A few notes:

• Last night, I knocked out a really big, bolded item off my imaginary bucket list: I saw Janet Jackson live. We had prime seating in Madison Square Garden for the event, and naturally, I went from cool and collected to a whooping maniac. More on that tomorrow.
• People who wish death upon others have a special ring in hell for them.
• Reason #1293 why I don’t dig the poetry scene right now: it’s another cool kids convention.
• September and October have really flown by, and that’s exciting.
• I’m thinking professional development needs a major overhaul in the way it’s worked. Sitting there doing nothing doesn’t cut it for me.
• I found myself on RateMyTeachers.com. No students commented, but someone definitely did. It’s all good to me.

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but on November 4th (or 5th, depending on how rigged the votes are), we could be looking at the first Black president of the United States. It was only 11 years ago that 2Pac stated boldly, “And even though it seems heaven-sent, we ain’t ready to have a Black president” on his first post-humous single, “I Wonder If Heaven Got A Ghetto.” We would still repeat that mantra well into this century.

Now, it’s a large possibility. And it’s going to be Barack. (Apologies to Cynthia and Rosa). My girlfriend and I have decided that, while we’re not enamored with his education policy, nor his health care plan, we also know that strategically, this vote will benefit the majority of us. We need a candidate who actually discusses the issues at hand, not just one who babbles on about a whole lot of nothing.

We need a new agenda, one that prioritizes domestic issues while understanding our global position economically and diplomatically. We don’t need the expansion of presidential powers, but a government truly representative of the needs of this country. John McCain (and by default, Sarah Palin) truly don’t represent that for me.

Vote Barack.

I am Jose and I approve this message …