My life is literally littered with bad decisions and unfortunate choices, the results of which continue to dog my days on a daily basis.

It’s fine to reflect upon ones mistakes, as long as one is not mistaken into thinking that something can be done to rectify them. The choices you make can’t usually be undone and the consequences will be with you until the day you die and may even continue to effect others after you’re gone.

I’ve got no particular decisions in mind, this has more to do with a general overview than anything specific.

I don’t want you to think every choice I’ve made in my life has been wrong, I’ve made some good choices too, but lately I’ve been thinking about some of those moments in my life, where I zigged when perhaps I should have zagged.

It’s easy to second guess your own decisions after the fact, when the fullness of time and experience yield the missing pieces of the puzzle that weren’t available at the time of taking the decision. It’s also an exercise in futility.

Much of life is futile and pointless, so its not really enough of a reason not to think about these things.

There’s a theory that states every time a decision is made, the universe is split and alternative realities follow both paths and that all of existence consists of a “multi-verse” of infinite existence. Everything that can happen, does happen, just not in your reality.

Somewhere in the multi-verse, there’s a version of me that successful, happy and fully fulfilled. No doubt taller, too.

How’d I get stuck in this reality? If there really is a multi-verse, then in at least one of them (and possibly many more), I’m king of the planet and in charge of you all. Don’t worry, if there are infinite possibilities, then you get to be king or queen of the world yourself, and I get to be your slave.

Not all of the realities in the multi-verse would be sunny, as I expect there are plenty that don’t turn out as well. Think about it, how many realities exist without me? Perhaps in some, I was still born and never even got to take my first breath.

I know that even when my decisions have been wrong, they’ve been right for me at the time. I have to believe that, because I can’t travel back in time and change them. At least not yet, anyway, but give me another six months and my time machine will be up and running and I’ll be charging loads of dosh for rides to the past and future. Think you can afford it?

My many personality flaws, at least as I see them, colour my every move. I’m certainly my own worst enemy and I’m more responsible for holding myself back than anyone else.

I used to genuinely believe that anything is possible, but as I get older, I’m less convinced. As you get older, the corridor of options narrows and while you may still create the illusion of choice, your choices become more and more limited with each passing day.

I can’t remember where I heard this one, but it made a lot of sense: “You spend the first half of your life acquiring things and the second half having them all taken away from you.”

I’m undeniably in the 2nd half of my life. It’s not too much of a stretch to see where things are going for me. Its all downhill from here.

Can you tell that my birthday is approaching? It’s about 2 months away. Hey ho.

If I had the chance to do it all again, would I do things differently? Of course I would, what honest person wouldn’t?

That doesn’t mean I would do everything differently, but there are a few wrongs I would certainly put right.

It doesn’t matter because no one gets a second chance, except in the multi-verse reality where reincarnation happens and it was just my luck not to end up in that one either.

Socrates said “the unexamined life is not worth living”. If that is really true, then I have the most worthy life known to man.

Either that or my narcissistic tendencies are starting to overwhelm being an obsessive-compulsive sociopath with manic-depressive tendencies.

You have a nice day, too.

His message was one of hope, for the future of America and the world. He even addressed the rest of us, not in America. That’s unprecedented. The current occupant of the White House only made threats to the rest of the world.

I felt a bit sorry for John McCain when I watched his speech. I don’t think he is a bad man, I just think his policies were bad. People clearly wanted change and that wasn’t on offer from the Senator from Arizona.

I hate to piss all over the party, but the feeling I have right now reminds me of the day after Tony Blair was elected the first time, back in 1997. Strangers smiled at each other in the streets, people seemed so happy by the prospect of change. It was really amazing.

And we know how all that turned out. Not well.

I think it will be different with Obama. I hope so, anyway.

Obama has a lot to live up to. Many people will be disappointed with him when he doesn’t turn all the water into wine.

The changes Obama has promised won’t happen overnight, but they will happen. We need to be patient and let him do what he can. Don’t be discouraged if the happy feeling you have today wears off.

Trust me, it will wear off. It always does.

But for today, just enjoy it. Bask in it. Revel in it.

For today, for the first time in the better part of a decade, things have never looked brighter.

That’s it for me, tonight. I hope you’ve enjoyed my surprisingly prolific live-blogging this evening. I’ve enjoyed being able to comment on actual history as it unfolds.

the northlondonhippy
0535gmt - 5th November 2008

That’s right, I beat everyone else.

This is a historic moment. I never thought in my life time I would ever see a black man elected president of the United States.

It’s an amazing achievement for Mr. Obama, and an amazing achievement for the American people.

No matter who you are, or where you are in the world, you can’t deny the significance of this moment in time.

Or as Bob Dylan said a long time ago, “The times they are a changing”.

the northlondonhippy
0410gmt - 5th November 2008

It’s 10pm eastern time, 0300gmt here in north London and I hearby declare Barack Hussein Obama the winner of the 2008 presidential election.

