The local House campaign is between the encumbent Republican, Thelma Drake, and the Democratic challenger, Glenn Nye. Both started right off with vicious attacks. Drake responds to my congress.org complaints with good letters. Do not agree with a lot of her views but she seems to have good reasons for her stands. But it seemed to me that Nye started the attacks. Their stands on the issues breaks about even. Do not like to vote against a candidate instead of for someone, but I think Drake will get mine here.

There is a Senate campaign between Mark Warner and James Gilmore. Both ex-Governors of Virginia. This is a good campaign, not a bunch of real attacks from Warner, just good “look at what I have done” ads. A few from Gilmore but not really vicious - yet. In this one, I will probably vote for Warner because of his accomplishments as Governor and for his positive ads. Nice to vote for someone.

The Presidential campaign is nothing but wallowing in pig slop. Is it possible to vote against both of them?

A month or so ago, a friend of our daughters was telling about how Facebook gave her a way to find classmates from her high school. Have not had any luck doing that. Do not want to support stuff like classmates.com that inundates us with ads so did not go that route.

Anyway, signed up with Facebook. No high school buddies came forth but it did enhance my communication with children and grandchildren. And brought forth some thoughts about communication in 2008.

Remember when in the 60's and 70's, I was running evening study halls (taught at Virginia Episcopal School, a boy's boarding school) once or twice a week. I had a metal clipboard that would close. Wrote letters to my Mother while walking around the study hall. The boy's thought I was “taking names and notes”. But Mom got regular, newsy letters and study hall stayed orderly. Did not make enough phone calls. She told us about that.

Things have changed, however. If we want to communicate with the new generations, we will have to accept the way they do it. There were comments on some internet sites that emails, IM's, etc. would erode communications. Beg to differ, they add new dimensions. We still do not get enough phone calls. They do call regularly but it is never enough. Hardly ever get a good old fashioned hand written letter even though we still do that every so often. But the emails more than make up for that. Two of our daughters work in front of a computer and welcome a chance to email. The other daughter has long drives to work and talks on her cell phone. Another one of them new-fangled gadgets that we did not have back in the good ol' days.

Anyway, email and cell phones are a good thing. As is Facebook. Another communication avenue, friends and pictures and circles. A good thing. We have not gotten into IM's, yet. Need to do that. I know the children and grandchildren do it back and forth. And Myspace?

And if our grown children, in their thirties and forties, do this, think what the grandchildren do. Thanks mostly to Facebook, we get a chance to see their lives and friends. Much more than we ever would have if not for Facebook They respond to Facebook where getting something back from a letter or email, even a gift, is next to impossible. When I was in high school and college, the only stuff I responded to came from a chicky-chicky-boom-boom.

Well, the bottom line is, any communication is a good thing. And it is time for us old geezers to move up to the 20th Century.

Will Rogers said that all candidates look good until they are elected. We know that both candidates are liars. What will happen after the election? Here is a thing I got from Cousin Charles that shines a bright spotlight on one of my fears about this great national experiment:

“While walking down the street one day, a U.S. Senator is tragically hit by a truck and dies.

His soul arrives in Heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance. “Welcome to Heaven.” says St. Peter “Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see such a high official in these parts, you see, so we are unsure about what to do with you.”

“No problem” says the Senator “Just let me in.”

“Well. I'd like to but we have orders from higher up. What we will do is have you spend one day in Hell and one in Heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity.”

“Really. I've made up my mind. I want to be in Heaven” says the Senator.

“I am sorry but we have our rules.” And St. Peter escorts the Senator to the elevator and sends him down, down, down. The door opens and he finds himself in the middle of a beautiful green golf course. In the distance is the club house and standing in front are all of his deceased friends and other politicians who had worked with him. Everyone is happy and in evening dress and all run to greet him.They shake his hand and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people. A friendly game of golf and then lobster, caviar, champagne.

Also present is the devil, a really friendly guy having a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are having so much fun that before they realize it, the time has past and it is time to go. Everyone gives him a hearty farewell as the elevator door closes.

St. Peter greets him “Now it is time to visit Heaven.”.

Another twenty four hours pass with the Senator joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud singing and playing their harps. He has a good time, the hours pass, and St. Peter returns.

“Now that you have spent a day in Heaven and another in Hell, you must chose your eternity.”

The Senator reflects for a moment “Well I never thought I would say it before. Heaven was delightful but I think I would be better off in Hell.”

So St. Peter escorts the elevator down. The doors open and he stands in front of the Devil in a barren land covered with garbage and waste. All of his friends, filthy and dressed in rags, are picking it up and putting it in black plastic bags while more rains down from above.

“I don't understand” stammers the Senator, “Yesterday there was a golf course and clubhouse. We had champagne and caviar, danced and had a great time. Now it is a wasteland full of trash and garbage. All my friends are miserable. What happened?”

The Devil looks at him ans says.....

Yesterday we were campaigning. Today you voted.

The checkoff list is getting more complex in some ways, more obvious in others. Several less complex items:

Science. Based on Scientific American's summation, a slight advantage to Obama. Scientific American, Physics Today, etc., try to be impartial but many of the contributors have definite – even passionate – liberal leanings so the basis of this judgement is not completely trustworthy. Read over some of the articles, too much to go over in a few sentences.

The last debate. Both candidates were good and both lied through their teeth. Based on their answers, a draw. Obama looked a little too smooth. Would you buy a used car from this man? McCain a little too combative and unsettled. But if I have to make a judgement, Obama looked more presidential. His campaign is focused and well organized. McCain's is scattered and poorly run. Obama gets an OK check on this.

And this morning, Colin Powell gave a very well stated reason why he wants to vote for Obama. See the interview on Meet The Press. Could not have said it better myself. And am a big Colin Powell fan. That gives him a great big check, with a large, indelible marker.

There is a direction to this vector.

Just had to post this. One of my daughters had it on her Facebook:

Yes, I do Facebook. You can be my friend, too. Search Si.