This Health Care Bill is an Act of Domestic Terror - by Colin Gawel

As loyal readers know, Pencilstorm is not a political website. We prefer to stick to serious subjects like movies, rock n roll and pro wrestling. However, I don't consider access to health care a political issue. Last I checked, sickness strikes both Republican and Democratic families. Both cancer and sprained ankles are strictly bi-partisan, so I am going to weigh in briefly with a couple of thoughts on the health care bill being voted on today in the House of Commoners.

As every single person (except one) knows, health care is a really complicated issue. Our whole system has been gradually erected on a swamp, so unless we rebuild the whole thing on a solid foundation, it's always going to have flaws. Until that day, we are always going to be propping it up. Or to put in Monty Python terms, our system is always in danger of falling into the swamp.

So let's skip the complicated stuff and save you some time. I am going to give you a quick quiz and by the end you will know if this health care bill is good for you.

Colin's Three Question Heath Care Quiz:

1) Are you under 35 years of age?  y / n 

2) Can you pay cash in advance for either your children's college education or your parents' long term care in a retirement home? y / n

3) Are you a member of Congress with guaranteed health benefits for life? y / n 

If you answered "No" on all three of these questions, this bill is a very bad idea and you need to call your representative today and voice your concerns. My rep is Steve Stivers and his # is 202 225 2015  I will be calling later and respectfully expressing my opinion. Remember, these folks work for us, not the other way around. 

And it's not like I'm out on a limb on this. The AMA and the AARP along with many prominent leaders on both sides of the aisle think this is a fiscally damaging and needlessly cruel bill capable of making life miserable for millions and millions of people. 

You don't think the AARP crosses their t's, dots their i's and even their j's when it comes to researching heath care? You bet your sweet ass they do. You want the complicated stuff?  Read this. or this   

And in closing, just to show that I too have narcissistic qualities that could one day lead me to the Oval office, I would like to quote myself. 

"Even Jesus would surely agree, to make somebody decide between their money and their life, that's as tough a chemotherapy"  - me

Columbus singer/songwriter Colin Gawel and The Lonely Bones released this track earlier in the year. With President Obama's health care speech of September 9th it resonates now more than ever. Find about more about Colin Gawel and his music at www.colingawel.com

Colin Gawel owns Colin's Coffee and is a musician. If somehow this bill passes, he and other hard working small business owners and musicians will be really screwed. He also plays in the band Watershed and The League Bowlers. You can read about him in the book Hitless Wonder. 

Giving Us the Roundabout - by Andra Gillum

I grew up in Dublin, so I’m always amazed by the city’s growth.  In my day, there was literally only one elementary school, one middle school and one high school.  Now there are dozens. Consequently, the traffic has gotten much worse.

The City of Dublin seems to have decided that roundabouts are their best solution.  They started by building smaller ones all over town.  I guess they were easing us into it.  Then came the monster.  Last fall, they installed a huge roundabout at the intersection of Rt. 161 and Riverside Drive.  I have maneuvered that monster several times.

I almost said that I have survived that monster several times, but it seemed a bit melodramatic. The point is, I don’t like roundabouts.  Truth be told, I don’t totally understand how to use them.

Best I can tell, none of us really knows how to use them.  That’s the problem.  Some drivers are way too aggressive, surging ahead into the circle whether there’s traffic or not.  Other drivers are way too timid, as they sit there waiting and waiting for all traffic to clear.  They’re looking for the perfect opportunity that never comes.

Roundabouts originated in England around 1963.  The first US roundabout was built in Las Vegas in 1990.  Today, there are over 5,000 roundabouts in the world, mostly in England, France and the U.S.

Now don’t confuse a roundabout with a traffic circle: they are two entirely different things. Who knew?  Traffic circles are much larger than roundabouts and often have traffic signs and/or traffic signals inside them.  Cars also travel through traffic circles at much faster speeds.
I have a tough enough time with the roundabouts.  I fear I’d never survive something filled with lights and signals, all at 50 miles per hour.

Roundabouts are designed with a raised island in the center intended to slow cars down to a steady 15-20 miles per hour.  I’m sure I‘ve seen cars whipping through much faster than that, and I have certainly seen cars come to a complete halt.

And don’t confuse a roundabout or a traffic circle with a traffic calming circle.  Those are something else entirely.  Like speed bumps and their larger brother speed humps, traffic calming circles are meant to slow us down.  They are found mainly in suburban neighborhoods.  I have driven around several of them, and I’ve never felt calmed.

