Democracy...

"Democracy is...the conviction that there are extraordinary possibilities in ordinary people."

Harry Emerson Fosdick in Harper's Monthly Magazine in November 1925, reprinted in Real Simple November 2008.

Here's hoping we've found an extraordinary man...

Get out and VOTE!

My Dad used to joke about voting early and often, and today I practically did. Tom and I stood in line for an hour this morning in Somerville, with approximately 200 folks ahead of us all waiting to vote. Very, very cool stuff -- no matter who you vote for, this year's election has turned out voters like never before.

Part two came when I headed to Lexington to take my grandmother to vote. Unlike Somerville, there were no lines, no waiting. Thankfully so -- she had a hip replacement last Christmas and never could have stood in line like we did.

Tom sent me a link to a blog that he read earlier today that I want to share with you -- this really summed up today's events...

Obama's informercial

I was tied up Thursday night and couldn't watch Obama's infomercial, so Tom DVRed it for me. I finally sat down this afternoon to watch it. I couldn't help thinking we're watching history being made -- next week's election is going to be interesting.

What did you think of the infomercial? Good use of time and money? Did it change your opinion?

VP debate: rants

Ah yes, the moment we've all been waiting for: Biden vs Palin. How bad would it be?

I will say, when you have decidedly diminished expectations, you almost have nowhere to go, but up. Palin managed not to completely make an ass of herself, as she did with an interview earlier this week with Katie Couric. However, she did manage to completely and blatantly dodge every question that was clearly out of her league. Amazing!

A few rants:
1. Joe clearly was told to play it easy and not look like a jerk. It wasn't until nearly the end when he said, look, don't tell me I don't know what it's like to sit at the kitchen table. Irony: if you do a quick look at Palin's assets, she's a lot further from the kitchen table than most of us.

2. What's up with the winking? Seriously...

3. Joe Sixpack did not go over well with our group.

4. It's nuclear, honey. Didn't you learn anything from W?

5. Gosh darn it, you betcha.....my god, I felt like I was watching Fargo!

A historic moment

Hilliary Clinton made the right move today by moving to suspend voting and declare by acclamation Barack Obama the party's presidential candidate. I admit: I am not a huge fan of the Clintons. However, it was wonderful to see a female presidential candidate go so far and only fitting to see this finally end on the anniversary of women's right to vote. The next woman will go further and, perhaps, into the White House itself.

Equally historic is seeing the first African American candidate named as the party's candidate. It's about time.

Remembering Tim Russert

Tom is known for his phone calls, text messages or emails when someone famous passes away, always beginning with "Put the eggs and bacon away, so-and-so isn't coming down to breakfast." I got down to Plymouth yesterday and he calls. "Put the eggs and bacon away, you're not going to believe me." Tim Russert at age 58? Unbelievable.

While I wouldn't describe myself as a faithful "Meet the Press" watcher (sleeping in on Sunday mornings IS a favorite pastime), when I was jolted to reality by Tom or the dog, we usually ended up putting it on and watching Russert poke holes in the latest presidential candidate's platform. What we both enjoyed was that A) he kept it clean and B) he was remarkably bipartisan in his approach, unlike other political shows which demonstrated clear biases. You could also count on Russert for his average-working-man's take on Washington, a refreshing change.

His book about growing up with "Big Russ" is actually one that I've heard wonderful things about, but haven't yet read. Devoted family man who never forgets his roots. There's a great video at BC that Russert did with his son that shows how much he enjoyed life.

A big hole in the world of journalism and politics - he will be greatly missed.

Shift happens

I was at a conference yesterday, and a keynote speaker ran the following video which was developed last year by a group of students at a school in the mid-west (if I remember correctly). Very cool stuff -- makes you think!

"Shift happens"

The RollerCoaster Economy

Today's NYT has one of the best explanations for the current fix we're in, and it all seems to come down to the housing market. It started this mess, and it's the only thing that will end it.

Basically, prices and rates were so good in the real estate market that everyone put their eggs in that basket. Lenders got greedy and lowered both their rates and standards. Supply and demand hits, rates go up and presto -- foreclosures. Perhaps I'm oversimplifying, but you get the gist.

The market is awful right now -- at least ten months of inventory, buyers can get nearly any price they want if you're a motivated seller, but from what I understand from my realtor, it's becoming much much harder to qualify for mortgages in the first place.

Gas and oil are outrageous -- we fully expect to pay upwards of $70-80 within a month or two to fill our SUV. We sold the Saturn around Thanksgiving -- it was reaching the age at which we would have had to put more money into it to maintain it that was worthwhile, plus we love the 4Runner. However, I really miss that gas mileage. I'm seriously going to look into the possibility of riding my bike to work this summer.

On a totally different track, the NYT had a great article on Obama's speech yesterday. The national election is just fascinating this year! Tom and I are both still registered independent, but really like what we hear from Obama.