I'm going to start looking for locusts soon!

There is a biblical rainstorm brewing outside and the power just twinkled out for a moment. ¡Hola Ike! Actually, not sure if it is residuals from Ike or just another thunderstsorm. At the current precipitation rate, however, I starting to wonder if my coffee table would make a seaworthy vessel.
Acts of God aside, this weekend is a big holiday weekend here in Mexico. Many of my coworkers took off Friday, Monday, and Tuesday to travel for Mexican Independence Day. I think it is equivalent to the 4th of July in the U.S. The streets and buildings have been draped in red, white, and green all month. (I especially like the red, white & green pinwheels on each table in the food court of my building -- complete with Mexican flags pasted to the center! Note to self: take one.) I wonder if there will be a parade down the middle of Reforma...hmm... It is nice to know that Americans aren't the only people in the world to get this excited about their national independence day.
Sadly, though, my impression of Mexican politics has been quite different. I was talking to one of my friends here last weekend, and told him some of the latest on Sarah Palin. (Aside: still wondering if McCain actually met the woman before putting her on the ticket...did he think her daughter just had a serious muffin-top problem? I digress...) My friend seemed surprised that I had any interest in politics. Evidently, Americans are world-renowned for political ignorance and apathy. I asked my friend if he kept up with politics in Mexico. Although he does vote, he doesn't have a lot of faith in the system here, citing corruption as a rampant problem. Another of my Mexican friends told me not to even bother with any politicians because it is all "fiction".
I understand where they are coming from. Yes, there is corruption in politics. That is not unique to Mexico, and the U.S. is not immune. Yes, politicians make promises they know they won't keep. How long has the republican party been promising to overturn Roe v. Wade? I do not believe that it will ever be overturned. It drums up enormous support for the republicans when they start ranting about saving the babies. (No, the republicans do not have a plan for how to feed, house, or clothe those babies when they get here...unless food, clothing, and shelter are going to 'trickle down' from the big corporations...is that "The Hand-me-down Theory of Economics"? Again, digress...) But no matter what your political beliefs, I think it is of dire importance that every eligible person exercise their right to vote. Yes, you may have to wait in line. Yes, you may live in a state that will go to the Republican/Democratic party no matter what. I have three words for you: suck it up. I live in Texas. I think I was one of approximately 7 people in the Lone Star state to vote for both Gore in 2000 and Kerry in 2004. In 1992, the first presidential election after I turned 18, I drove over 60 miles in the state of Kansas in the pouring rain leaving at 6:30AM to wait in line for 45 minutes to vote for Bill Clinton. I think it may have been uphill both ways. Kansas has gone republican consistently since...well...before 1980...and 1992 was no exception. My point in that exercise was that the election was for the highest office in the land, and it was important, even if I wasn't on the "winning" side of Kansas's electoral votes. (Plus, George H.W. is a ninny.) (The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.)
Well, the rain has finally slowed down here. I didn't intend for this post to be a tiny political storm of its own. But, there we are.
One last thing -- why is it that I can get the Minnesota/Montana State college football game, but can't get Monday Night Football with my cable here? Hey Sky Cable -- if I wanted to watch soccer, I would live in...wait...never mind.

Keep paying attention!