What Prevents Me From Being A Democrat

   Talking with my wife following Joe Biden and Barack Obama's distinct, but both terrific speeches, she said to me "I think I'm a Democrat" to which I responded "I would probably be one too but for a couple of things I really dislike."

   Namely, the Democrats' unabashed pro-union, pro-illegal immigration stances, and their traditional unwillingness to spend only what we have (though this is less relevant now that the Republicans like big government and spend like crazy).

   I guess what I'm saying is that I'm not changing my official affiliation because I continue to hold out hope that enough of us angry centrists will birth a viable middle-of-the-road, fiscally conservative, socially liberal third party to legitimately challenge the extremes that the Democrats and Republicans play to.

   Let's get crackin'!

The Case For Giving Your Children Unique Names

   Yes, they may well get teased in school but they are unlikely to mistakenly end up on terrorist watch lists due to sharing a name with a bad guy.

   Just don't overdo it thinking that because you live in white suburbia Osama Bin Laden Smith is a good, unique name for your baby boy!

Dan Quayle 2.0?!

   John McCain's selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin dominated the news today and not solely for the reasons McCain intended.

   Lots of people are comparing her to George H. W. Bush's vice president, Dan Quayle, who as far as I can tell, is STILL the butt of jokes people tell about stupid people.

   Is Palin on par with Quayle? I hope not, for her sake. I think sadly this is a desperation move on McCain's part. Yes, it gives him youth and some portion of the female vote (but not any true Hillary Clinton supporters as Palin oddly reached out to them). But she is also super-inexperienced and holds the same unpopular views he does.

   I just hope Joe Biden doesn't make her cry in their debate with something along the lines of "Hillary Clinton? I know Hillary Clinton and Governor, you're no Hillary Clinton!"

A Hell Of A Speech..

   Barack Obama delivered precisely what I hoped he'd deliver - a tremendous acceptance speech that had more substance than the usual drivel served up at the conventions.

   So many bloggers have excerpted it and highlighted the parts that really moved me so I'll skip that.

   Suffice it to say, it was tremendous!

   Of course, what a shock, the GOP crapped on it.

Could Care Less vs Couldn't Care Less

   Listening to an executive at the company I work for on an all-hands meeting call this morning made me cringe.

   He dropped one of my pet peeves - "I could care less" when he clearly intended to say "I couldn't care less."

   Honestly, regardless of what I think of a person, my perception of their intelligence plummets when I hear this expression misused.

   As you can see here, it shouldn't be that hard to get right!

Biden Is Winning Me Over

   Sen. Joe Biden, who I was fairly disappointed had been tapped as Barack Obama's running mate, is winning me over.

   My initial beef with the pick was that I had a hard time reconciling Obama's campaign for change with a 6-term senator. I still think that is a bit of a concern.

   However, Biden's longevity in the Senate, and what he has accomplished while there taken together with his compelling life story, are turning into positives for the Democrats' campaign.

   He knows and claims to be longtime friends with John McCain. This allows him to honestly compliment McCain on his service to the country and his personal honor and then turn around and explain, in no uncertain terms, why he should not be elected president.

   Biden is well known for having lots to say (too much, some would say) and clearly does not mince words. This came across clearly in his acceptance speech tonight where he said "hell" (something I would not expect in a sanitized convention setting) casually and brutally condemned the Bush administration and McCain's record of voting with the administration 95% (or thereabouts).

   I am big on people that tell it like it is even if it means they're a bit abrasive. In fact, I've already praised Biden for this trait.

   I am eager to see what else he says once McCain names his VP candidate and the Obama campaign lets Biden fully loose!

The Interwebs? That's That Series Of Tubes, Right?

   Now let me start off by saying that I have no problem with average people young or old that have no interest in the internet. I don't understand that attitude but I respect that people have different priorities than I do, when it comes to technology or anything else for that matter.

   However, I DO have a real problem when a candidate running for President of the United States has no interest in personally using the internet.

   It shows that you are out of touch with current times and what people are into. And frankly, coupled with the whole "I don't know how many houses I own" statement, and multiple well-documented public verbal gaffes (corrected by right-hand-man Joe Liebermann), it makes me question what all is going on inside John McCain's head. A lot has been made of his age (almost 72) and I think that is a legitimate concern considering it is a proven fact that the human mind degrades as we steadily lose brain cells over the course of our lifetime. But additionally, he spent several years in really awful conditions and though the physical damage he suffered at the hands of the Viet Cong are well-documented, I worry about the mental effects of his captivity and torture.

