can choose an economy that rewards work and creates new jobs and fuels prosperity from the bottom-up.

In one week, we can choose to invest in health care for our families, and education for our kids, and renewable energy for our future.

In one week, we can choose hope over fear, unity over division, the promise of change over the power of the status quo.

In one week, we can come together as one nation, and one people, and once more choose our better history.

That’s what’s at stake. That’s what we’re fighting for. And if in this last week, you will knock on some doors for me, and make some calls for me, and talk to your neighbors, and convince your friends; if you will stand with me, and fight with me, and give me your vote, then I promise you this – we will not just win Ohio, we will not just win this election, but together, we will change this country and we will change the world. Thank you, God bless you, and may God bless America.

For the most part, I think if you’re reading this blog then your life is pretty damn good. Normally a non-compassionate person (I do try though…) when it comes to situations like Jennifer Hudson’s I can’t fathom the horror, sorrow and fear she’s experiencing right now- and even more so for her sister.

Julian King, 7, has been missing since the Friday slayings of his grandmother and uncle in the home they shared.
 
CHICAGO (AP) — U.S. authorities investigating the shooting deaths of Jennifer Hudson’s mother and brother were searching for the missing 7-year-old nephew of the Oscar-winning actress.

A suspect in the deaths was in custody Friday night, but young Julian King had not been seen since the bodies of Darnell Donerson, 57, and Jason Hudson, 29, were found Friday afternoon.

A family member entering Donerson’s South Side home Friday afternoon found the woman shot on the living room floor. Responding officers later found Hanson shot in the bedroom, police said.

At least one of the victims suffered defensive wounds, said authorities who described the shooting as domestic violence

I heard about it when I was channel surfing and ran across E! Oddly the only tragedy I heard on the “real” news was “Oh and did I mention that on my way to work I saw all the jack-o-lanterns on my block were smashed?” to which the co-anchor replied, “What is wrong with people these days?” to that I repeated the co-anchors question as I flipped the channel in disgust. People dying in our country by another persons hand- children starving and being beaten in secret by those who are supposed to be caring for them and on the news they comment about what has been going on since people had begun to carve jack-o-lanterns.

What shiny moment of time are people referring to when making those statements? Was there any golden years where men didn’t beat their wives, wives didn’t beat their kids, neighbors didn’t rob neighbors blind after screwing their spouse and bordering states/countries/countries from afar/neighboring tribes etc weren’t trying to push their agendas or fight for territory? Was there one perfect day 60 years ago that everyone draws from and yet no one can really give the exact date? “Can you believe kids today?” “Look what people these days are resorting to!” “I swear people do not have respect any more!” Anyone who has ever taken a history class, watched a historical film, heard the word ‘history’ including any given religion cannot give me a century or decade that didn’t have blood flowing from somewhere due to the hands of man regardless of government or church involvement.

The crimes towards the innocent sicken and disgust me and my heart goes to the survivors who have to piece their lives back together again, move on and try to maintain some semblance of normalcy so they can live out the remainder of their lives not living in an insane asylum. It’s not “new” really or more than any other period of time, the only difference really is that we have ways to capture and spread the news of such events like never before.

So before you get on a local news station and crinkle your nose in disgust at todays youth for smashing some rotting pumpkins in an over populated area by people from all walks of life- consider yourself extremely fortunate to have something *that* minor set you off.

I think I’ve done some growing this past week. There comes a time when you have to admit that things you once thought looked good on you might have during a certain place and time, but now you must throw the items away and move on.

Clothing analogy, gotta love it. Since it *is* October I suppose I can use a more appropriate comparison. “The ghosts that would haunt you on the quiet, isolated nights- once you shone a light upon them, you found they were nothing but crumpled pieces of tissue that served its purpose but now should be tossed in the waste basket with the clothes that you talked about in the previous paragraph.

