ShareThisForget what all of those advance polls are predicting. It's going to be a long election night until the final verdict is in, and you're going to need to keep yourself occupied during the endless drone of punditry.The Sipping News is here to help pass the time. We understand how painful listening to Chris Matthews or Sean Hannity can be on the stone-cold sober mind. So we're offering some drinking games to keep you occupied until the votes are counted -- or in the case of Florida, until the votes are found.This won't be a traditional drinking game where you imbibe based on what the candidates say; they won't appear until later in the evening, and perhaps only fleetingly. Until then it's going to be all pundits, all the time. So -- with the help of your favorite beverage -- we're going to make it easier on you. First, in the great, red-blue tradition that makes governing this country nearly impossible, divide up into sides, and take a gulp every time you hear one of the words listed below.And when the candidates finally appear later in the evening, you'll be ready for anything. Except maybe hearing the word "recount."Obama If you think Obama is going to win, slug one down every time you hear someone (pundit/host, etc.) say the words:-- Transformational-- Landslide-- First African American-- Youth vote-- Axelrod-- Working class-- Filibuster-proof-- Magic map (CNN only)-- White voters-- Irregularities-- New voters-- Bradley effect-- "Pollsters were wrong"If you hear a lot of this last one, then you'd better make a pot of coffee and line up the Advil. Obama fans may not want to get out of bed the next day. Or ever again.McCain For you McCainiacs, get comfy and then pop a shot -- yes, you too, wine snobs -- every time you hear utterances of these words:-- Maverick-- Pennsylvania-- Joe the Plumber-- Palin effect-- Real Americans -- Socialist-- Terrorist-- Ayers-- POW-- Negative -- Steve Schmidt-- "In the tank"-- The media-- ACORN-- FraudE-mail Joe Garofoli at jgarofoli(at)sfchronicle.com. For more stories visit scrippsnews.com
A fun way to pass the hours on election night
Paying taxes unites us. It also divides us. People can pay five and even six times more in state and local taxes than other folks in similar circumstances making similar incomes.
Who's got your number?
In one of the fastest-growing forms of identity theft, crooks are stealing tax refunds by swiping personal information and using it to trick the Internal Revenue Service.