   Bottomline, though I do not agree with Barack Obama on every issue, he is much closer to my age, has kids similar to my kids' ages, and has demonstrated his skills and intelligence even in a comparatively brief political career. And, yes, he does use the internet!

Sweet Home Alobama!

   While in downtown Denver today I drove by the Alabama delegation's outpost in LoDo and couldn't help but smile when I saw their banner reading "Sweet Home Alobama - where the skies are so blue!"

I Know - Let's Use Paper!

   Though I haven't seen a whole lot lately on the topic, an AP article in today's Rocky Mountain News caught my eye.

   Titled "States put aside pricey voting machines", it talks about how in the wake of the highly charged 2000 presidential election Congress allocated $3 billion for improving voting equipment and procedures. Problem is, though a good chunk (the total is unknown) has been spent, many states, including California have banned electronic voting machines due to concerns about fraud.

   This is ridiculous - while it may be true that some of these systems are poorly designed, coded, and secured, it is ludicrous that we are still relying solely on paper ballots. What a business opportunity there is to improve upon the failures this industry appears to be mired in!

Feeling Better About Biden

   Having had nearly 24 hours now to digest the reality that Obama picked Biden as his running mate I am feeling a little better about the choice.

   I watched a fair portion of their joint appearance in Springfield this afternoon and have to say I am impressed.

   Though a true "career politician", I think Biden will serve well as the attack dog in the campaign and will have no problems either going after his friend, Senator McCain, or going toe-to-toe with whomever McCain ultimately selects as his running mate.

   Yes, like McCain, Biden is old. But he is not running for president on this ticket. And yes, he is a SIX-term senator but he is not a rich guy.

   I'm sure all the things he's ever done wrong, in public, and in private, will be brought to light in the next two months by the GOP attack machine but I think he'll do just fine.

It's Now Official - Obama/Biden

   CNN got it right - now according to Obama's site, he has chosen Biden as his running mate.

   But wait, there's more - now the speculation is mounting that McCain has chosen Romney as his running mate. Please say it ain't so..Just having to listen to Romney for two more months is going to make my skin crawl.

If CNN Is To Be Believed..Biden's The One

   CNN is reporting that Obama has picked Biden as his VP.

   So much for being the first to know via text message and email.

   Is there anyone in politics that can keep their mouths shut?! :)

   There are worse picks but I still don't understand how a 6 term senator can be an agent of change..

   I suppose they (CNN) could be wrong. Afterall, I do remember Florida in 2000..

Please Don't Pick Biden!

   Dear Senator Obama - Please please do not pick Joe Biden as your VP candidate. Though he has had some classic quotes and I do like the fact that he doesn't take shit from anyone, he is in direct conflict with your core message of bringing legitimate change to Washington. He is an old Washington hand and while I can see that he'd be attractive as a respected foreign policy guy, I hope you'll pick someone more strategic.

   Like...Chuck Hagel. Show America you meant exactly what you've said, in your book, and on the campaign trail. Bring back true bipartisanship. Senator Hagel is from the heartland, is a Vietnam vet, and someone that has spoken his mind even when it is not good for his party.

   If it just won't work to pick Hagel, how about Bill Richardson? He has credibility on the foreign stage, is Hispanic himself and is the governor of a heavily Hispanic state, which just happens to be in the strategic swing region of the Mountain West. Plus he's not a Democratic senator so you're not affecting the senate's balance.

   Just please don't pick Biden - I'll still vote for you but I'm afraid between Hillary's hate squad and those who are hellbent on change and don't think a long-time senator from the Northeast is what we need as VP, I think you might have a close race with McCain.

A Wise (Non-)Choice

   It is coming across the interwebs that Barack Obama has chosen not to pick Hillary Clinton as his running mate.

   I, for one, could not be more delighted. Since long before the day she realized she'd officially lost the Democratic primary race she has played the sore loser. If she truly would like to help her country she will fill a cabinet position or serve as an adviser on healthcare reform in an Obama administration.

   Otherwise, she should go back to being a senator and wait for 2016.

Uhhh..Hello??

   There are a few people WEST of the Mississippi - don't we get a debate too?

Lower The Drinking Age and Force Parents to Parent

   I've long said that lowering the drinking age here in the U.S. would be a wise move.

   Let parents educate their kids at home about the proper way to enjoy alcoholic beverages in moderation.

   Eliminate the stigma and I have to believe the tragedies associated with binge drinking (in college, especially) will drop in numbers.

