Okay, I know that's not her first name, but that might be more than John McCain knows. According to one report, he met his running mate once before calling her to ask her to be his Veep. Two weeks ago, he was saying that this is the first presidential decision a candidate can make and took another gratuitous shot at Obama's experience level in the same breath. His answer to the Dems' Denver Woodstock was to turn to somebody who just got elected to her first ranking office. Can almost hear the thinking: "Hillary's people aren't happy. I know how we can get them. Quick, get me a uterus under 50!" I wish I can take credit/blame for the line, but given that there are a lot of smart accomplished Republican women (yeah, I actually admitted that) like Kay Hutchinson, it's a little odd to pick somebody so thoroughly under the radar when you've invested considerable time picking on the Democratic candidate for rising up. It doesn't bode well for Gov. Palin when the NBC news tonight broadcast a four week old interview of her admitting that she doesn't know what the Vice President does.....

Course, it doesn't say much for my recent social life that I caught all the big speeches from Denver as they happened. Best line of the week came from Jon Stewart (no surprise) when he said "Course, the Republicans love America too, they just hate half the people living there."

Almost makes me wonder if McCain is throwing it. His folks can't be relishing the thought of debates with Obama after his speech at Mile High on Thursday. Dude worked the large crowd well. Maybe he studied McGovern too closely.

As I write this, I just got an email saying New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin just ordered an evacuation of the city. That is just awful. New Orleans was one of my favorite cities to travel to for work as there is lot to explore. You can't help but discover new sounds, new foods, even if they were centuries old. The shameful neglect ("Heck of a job, Brownie.") of the city after Katrina still has numerous sections still in ruins and if Gustav doesn't turn soon, it's gonna get it again. Say a prayer for them levees down there.

I get dispatched to Milwaukee in two weeks on Zoo bidness. I couldn't be less thrilled. It's like going to Buffalo with the lake on the wrong side. Despite the beer heritage, it isn't a trip I'm looking forward too.

Got to work on Monday so I'm going to get out tomorrow. Young son just wanted to hang today, and I can't blame him. He's been "camping it up" all summer. I'm off to a nice little leftist picnic tomorrow afternoon, and then to buy school supplies.

And now for something completely different.

I actually watched a little of the convention coverage from Denver last night. After running around, I arrived at the tv just in time to see Ted Kennedy. Given how sick he is, he can still work a room. He didn't saying anything groundbreaking, but it was impressive to see the rabble get roused. The pundits and wannabe pundits are tripping over themselves looking for something to say, when there isn't much. It's terrible, but I preferred a new episode of No Reservations at ten.

The Hoyt nonsense seems to be falling by the wayside. I'm reluctant to wade in too much as our kids hang together, but the timing of the revelation smacks of typical New York State power politicking. Given that the assembly was in the middle of budget debates and a primary election for Hoyt, I can't help but wonder if the blogger got a little extra help to notariety from entitles that Hoyt has pissed off along the way in the hopes of getting the easier to beat Kavanaugh on the November ballot.

Redesigned my manga. It's little more accurate and mood representative.



And so it goes...

Looks more like Jacob Dylan

Watch yourselves on the ride home, them train rides can get rather testy

The Buffalo News' story:

Now that it is on its decline, this summer is worthy of a prominent place in my complaint department. It sucked on a number of levels. After dumped, sick, and finally starting to get better, it's almost fall. Who can I talk to get the season back?

The beaches were perpetually closed. We seem to have flown in Seattle's weather. For every sunny day, we have three rainy ones. This ratio may screw my getting a raise as the Zoo is behind enough on attendance (thanks to the weather), we're scrambling to make up although the rainforest exhibit is going to be pretty cool so that should help offset the numbers somewhat. Just got a feeling that with my luck, another screwing with my pants on isn't too far away. Try to get to the Canadian beaches and the customs Nazis all think they are in the army now. Sadly, absolutely nobody is safer for all those shenanigans. Pity too, "Hidden Beach" was a nice oasis away from everything. This all got more complex with the Bell's, I wound up hiding a lot during late June and July waiting for normalcy which has only recently returned. can't help but feel a little gipped.

Ah, well. It sort of stinks. I paid a good deal to the Bike Shop opposite Spot back in April and have only recently been able to take a turn.

Haven't made it to the drive-in yet. Got to squeeze one of those in soon.

There are other things to start thinking about. I've been extra broke because school is starting, rounding up supplies, becoming almost a crack dealer for composition notebooks, the cheap black and white high ("Dude, they're three for a buck at big lots!").

I am getting a kick out of my son's musical maturation. He's at the age where the kiddie stuff is being left behind and you start picking what is yours. I got him an Ipod shuffle and he asked that we load it up with Queen and the Beatles. I remember those days. Growing up in the burbs in the 70s, everybody had a copy of Hotel California, Rumors, Frampton Comes Alive, Running on Empty. You don't know how they got there, they just appeared in your collection. Before too long, your own true tastes allowed admittance to Led Zeppelin ll and lV, Born to Run, Dark Side of the Moon, etc. It's cool to see that despite changing technology, that still happens as he asked for some of my Ramones and David Bowie. Finding what does it for you can be a lifelong journey.

The Michael Phelps thing is pretty cool, but it gets a little distorted somewhat. No argument here in terms of his talent, abilities, etc, but swimming is the only event that affords that many chances. It's incredible, for sure, but I guess I wonder if the metals get a little defused in meaning in that every other time in the pool a medal is on the line. The only thing that comes close is the track and field where some folks do get numerous opportunities. I guess it is cool, but Natalie Coughlin got six or seven medals and will wind up being confined to the shadows. Phelps' relay partners get praise from him (I think he is a very classy dude), but afterthought status is already settling in somewhat for guys who reeled in three or four medals. I'm not poo-poohing, just something that occured to me. Still fun to watch and all, it's just the little things I think about while watching Bob Costas try to control Bela Karolyi.

Wordscraper on facebook is a hoot, just saying

Went looking at new phones yesterday. My phone activity doesn't merit paying 70.00 a month for an Iphone when I'm currently paying 30. As a sprint customer, I looked into an Instinct and the costs there are the same, so I took the best bargain and did nothing. Bought a copy of Madden instead.