Why is it I only eat cranberries on Thanksgiving? Any other time... gross. Thanksgiving... excellent addition to the turkey.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. After a refreshing one day Holiday break, I am back to the work grind and… loving every minute? Did anyone do anything special and/or fun for Thanksgiving this year? I did the same thing I have done for 23 years. The family hopped in the car, drove to Menomonie, Wisconsin and enjoyed a feast of epic proportions at my Aunt Velma’s house. It is definitely a slice of Americana. The women huddle in the kitchen area putting the final touches on their pecan pies and other assorted deliciousness. There are many hugs, a little bit of gossip, and lots of smiles. The men gather in the other room to watch football and comment on the once again sorry state of the Detroit Lions. Naturally there is a lot of friendly trash talking between the assorted Packers, Vikings, and Bears fans and everybody always has a good time. This Saturday I will celebrate Thanksgiving with my Dad’s side of the family.

1. It is looking bleak for Democrat Al Franken to win the senate seat in Minnesota. Wednesday, the State Canvassing Board rejected Franken’s attempt to count once rejected absentee ballots. This is of course a huge win for Norm Coleman. In case you were wondering why the absentee ballots were rejected, there are four legal reasons for an election judge to reject an absentee ballot: a voter's signature doesn't match up with her registration card; the return address on the mailed ballot doesn't match up with his address on the ballot; the ballot was sent to the wrong precinct; or the person already voted in person. I can understand the last one. You can’t and shouldn’t be able to vote twice. But the other reasons are pretty vague. If I want to vote but I accidentally send my absentee ballot to the wrong precinct, then my right as an American citizen is just discarded? In Minnesota, there are 6500 ballots that fall under this criterion. With Coleman hanging onto only a 200 vote lead, you can understand why Franken desperately wants these absentee ballots to be counted because there is a chance that in the 6500 might be enough Franken votes to give him the lead. Franken’s lawyers are already promising that they are planning on suing the State of Minnesota. No doubt that many of these absentee ballots are from young people or immigrants who would likely vote for Franken. There is never a dull moment in Minnesota politics. Naturally, Cyclonejohn will keep you posted.

2. My thoughts and prayers to go out to the people of Mumbai, India after Friday’s terrorist attack. I just cannot understand or offer any sympathy to terrorist organizations. What a bunch of cowards! There have been many examples through the world’s history where groups have banded together to fight an evil dictator (Cuba, Italy, Spain), malevolent monarchies (French Revolution, American Revolution) but there methods were very different than let’s say Al Qaeda. Let’s use Cuba as an example and I will simplify things here as not to bore you the reader. Cuba was run by an evil Spanish puppet government and their leader, General Fulgenico Batista. Castro did not just organize bombings and kill innocent people but instead freed Cuba from their Spanish chokehold by declaring war on Cuba’s existing military. Let’s use the American revolution as example number two. John Adams and Thomas Jefferson didn’t just organize a bunch of rubes to kill random and innocent Brits, but instead attacked British military until finally becoming their own country. My point is that there is a major difference between ethical revolution and terrorism. These cowards in India, and much of the Middle East are nothing but brainwashed thugs whose only goal is to instill fear. They are not heroes but instead meek deadbeats. America is doing their best in the first on terror but other countries are not doing enough.