The New Math - 1 + 1 + ??? = I Don't Know How Many Houses We Own

   Senator McCain - please learn to count better - if you hope to get elected you might want to know how many homes you and your wife own.

   Just a thought..

Let Me Guess - These Guys Watch Reality TV?!

   If you have a picture dictionary handy, please look up "fucking idiot(s)."

   I am quite certain a picture of these two dimwits will be staring back at you.

Usain Bolt Is Incredible

   That is my main thought about these Beijing Olympics (yes, the same ones I was planning to avoid watching for a number of reasons).

   I know Jamaica for their reggae music and their reputation for enjoying copious amounts of marijuana.

   For some reason, sprinters do not cross my mind..

   Now I'll know better going forward!

Nice Work, Xcel!

   After a rough patch a few years back involving LOTS of power surges and multiple-hour outages I never thought I'd say this..But nice work, Xcel!

Well Said!

   This sums up nicely my feelings on privacy.

   It seems, in this "post-9/11" America that security is the first word out of everyone's mouths.

   People - remember liberty? That's an important word too, you know?

Can You Say "Pander?!"

Both candidates are being stupid here.

Obama Airplane Drama

   Shit like this drives me nuts.

   My wife received an email from a friend talking about how Obama painted over the American flag on the tail of his campaign plane and how this shows he is not a patriotic American.

   Worse, my wife's friend actually added to the forward chain that she'd checked this out on snopes.com and it was true.

   So I went out and looked myself. Here's the link.

   Obviously she was either lazy and didn't read the two paragraphs or she is promoting Republican propaganda (I'll leave off "she is stupid" from the list of conclusions because I don't think that is the case here).

   If this had been about McCain my reaction would have been identical. Wake up people - don't believe what you're told without doing some research first.

Son of Knight Rider

   It is not really called that but it would have been an improvement had it been!

   Because every generation needs their own Michael Knight, this garbage new series is being released upon us.

   I say, "No Hoff, no dice!"

Kaine's Got Stones

   While I don't think he'll get the VP nod from Obama, I still admire his mettle.

Time to Build An Ark?!

   Holy crow!

   It has been raining all weekend and is not expected to let up.

   We have huge puddles out back and the gutters are raging full.

   I can't imagine what it must be like for those living on creeks and rivers around here.

   On the positive side, I won't have to turn the sprinklers on for a few days in the middle of summer!

A Rainy Summer Day!

   Hmm..Middle of August, eh?! Perfect time to schedule a nice Friday evening BBQ, right?

   Uhh..Apparently not. I had to grill 10 burgs and a handful of dogs in driving rain for our guests.

   They turned out fine and everyone had a great time but that was strange.

Southwest Continues To Innovate

   I will have no problem flying Southwest exclusively when they are the only ones left.

   If you have an unsustainable business, you will go out of business eventually - the taxpayers will only tolerate bailouts so many times.

FEMA = Failure to Emerge from Malady Alive

   This is a federal agency that may never be removed from laughingstock status - they are quite simply, pathetic.

Obamanator

This is awesome!

Love Him OR Hate Him...He's A Genius!

   I happen to think Mark Cuban is a genius. The guy just gets it and then gets it done.

   Whether you think he is over-the-top or not, read his blog - he says interesting things that are thought provoking. And that is precisely what we need these days - a return to thought from the mindless consumption of what the mass media is feeding us.

A New Low For The Clintons

   This pathetic drivel that John Edwards not admitting to his affair earlier cost Hillary Clinton the nomination is absolute horseshit.

   How about "her inability to receive more votes than Barack Obama" as a more logical analysis?! Ever considered that?!

This Is Appalling

   Be sure you buy a new iPhone ASAP - it is important to keep up the cutting-edge crowd afterall.

   Not sure what to do with your old one?

   How about sending it to Ghana?

As I Simmer In Discontent...

   I think about what a great idea term limits are.

   I don't have to energy at the moment to go into why this is such a terrific idea but simply put - if someone is a terrific representative, with outstanding ideas they will attract proteges. When the time comes to resign due to term limits, a protege will run for the seat.

   On the other hand, if you elect someone terrible, you know they're gone after x terms.

Free Choice Act = Garbage

   The Free Choice Act quite frankly sucks.

   Obama should not be proud of it but I suspect it is one of those "price of admission" items that Democrats have to endorse in order to cozy up with the unions.

Half Acre Over Ale

   A bright spot in my day dominated by my deteriorating health was the Half Acre Over Ale I had with my (overpriced) dinner tonight.

   Yum, that was tasty!

Favre's A J-E-T!