Moving on- I watched Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. I watched after I was practically surrounded by people yesterday who heard me mention the film was in my mail. “Oh no- horrible, it’s horrible- there are aliens, it was a disappointment etc.”

I heard this by many people since the release and I’ll probably hear it by a few dozen more. Does anyone mind if I raise my hand and interrupt?

Have these people SEEN the previous 3 Indiana Jones flicks? ALL of them were flawed, corny, tacky but at the same time loveable. NONE of them really dealt with reality on this dimension or any other.

I sat and watched the movie with the biggest critic (when it comes to films I want to see- Jonathon) and saw that the big film critic was actually enjoying it- so much so that he allowed me to put off getting through the next level of Bruce Lee until after the movie was over with.

I enjoyed seeing the relationship between the kid and Indiana- there was the same looks/situations that he did with his father in the 3rd film that I appreciated. I liked that they tried to satiate the audience by bringing back the woman from the 1st film and her giddy behaviors. I liked the movie plain and simple. It was unrealistic, it was impossible (just like the first one) and I think they did a great job going with the same formula that the made the others both enjoyable AND a snooze fest. Come on people- you can’t possible think it was worse than the second one? The second was HORRIBLE! I think this one is a good extension of the 3rd, it was odd seeing them aged and having Shia play a character who was biologically about a decade younger than he should have been. That was the only flaw I saw with this flick (and I realized that everyone who boo’ed and hissed were too young to have seen the first in theater- if they were even born yet.

They’re probably the same folks who ragged on the original Star Wars trilogy.

Maybe this latest installment did suck- but watching it with Jonathon and feeling the same excitement I did by knowing what all the little looks meant how they thread the three together- It was pleasant and I didn’t hate it. There you have it folks- I did NOT hate the fourth installment of Indiana Jones. If you disagree with me, you can go suck it. Yeah you heard me.

After viewing the film I played another level of Bruce Lee and then put Jonathon to bed while I hopped online here and began my horror fest.

First up was Fingerprint. If you’re new to the horror genre and you’re under the age of 21- you might enjoy this gory little ghost story. If you’re like me and you’ve been watching horror films LONG before your parents would have ever given you permission- move along, you won’t like it. I’m in a campy cheesy kind of mood so I’m going to continue to view the dory horror films in celebration of Halloween, then I’ll watch a little SNL (just a little, it gets unwatchable after 20 minutes REGARDLESS of the era/decade) and then back to more gore fests.

I also have to mention that this weekend was without a doubt the most beautiful fall day I’ve experienced in a long time. If you live in the area and haven’t gotten your pumpkin- now’s the time to get out there and enjoy the warmth, autumn colors and awesome pumpkins- I’m not getting one this year. 20+ years of pumpkin carving- and I’m taking a break. That and my silly cats still haven’t shown me they can do well with holiday props. They’ve managed to already kill one of my fake spiders… but they’re being extra cute (mainly Stan Lee) so I propped the corpse up and looked the other way.

Oh- while I’m blogging, I’m taking my figurative hat off to my diverse son. We went out to Mexican with a few Indian friends (Hindu- from India) and Jonathon apparently from listening to a kid at school- knows Spanish- so Jonathon was trying to tell me what he wanted (with food and comfort) in Spanish.. the language I do not speak. I had to ask Chel to translate some things I didn’t get. And then he started to bring up some Indian things to my friends that I didn’t know he knew such as Bollywood and various customs. I love that boy. the National Guard sent him something in the mail today to get him to enlist- I told him about it and he got all excited… then I mentioned “You know they won’t let your mommy join you at boot camp” Jonathon looked MAD and demanded that I rip it up. Awww. He chooses mommy over country. Smart SMART boy.

-back to the horror fest, next up is: Rest Stop and then Botched. I was going to reverse the viewing but the last film I saw had Andrew Lawrence in a bit part and Rest Stop has Joey Lawrence. I have to keep the siblings together. Cross that out- I’ll be viewing Otis first and then rest stop and then botched.