Unless you have been living in a box for nearly the past 24 hours, you probably know that we have a new U.S. president, Mr. Barack Obama.  I couldn't be happier that it is finally done! or is it???  In the recent weeks, it has been pretty much impossible to turn on a television (or visit a website), without having the election shoved down your throat - heck, I even stopped answering my phone, since EVERY call that I received for the last three weeks was an automated recording explaining why I should vote for "Bob".  What good is that "no call" list anyways?  Guess politicians are exempt...  So does this mean, it's all over?  Can we finally get back to normalism?  Well, sadly no.  As you know, that will probably take awhile.

With the degrading US economy, job losses, dying local businesses, and the like, it must be difficult for many individuals to make ends meet, much less splurge on unneeded luxuries and expensive nights out on the town.  I am not so sure that will be changing dramatically any time real soon either, though only time will tell.  With that said, I think a lot of people are changing their "way of thinking" on many different aspects, especially with regards to where the hard-earned dollar goes.  For example, when gas was $.95 a gallon (some of you may remember when it was much lower than that, but not I), it didn't matter as much if your method of transportation was a "gas-guzzling" SUV, Honda Civic, or the Metrolink, as it just didn't cost as much.  Now all of a sudden, auto makers are rushing to make these "new ideas" (electric cars, hybrids, alternative fuels) work well and get them to market - I guess it's better now than never though, as I don't see gasoline getting back to <$1/gallon.