Since no one I know seems to like roundabouts, I researched why road engineers keep adding them, especially in Dublin.  Someone there must be getting some big kickbacks.

According to the Federal Highway Commission,  roundabouts increase traffic capacity 30-50%. They also reduce major collisions  40-60%, and traffic injuries by 35-80%.  (Can you authenticate a statistic that broad?)  

I can’t find any statistics on fender-benders in roundabouts, but my money says they are much higher.  I wonder if 3C Body Shop is behind this proliferation of roundabouts?  If so, they should just own up to it.  How about naming rights?  The Dublin 161 roundabout brought to you by Frank’s Auto Body.

Even if statistics support the theory that roundabouts are quicker and safer, that assumes that drivers know how to use them properly.  I think that’s the problem.  We are all a little confused. Surge ahead?  Yield?  Switch lanes?  Stay in one lane? Slow down?  Speed up?  Stop entirely? Where’s the manual for these?

And what about pedestrians?  How do they get through the roundabout?  Do they run around the perimeter until they find their exit?  This seems dangerous.  More like a game of Frogger (or Crossy Road for you Millenials) than an efficient system.

Bicycles?  I don’t think they stand a chance.  Do they stay in the inside lane or outside lane or cut straight through?

At some point, we need to start teaching how to drive roundabouts in Driver’s Ed classes.  I would probably take a night class.   It would definitely be more useful than the traffic cones I learned to maneuver through back in the 1980's.

Andra Gillum is a free-lance writer from Upper Arlington, Ohio, and the author of Doggy Drama and Puppy Drama.  Both books are available at www.doggydrama.com, or pick one up at Colin’s coffee.  Send your comments and feedback to andra@doggydrama.com.  

A Yes/No Question to Rep. Steve Stivers Concerning the National Security Council - by Colin Gawel

To the Honorable Steve Stivers:

Dear Representative Stivers, As you undoubtedly know President Trump recently reorganized the National Security Council by elevating his own chief political strategist to a position while simultaneously demoting both the Director of National Intelligence and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Eliminating the military and intelligence from the Security Council is unprecedented in U.S. history. As is having a Political Advisor serving on the the council in any capacity.

I called your Hilliard office today and had a very nice conversation with one of your staffers and the question I have is this: With your extensive military and political background do you personally believe this reorganization by President Trump is in the best interests of our National security? Yes or no.  

Additionally,  I would be very interested in your personal opinion of the pros and cons of this new arrangement concerning the NSC. We can publish your response at pencilstormstory@gmail.com or just stop by Colin's Coffee when you have a moment to chat. The coffee is on me. 

Thank you for your time.

Respectfully,  Colin Gawel, 15th District, Ohio.

Colin Gawel does not represent the opinions of Pencilstorm.com. He does own a coffee shop and is a musician. He was recently profiled on PBS. You can watch the interview here. Or read about him in the book Hitless Wonder. 

Thank you for your time. 

Colin Gawel - owner of Colin's Coffee, 15th District of Ohio. 

You can email any response to pencilstormstory@gmail.com And I would be happy to publish it unedited. 

Watch the Video For "Still Love Christmas" and Request at CD102.5

It's time for the Andymanathon so fire up those phones, dial 614 221-1025 and request your favorite Colin Gawel or Watershed song!

Or text -- Request Still Love Xmas (or whatever song)  to: 68683

so the number is : 68683    and the message has to start with: Request

Do it often.

The title song to Colin Gawel and the Lonely Bones' December 2010 release. We shot the video at the "Still Love Christmas" release party at Rumba Cafe in Columbus, OH. COLINGAWEL.com

WWE Hell in a Cell - Best to Worst by Big Vin Vader

WWE Hell in a Cell    -    Best to Worst

Even with the near-oversaturation of Pay-Per-Views following WWE’s brand split, Hell in a Cell remains a highly-anticipated event.  While it was disappointing to learn that the show was RAW-specific, most of my doubts were squashed as the card played out.  With this year’s HIAC, WWE put on a PPV that actually made history and felt justified in its three hour-plus length.

