in no particular order:

Looking around at the people who are important to me, I am thankful for the good things everybody else has. In 2005’s landmark case, “Ups v. Downs,” Ups won on appeal. People moved into houses, neighborhoods, and/or cities that they really like. People who didn’t move improved the places they already were. […]

This weekend, in preparation for the holidays, my mother took it upon herself to clean the house from top to bottom. The difference between my mom’s clean house and my mom’s dirty house is not detectable by the naked eye, but Mom has always adhered to the “electron microscope” standard. We’re happy to take her […]

TV’s body count is way, way up
Violent crime in schools is way, way down
I probably wouldn’t have noticed either of these two headlines if I hadn’t seen them both on the same day.

So the tactic du jour from the White House regarding the war is to say, “Congress– and the Clinton administration — had access to the same intelligence. And the Israelis, the French…. Why, Democrats voted for the war.” I hear this every day now, which I guess is the idea. The more I hear it, […]

Vatican Official Refutes Intelligent Design
VATICAN CITY - The Vatican’s chief astronomer said Friday that “intelligent design” isn’t science and doesn’t belong in science classrooms, the latest high-ranking Roman Catholic official to enter the evolution debate in the United States….
“Intelligent design isn’t science even though it pretends to be,” the ANSA news agency quoted Coyne as […]

I just hate to let it go to waste.

The state of Idaho is divided into three barley regions. A barley producer from each region is appointed by the Governor to serve a three-year term (limited to two terms) on the Idaho Barley Commission. The commissioners not only represent their districts but the state of Idaho through national organizations such as, US Grains Council, […]

Has anyone else become an oil speculator in the last few months?
I drive my car for a week. Like myself, the needle on the fuel gauge leans farther and farther to the left with each passing day until eventually it’s in red territory. With ten miles separating me from my front door, I look down […]

According to the CBS poll taken at the same time as the one below, Vice President Cheney’s approval rating is currently 19%.
19%.
Meaning they called my dad 20 times.
If the election were held today, Cheney would lose to: Gary Condit, Gray Davis, any oral surgeon, Cruella Deville

THIS JUST IN: If the election were held today, President Bush would lose to Jefferson Davis.

from the ever-reliable Yahoo News:
Anger is good for you, as long as you keep it below a boil, according to new psychology research based on face reading.
People who respond to stressful situations with short-term anger or indignation have a sense of control and optimism that lacks in those who respond with fear.

My love letter to the department of transportation yielded a semi-form letter reply. The bolded portion is the part my friends didn’t get:
Thank you for your comment. We will be weighing all the information and working with our contractor once they are hired next fall to make a decision. Trying to keep some lanes open […]

Have fun trick-or-treating, you scamps. Keep those tricks small, now.