So, I had to make a work-related trip to Miami earlier this week. I'm soooooo glad that the U.S. decided to beef up security at airports. I got to witness the utmost in absurdity - random additional security checks. I missed out on this by 1 person.

Apparently, every x person (some unidentified number) gets called on for additional security checks (thorough pat-down, etc.). The two lucky people I saw get this pleasure included a 70+ year old grandpa would could barely walk and a girl who looked no older than 16 (pigtails, ugg books, etc.).

Now, I could understand if they had asked me (single dude, traveling alone, goatee - a sure sign of being sinister if you believe the movies) or the big dude behind me (6'3, 200+ lbs). But a grandpa and a "Hello Kitty" fan?

Is this honestly what "Post 9-11" America looks like?

I can tell you that those additional security checks really made me feel safer. Honestly, I'm willing to bet that the random additional checks have not done a damned thing besides making lines longer and a handful of people per day temporarily uncomfortable.

Oh well...if you want something done right - DON'T LET THE GOVERNMENT DO IT.

Wow. I just finished reading one of the best books I have read in a long time. I consider myself a fairly avid reader, recently reading mostly non-fiction or popular fiction. I tried to read Cormac McCarthy (The Road and No Country for Old Men), but he’s just way too dark for me – the books aren’t satisfying at all (which, I expect, is the point).

However, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is just incredible. It is a fiction book that combines elements of Greek Mythology (Theseus and the Minotaur), Lord of the Flies, Jack London, Brave New World and 1984. The book is a young adult/adult fiction novel. The characters are very well written (you’ll understand when you read why some of the secondary characters aren’t so carefully detailed) and for the very visual readers (like me), you will easily be able to picture the action – maybe too easily. The book really has all you could ask for in a fiction novel: love, survival, anger, sadness, sympathy, excitement. Apparently The Hunger Games will be part of a trilogy. Don’t let that stop you from reading the book, though, because it could easily be a stand-alone novel.

The Hunger Games is set in the future, in what used to be North America. There is an all-powerful government that demands children from each “district” compete in The Hunger Games – basically “Survivor” to the death. The heroine comes from a coal-mining district and becomes a contestant (not much of a spoiler, considering the title of the book). From there, she must rely on herself and the few outside aids she has for survival, if that is possible.
Like most fiction novels, the book is, at times, predictable (it has to be, right?). However, there are enough twists and turns that any predictability is forgivable. Though the hero of the book is female, this is not controlling (it’s along the lines of The Golden Compass – the hero is necessarily female, but that doesn’t mean that guys can’t enjoy the book).

I highly recommend reading this book. So much so that I have taken the time to do this post! Go to the library or book store and find it. I have Amanda to thank for making me read the book. It should be noted that neither of us could put the book down once we got in passed the first chapter or two.

Amanda and I went to vote last night. We stood in line for over an hour, as there were about 250-300 people in front of us. I have never before waited to vote, although to be honest, I used to vote in Washington County at a Monestary that had miniature horses.

I was pleasantly surprised that about 1/3 of the people in the line were under 30, a group that rarely turns out in elections. There was an 18 year old student from Spring ISD in front of us. His dad (who had already voted) was with him. The kid said, "I just want to vote in the presidential election."

Anyway, we got to vote on "electronic voting dealies" - another first (pencil & paper in Washington County). No, I did not have a Homer Simpson moment - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aBaX9GPSaQ. It also wasn't a touch-screen (which I found out after trying to touch the screen to get started - apparently touching a screen harder does not help when it's not a touch screen).

The early voting statistics, if they can be generalized (b/c the votes haven't been counted yet), are very pro-Obama. For one, it appears that the turnout will be extraordinarily large this year, meaning people are excited about voting. Second, the early voters are trending democrat, woman, and minorities - groups that Obama is well ahead in. Third, the specific swing states are seeing the biggest upward trends in voters. Of course, all this information is available online: http://elections.gmu.edu/early_vote_2008.html.

My favorite pollster site, b/c it breaks down trends, gives poll results (does not actually poll itself), and tells which polls are important and why (often debunking the media coverage of polls) is FiveThirtyEight.com - http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/ (name comes from the total number of electoral votes). The site currently gives Obama a 97.2% chance at winning the election. Yes!

I'm going to make Amanda post about Halloween and our stupid neighbors. Check her site for good news!!!

So, we are within 2 weeks of the general election. I figure that I can share my thoughts on the election. As I write this, it appears McCain has a 10 point lead in Texas, so my vote for Obama is essentially in vain. At the same time, Obama appears to be winning in enough states that the election is in the bag (also, the recent reports about Sarah Palin deciding to do her own thing indicate that the GOP isn’t expecting a win).