The Best

Having the Women’s Championship match between Sasha Banks and Charlotte go on last was huge.  It was the first Women’s Division HIAC match, as well as the first time women have main-evented a PPV.  It was the absolute right call, taking things an enormous step forward from the days of the Divas Division.
    Sasha and Charlotte are two of the best athletes in the company, and they have a history of great matches throughout their rivalry.  The stakes were high, and their chemistry is undeniable.  Throw in the even taking place in Sasha’s hometown of Boston, and the crowd was completely fired up for the contest.
    Charlotte attacked Sasha as the cell was being lowered, starting a vicious brawl on the outside.  The most startling spot of the night followed shortly after, as Charlotte plucked Sasha from the cage wall and powerbombed her through the Spanish announce table.  It was shockingly brutal, seeming to injure Sasha’s back and put her out of action.  The teased forfeit took way too long, but it was more than justified by everything that followed.
    Rushing back into the ring just before her loss was finalized, Sasha kicked off an amazing, absolutely physical contest that easily took the top spot of the night.  The long-time rivals thoroughly demonstrated why they’re the best athletes RAW has, pulling out several impressive exchanges.  They made fantastic use of the cage and match stipulations, and a number of the spots were unlike anything I’ve seen in a HIAC match.  A few tables got destroyed, Sasha inventively used a chair to break Charlotte’s Figure Eight, and the psychology and selling were top-notch.
    The problem came with the finish, as Sasha’s devastated back gave out once again, allowing Charlotte to seize the upper hand and catch the pin with a surprise Natural Selection.  The combination of Sasha losing the title in her hometown as well as the abrupt nature of the conclusion totally deflated the crowd.  There weren’t even many jeers, just disappointed silence.  Definitely not the best call, but it ensures the rivalry will continue.  Regardless, the women outshined everyone else that night, which surprised no one, and really raised the stakes and profile of the division.  Hopefully this wasn’t a one-off and the Women’s Division can continue to headline future PPVs.

#2

Kevin Owens versus Seth Rollins for the Universal Title was the second most impressive match of the night, just as expected.  Even if their feud has felt somewhat half-assed, they’re both terrific workers and always capable of an impressive match.  Owens desperately needed a clean win to look like an effective champion, especially after his Chris Jericho-assisted win at Clash of Champions.  Rollins’ involvement has felt like he’s biding his time on the way to a feud with Triple H, so the cage match should have been the blow-off for the rivalry.
    The match picked up a fast pace from the beginning, delivering exactly what is expected of a HIAC match.  The whole bout was incredibly physical, and the wrestlers made excellent use of the cell itself, yet again pulling off a number of spots that haven’t been seen before.  Most notable were Owens hitting Rollins with a running cannonball splash against the chain link wall, and the champ getting powerbombed through two tables angled over the ropes and against the cell.
    The two maintained the masterful pace throughout, with an especially impressive high-speed exchange of kicks and teased finishers at the midway point.  The crowd was with them the whole time, even when Owens blinded the ref with a fire extinguisher, allowing Jericho to run in.  This wasn’t what I wanted to see, but they pulled it off, and Jericho acted mainly as a distraction, rather than interfering excessively.
    The match ended on a particularly savage note, with both wrestlers making good use of the ringside weapons.  Owens laid into Rollins with a series of vicious chair shots, finally putting him away with a powerbomb through the seats of two chairs.  It was a perfect end to such a physically impressive contest, and they made the right call in keeping the belt on Owens.

#3

Up next in the rankings was the Cruiserweight Title match between TJ Perkins and Brian Kendrick.  I was let down by their last encounter at Clash, mainly because it felt like a step down from the excellent Cruiserweight Classic.  I wasn’t ready to write them off though, and their meeting at HIAC was a great match, fast-paced and well-rounded.
    The company has taken time to build a feud between the two, relating to their long history together, and it helped immeasurably.  One of the biggest concerns for the Cruiserweight division was how such athletically-inclined performers would translate to the story-based elements of the WWE.  The use of this backstory allowed for real emotional involvement in the match and raised the stakes.
    There was little down time in the ten-minute match, and the entire contest was remarkably well-balanced.  Both men traded submissions and reversals, demonstrating a fast-paced display of mat wrestling tempered with select moments of impressive high-flying.  Also notable was Kendrick tying TJ’s hand wraps around the ropes to deliver more punishment.  He played up his desperation for the title masterfully, and his underhandedness worked to his advantage.
    The spark that seemed missing from their last PPV encounter was there, and it really felt like a meaningful fight between the two acquaintances.  Kendrick faking an injury to sucker TJ and steal the title was a legitimate surprise.  The entire match was exactly what I’d hoped for from the division and the only real problem is that the rivalry looks to continue.  They’ve had some good matches, but if that’s the case, it seems like they’re the only two men in the division that the company wants to give serious exposure to.  Hopefully some of the other Cruiserweights get the chance to shine in the coming months.