   How strange it will be to see #4 in Jets' gear on opening day.

   I think he's made a mistake and will be forever reviled by those dedicated cheese enthusiasts that once revered him.

   But at least he'll still get to wear green. And it is hard to argue that white is not an improvement over yellow as the complementary color on his uni.

Amazing Diversity in Class

   It dawned on me while sitting in class today that with only 9 students and an instructor we still had quite a diverse bunch. Distinctive accents from Texas, Chicago, Milwaukee, Minnesota, India, Denver, and California..Crazy!

Heaven On Seven

   They might have more aptly named it "Hades In Your Mouth!"

   Our instructor today directed us to Heaven On Seven, what he (a guy from Louisiana) declared, the best Cajun food outside of Louisiana.

   Though no expert on the subject personally, I am a fan of the spicy dish, and this did not disappoint.

   I had a pasta dish which as served had plenty of zing. But of course I had to try some of the plethora of hot sauces on the table. I settled on a habanero sauce that tasted so good I overdid it.

   I've been wrecked in the gut all night - I even had to skip dinner..Damnit.

The Perfect Chicago Cabbie

   I hopped into the front seat of our taxi this morning, blurred vision and all from a sleepless night. I turned my head to say good morning to our cabbie and did a double take.

      "Paulie?!"

   Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a Middle Eastern guy who slightly resembled my favorite Sopranos character.

   Funny thing is, he drove just like him - like a freaking maniac.

A Miserable Travel Day

   Well just like that I was back at DIA - this time, much to my displeasure, without my lovely wife and precious kids. :(

   My flight to Chicargo was delayed multiple times due to what was reported as tornadoes around the city outskirts and torrential rain. I crossed my fingers, hoping for the cancellation that would send me home for the night to try again tomorrow.

   But the weather "improved" (more on the accuracy of that statement later!) and we headed out.

   Right around midnight local time we landed - swooping into Midway and actually bouncing once hard on the landing (the cabin applauded when we came to a controlled stop - classic!). Outside the terminal, as I waited in line for a taxi to my hotel, the weather degraded again. Thunder and lightning and a steady downpour translated into a slow "boat" ride downtown. There were cars all over the sides of the highway and streets were flooded badly. My cabbie got me to my hotel safe-and-sound, thankfully, but per usual I earned a room right by the ice machine..So here I sit, blogging instead of tossing and turning.

Dreaming of Some Tasty Micros

   As I sit here, dreading the fact that I have to leave for the airport in a few hours for a business trip to Chicago, I am fantasizing about some of the (other) craft brews I enjoyed while in California.

   Namely, in addition to those I already mentioned from Hollister Brewing, Telegraph Stock Porter and Island Tropical Lager and Starry Night Stout.

   Mmmmm..Those were good.

Declaring Podcast Bankruptcy

   Or should it be "amnesty?"

   Whatever it is, in the week we were on vacation, meaning I was away from my iTunes install, I racked up SOOO many unlistened podcasts that I had no choice but to delete them all - even though it pained me to do so.

   Now I have a clear list and can start following my favorites like I like to - closely and regularly.

Tipping On Take-Out

   I don't think this requires much analysis. Unless you're being served curbside by a pretty lady (or handsome man) on roller skates, you don't need to tip for take out. Send the message to management that they should stop being so greedy and pay their counter staff more than minimum wage.

California's Cell Phone Driving Law Is Off-The-Mark

   Though it is difficult to get a coherent thought through my head, let alone out my fingers on to this blog post (due to our arrival at home around 2AM this morning), firmly stuck in my head is an observation from the considerable amount of driving we did while in California.

   Their new "hands-free only cell phone usage by drivers" law, that went into effect July 1st, is a red herring.

   It does nothing about those numbskulls fiddling with their car stereos, shaving, eating breakfast, putting on makeup, or reading the paper, while driving. Instead it makes those of us skilled enough to drive 5 mph while holding a cell in one hand criminals. Nice work, Sacramento.

   When you have some data to show that your accident rate is not declining as you'd predicted, perhaps you'll consider passing a "distracted driver" bill which would punish those observed driving erratically, regardless of what they're holding, smoking, fiddling, etc.

Lunch And Walk At Dana Harbor

   I got my taste of seabreeze and am ready to go back to the mountain air.

   We had lunch and walked around Dana Harbor and now are getting ready to pack up and head to LAX for our return flight tonight.

   We've had a terrific vacation, filled with great visits with family, good excursions, and a year's worth of SoCal traffic and overpopulation.

   It will be good to be home.