I’ll start by saying that if the John McCain from 2000 were running today, this would be a tougher decision for me (and, likely, a closer election). The John McCain that ran against George W. Bush was truly a moderate, middle of the road kind of guy (which, coincidentally, is where I tend to see myself). However, “John McCain Version 2.008” is a wholly different man. He has participated in many of the activities he decried in 2000 – including running vicious ads and misleading (if not outright false) robocalls. I tend to think something changed after his loss to GWB in 2000 and he decided to take the “if you can’t beat them, join them” approach and decided to campaign like GWB. Unfortunately for JM2.008, Americans have moved past this approach.

So, here are my reasons for voting Obama/Biden ’08:

(1) “It’s the economy, stupid.” Americans tend to fare better economically when Democrats are in the White House. For instance, the stock market increased in value about 300% during the Clinton years; the market is down 10% since GWB took over. There is a good reason that people do better economically. Democrats tend to tax those in higher tax brackets more, while giving middle-class tax cuts and incentives for small businesses. Republicans tend (generally) to “let the market solve” which only works with a free market. America in 2008 is corporatized. Adam Smith would not recognize America’s version of the “free market” where companies tend to do everything – for instance, General Electric is in lending, aviation, electric, small appliances, and entertainment. Regulation, to some extent, is good. It creates jobs and keeps corporations in check where the market wouldn’t.

(2) Tax Proposals. I’m going to go out on a limb and guess that everyone who reads my blog makes less than $250,000 a year. Okay, no tax increase for you (and maybe a cut in taxes). McCain wants to give everyone a tax cut, even Warren Buffet, the richest man in America. The rich have the ability to shoulder a tax burden better than middle class folks.

I listen to Rush L. and Michael Savage at times, so I know the GOP thinks that Obama is a socialist. Right. Because tax cuts are socialist [sarcastic]. Socialism is having the U.S. buy into banks and own AIG (unfortunately, both candidates supported the bailout which allowed this, so neither gets my vote based on “socialism”). The other criticism is that businesses will be taxed. Much of this is due to the fact that people don’t understand the tax system. Most large businesses are corporations. They pay corporate tax, different than income tax. So, ignore the Walmarts and Exxons for now (though, each candidate has plans for corporate tax as well). Instead, focus on companies that have L.L.P. or L.P. in their name, a MUCH MUCH smaller group. 95% of these companies make less than $250,000 a year for their partners (who have to file income taxes). So, 5% of small businesses would be affected. And Obama gives tax incentives for creating jobs to this group.

So, both McCain and Obama will cut my taxes. Obama raises taxes on the rich, though, so perhaps we can balance the budget and pay down debt. The U.S. government should be doing what Amanda and I have to do – pay bills and try to save some money. Obama gives us a chance of this occurring (it last happened under Clinton).

(3) Nationalism. I’m disappointed that America’s image in the world has been tarnished in the last 8 years. First, we send spy planes over China that get shot down while we deny their existence. Next, we kicked Russian officials out of the country, increasing tensions that had been getting better. Then, 9/11 occurred. Instead of using this time to let others help – as they would have in a war in Afghanistan – we decide the invade Iraq as well? Iraq, a country that did not have a large al Qaeda contingent pre-war (it does now). The rest of the world wondered what the hell we were doing and stayed out. Then, we appoint to the U.N. as our representative a guy who openly despised the U.N. Oh, and we labeled countries as part of the “axis of evil.” Nice.

The rest of the world is not trusting of America. They should be. That is what we should strive for. Obama will reach out to the world.

(4) VP candidates. I do not think Sarah Palin is qualified to be VP. Pure and simple. McCain would be the oldest man elected president. Thus, Sarah Palin’s qualifications are as important as anyone else running. Sarah does not have impressive academics. She was the mayor of a town smaller than Brenham. To put it in better perspective, Houston is 225 time larger than Wasilla. 5 times as many people worked in the World Trade Centers than live in Wasilla. It’s a small town. So, next we weigh Sarah’s experience as governor, or “her executive experience.” Governors are not foreign policy experts – there’s no need for them to be. All 3 other candidates are Senators with foreign policy knowledge and experience. Not that experience is the be-all-end-all. Obama is not as experienced as McCain. That’s a given. But, any “experience” edge that McCain had was lost when he chose Palin as VP. That move still has me confused, as experience was McCain’s biggest advantage.

Sarah Palin has shown that she isn’t particularly honest (see her reaction to the ethics investigation, where even though the independent counsel said she violated ethics rules, Palin said the study vindicated her. Mrs. Palin, some of us can read…and we hate being lied to.). She is also vindictive (firing people who don’t agree with her – like the state trooper that wouldn’t fire her brother in law, or the librarian who was appalled at the book banning question).

Biden has been a Senator for longer than McCain. He went to law school (didn’t do particularly well, but he went). He is prone to gaffes (ie: depression/FDR/tv thing). He has shown the ability to work well with others, though.

(5) War. McCain has been too quick to say we should go to war (bomb bomb bomb bomb bomb Iran). He has been too quick to defend the Iraqi war, which he thought would be a breeze. He also “strolled” though a Baghdad market – complete with bullet-proof vest and military guard – while telling the American public it was safe. Young Americans are dying in Iraq. They shouldn’t be. Support the troops – bring them home. Obama, pure and simple, is right on this issue.

