Not only a decent movie, but pretty much how often I've thought about putting something new here. Just haven't done it until today.

This new year has been an interesting one so far. New president. New Arizona governor. New challenges. And a lot of the same old same old.

Can't have everything.

But we can at least have a new entry here with more to come. And soon. Really.

        

Today, people the world over observe some variation on what we here in the United States call Veterans Day. It's a day to remember the incredible sacrifice and honorable service our military personnel perform every day to keep all of us safe and free.

Thank you to all who have served our country in the armed services. For those wishing to find organized observations today in Arizona, there's a helpful statewide list to guide you.

        

Yes, you, in the white sedan who apparently didn't believe that red light on southbound 7th Street at Roosevelt in Phoenix could possibly have been meant for you, the Red Means Stop Coalition is an organization that shouldn't have to exist, but does because of people like you.

Read about it, and the next time you decide you have to floor it through an already red light that you could have easily stopped for, maybe you'll think better of that decision.

        

Relive the evening with Comedy Central's Indecision '08: America's Choice hosted by Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert.

        

Yes, it's Wednesday, November 5. That's about the only "new" we've got here in Maricopa County today.

We've still got two of the most self-serving and spiteful men in charge of law enforcement in office, Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas and Maricopa County Sheriff Joseph Arpaio, the self-proclaimed "Toughest Sheriff in America". Yes, the man of pink underwear and green bologna for convicts has been elected to an unprecedented fifth term, and the man who has his back no matter what he does wrong got elected to his second term.

Frankly, their opponents weren't particularly strong, but just how much more self-aggrandizing grandstanding do we need to put up with from these two before the electorate here wakes up and gives them the boot?

At least four more years' worth, apparently.

        

Arizona, you never cease to disappoint me.

I understand getting behind Senator McCain in his presidential bid. The man has never lost an election in this state, and he's kept that record intact.

During a gracious, and what appeared to be a heartfelt concession speech to President-Elect Obama last night, some of his supporters showed just how classless they were by booing Obama. Not just saying "NOOOOOOO" like most supporters would say when their candidate concedes. They booed.

McCain rebuked them and calmed them, and for that I greatly admire the man. He ended his campaign on a high note. May he serve out his last two years of his Senate term with honor and determination, then gracefully retire and spend well-earned time with his family.

The results here in Arizona with the presidential race doesn't surprise or particularly disappoint me, though I'm embarassed for the state with the above mentioned supporters' reactions. No, what really gets me is the overwhelming support of making discrimination constitutional in Arizona.

We have now defined marriage as a union between one man and one woman. Period.

This proposition passed by a vote of 56 to 44 percent. Just how homophobic do you have to be to support a measure like this?

As a straight male with a failed marriage in his past and with a long-term relationship now, I do not understand how two men or two women marrying each other threatens me or anyone else. How does having two people vow their love and commitment for each other make anyone else's marriage less important or less real?

Arizona, you really blew it on this one.

        

        

In case you're still undecided and you want a quick recap of the presidential candidates' views, just watch this...

        

On November 1, 1985 I lived my first official cancer-free day. I have no memory of what I did on that day. All I know is the day before, my radiation techs Michelle and Rochelle zapped me for the very last time, and they were dressed as clowns for Halloween while they did it.

They were quite a pair, and they kept me going through more than 4 weeks of radiation therapy.

Over the past few days, I thought of what I might write here to commemorate the beginning of my 24th year free of Hodgkin's Disease. I had something pithy and philosopical worked out, but that's just not me.

So, to celebrate, today I have already re-fixed a shower (note to self: do not overtighten water flow stems as that will destroy the washers and defeat the purpose of getting new stems in the first place). I'll be getting a new battery for the car as this summer's heat, and the continuing fall heat, have pretty well killed its ability to hold a charge for more than an hour or two. I'll do a little clothes shopping (I need new pants), get some cat litter, figure out the layout of my home office, do a little work on my company's website and database from home (partly to prove I can despite the fears of our company's president that my job is impossible to do without being in the office 8 to 5 Monday through Friday), and I might have a couple slices of pepperoni pizza for lunch for the hell of it.

I might even figure out a way to blog without creating huge run-on sentences, but I wouldn't count on it.

Screw being philosophical. I've got a life to live.

        

I was in the elevator at work today when a guy got on while he was talking on his cellphone. Apparently, he was trying to get an interview for a job. He told the person he was speaking with, "I'm gonna literally call her and send her an email."

Whoa, bubba. Slow down, now. Before you go literally calling anyone, maybe you should try figuratively calling her. Test the waters a bit, you know? Maybe literally calling someone isn't for you, but if you just dive in and do it, that's something you'll never be able to take back.

And literally emailing someone? No, no, no. Try virtually emailing her instead. Honestly, you won't regret it, but if you go all out and literally email her, you might have more regrets than you can literally shake a stick at.