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Final predictions

Electoral College: 353 to 185

Obama notables: PA, FL, CO, NM, IA, NH, OH, NC
McCain notables: IN, AZ, MO, MT

Popular vote: Obama 52, McCain 46, other 2%

US Senate: No Dem losses. Dems gain VA, AK, OR, NM, CO, NH, NC and last but not least, Minnesota. 59 seats counting Joe and Bernie. Joe takes his punishment, does not switch sides.

US House: Dems +27 seats (262 total). Notable losses include Michelle Bachman of MN, Don Young of AK, Jean Schmidt of OH, Chris Shays of CT and McClintock will loose in his quest for Washington.

CA Assembly: No net change

CA Senate: Dems +1 HBJ over TS

Propositions, November 2008

Prop 1A: Yes. Call me shallow, but I'm pulling for this one the most. We are decades behind the rest of the modern world when it comes to transit infrastructure. If this works as advertised, expect to see a rail explosion throughout the land. Besides, it seems like a great way to visit Frisco.

Prop 2: Yes. Does little more than require slightly bigger cages for chickens that are laying eggs. We need to face up to where and how we get out meat and eggs. Current conditions for egg production are deplorable. This is a marginal step in the right direction.

Prop 3: No. I'm only voting on one bond this year. Times are tough, sorry kids.

Prop 4: Yes. Abortion should certainly be subject to parental notification like any other elective, non-emergency procedure. This is a no brainer to me and the slippery slope argument is completely unpersuasive, IMHO.

Prop 5: Yes. Observing these thing at a distance, I'm highly skeptical of the efficacy of drug treatment, but I think even less of sending someone to jail.

Prop 6: No. Ease up on the jails already. We spend way more than any other state and we are broke. Besides, we have a train to pay for.

Prop 7: Love the idea, but it doesn't pass the smell test. If I read through a prop a couple of times and I'm still confused, I'll vote no. The burden of proof is on the proponents to make a sale, and i think they're up to something fishy.

Prop 8: No. People are arguing about this on every corner it seems. All other questions aside, when it comes to basic civil rights, I side with Sly Stone, "Different strokes for different folks". One need not get into the pros and cons of any given lifestyle to acknowledge someone else's right to live their life, in basic terms, as they see fit. Divorce is a far greater threat to the institution of marriage, not even close.

Prop 9: No. I was on the fence on this one, having recently seen first hand that restitution hearings are a waste of time, but this seems so wasteful and showy. The problem with putting minor policy like this into the Constitution is that it makes it very hard to correct course if something isn't working. This gives propositions a bad name.

Prop 10: No. All your goodies are gone, Golden State. One bond only.

Prop 11: Yes. I back this every time. Districts do not change hands in California anymore and it's an embarrassment to the two parties that rigged it so everyone's seat is safe. Locally, all races are decided in the GOP primary. This will probably loose, but it's a great idea.

Prop 12: No. No more bonds this year, how many times to I have to tell you?

Predictions?

Two years ago, I made some very good predictions about the midterm elections. This year, I'm looking to repeat. On Monday, prepare to be schooled.

No wonder Tucker Carslon went with the necktie

The last time I dressed up for Haloween was 1994 when I went as Rush Limbaugh. This required wearing a suit and stuffing a pillow under my shirt. These days, I'd need little more than an extra sweatshirt, but that is neither here nor there. I also committed some minor property crimes from a moving vehicle and could have been sues under the tort of battery by some young punks. They couldn't have called it assault, because they didn't see it coming.

Tomorrow I will accompany my son around the neighborhood while he is dressed up like Indiana Jones. So I thought I'd best go as the man on the right:



In assembling this costume, I've found out how hard it is to find a proper vest or bow tie. I've given up on the vest and have given up on my hopes to find a patterned bow tie, instead settling for a shiny black tux-style bow tie that has "prom" written all over it. This really took the option of a bow-tie as a long-term signature look off the table.

Incidentally, I've made a great discovery. Lids used to be the quintessential mall store: strictly for teens, one product, loud music, etc. Today they have, in addition to all those baseball caps, a fine assortment of gentleman's headwear. I scored a hat perfect fitting of the elder Dr. Jones.

It's been a long time, I shouldn't have left you...

Just dusting off the old blog-machine, ready to jump back in. Anyone listening?

a fair question

if Apple is no longer getting juice from AT&T, why be exclusive? If I could get this thing without turning my back on Verizon, which I know and love, I would be very happy.

Forget everything they ever told you about terrorists, cancer, gunshot wounds or boating accidents

You will always remeber today as the day when you first saw the machine that is going to kill you.

This is the most menacing non-humanoid I've ever seen. Watch out.

The Pro-War Candidate

Ready to lead on day one?

Enough of this not blogging

I mean what's the point in having one?