Based on everything I’ve absorbed in the last half hour, there’s no way McCain could reach the magic 270 electoral votes.

Remember, you read it here first, fuckers!

the northlondonhippy
0301gmt - 5th November 2008

Usually, the incumbent is seen casting his ballot. Usually, the incumbent also speaks after voting, offering a strong endorsement of his party’s candidate.

This year is not usual in this regard as the incumbent is so wildly unpopular.

It’s no wonder we haven’t seen much of him recently, and though he may not be currently in anyone’s field of vision, he’s certainly on their minds.

If anyone is responsible for the abysmal performance of the Republican party this year, its George W. (for What were they thinking when they elected him twice?) Bush.

When people look back at the historic election of 2008, Bush will take a large slice of the blame. And that brainless bimbo, Sarah Palin, who kept the independent voters away from the Republicans in droves, will also shoulder a healthy portion of blame.

the northlondonhippy
02:28gmt - 5th November 2008

Apparently that’s a good indication of where the race is going.

Also, it is looking good in Florida, which as you may recall has been a problematic state for the Democrats in previous elections…especially 2000 for poor ol’ Al Gore.

Even this close to a result, I am still nervous and unsure.

I’m still alternating between CNN and FoxNews, though I definitely prefer CNN. CNN has been highlighting viewer reports of various voting irregularities across America, with a really cool graphic map. The more orange an area is, the more they are screwing with people’s right to a free and fair vote.

And don’t forget the holograms!

It’s just gone 9pm on the east coast of America (0200gmt here in north London) and according to CNN, Obama is now leading leading McCain with about 3 electoral votes to one. That’s a pretty good margin, let’s hope it holds!

the northlondonhippy
02:02gmt - 5th November 2008

Tell me who’s winning!

As of now, Obama is up, up, up!

All you need to do is look at the people at the two candidates “victory” rallies. In Chicago, where as many as one million people are expected, it already looks like one hell of a party, while in Phoenix, the gathering appears to be more like a wake.

At this point, does anyone really think McCain can pull this off? Even McCain himself looked glum as he arrived in Phoenix a short while ago.

My tv viewing is settling into a routine, switching mainly between CNN (who I think have the edge) and FoxNews, with the occasional stop on the BBC. SKY seems a bit slow and looks a bit cheap and the BBC is actually doing a pretty good job, but the American networks have the resources and speed to do the story justice.

And what a story its going to turn out to be!

the northlondonhippy
01:25gmt - 5th November 2008

I’ve been flipping between:

- FoxNews
- CNN
- MS-NBC
- SKY
- BBC

They all have giant sets and really whizzy graphics, especially the American networks. They’re all being cautious in their projections, which is sensible, but not very exciting.

CNN win on the technology front, Wolf Blitzer is talking to actual, life-like holograms of people in other parts of the country. Spooky!

The key states at this hour remain too close to call, but that in itself could be telling us something, as the key states in previous elections were firmly in the Republican column.

The internet may be my personal medium of choice for doing my own thing, but at heart I am a television viewer. I’m splitting my time between my desktop computer and my tv, though as this thing heats up, I’ll probably switch to surfing on my iPhone while I remain on the sofa. Like you needed to know that.

- the northlondonhippy
- 00:25gmt - 5th November 2008

I’m also obsessed with this election and I want to remain awake until Obama delivers what I hope will be his victory speech.

I’m aiming to blog throughout the night, with occasional updates so I can share my observations with you.

At this point, its looking good for Obama, but I am still being very cautious. The scumbags on the right will do whatever they can to try to steal this one and I can’t let go of that feeling. After 2000 & 2004, its a reasonable fear.

To me, the real story already will be the massive voter turn-out. I am guessing it will be a record for a presidential election.

And if there really is a landslide, blow-out for Barack, the story to watch will be the direction congress takes. Please let it be be broadly Democratic!

All I can say for sure is that its going to be a long and interesting night.

- the northlondonhippy
23:00gmt - Tuesday 4th November 2008

It’s a common affliction, but I feed my addiction with a steady diet of 24-hour news channels.

Don’t worry, I should be cured by Wednesday. We all will be cured then.

I hope, trying not to think of 2000 and poor ol’ Al Gore, who had it snatched from his grasp during a lengthy post-election wankfest courtesy of a conspiracy of scum.

As long as there’s a clear outcome by Wednesday morning, I’ll definitely be cured.

This has been one of the most fascinating, captivating, electrifying campaigns I’ve ever seen. It really feels like we’re watching history unfold.

I hope we are, but I’m still not convinced. I have so many scenarios running through my head where Obama doesn’t win. The polls all show him with a clear lead.

Polls can sometimes be wrong and as we saw in 2004, even when the pre-election polling tells the truth, the official vote can lie.

Come Wednesday, it’s either going to be “Obamamania” or “the death of all hope.”

Please, let it be the former, because the latter sounds like a real bummer, man.

(scroll down for my unsurprising endorsement of Barack Obama)