November 28, 2008…

Among the dozens of people braving the cool, damp 32 degree weather in Niagara Falls of Ontario, our two protagonists were venturing along their way from Clifton Hill to the waterfalls. Just clearing the American Falls view, out from depths of the gorge came forth a beautiful fireworks display.

In the light from the fireworks directly in front of them, our valiant male turned around the lady, and with all of his verbal skill from 31 years of being on the planet, mustered to ask (with ring in hand) “Would you like to marry me?”

Completely surprised, our fair maiden (who couldn’t see the ring because of the darkness) responded, “Are you being serious?” Clearly, the magic was in the air as the fireworks continued to ring out above them.

A quick reply of “Very serious” and then a “YES!!!” our protagonists became officially engaged.

Cast:
Valiant Male/fiancé: Richard Hessler
Fair Maiden/fiancée: Tricia Lawrence
Extras: Dozens of strangers

Albany, NY – A concert crowd went nuts at last night’s Kiss’s concert, when the lead singer mentioned the city of Albany in a song they were performing. “It was such a special moment,” noted long time Kiss fan Debbie Reynolds. The concert was going well, with an appreciative crowd, but when lead singer Paul Stanley mentioned Albany by name in a song, the crowd just went bonkers. “It isn’t even part of the song, it caught us completely by surprise!”

MOGADISHU, SOMALIA – Pirates have retaken areas of the sea off the coast of Africa in the recent years. Attacks from pirates have increased in boldness starting with yachts to recently taking over an oil tanker the size of three aircraft carriers, holding over $100 million worth of oil.

Typically the attacks start from a center hub, or “mothership”, out hundreds of miles from the African coast. The attacks are lead by rocket and machine gun armed boats that are capable of higher speeds than their targets. Once aboard, they hold the ship and crew for ransom.

Originally the threat was not taken too seriously, as merely rich people were being targeted for ransom. But since industrial ships have been targeted, many navies from around the globe are acting. In one such instance, an Indian warship sank the mothership after the mothership fired on them. It is hoped that this military force will help to quell the violent acts of the 21st century pirates. Others fear that the pirates will just adjust their tactics and where they launch their attacks from.

The cause for the rebirth in widespread piracy in the Indian Ocean is typically understood as being a symptom of extreme poverty in Africa, mainly Somalia. Tom Dechannel of the Institute of Piracy noted that, “When there are few options to gain wealth or food, people can be driven to extreme measures.”

Some disagree. Margaret Porter of the Center for Family Values noted that the increase in Piracy had started around the same time the Pirates of the Caribbean came out. “These movies were released, leading to the glamorization of piracy. You have the movies, the video games and all the merchandising. Impressionable children can be manipulated into thinking piracy is ‘cool’.”

Regardless the cause, upwards of two dozen high profile ships are being held for ransom right now. The recent sinking of a mothership by the Indians is promising, however, it appears that the pirates are adjusting their tactics. “In order to prevent attacks from Navy ships,” noted Robert Gates, the US Secretary of Defense, “the pirates have started placing cows on their ships.” Cows are a sacred animal to Hindus, so this has thwarted two other attempts of Indian warships from attacking the motherships at sea. “Pirates have also begun erecting wooden crosses and images of Jesus as well to deter the American navy from attacking them.”

With the adjusting tactics, it appears that piracy will continue to thwart the western portion of the Indian Ocean. Many nations are imploring to companies to include teams of ninjas on their ships. It is uncertain whether the teams of ninjas or the presence of the Navies will deter future acts.

Not so typical snow storm in mid-November. Akron got about 4+ inches of snow from a dual lake (Huron, Erie) effect event. Fun stuff. Meteorologists think another dual lake effect storm is in the works for Friday.

Wrestling sites have claimed that Palin has been invited to attend a TNA PPV to be inducted into a Billy Gunn stable of wrestlers called the “Beautiful People". I figured that below would be a good booking.

So Palin comes out with whatever Gunn’s name is now. Talk, talk, talk… panders to crowd. Claims Barack is a terrorist…

…music hits, Michelle Obama with D-Von Dudley. Obama says she is going to kick Palin’s ass for being the reason, according to the Secret Service for the increased death threats on Barack’s and her life, from all the slanderous terrorist pal claims.

D-Von beats up Gunn, Michelle Obama whacking away at Palin with Palin crying, ‘But I am a beauty queen!’.

