Finally, after 8 years of disastrous Bush-Cheney rule, yesterday’s election overthrew the Republicans totally. Barack Obama won the presidency in a landslide, and the Democrats increased their leads in both houses of Congress considerably. Although originally I was a supporter of Hillary Clinton because of her experience and knowledge, Obama has steadily impressed me during the campaign for his leadership, intelligence, and his ability to surround himself with knowledgeable people and actually listen to them.

I realize the county is in dire straits right now, partly because of the disastrous war in Iraq (which was based on a lie from the beginning and was never planned correctly at all) and partly because of the economy, so it is not likely that Obama or the Democratic Congress can turn things around immediately. But at least they can move this country back on the correct path instead of continuing down the road to disaster. I am hopeful but very cautious.

Yesterday was the annual ICC Family Diwali Dinner, and it was very successful. The officers did a good job, the families brought lots of food, and I think everybody enjoyed themselves. Activities like this really encourage me to continue my involvement with my clubs at school.

We have a four-day weekend due to the NJEA convention, with a few planned activities the first two days and hopefully a lot of time to catch up on my own writing this weekend, which would be nice.

Currently listening: I got two new progressive rock cds in the mail this week, and I am enjoying both of them: Mahavishnu Orchestra’s Birds of Fire and King Crimson’s Cirkus. Good stuff.

Currently reading: Unlike most “serious” sf fans, I have read very few of Robert A. Heinlein’s acclaimed “juvenile” novels of the 1950s, so in an attempt to make up that lack I am reading the SFBC collection Four Frontiers which contains the first four of Heinlein’s novels. I am starting with Rocketship Galileo and working forward from there.