#4

Slightly lower in the rankings is the tag team match between Gallows & Anderson and Enzo & Cass.  It’s great to see Gallows & Anderson move on from their frustrating rivalry with the New Day.  They’re the top heel team on RAW, and they should be intimidating, not dressing up like doctors for bad comedy skits.  They need to be seen as a credible threat, and allowing them to move on to new challengers was a smart move.
    The match wasn’t too remarkable on its own, not even lasting seven minutes.  The wrestling was solid throughout, with Enzo & Cass getting in some nice work in particular.  It was most notable for finally giving Gallows & Anderson the opportunity to take the win on a PPV.  They put their competition away in a quick, brutal fashion, just as they should have been doing all along, and their intimidating aura was somewhat restored.  That said, the match could have easily been twice as long and given more time to develop.  It wasn’t bad by any stretch, hitting few sour notes, but both teams deserve the chance to put on a longer contest in the future.

#5

A few notches down on the scale was the Tag Team Title match between the New Day and Cesaro & Sheamus.  There was some buzz that the challengers stood a chance of dethroning the champs, but that was a long shot.  The commentary team is finally acknowledging Demolition’s 478-day, record-setting reign, which raises the question of whether the New Day will beat it or fall just short.
    The in-ring action wasn’t bad, and despite the thrown-together nature of their team, both Cesaro & Sheamus are talented enough to put on an entertaining match.  The New Day are all great wrestlers individually, but they’re hardly known for long, impressive PPV matches. On top of this, they haven’t had a credible threat to their championship in months.
    Cesaro & Sheamus did actually pose a threat, winning the match but not the championship when the New Day got themselves disqualified, escaping with their record intact.  Too much emphasis was placed on Cesaro and Sheamus bickering, but wresting was solid all-around.  The match was perfectly serviceable, but you really have to wonder when the New Day will have a challenging contest where they struggle for their position on top.

#6

The match between Bayley and Dana Brooke wasn’t really bad or offensive in any way, but it sure as hell wasn’t remarkable either.  There’s been little build to the feud, and Bayley deserves better than to be stuck in a throwaway midcard rivalry.  There were no surprises, and the crowd was clearly aligned with Bayley.  Her taking the win in a few short minutes was predictable, and the match had no time at all to develop—not that anyone really wanted it to.  Luckily it was placed early on the card, and it did at least get off to a better start than the first match of the night.

The Worst

The company made an interesting booking decision in placing the US Title HIAC match between Roman Reigns and Rusev up first.  Their feud has been going on for three months now, but should have ended long ago, but that’s not the case.  They both need to move on and start some fresh rivalries.
    Both Reigns and Rusev caught some real heat during their entrance, and the deafening boos hardly get things off to a great start.  Unfortunately for everyone, the match took on a lumbering pace filled with repeated spots and little actual wrestling.  The entire thing just felt incredibly slow, filled with far too many rests and down time.  The two honestly just seemed bored to be fighting once again, and I can’t deny feeling the same watching them.  It also didn’t help that the match was the longest of the night at twenty-five minutes.
    Things did pick up in the last five minutes or so, with some weapons spots and use of the cell.  Most impressive was Rusev locking Reigns in the Accolade on top of the ring steps while pulling a steel chain across his face.  It was surprising in its brutality, as were some of the uses of the stairs themselves.  Reigns predictably won, and the show was able to move on.  Had the match been half as long, most of the problems would have been fixed, and the pace could have been overlooked.  As it stands, it was the wrong call to kick things off, and the feud needs to end now.

Results and Grade

Once again, the WWE provided us with a solidly entertaining show that contained little in the way of bad matches, and a number of unquestionably good ones.  The decision to have the Women’s Title match go on as the main event was a huge deal, and Sasha and Charlotte proved exactly why they earned that spot.  Even with the few filler matches (which are part of every PPV), the whole event was fairly satisfying.  The Hell in a Cell matches were pretty damn good and inventive, with the exception of the opener, and perfectly demonstrated why the show is so highly regarded.  It’ll be interesting to see how things are handled heading into the cross-brand Survivor Series next month, but as it stands now, HIAC was easily the best, most satisfying PPV since the brand split.

An easy 75 out of 100.