Then convicted felon and current Alaska Senator Ted Stevens runs in with his senator seat ready to knock out Michelle Obama, but Mark Begich who now leads the senate race with Stevens comes to the ring. Says, “this seat is mine", grabs the senate seat and chair shot to the head on Stevens.

Michelle Obama throws Palin into ropes into a 3-D with D-Von Dudley…

Michelle Obama, Mark Begich, D-Von celebrate. That’s a good booking! wink

…the more they stay the same. History Lesson folks! 1967, The US Supreme Court decriminalizes inter-racial marriage in the case of Loving v Virginia. In Virginia it was a criminal offense for an inter-racial couple to get married outside of the state and then live together in Virginia. Yeah… a criminal offense. The defense used by Virginia was that it wasn’t racist because it equally punished the white and black partner. Clearly they don’t teach ethics in Law School. In any case, in 1967 that was done away with.

Just in case you were living under a rock… which wouldn’t explain how you found my blog, you know that Barack Obama has become the first African American to be elected President of the US. I know, I know… it seems just like yesterday when the slaves were freed at the end of the Civil War… who’d of guessed it was actually 143 years ago. To better give an idea of how long 143 years is, if you were to take all the seconds from 143 years, it’d be a fucking lot!!! How’s that for descriptive!?

So, you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know that turnout for African Americans was pretty darn impressive in this election. Though African Americans are typically voting Democrat anyway, they came out in larger numbers. This was a rather big deal. We are talking a momentous step towards the goal of racial equality. Many people suffered, died for this goal. It is very symbolic.

Which makes the whole California Initiative 8 thing so unbelievably ironic. Initiative 8 was about defining “true marriage"… ie between only a man and a woman. Some people seem to think that because they are heterosexuals, others should be as well. Some people are just stupid! So anyway, here we have a state where Gay Marriage is now allowed via the state Supreme Court and a bunch of people that think divorce isn’t as big a threat to the sanctity of marriage as two happily married women or men are, put a “gay marriage ban” on the ballot.

So where is the irony already?!!

Well, here you have African Americans coming out in large numbers to vote in one of the most symbolic elections in the history of this nation. A vote that hopefully can begin to close the dark chapter that was how the US treated African Americans since the 1700’s… and we’ve got a ban on gay marriage on the ballot. Now one would think that African Americans would “get it", regarding oppression, regarding separate but equal (marriage v civil union), regarding bigotry and hate… Been there (still there), done that. So why in the world would African Americans vote for the Gay Marriage ban almost at the same percentage as they voted for Obama?! 7 of 10 African Americans voted for the gay marriage ban while over 9 in 10 voted for Obama.

It goes to show, bigotry knows no boundaries. Barack Obama was a big step up for America. Proposition 8 in California was a big step down for America, well at least for those that will suffer the needless consequence of the proposition passing, but hey… I guess gay is the new black.

The George W. Bush legacy can be summed up in a simple sentence:

There was never a threat or danger to the nation that the Bush Administration failed to deal with ineffectively through inadequate planning, incompetent execution and untimely reaction.

No need for anything else. This pretty much covers W’s 8 years in office, from 9/11 to Katrina to Iraq to the Economic Meltdown.

Exit polls show that the 30 to 44 year old demographic made the difference in 2008. They flopped from 2004. The other demographics were about the same.

Then it occurred to me… I was 27 in ‘04… I am 31 in ‘08. I made the difference. Any others who were under 30 then but 30 or over now, you made the difference. The new Generation has a voice and it is growing!

Small power outages all over Northern Ohio have occurred. The weather couldn’t be nicer, 65+ degrees, sunny. Despite this:

Who knows. Probably just a coincidence, but what a coincidence that’d be. Typically urban Democrat supporting areas losing power all over Northern Ohio during some of the best November weather ever in the state.

Real Clear Politics allows you to post which states go where. So how do you think this election will finish?

Obama 67.6 million
McCain 59.4 million

Yeah, North Dakota is a toughy. But McCain has failed to get near 50%. While I don’t actually feel North Dakota is a lock in any way for Obama, I feel of NC, GA, IN, ND, MT, AZ… it is the more likely to go blue.

US Senate:

Dems / Ind’s 58 (+7)
Republicans 42 (-7)

Minnesota is the tough one to call. Rather strong third candidate is messing up polls on this one. Very interesting scenario… if the Dems get 59 and the Georgia race winner fails to get 50+%, there will be runoff to make any other runoff seem tiny.

US House:

Dems +22 to +27 seats