Remember the maps with blue states and red states? Well, there’s been an almost complete reversal from 2004.

2004 Election Results	November 2005 Approval Ratings
Also, the 2004 election isn’t quite so bad when you look at all of the purple on a local level, or all of the blue among younger voters.
2004 Election Results by County	2004 Election Results for 18-29 year-olds

One of the cool, wee things that was different in Europe this time was the ubiquity of wireless credit card terminals in restaurants. Instead of taking your card back to a cash register, the waiter brings it to your table, swipes the card, and prints the receipt right there while you watch.

I haven’t noticed the new gadgets catching on the US yet, but it’s a good idea. When I waited tables, the neighboring strip mall had a Chilli’s where several waiters were busted for using their customers’ credit cards at the mall across the street. It’s something to think about the next time your waiter takes forever to return with your card and receipt…

And now for some gratuitous product placement… If you ever have sinus or nasal issues, go check something called Sinus Buster. It’s an all-natural nasal spray that contains capsicum, or hot peppers! While the idea of pepper spray up your nose a little lot odd, this stuff really does work. Basically, the pepper momentarily shocks your nerve endings and then deadens the pain. It also flushes out all of the nasty stuff that accumulates in your sinuses. I use the stuff to cure and then prevent sinus infections, and it’s also supposed to work for migraines and PMS headaches. </end commercial>

This Joco housewife at Muddy’s just backed her SUV into a motorcycle. While that alone is a bad way to start the day, the motorcycle’s owner just happened to be sitting right there at a table on the sidewalk and just happened to be a lawyer. Having coffee with a lawyer buddy. Ouch. The guy was pissed but at least he wasn’t a dick about it.

My buddy David Everson finally got himself one of those web site thingies, and I’m only slightly pissed that he didn’t let me make it for him

www.davideverson.com