The World Series and so much more

Well, so much for Cliff Lee being invincible. As I watched in amazement, the San Francisco Giants did something no one else in history could do Wednesday night --- they defeated Lee in a game after the season ended (I hate the overused "post-season.") If one game means anything, the Giants can be expected to be pesky, especially if Freddy Sanchez continues to be Ty Cobb.

While the World Series is an overblown extravaganza, if is worth watching ... even with two non-marquee teams involved. In fact, it's kind of refreshing. Even if the Twins and Rockies aren't involved.

THERE ARE BIGGER THINGS, THOUGH
Like the mid-term elections. I did my early voting today and for the first time, used a computer to cast my ballot. The rural Minnesota precinct I used to call home used only paper ballots, and then used a machine to count the ballots. Many times, as I worked at "election headquarters" in my previous life as a news editor, there would be a monumental breakdown of the counting machine, inevitably making all of us sit in the courthouse until dawn's early light.

I was not a big fan of election night for that reason. I would get up bright and early on election day, cast my ballot, do my other work and then head for the "election headquarters" at about 9 to wait for the results to come in. If I was lucky, we had paginated most of the paper by then, leaving only a huge election article and charts and graphs to slap in the paper (with the up-to-date numbers, of course). But things never went as planned, despite the best efforts of the hard workers at the courthouse. Someone would always write in Mickey Mouse or George Jetson and, in addition, foul up their ballot by voting for two or three governor candidates to boot. That left the counting machine cranky and smoking, and the mainly-volunteers at the courthouse would go into trouble-shooting mode while I ate cookies, smoozed with other reporters or watched TV. I would phone in results as they arrived to the Associated Press, which would also get cranky when the results weren't timely. There were many elections when, after leaving my house at 6 a.m. to get to work, I didn't arrive home until 6 or 7 a.m. the next day. That's a schedule for young folks only.

I have to again heap kudos on the election crew. While people are watching television at home on election night, there is a beehive of activity with people counting votes. The number of voters must match the actual number of votes cast, hence the wrench in the works once in awhile. I was impressed with my experience here in Colorado Thursday. I went through several stations prior to processing my ballot. Many election judges were there to ensure that I had proper ID, that I had registered and that I knew how to operate the voting machine. 

It was mighty nice to cast my ballot Thursday and not have to worry about dissecting the results on election night. I am mighty tired of "robocalls" from candidates, and the incessant, disgusting arguing on television. I have become good at avoiding these discussions, which for the most part, are an insult to Americans everywhere. As I've said before, when did it become so common to treat people with such disrespect? Perhaps this election will help to clear some of this muck away