The Winners:
Roman Reigns
Bayley
Gallows and Anderson
Kevin Owens
Brian Kendrick
Cesaro & Sheamus
Charlotte

The Losers:
Rusev
Dana Brooke
Enzo & Cass
Seth Rollins
TJ Perkins
The New Day
Sasha Banks

Rumors and Speculation

    In the meantime, we have to wonder if Goldberg actually stands the chance of winning his match with Brock Lesnar.  The company clearly wants him as the returning babyface hero, but judging by the cheers Lesnar got on RAW, they have no idea how to properly handle this.  And besides, given the talk of WWE’s big Wrestlemania plans for Lesnar, how likely does it seem that they’ll mess with his prestige by having Goldberg go over him this month?
    Also worth noting is the fact that the Undertaker is booked for SmackDown midmonth, possibly beginning to build to his Wrestlemania match.  Either way, it’s safe to say he isn’t retired yet, so maybe that John Cena match is coming in the near future.  Cena hasn’t been around much since No Mercy, so god knows he isn’t busy with any other angles.
    Last, how damn great is it to hear that there’s going to be an entire Cruiserweight-centric show coming?  Maybe the division will finally get some real exposure, rather than occupying the midcard of RAW.

Colin Gawel's 2016 Election Day Manifesto. (How I Am Voting and Why)

As you know, Pencilstorm stays away from political content. We have way more fun talking about all the good stuff in life. Well, except for the Browns. And besides, why should anybody listen to us anyway? If you want horse race politics, just visit 538 every fifteen minutes like I do. 

Still, every four years, against my better judgement, I go public with how I am voting and my reasoning behind it. (click here for my 2012 manifesto)  Before you completely lose your mind and blow up my comment section explaining all the ways I am wrong, which you are welcome to do, let's establish some ground rules:

1) I'm not telling you how to vote. Do what you want, I'm totally cool with it. That's called Democracy. It's not personal, it's just politics. Some people prefer Cheap Trick In Color, some prefer The Doctor. Variety is the spice of life.  

2) If you emotionally can't handle an opinion different than yours or this might potentially ruin your day, you have the option to just stop reading. You can STOP RIGHT HERE.  

Cool? Let's proceed.

In the choice between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, I feel really good about voting for Hillary Clinton.

My thinking is primarily two fold. As a small business owner, things have never been better for me than right now. I like the path we are on. I can say without question that my life and business are in much better shape than they were four, and especially eight, years ago. Hillary Clinton's resume is beyond compare and her broad knowledge on such a wide range of issues always leaves me impressed. Most importantly, I like her ability to remain calm and level-headed when under fire. I'll be the first to admit, I have no real understanding of how the global economy works, but I do worry a little about the bottom falling out of the economy on Wednesday November 8th if Donald Trump is elected. That's just my situation though.

As a parent, I often look at things through the prism of "Would I want my child to act that way on the playground?" or "Would I want Owen to see me act that way?" I agree with Charles Barkley that athletes shouldn't be role models, but I believe the President of the United States SHOULD be held to a higher standard than say, Cam Newton, when speaking in public. There have been numerous times this election when Donald Trump acted or said certain things about different people that I found especially mean-spirited and/or disturbing. I tried to imagine Owen watching me say or do the same thing. Or him saying the same thing about a girl or disabled person on the playground. I just can't get past it. Once again, I'm not telling you how to vote, Trump just isn't my guy.

However, in the spirit of being positive, I'll throw you Trump supporters a couple of bones.  My Dad taught me to always find three things you like about anything or anybody.  It helps you learn.

Three things I like about Trump even though I'm not voting for him.

1) For most of his life Trump was a liberal New York City Democrat and has been on record as supporting a single payer heath care system and how invading Iraq was a huge mistake. He also said during the primary debates that Planned Parenthood provides many valuable services. Since he seems to have no real core beliefs, I think he may be surprisingly flexible if elected.

2) He won't be preaching from the Oval Office. I'm a big fan of separation of church and state and the only three times Trump has stepped foot in church are the three times he has gotten married.

3) His core supporters are less-educated and under-employed white males. If he is truly going to "make America great again", he is going to have to convince a highly hostile Republican Congress to loosen up the purse strings and finally invest in the infrastructure update this country needs so badly. It would be a good thing if he could somehow pull this off.

Bonus reason: Being a casino guy, I bet Trump would make a push to legalize sports gambling nationwide. I could get behind that. 

Final vote: Clinton

Grading myself this election cycle. 

