I'm a diehard Edwards supporter and want him to be the next President of the United States. So I'm going to keep donating to him until his fundraising page comes up 404.

But well, other decisions come easier. Especially when I saw this late breaking story off the AP wire . . .

I love XTC. And that's sometimes been a hard thing for a black man to admit in my neighborhood and especially among family and friends. But hey, I like what I like. And XTC reminds me of the days when people over 30 could appear on MTV without a court order.

However as my iPod was whirling through a number of the 7,485 songs I've stuffed into the grooves of its furiously spinning hard drive, it finally hit upon a song I haven't heard in awhile.

XTC's "The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead." And I got to thinking . . .

In the forlorn words of Michael Moore in Fahrenheit 911, was it all just a dream?

It was January 1993.

I was a 22 year old, Urkelesque guy from Philly, glued to the television, perched on the edge of my bed, whose only action came from the occasional retuck of an errant fitted sheet. I can even remember what I had on that day--Z. Cavaricci pants and Dr. Martens wingtips.

Suffering from CFD (common-sense deficit), I somehow thought that Z. Cavaraccis would make me look cool. However, the only thing "cool" about that ill-advised ensemble was the chilly response I got from women.

But my frightening fashion choices were soon offset by the glorious appearance of our young, new President and his First Lady, triumphantly ascending to their hard-earned and rightful place at the eye of a perfect storm of hope, energy, and people-power . . .

Ahem...at the MTV Rock 'N' Roll Inaugural Ball.