Minnesota Senate Race

The Minnesota Senate race may be approaching something of an end, or at least a new beginning. We're hoping the wind is finally let out of Norm Coleman's sails. And that Al Franken can at long last take his place as the next senator from Minnesota.

It's been ridiculous. Remember Coleman said he would drop out if he found himself behind. But he didn't. He's a liar.

It's also been ridiculous for the length of time it's been stretched out thus far. I've love to visit a parallel world where Al Franken had been behind and had been drawing it out so long. The Republicans would have been raising the biggest stink you can imagine. But, of course, when the situation is reversed, they've got all the time in the world.

We can well remember their hypocrisy when Al Gore wanted to get all the votes counted in Florida. Then he was called a sore loser. The Republicans (cretins) change their "principles" depending on what helps them most.

In Minnesota it got so complicated I wouldn't know which votes were counted and which weren't. But one thing isn't complicated, the Republicans' fun and games stretching it out. These guys don't deserve a place in governing us. They're corrupt, out for their own crass interests only.

Wingnut Hate Storm

There's a big diary at Daily Kos on "The Impending Perfect Wingnut Hate Storm." This is very distressing stuff.

Why can't these people settle down and be governed by our elected officials in a calm, rational, patriotic way? The rest of us had to suffer in the Bush years. And I wasn't calling for revolution, armed struggle, whatever else may be a part of their imagination these days.

Rally your people for electoral victory. I mean, God forbid it should happen, but to do things within the law is going to get the majority on your side more than ranting and raving, hating people, taking up arms, and acting like vigilantes.

I didn't read the diary. It's too distressing. But know that it's apparently out there.

Who Knew Touching Could Lead To Troubles?

Here's one of those insane stories to file in the "Killing A Fly With A Shotgun" file.

A Connecticut middle school principal has laid down the law: You put your hands on someone -- anyone -- in any way, you're going to pay.

Principal Catherine Williams sent out a letter earlier in the week telling parents recent behavior has seriously impacted the safety and learning at the school.

"Observed behaviors of concern recently exhibited include kicking others in the groin area, grabbing and touching of others in personal areas, hugging and horseplay. Physical contact is prohibited to keep all students safe in the learning environment," Williams wrote.

Let's review this idiotic idea: "Physical contact is prohibited." As in any kind of touching, anything. Impossible! And clearly moronic. It'd be interesting to see everyone passing in the hall, arms down at their side, scooting along the walls to stay far enough way from everyone so that no contact happens by accident.

We could ask the question, how come you didn't think of this to begin with? Who knew touching could lead to troubles? Maybe every single person who's ever attended school. Try your own experience for a guide. Of course there's going to be problems once in a while, but you're not going to solve the problem with a moronic response like this. Brainiac.

It kind of reminds me of what happens when there's trouble. Shut it down. Like if a kid drowns in a pond somewhere. Close and drain the pond. After all, who knew beforehand that people will drown if they're underwater for a prolonged period of time? Or a city that doesn't have adequate warnings at the railroad tracks. Then someone gets run over by a train and they automatically put up warnings and stop sights. After all, who knew beforehand that occasionally you're going to have a car get hit by a train? We can't foresee these things, it appears.

KFC

It's weird. I have a craving for KFC chicken. I don't usually eat there. I have various things against the place when I eat there. But I might get some to go.

The thing is, I went to a wedding yesterday. I was there for the ceremony, the bride and groom dancing, the time of visitation afterwards. But I had to leave before they got to the cake and anything else they might do. Then right before I left, someone opened the door and came in with six or seven (maybe more) buckets of KFC chicken.

I didn't actually see the chicken inside, but the sight of all those buckets made me feel hungry for some. So I hope it's good!

Maury Lost Out On This One

The British lad who was dubbed Britain's youngest dad is now out, thanks to a DNA test.

It turns out Chantelle, Alfie's girlfriend and the new mother of Maisie, appears to have not been entirely faithful to him. Other boys stepped forward claiming they also slept with her.

I love the thing, then, young Alfie (13) says about getting a DNA test: "I didn't know about DNA tests before but mum explained it's when they do a swab in your mouth and it tells if you're the dad. So if I have it, they can all shut up."

His mum said, "It had not even crossed Alfie's mind whether Chantelle had not been faithful to him. He's absolutely devastated that these lads say they slept with her."

He's a kid himself. He's not supposed to know about DNA tests. He's not supposed to be worrying whether the mother of his alleged baby was faithful. I can imagine myself at 12, which was his age when this all started. I was daydreaming about maybe someday holding hands.

The Republicans' Budget

I'm tempted to leave a big empty spot here, to faithfully convey what the Republican alternative is to President Obama's budget.