This is the first Presidential election where social media has truly been part of it from day one. Like most people, I would guess, I struggle with how and when to engage in the never ending online debate. On one hand, just to ignore it all and listen to The Hives is probably the wisest choice. What can I really do anyway? I'm just one dude with one lousy vote. On the other hand, by disengaging, am I just taking the easy way out and conceding the discussion to the hordes of cyber-bullies trolling the internet night and day?

(Before going further, a little background about my upbringing. My grandfather on my Mother's side was the Democratic house minority leader for the state of Illinois. Growing up, my mother (RIP) and myself would constantly argue politics around the dinner table. It was completely normal for us to raise voices at each other but it was never personal. We just liked to debate. I know we would drive my Dad and sister crazy and many times they would tell us to please just shut up. So I'm used to a heated exchange and then...... moving on. To this day I drive my wife and son a little crazy around the election spoiling for a fight. If she were looking down, I'm sure Mom would be itching to join in and remind me to "engage brain before putting mouth in motion.") 

So, when I do post politics online, I try to deal exclusively in facts and by sharing information I find interesting from reputable writers and sources. I don't believe in conspiracy theories or rigged elections. I don't share that stuff. I believe man walked on the moon, Elvis is really dead, and that climate change was caused by a combination of Bigfoot and the Chinese. You know, normal stuff that can be easily proven. Word to the wise,  "mainstream media" doesn't cover crazy shit because if it's not true, they would get sued. The rest of us "bloggers" don't have to worry about that because we don't have any money worth pursuing in court. 

Lastly and most importantly,  I do my best to stay positive and respectful of differing opinions, and be a good example for others. I don't want to get drawn into the mud-pit. Many times I write a response to something I find offensive and then just delete before I post. This makes me feel better and I don't run the risk of doing something I would later regret. I hope I haven't lost any friends. I never intended too. (real friends)

It should be noted that as a coffee shop owner who sees a hundred or so real people everyday, I rarely, if ever engage in political talk. Folks are just trying to get on the with their life and don't need an earful from the local coffee guy. I will occasionally ask for a source if somebody keeps repeating an especially ignorant comment but that is about it. The source is invariably "I read it online." 

Overall, I would give myself a B-. I could probably shut up a little more. If I could do it it all over again, that would be my goal. In fact, you could probably put that on my tombstone, Colin Gawel R.I.P.  "Nice guy, but he could have shut up a little more." 

Ohio Senate Race: Portman vs Strickland

I don't know. I guess I'm happy Portman finally got around to joining Governor Kasich in withdrawing support for Trump but was disappointed it took the ill-fated words from Donald, "I just grab 'em by the pussy and they can't stop me" to get Senator Portman to stand up and do the right thing. Unlike Senator Brown, Portman seems to blow whichever way the polls are going. I guess there are worse things.

Still, it's hard to endorse a candidate like Strickland who folded his campaign before it even started. 

Final vote: Portman has this thing won so do what you want.

Other Issues I Barely Understand and Candidates I Don't Know.

I don't know who Cathy Johnson is, but somebody is running a world class smear campaign against her. "Cathy Johnson....hates schools, and kids and puppies...". Obviously, some very powerful lobby or corporation has something to fear from Cathy. 

I'm voting for Cathy Johnson

I'm voting against incumbents in the Ohio state house races because both Hughes and Kunze hit term limits and now are just swapping offices to avoid them. That's not really the spirit of the law. I may have to run for one of those offices next time with a promise to only try re-election once and then moving on. 

Locally I'm voting for Susan Ralph for Upper Arlington City Council. I don't know the in's and out's of the issues but I have two good friends that speak very highly of her on a personal level. That's good enough for me. 

Isn't there some Library thing too? I'll vote for that. Books get you learned.

Alright, I better get back to serving customers. Best of luck to all you Democracy lovers. I hope your lines move fast and the sun shines bright. I'm hoping to spend election day doing some hiking in Hocking Hills myself. 

Colin Gawel owns Colin's Coffee and plays in the band Watershed. You can read about him in the book Hitless Wonder. He lives in Upper Arlington, OH with his wife and 7th grade son. You can see him in his latest video by clicking here. He once ranked every single Cheap Trick song.  

Whenever I get stressed about politics, I just watch The Hives. It's brings me peace.

Come On! - 00:00:00 Main Offender - 00:01:42 Walk Idiot Walk - 00:03:50 My Time Is Coming - 00:07:50 Hate To Say I Told You So - 00:10:21 Wait A Minute - 00:14:36 Go Right Ahead - 00:17:48 Tick Tick Boom - 00:20:30