so it's been a while

So after the election I've been pretty bad about posting.

Let me start out by saying that Election Day was the craziest day of my career and it was wonderful. So many people combining efforts to tell one story,... very cool.

So what's new in the world? The economy still sucks, there are even more layoffs and it's colder outside. Things are pretty bleak. Today's New York Times quote of the day is

"In the last year, I’ve put in for more than 100 jobs. I stopped counting after 110. It’s just so defeating."
PAT WEBER, a construction administrator in Fennville, Mich., who was laid off.

In the news:

Clinton as Secretary of State....

I'm actually happy about that role. For a while I critisized Obama for not picking Hilary as VP because I thought it would have made him unbeatable. But now he's given her a role that actually maters - a role where she can make a difference.

Check out this slideshow from the Los Angeles Times on the wildfire devastation. It's hard to believe this actually happened.



The Huffington Post has a pretty amusing feature up, the 100 greatest April Fool's Jokes of all time... their number one?

"In 1992 National Public Radio's Talk of the Nation program announced that Richard Nixon, in a surprise move, was running for President again. His new campaign slogan was, "I didn't do anything wrong, and I won't do it again." Accompanying this announcement were audio clips of Nixon delivering his candidacy speech. Listeners responded viscerally to the announcement, flooding the show with calls expressing shock and outrage. Only during the second half of the show did the host John Hockenberry reveal that the announcement was a practical joke. Nixon's voice was impersonated by comedian Rich Little."

I don't really understand why it's posted in November, but whatever. I guess not all news can be serious. When I worked at a broadcast network the anchor once said, "Remember the summer of the sharks?" (Everyone thought that reporting on all the shark attacks was really silly and repetitive.) Then he followed up with, "that was the summer before 9/11, so be thankful for the funny stories." It always stuck with me.

With a lack of good news I can, and do, appreciate the features.

*fire photo taken by Brian Vander Brug/LA Times pulled from here

ELECTION BLOGGING

Today I blogged for other blogs... here are my stories...

interview with jersey city mayor: http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2008/11/healy_casts_his_ballot.html

Interview with United States Senator: http://www.nj.com/hobokennow/index.ssf/2008/11/menendez_and_hoboken_democrati.html#more

my other posts throughout the day.....

http://www.nj.com/hobokennow/index.ssf/2008/11/free_coffee.html
http://www.nj.com/hobokennow/index.ssf/2008/11/after_voting_its_time_to_canva.html
http://www.nj.com/hobokennow/index.ssf/2008/11/grassroot_efforts.html
http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2008/11/journal_square_and_the_polls.html

Check out Rockefeller Center tonight as NBC lights up states according to their political orientation.

Mock vote

T minus two days. America is excited, ...even the underage.

Mock the Vote- See who young Americans are voting for HERE.

Looks like the blonde got it right in this scenario.

*Reed and Lily Zimmermann

Proud to be an American

Every 4th of July in St. Louis they play "I'm proud to be an American" while my cousins and I watch the fireworks underneath the "Gateway to the West" (aka the St. Louis arch) alongside the Mississippi River.


Really how much more American can you get than that scene? It's right out of a novel, except it's better because it's real.

I've seen propaganda videos using this song to support the war in Iraq and though it makes sense to use this song- it makes me sort of sad. I don't look at this song for political reasons, it's a corny patriotic song that my cousins and I belt loudly out once a year.

In short, to me this song unites people, brings us (my family) together with the hundreds of others standing along the Mississippi to watch the Fair St. Louis- I just never thought it'd be used to divide.

Looking at the lyrics it was clearly chosen for a reason.

*Fireworks by: Eric Zimmermann
*Arch pulled from here

Looking ahead

Looking at my own pole, I don't think I realized how soon around the corner the election actually is happening. I mean, I feel like it's been election season since last summer. Just 12 days until Americans will get to "make a difference" by casting their ballots.

Tell me what you think of the American voting system? Do you agree with the electoral college? First past the post?

If any state screws up counting votes this year, which state do you think it will be?

Which state do you think will be the closest?

What state do you live in and which way do you think it will swing...red or blue?

What they think

"I'm voting for John McCain for several reasons. First I know who he is and what he stands for. He answers questions directly. Secondly, there's no better commander in chief than a former POW who currently has two sons stationed in Iraq. Thirdly, he isn't going to raise corporate taxes that will send American jobs overseas. And lastly, he wrote a nice letter to my son --- what a way to get a mom's vote!" - NANCY, DALLAS, TX

And just for fun, here's what my 7 year old brother and 4 year old sister have to say...

"I am for Obama and my Pink Bear is for McCain." - LILY

"I support John McCain because he is a Republican and a brave soldier. Also, I do not like that Obama tells parents to turn off TV and video games." - REED

Endorsement, baseball and skit...

Colin Powell, perhaps one of the most esteemed men to work for our government in the last two decades, endorsed Obama. Donations soar.

Sox lost to Tampa Bay, leaving Tampa to play the Phillies in the World Series. Below is a photo of the Mike Timlin with his son packing up his locker.



Palin made her own appearence on SNL. See Fox News coverage HERE. Watch Sarah rock out to Amy Poehler rapping about Alaska.












*Powell picture from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Amy McConnell Schaarsmith
*Red Sox photo from the Boston Globe, Suzanne Keiter
*Palin picture grabbed from NBC Dallas affiliate