Without further ado, the non-partisan competitive Election Night drinking game. The players come to consensus on which network they’re using for results. If they can’t come to consensus, they have to use CNN (if the party is predominantly Republican) or Fox News (if the party is predominantly Democratic). Everyone predicts the winner and his percentage of the vote in 15 battleground states. If you get the winner wrong, drink! If you get the margin of victory wrong by more than 1%, drink! ...

11:30: 2-0 (original). We are FUCKED. Also, I am apparently wrong about that whole four error thing. It can happen every game, although I really rather wish it wouldn’t.

Some things that are important about the just concluded Game One (original) of the World Series: That could well have been the worst starting pitching the Cardinals will have to face this series. Wakefield is pretty bad when he’s not on his game. Four out of the remaining six games will feature Pedro Martinez and Curt Schilling, and while Pedro has certainly declined, there’s no question but that he’s better than Wakefield was today. The other two games are Lowe and Wakefield, both of whom are capable of raising the bar somewhat higher. ...

Add San Francisco (original) to the universal wireless list, or at least to the “we’d like to have universal wireless someday” list.

I’m going to be in Atlanta for LISA from November 13th to the 19th. Anyone else gonna be there? Dinner?

The most terrifying sentence in this Washington Post article about Kerry’s cabinet choices is this: “John Sasso, who was recently put on the Kerry plane to restore order and discipline, is making a move for chief of staff, too, campaign sources say.” In case anyone was under any false impressions, John Sasso is not a nicer person than Karl Rove. He just happens to be on Kerry’s side. It’s a pretty pro-Kerry article, by the by. The first few paragraphs are particularly beneficial — the article starts out with a joke about Kerry having a tough time making decisions, but then defuses the negative implications by pointing out that Kerry may well make the tough bi-partisan decision to put a Republican in as Secretary of State. That speculation also helps shore up Kerry’s image as a uniter who can fix the problems Bush has created. ...

Never did get around to talking about Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, did I? Well, I didn’t really like it that much. I didn’t mind the violence. I didn’t even find it very distressing. Yeah, there’s a lengthy scene during which a young woman gets electrocuted. I’ve seen True Lies; you can’t faze me. I also didn’t have any objection to the theme of the movie — “the desire for vengeance reduces everyone to the same primitive level.” ...

_You get a shiver in the dark _ _It’s been raining in the park but meantime _ South of the river you stop and you hold everything. So here’s what I said last year at this time. Kinda sucks to use up all the best words early; but I burn with a fierce bright joy in this moment, realizing that I was right, so very right, simply off by a year in the one small detail that matters most of all. ...

I just can’t let go tonight. Unsurprisingly. Check out the Nike commercial (original).

I’m gonna tell you a story I’m gonna tell you about my town I’m gonna tell you a big bad story, baby Aww, it’s all about my town Yeah, down by the river Down by the banks of the river Charles (aw, that’s what’s happenin’ baby) That’s where you’ll find me Along with lovers, fuggers, and thieves (aw, but they’re cool people) Well I love that dirty water Oh, Boston, you’re my home (oh, you’re the Number One place) ...