Today is election day, and as this blimp (seen hovering over Milan) says - Vote! If you won’t vote then quit complaining!

The other day we were talking about Bio-Diesel, and I started wondering what happened to Philadelphia’s Fry-O-Diesel. I wasn’t really looking for the answer, but I stumbled upon it just now over at Fred’s. According to this month’s Philadelphia Magazine, it seems as though the Hon. Angel Cruz(sic) put the kabosh on the entire project!

I know what you’re thinking - why would Cruz consider halting the making of potential heating oil from trap grease when regular #2 Heating Oil is priced at an all time high, and PGW just raised their natural gas rates by 30%! I have no idea either, but I’m sure our distinguised representative - whose personal history lists only “Married to Maria”, and who is a graduate (I assume, though it doesn’t say) of North East Catholic High - has some grand plan for helping all those unfortunate souls in Philadelphia who are forced annualy to choose between heat and food.

So Sam wanted to stay up late tonight and watch a movie - Fahrenheit 911! I’d actually kind of forgotten about the movie, and how much I despise George W. Bush, so it was good to review both those things. Sam didn’t say much while we watched, he just took it all in. When the movie showed kids playing, people dining at outdoor cafés, and basically living normal lives (in Iraq) he turned to me and said, “why did we attack them, they weren’t doing a thing to us.” I really didn’t know what to say - there were reasons, at the time: They were hiding Osama, they supported terrorism, they were developing weapons of mass distruction, we had to strike them before the struck us… They were all lies! Lies that have led to the deaths of 1668 American soldiers to date. Not to mention the debilating injuries to many thousand more soldiers. Plus, who knows how many innocent Iraquies have died so far. And what do we have to show for it? Are we better off? Safer? More respected internationally? Ha!

All these years, and I finally get a reserved parking spot! I voted today, for the first time - ever! Albeit, there was very little to vote for as a registered Democrat in Pennsylvania. But I was exercising my rights as a free soul. I figure if we’re trying to sell democracy in Iraq and abroad I better put my money where my mouth is. Sadly, I’d venture to say that 90% of those who support the war won’t be voting in this non-election year election. I wonder why they don’t practice what they preach? Oh yeah, I guess it’s kind of like we won’t let you kill babies, because that’s immoral, but we have no problem with you killing inmates…

In another sign that there is no religious right in Canada, and that they’ve got a far getter grip on social issues, the CBC is reporting that teenagers in Quebec now have access to birth control by merely visiting their school nurses! I’d like to see that fly, or even be proposed, in the heartland!

Yesterday was Tax Day here in the US. Hopefully everyone got their forms filed, and can anticipate their refund within the next 6 weeks! The post office was doing their part to help, yesterday, they had mobile units set up on the 30th Street bridge just to take tax forms.

In case you didn't realize it, I don't support the War In Iraq or the War on Terror. I feel that they're both just Wag-The-Dog-esque tales to get you to support a Baffoon. That aside, though, I think it is incredibly hypocritical of the army to be bringing murder charges against soldiers, in combat, in Iraq...

All I can say is Ugh! I was so very disappointed with the rest of the nation, and the way they voted last night. I honestly didn't think that they knew what they had done. That is until the Bush administration shared their plan for a bold new country (depicted above) with me today. I don't necessarily agree with the direction that they are taking the country, but at least they've laid out a plan...

I had lunch with a politically shortsighted friend the other day... He refused to ignore the major issues with his poor choice for a political candidate, and tried to sway me. I was, actually, a little surprised at him. Amongst other things I said that we can't continue to alienate the rest of the world, it's going to bite us in the butt. Sadly, he didn't believe we were making enemies abroad. Today, on the CBC site there is an article about how every president (save one), since Franklin Roosevelt has gone to Ottawa and addressed that nation's paliament.

By JEFFREY SIMPSON

Tuesday, November 2, 2004, Page A17

The United States is this amazing country that can send a mission to Mars, crack the genetic code, pinpoint a military target from miles above Earth, gather Nobel prizes every year, produce brilliant novels and wonderful music -- but struggles to organize properly a national election....