(6) Keeping the American dream alive. Obama has come from a divorced family. He went to college, then took a job making next to nothing as a community organizer. He later went to Harvard Law School and was President of Harvard Law Review (A Law Review is essentially a legal magazine published by students. Law Reviews are the most respected source of legal article publishing. Harvard Law Review is the most prestigious of all of these. Members of Law Review are chosen based on grades, it is not just a popularity contest.). While in law school, Obama clerked at a firm that would have paid him a six-figure a year salary coming out of law school. Instead, he became a civil rights attorney and professor at University of Chicago. Electing Obama says something about America – about how working hard can get you to your goals. After reading the article in The Rolling Stone (http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/23316912/makebelieve_maverick/print), I’m not sure the same can be said about John McCain.

***There are certain issues that I will not be voting on.

(1) Abortion – neither candidate is going to force anyone into an abortion. The most the president can do regarding abortion is put Supreme Court Justices in place. 7 of the 9 Justices are Republican appointees, yet the law still allows abortion (oh, and Roe v. Wade is NOT the law on abortion, just so you know). This is because Justices cannot be chosen based on how they will vote on one case. Abortion is a private issue, one that I’m sure is hard for people to make. However, if a women is raped, the victim of incest, or about to die, I think the last thing she needs to face is having to go to a back-street clinic. Is this a moral issue? Yes. Should the government regulate morals? Probably not – just imagine when someone contrary to your moral background gets to power, then ask yourself if they should legislate morality.

(2) Gay marriage – as above, neither candidate is going to force anyone into a gay marriage. McCain and Obama have the same view on the issue (I’m not sure either is right). Palin has now gone “off the reservation” and says that she would support a Constitutional Amendment to ban gay marriage –after saying she supported the rights of gay couples (so long as they weren’t “married”). The Constitutional Amendment is a terrible idea. The Constitution has only rarely been used to take rights AWAY from people (prohibition is the best example, one could argue that slavery is another – but I think that would be a position hard to defend). Anyway, I think homosexuality is a personal issue, not one to be regulated by the government. Our Constitution says that everyone is entitled to equal treatment under the law. Can we, just for once, follow our Constitution?

(3) The Swift-Boat-esque attacks. I’m not buying into all the crazy talk involving the candidates (for some reason, the worst rumors seem to be pointed at Obama. Weird, huh?). Obama does not hate white people (he’s half white and his mom was white). Obama is not a Muslim – even if he were, is that a reason to vote against him? Obama was not born in Kenya (though McCain was born in Panama – it still does not matter). Obama does not support infanticide. I haven’t really heard the negative McCain rumors.

So, we are now home. We have electricity too! Did have to clean out the fridge and freezer b/c everything went bad, but that's not a huge deal.

Today was an interesting experience - after cleaning out the fridge, we went to get food. We had to wait in line about 15 minutes, BEFORE THEY WOULD LET US IN THE STORE (Target). Very odd experience. Also, they had pretty much no food. But, we have enough food, our house is still standing (some roof damage, nothing big), and we have lights. Plenty to be thankful for!

Oh yeah - we also found Rock Band 2! Haven't had a chance to play it yet...

Okay, so I'm blogging from Amanda's grandparents' house in Brenham. Apparently the eye of Hurricane Ike passed right over our house (cool, right?).

When we went to bed last night, we still had electricity. At 2:45 a.m., we were awoke by a very bright flash of light - either lightening hitting our shed, or a transformer exploding, not sure which. No electricity since that point.

We got some really heavy winds at our house (70 mph or so), but no damage to the house other than a few shingles displaced. Our shed, however, was destroyed. Also, we have 25-30 feet of fence taken down by the winds. A good percentage of the fences in our neighborhood were knocked down, a sign of strong winds or poor construction. Also had a few trees (pines) downed in our neighborhood, but none on our property.

Centerpoint says 1.99 million houses are w/o power. Ours is one, so we are in Brenham until further notice. Hopefully, we will not be one of those places that is 3-4 weeks without power.

More later.

Lights on & off, hard wind/rain. Guess the storm is starting to get here. Had to cut off the tv b/c we didn't want anything bad to happen to it (it's our baby!).

So, I plan to sleep this thing out. Don't call me prior to about 9:30 or 10:00 in the morn - I'll be snoozing!

Lights keep flickering. And "Best Week Ever" just told me that Sarah Palin's friends won't even say they are voting for her.

The waiting! We are getting some stronger gusts now, probably 50 mph or so. Also, some rain.

Not tired yet. Finished reading "The Giver."

Well, its almost 9:00. Getting pretty windy out there. Still no rain. Last I saw, there weren't even any dark scary clouds.

Looks like most of the bad part of the storm will be coming through while we sleep. Hopefully we will have electricity when we get up in the morning!