Ouch. I am almost feeling bad for Gov. Romney

Almost.    It is so close.    I can sense it like an iceberg somewhere out there in the mist.   

Also, since I can't seem to think of anything else to say, here is a photo of Jen.  Enjoy.

Standard deviations.

Plus or minus one shoe

Easy enough to explain this away as an exercise in vanity, but honestly, who cares why?

So debate number two is done and I have to say, while punches were not pulled by either candidate, they were some pretty wild swings.  I think I counted a couple jabs even at the moderator and one instance of calling the audience (and those asking questions) a bit of a bunch of complainers.  Plenty of opportunities for fact checking I'm sure, such as the 4 year comment which Ryan wasn't shy about bringing up during the Vice Presidential debate (and which was just as un-proveable then) and the decrease in drilling (which is actually a net increase in US crude production, but a decrease in drilling leases)

The online discussions are as per usual focused on, well, anything but substance, and I have to wonder who really watches these?   According to a joint study by Kate Kenski of the University of Arizona and Natalie Jomini Stroud of the University of Pennsylvania, the typical audience leanings are higher educated, higher paid individuals who already have significant partisan affiliation.

I watched, and I admit, I wanted almost more than anything to see the visceral jabs that the debate almost reached.  I was disappointed when I felt it was more slap and tickle than knock-down drag-out slug fest.  I wanted the spectacle.  As much as anyone does and perhaps more.  I had dreams of spending time going over the (admittedly few) substantive points of the debate to fact check, or at least solidify my own opinion, but I find all I really wanted is to look online for the highlights on who dropped the verbal uppercut to who's chin during round 3.  When the moderator stepped in (like any good ref should) and when the moderator was nowhere to be found.

Reminded me quite pointedly of my recent and  very first experience with Major League soccer.  Recently went to a Portland Timbers game, and the parallels are impossible to ignore.  Teams, rules, umpires to ensure them, coaches, post-game wrap up, audience participation (I think there was a nekkid spectator that pretended to have a question for Romney but ran onto the debate stage even) really what we are witnessing is a ball game.  Soccer, Football, Baseball, you name it, this is a giant red vs blue sport, and we are lapping it up like bloodthirsty cattle.

Not that I mind.  I still haven't fact-checked a damned thing since the debate ended.  I'm still chillin looking at highlights of jabs.  Just um, fascinating.

So there is  an overstuffed leather chair, an aged television, and many framed paintings on a plaster wall.  There is a vintage telephone, the kind with thee hammer that strikes between two bells on the front.  a light illuminates the room.

Nothing to see here... Move along.  No seriously folks, I've not put a single thing worth seeing here in this text.