You said: "We are witnessing something truly phenomenal in this man Barak Obama. I pray, as he did at the wailing wall for the safety of him and his family. I pray that out there is a fifth "lone nut" who would be a much of a lone nut as Oswald and the rest were."

I heartily agree with your first two sentences above. But didn't you mean to say that you pray there is NOT a fifth "lone nut" out there......?????

Klytus---good one.

Except geez, if you think about it, Billy Dee in "Lady Sings the Blues" was the *good guy* who tried to keep Billie Holiday off the drugs (a habit foisted upon her by white club owners and agents for their own fiscal good, while she was touring and couldn't use anything but the "colored" toilets and couldn't eat in the diners, amongst other worse and many just plain wrong, yet then common, affronts to humanity). Billy Dee also played legendary football great Gale Sayres in "Brian's Song"--is there really a person alive who wouldn't be moved by that true-story movie, not just for the tragic ending leading to kleenex galore, but for the story of one of the first

(if not the first) NFL pairings of a black & a white roommate during away games, a pairing that grew into a deep friendship ultimately unmired by race? Billy Dee also had those Star Wars moments. And he is a prolific painter! (Oops, that might lead some people into saying: "But so was Hitler!")

I know: Billy Dee is an actor and his roles shouldn't be confused with the man. It's the image to which you alluded.

In any case, I'd vote for Billy Dee Williams--the actor and the man--over McCain any day of the week! But I'd much rather vote for Obama. Go figure. (Who knows? Maybe Billy Dee is voting Green!?)

Big important inspiring speeches with 200,000+ in attendance aside, has anyone seem him interviewed? Read his position papers? He does have policies, plans, logic, astute strategic skills, an ability to choose the right people and run a campaign quite effectively (hmmmm, that could be something relevant to running a White House), pragmatic tendencies (which is NOT stupid), an understanding that "citizens of the world" must unite if things are going to change.......ETC. We, the USA, are not in a position to do this by ourselves. He'll be back next week and attend to what he has already said (anybody read AP stories today?) must be attended to---the economy, the housing crisis, health care, education......ETC. I liked his reception by the world community. And I count on his attention to the major domestic problems we face in the USA.

McCain's cutely-defined "gaffes" are inexcusable. They aren't getting sufficient media play (and likely no play at all on Faux News) and such gaffes would be fatal if uttered by Obama. But they weren't uttered by Obama. Shouldn't that count for something? Sigh.

Help me out here, please...I delved where I ought not to have delved! (and where I do not want to dwell!)

Perhaps if you wrote in complete (vs. run-on) sentences, tried the English language (vs. lazy 'Net lingo), used FAR FEWER CAPS, even attempted correct spelling...perhaps you would be able to get your points across to a broader audience. As is, you are a shining example of why even people who are *open* to hearing diverse points of view, like 'em or not, don't hear!!! Why bother wading through your incomprehensible rants? Doesn't seem you want a logical discourse anyway. So have at it. Spew away!

My disclaimer: I'm not saying it's all about spelling correctly or having great punctuation or not using 'Net acronyms...etc...it's about this: express a viewpoint or make a point, try to make it accessible to all, back it up, anticipate a response, and discussion may continue. If intelligent and reasonable discussion followed, that would be so refreshing.

My P.S.: Obviously you have a right to whatever opinions you have, Zyskandar A. Jaimot, and I may (according to hints I'm getting from some fellow posters here) be trolling to a troll, but geez, if you're a troll, I'd say you're not advancing your cause at all.

I either didn't know or had completely forgotten about the Abba guys' collaboration with Tim Rice on "Chess." I still have the LP! It didn't become a theatrical success (at least on Broadway, I think it fared better in London) but one song crossed over into mainstream music--"One Night in Bangkok"--and I remember playing one ballad over and over..."I Know Him So Well." Think I may have to get that LP out to reminisce...

Still, there's a difference between "appreciating" musical artists and actually liking their music. And I really don't like ABBA music, even if some of their lyrics are imprinted in my brain by their ubiquitous play over many years (and yes, catchy lyrics--I'll give them that for sure, but there are LOTS of catchy lyrics I don't want trampling around my psyche all day long!). I can't control background elevator or restaurant or movie send-ups, but I do change the radio station if ABBA comes on.

No criticism intended of ABBA fans. To each his own! I like so many different types of music, including some pop stuff to which many people would say UGH!, but ABBA just never did it for me.