Now if this announcement doesn't sum up the sorry state of affairs that is American politics I don't know what does. Launching a football network on Election Day? Or maybe it is completely appropriate - my mother's feminist friends describe football as the "savage sacrament of the patriarchy." Whatever that means.

I was away when Patricia Ireland was fired. Not that it's all that surprising. But I have to ask: didn't the YWCA know who they were hiring? There's a story here somewhere. Let me know if you find out what really happened.

I love Halloween. And not just because there's a Buffy the Vampire Slayer marathon on FX today. Really. I don't retain memories well - my sister is amazing at it - but I do remember Halloween's clearly -- some of them like they were yesterday.

A "massive bubble of gas" hurling its way toward earth? It wasn't me. I swear.

File this article under the "Headlines I Don't Want to See on Monday Morning" category.

I used to work next door to the Bottom Line -- at 25 W. 4th Street. Go Bruce.

The Yankees didn't deserve to win the World Series this year -- the Marlins did. Simple enough. But what I can't face is the next five months of speculation in the press - from New York to California - about what George is going to do. It's going to be a long winter.

There is no better feeling than falling into your own bed after a week of traveling. It was a toss up as to who was happier to see me when I got home last night -- my husband or my cat. I think my husband liked the quiet -- a week away means a week with no questions. But he's taking me out on a date tonight -- so I know he missed me. And Tilly just wants a cat treat or two. It's great to be home.

Holy cow as Scooter would say. I am still alive. Have been blogging for a client -- at their big annual conference. Feels like I haven't stopped to breathe since last Wednesday. Will be back soon. Conference ends Friday.

Now George Nethercutt couldn't find his way out of a paper bag in my opinion. (You remember him - beat Tom Foley on term limit promise and then reneged.) So I guess I'm amazed he figured out how to get to and from Iraq in the first place. But then this article's lead quote - which is so outrageous it makes me cringe - reveals a sorry excuse for a Congressman -- and a human being. (Thanks for the link RD)

It's Tuesday night. I have a ton of work to do. My dad had a cat scan today. My cat Tilly got into a fight with her collar - while it was still around her neck. I'm overdue for laundry. The dustballs in my house have run out of places to hide.

Despite all that, know what I'm thinking right now? I miss Buffy the Vampire Slayer. No more Tuesday nights of fighting evil and kicking ass. This is hell.

I saw this headline - Astronomers Date Universe's Cosmic Jerk - and thought I'd check it out - just in case I knew to whom they were referring. Turns out it has nothing to do with dating - it's about how the universe was formed. Go figure.

For any of my handful of loyal followers, you've noticed by now that every now and then I get caught up in something and don't blog daily. When that passes and I can focus again, there's usually a backlog of outrage to deal with. So bear with me. Plus, I had a large mocha frappucino from Starbucks on the drive back to NY -- so I'm a little wired.

I bet Bono's now able to sleep at night. According to this article, the FCC says it's okay to use the F--K word as, get this, an adjective -- since it's not describing sex. Then it would be a verb. And I guess then it would be a problem for the FCC. It's just this kind of story that makes me love Poynter.org, to whom all credit is deserved for making me aware of this monumental decision.

Just as an aside, I think the Parents Television Council is a fascist organization and should find something better to do with their resources.

Helped my parents and brother buy a car to replace the one totalled in the accident last month. It's always an experience buying a car. So the car situation has been resolved. Now I just have to wait and hear the results of my dad's cat scan that the doctor ordered Friday. Saw something "he didn't like." Whatever that means. Keep your fingers crossed.

Okay - there's no fine big enough for making an old man cry. I don't care what Zimmer did. I saw Martinez' face when he took Zimmer's head in both hands and threw him to the ground. And I saw his eyes when he made clear to Posada that he'd be aiming for his head. No fine big enough.

I don't know what prompted me to post - the outrage caused by the church's dishonesty about AIDS and condoms...or the really great headline. Really great.

The Yankees win...the Yaannnkees win. I think every Yankee fan in New York was capable of violence when they saw Martinez throw Zimmer to the ground. I'm down in VA visiting my parents - and I know I would have decked any Red Sox fan that crossed my path. But maybe that's just me.

More massacres in the Congo. Can't somebody, somewhere do something to stop this?

It's not so much outrage -- I'm so disgusted that the exit polls say it appears likely Arnold will replace Gray Davis as governor of California. All the networks have projected it and despite the 2.2 million absentee ballots still to be counted, it's unlikely to change. With 16 women coming forward and accusing the pig of groping and abuse, the people of California have seen fit to elect him their governor.

Here's my solution. Let's start a recall petition and have California statehood revoked. I won't miss it. Honestly. It's large enough to be its own country - I say good riddance and stop embarrassing the rest of us.

Keep your fingers crossed that the Cubs make history tonight. I certainly am.

Have you seen the TV commercial for Extreme History on the history channel, hosted by Roger Daltrey? This is the network whose ad sales tag line is "Men Get It." In the ad, Daltrey asks, and I quote, "Have you ever eaten beaver?"

My husband thinks I'm the only one who would take that the wrong way. But I don't think I'm alone. And I think it's outrageously inappropriate. It's unbelievable to me that a network would intentionally do this - but I used to work there so I also know it's entirely possible. I'm not a prude - I just don't think that the "Men Get It" network should be allowed to ask that question. Call me old-fashioned.

I mentioned earlier that I was bored with the California recall race. And just when I thought I could move on, Arnold is bashed for making complementary remarks about Adolf Hitler. And I'm right back into it.

Now anyone older than six knows there are few individuals that evoke such strong emotions - both positive and negative - as Adolf Hitler. But I'm not reacting to any of the headlines or discussion about whether Arnold is anti-Semitic or not. We'll get back to that later if we need to.

What I will react to is the release of the original transcripts that started all this. Because when read in context, Hitler really is secondary. Arnold's comments reveal his ideas about power, control, leadership, and governing. I'm not a Gray Davis advocate - there's no question he should have handled issues that were not of his making much, much better - but if anyone thinks Californians will be better off under Arnold, there's a bridge in Brooklyn I'll let go for cheap. Honest.

It's too bad Arnold's original thoughts were taken out of context and mis-represented. The can be easily dismissed and it only deflects from the real message behind what he did say. And don't even get me started about the sexual harassment allegations. I don't care how many extramarital affairs he's had. That's between him and Maria Shriver, who I must admit I lose respect for every time she does the "Stand By Your Man" routine. Taken in context, each one again reveals his power and control issues. Boy oh boy, I hope Californians really do start using their heads.

Shocked, shocked at this turn of events for Seigfried and Roy - a tiger, attacks and bites? Who da thunk it?

I'll feel bad if he doesn't recover - really, I will - but I chalk this one up to just another job-related hazard. These are the guys who stick their heads inside a lion's mouth, right? Frankly, I can't figure out what took the cat so long.