Think about it. When 2004 started out, the media declared Dr. Howard Dean the Presidential front-runner. But when the actual voters did the actual voting, he was the #3 man. The voter didn't stop there. John "Ketchup" Kerry talked Democratic voters into nominating him for President because of his electability. The media got on the Kerry bandwagon. Polls showed Kerry ahead. Everyone in the media said he won the debates, based on so-called undecided voters who were surveyed. On Election Day, exit polls showed Kerry ahead in some key states. Once again when the actual voters did the actual voting W was re-elected. In the pollsters defense, the re-election was within the margin of error.

Those that didn't vote have only themselves to blame. There was much more media attention paid to this election than any other. Voter registration drives in both parties were going strong. That P.Diddy guy was saying "Vote or Die" . All of us here at the Holabird Advocate wish to tell Mr. Diddy that we voted, so please don't kill us. To those of you who voted in your election, congratulations, you are the 2004 Person of the Year.

Deserving of honorable mention are two voters in Election 2004. Those being Ken Ferris and Mary Jo Nemec. If any of you Readers know either or both of these two, you know that they voted. And even though we have a secret ballot in this country, you know who they voted for. Our Publisher hears from both of these folks on a regular basis. Ken when the Newsblog goes too far Democratic, and Mary Jo when it is too far Republican. They have provided the ballast for this year, and they probably will in 2006 and every other election year to come. We couldn't do it without them. We wouldn't want to either.

Every boy who wishes to become a man sometime should become aware of the seven stages of parking, so here they are;

Stage One: You're a kid. All you have to park is your butt.

Stage Two: You're a teenager and you park with a girl who has a good chance of being your future wife.

Stage Three: You're married with kids and are parking a mini-van at McDonald'S.

Stage Four: The kids are grown and working at McDonald's, you've got a sports car and are caught parking with a girl who has no chance of being your future wife.

Stage Five: You're parking in the garage for a while, where you're also living.

Stage Six: You're old, no car, no license, no parking spot.

Stage Seven:You're parked. Permanently. In your own space. Even has your name over it.

Remember, I'm Pulin' for ya. We're all in this together.

"I Lost on Jeopardy"

Oh-oh-oh-oh

I was there to match my intellect on national TV

Against a plumber, oh, and an architect, both with a PhD.

I was tense, I was nervous, I guess it just wasn't my night

Art Fleming gave the answers

Oh, but I couldn't get the questions right, -ight, -ight

I lost on Jeopardy, Baby (oooh)

I lost on Jeopardy, Baby (oooh)

Well, I knew I was in trouble now

My hope of winning sank

Oh, 'cause I got the daily double now

And then my mind went blank

I took Potpourri for one hundred

And then my head started to spin

Well, I'm givin' up! Don Pardo

Just tell me now what I didn't win, yeah, yeah

I lost on Jeopardy, Baby (oooh)

I lost on Jeopardy, Baby (oooh)

(Don Pardo {Spoken}: That's right, Al--you lost. And let me tell you what you didn't win;

a twenty colume set of the Encyclopedia International, a case of Turtle Wax, and a year's supply of Rice-A-Roni, the San Francisco treat. But that's not all. You also made yourself look like a jerk in front of millions of people. You brought shame and disgrace to your family name for generations to come. You don't get to come back tomorrow. You don't even get a lousy copy of our home game. you're a complete loser!)

Don't know what I was thinkin' of

I guess I just wasn't too bright

Well, I sure hope I do better

Next weekend on The Price Is Right, -ight, -ight

I lost on Jeopardy, baby (oooh)

I lost on Jeopardy, baby (oooh)

I lost on Jeopardy, baby