We take this break from our regularly scheduled Saturnian programming to bring you a special report from the planet Mercury.

We're in enough trouble as it is with the coming mid-term election and the current state of our electronic voting machines. Yet the planet of technology, communication and travel isn't doing us any favors by going retrograde on October 28th. The energy of the retrograde is often strongest in its first week -- are we in for another 2000-style (s)election debacle?

All I can say is beg your local voting authorities for a paper ballot trail. And while you're at it, back up your computer, insure your cell phone, and don't sign any contracts between October 28th and November 17th. This one is gonna be a doozy.