That's what they offered today. I haven't seen a copy of the budget, but according to Robert Gibbs, it takes a few minutes to read it. I did see one very interesting chart. I believe I can still picture it in my mind. It had three circles and one rectangle. The rectangle was the title and the circles specified the principles of the budget. And I believe reduced government spending was one of the circles. So ... there ...

The Republicans are simply the Party of No. They have nothing to offer except to nay say and gainsay the President's thoughtful plans. It's time to run these cretins out of Washington. They're not doing the people's business. They in it to please lobbyists and probably to line their own pockets. Empty, empty. Shameful. But kind of funny.

Operation Repo

I had a comment by someone on my post about the TV show "Operation Repo."

I've seen several episodes since then and I really like the show. I like Matt, too, and it appears the commenter doesn't like him a bit. I like him, you know, for the entertainment value. Plus, he does seem like a nice guy. Only he is hotheaded and doesn't seem to think strategically around people very well. He's either off or on.

I would hate to be a repo guy -- watching this show, I've come to that decision -- but were I a repo guy I would try to avoid blowing up at people like these guys do. Such as doing a lot more commiserating rather than just confrontation. They try to do that a little but never get very far.

Something about this show that is curious is how they're ever going to be repo guys after people know about the show. People will know they're doing a show. Now they say the cameras are for their protection, but that's not quite true. They're making a show. Sooner or later it'll be, "Hey, you're the guys from Operation Repo. Can I have your autograph?"

As for the confrontations they have, I wonder if it's all that way, or they just show the ones that are exciting. Doesn't it seem like the odds have to be that occasionally there's a repo where the person isn't there, nothing really happens, or the person simply gives them the keys because he knows that he hasn't made the payments?

It's a thought-provoking show.

Dream Away All My Troubles

I've been having a nice time sleeping lately. I mean the normal sleep a guy gets at night. I haven't been sleeping through the day, anything unusual, an occasional nap on Sunday afternoon.

But as for sleeping at night, I finally decided I need a pretty solid eight hours. I feel spacey and weird after too many days cutting it short. So I've reconciled myself to the idea that this has to be done, even though at certain times in my life it has seemed like a waste. I'm envious of people who say they sleep five-six hours a day and feel fine. If only ...

OK, but since I get up at 5:30 a.m., that means going to bed at 9:30 at night. Meaning I'm missing a lot of interesting stuff on TV that I used to watch. 9:30 is almost there and I'm hustling around doing all the stuff I need to get done so I can be in bed more or less at that time. Usually I fall asleep very quickly, generally by 9:45 or 10:00 at the latest; it all depends.

The nice time I mentioned is this, that I wake up numerous times throughout the night, look at the clock, and fall back to sleep immediately. I like doing that, because sometimes I'll feel like the whole night is gone, then I'll look at the clock and only a couple hours has passed. Meaning I still have lots to go. I did that last night. I woke up at 1:30 or 2:30 and thought hmmm. Then right back to sleep. Then when my alarm was about to go off I woke up again and it was 5:26, and I thought well, it doesn't work every time. Eventually your bonus rounds run out!

But I'm very faithful at getting up, since I can objectively say to myself, it was eight hours!

Obama Does It Again!

Did President Obama do that? Make the stock market go up another 6.8%?

I guess he did, because people were willing to blame him when it went down. So he must be working some of his own Obamagic to get things done.

I hope things keep improving, but who knows? It seems like if everything's as bad as they say that we'll have downs as well as ups. Even if we have lots of downs in addition to the ups, we can be extra thankful that we have Obama and not Bush in office. The fragrance of honesty as opposed to Bush's stench of corruption is a major up all by itself.

As for everyone picking at Obama, criticizing everything he does, there's not one of them could do it any better. The Republicans? Please. They had eight years and gave us pure misery every single day. Obama's got it going on. He's the only president we have. We want him to succeed! If Obama succeeds we all win.

In other news, it's reported, through Oprah, that Michelle Obama is not pregnant.

Kelly Clarkson

I read a good article about Kelly Clarkson in Blender magazine today. She's the cover girl, actually, so that was nice.

In the article she said she always tells the truth. About whether or not she pees in the shower. And her opinion on what friends need to hear, like whether they're too fat. But she doesn't really have very many friends because of all her traveling, recording, and other activities.

I was interested in what was said about her new CD, "All I Ever Wanted," which I definitely like. I've heard it enough that I'm able to hear the songs for what they are. It takes me a few times to distinguish things and tell whether I like it, as with other CDs. She said she had some suggestions for the song, "My Life Would Suck Without You," to make the dysfunctional aspects of the relationship more mutual rather than one sided, her side. So that comes through.

It sounds like an interesting process, all they go through to put together an album. I wish I had "My December" now, since there's no reason not to have it. But I never did, except for a Napster download for a while. I heard it, but like I said above, I need to go through it a few times and that didn't happen in that case.