I've heard speculation that the intent is a blockade rather than a bombing. Or a really aggresive blockade that provokes Iranian retaliation to give an excuse for a a bombing. Trying to predict what crazy people will do makes my head hurt.

Congress is setting aside $20 million for a victory party for Iraq/Afghanistan. They seem awfully confident.

In funny future news (brought back by time traveling reporters) Avant brings on the funny:

[link]

19 Year Old Diebold Technician Wins U.S. Presidency

By Ion Zwitter, Avant News Editor

Washington, D.C., November 5, 2008

In a dramatic development that has come as a surprise to pundits and the public alike, a youthful technician with Diebold, Inc. has emerged as the unlikely winner of the 2008 U.S. Presidential election. The president-elect, 19 year old Billy Pustule of Green, Ohio, reached via SMS at the garage apartment by his mother's house in which he currently resides, said he was "real psyched about being the president" and "had big plans for the inauguration party".

Veteran political observers including Seymour Shackleton of the Miami-Dade Political Coroner have expressed what amounts to sheer disbelief at the unanticipated outcome.

"To my knowledge, this is the first presidential election in American history won by an entirely unknown write-in candidate," Mr. Shackleton said. "No one seems to have even heard of Billy Pustule. A Google of his name turns up only five listings, all of them Amazon.com reader comments on anthologies of 19th century erotic cartoons. How the president-elect managed to build a sufficiently large grass-roots groundswell to clinch the election while operating in complete anonymity is, frankly, beyond me."

Huh. I just looked outside for the first time since 9:50 this morning. Turns out it's raining.

Good thing I have a trip to plan and a Teppy to insult.

And Guilder to frame for it?

Ack ack ack. Made it to the gym with no issues, but then was in a MASSIVE hailstorm coming back to my apartment. Get home to find that we're in the middle of a tornado warning too, but thankfully it looks like the worst of it has gone by.

Everything all right over there, Cashmere?

What makes marinara sauce different from all the other red sauces on the grocery shelves? Other than they have extra stuff?

We're holding up, thanks, Ailleann. Nasty, nasty weather, though. The worst storm cell was spotted in Hilliard but it's headed this way. Kids are in the basement playroom and I'm on the computer down there. We're nice and snug.

Tornado sirens are going off again. I think I'm shutting the computer off for a while.

Good good. We've still got sirens here, and I'm holding ready to head down the stairs in case it's necessary. But I've got WeatherUnderground on, and I think I'm good for now.

Hailstorms SUCK.

Yikes. I hope you all stay safe.