Joe Trippi resigns and has been replaced by Al Gore's go-to guy. Someone had to after Kerry's rear assault. Trippi wouldn't know me if he fell on me but I remember him from the Mondale-Ferraro campaign. I remember a guy who was a bundle of energy without any real regard for people. I can't say what he's like today or if he's mellowed with age -- although his hair is grey rather than black now. He's a political machine -- and should be credited for what he did for Dean. But Internet strength doesn't mean real strength (ie votes). And now Dean has brought in Roy Neel, a consumate Washington insider. It's another sign of a dying campaign.

But I'm not so sure Dean has really "fallen," despite what the media says. Dean's rise mirrors the Internet boom which was inhabited by many who insisted they had a product that worked. Eventually you found out that the product only exists in theory -- or the costs were ludicrously high. From about 1999 - 2001 I remember saying over and over again "fewer ideas, more implementation." That was the real problem with the Internet boom -- too many idea guys, too few implementors. The Internet bubble didn't burst -- it just ran out of hot air. Which is exactly what I think has happened to Howard Dean. I'm sure Trippi will land on his feet somewhere -- guys like that always do.

I am not a morning person. Which is a little worrisome considering I want to become a teacher but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. (I knew it was a problem when members of my staff would ask if I'd had my coffee before bringing anything of substance to my attention. But I digress.)

As I'm lying in my usual morning fog, I heard Condie Rice on the Today Show say that, in fact, our President was a victim -- yes a VICTIM -- of a misinformed intelligence community. We can't blame him for their failure, she says. I swear to god I would have thrown something at the TV screen if I'd been more awake. Let's just hope this latest accountability dodge is not swallowed by most people. Not holding my breath, though.

Yesterday I was IMing with my friend Rob and we were talking about the NH primary. At one point, I said that I think of Dean as someone I would have dated (found attractive) in college. But I wouldn't expect -- or want -- him around for the long term. When it comes to "marrying" someone, John Kerry would be the one I'd pick. (And no, the fact that I DID pick Kevin John Carey to marry didn't influence my political decision at all.) But I digress.

The point is apparently the "Dated Dean, Married Kerry" has been around since last fall. Who knew? As I researched, I discovered it's been written and blogged about. But I don't recall ever reading such a thing. So I can't decide if I'm proud of myself for using the analogy without knowing it's origins, or if I'm really starting to lose it -- having read it somewhere and then forgot that I'd done so.

Nine of the 19 hijackers on 9/11 were "flagged" by the computer for one reason or another at airport security checkpoints. All nine were checked and allowed to board the plane. The most recent report from the commission investigating the events of that day included a transcript (and the actual tape) of flight attendant Betty Ong's phone call from doomed Flight 11. The report is compelling. But I want to know what's changed -- are "flagees" still allowed to board after a more "thorough" check? And if so, what's the use of all the new survelliance steps that have been put in place since 9/11? Just wondering.

Learn something new everyday I always say. I typed a dummy post to show my Dad how Blogger works on Saturday -- and then forgot to republish. So my apologies to anyone who wondered "what in god's name did she post that drivel for?"

I've been too preoccupied to be outraged the last few days -- St. John's is back in session so I'm back to advising the student newspaper staff, school starts tonight (it's a class on curriculum development) and I'm scheduled for a meeting with the NYC Teaching Fellows program later this week. Maybe if we get that 15 inches of snow they keep talking about I'll have a little free time to focus on the outrage that's always there -- just beneath the surface -- waiting for a reason to show itself.

I know what happened to the rover on Mars. Marvin the Martian turned it off. Has anyone at NASA been looking for Marvin's Illudium Pew-36 Explosive space modulator (.wav) in all those pictures. I'm sure it's there somewhere.

The Year of the Monkey, huh? Curious George has always been on of my favorite characters. And no it's not this George. But maybe this is the year he goes back to Texas. Happy Chinese New Year.

Let me get this straight: since Monday night, Howard Dean has spent most of his time talking about the "Screech Speech" while John Kerry (r.r.)spends his time focused where it should be: explaining why he should replace GWB in the White House.

Here's what I heard Bush say tonight in his SoTU speech (btw - WAY too much clappin' going on):

> Watch out, terrorists are right around the corner but you can count on us -- and only us -- to keep them away
> Thank a veteran but don't expect us to help them out financially in any way.
> Social Security is a thing of the past.
> There may be a job or two to be had at the National Endowment for Democracy since its budget's been doubled.
> So we didn't give schools enough money to implement the NCLB Act -- suck it up, will ya?
> Make tax cuts permanent and I'll cut the deficit in half within five years -- trust me on this one.
> Steroids are bad.
> Teenagers who get STDs do require our financial support.
> Liberal judges are out of control and the only way to protect marriage is to amend -- AMEND -- the Constitution [this one is particulary galling to me - I doubt I could find 10 people in that room who have never strayed, truly respect their spouse or have divorced one or more times.]
and last but certainly not least
> As long as God says it's okay, we'll just keep doing what he tells me to do.

Did ANYONE involved in the invasion of Iraq know the history there? Obviously not. And now we're "beseeching" the UN to help us? If it weren't so despicable, it would be funny. But the millions of "saved" Iraqis will be the ones to pay.

I hope every Democrat sitting in the chamber sits on their hands for most of Bush's State of the Union address tonight. I'm tired of hearing him tout programs that he and his Party have no intention of providing funding for (AmeriCorps, Leave All... I mean...No Children Behind, etc.) I know the etiquette says that the clapping is for the office of the president, not necessarily the person holding the office. Frankly, I don't care if it's rude. No self respecting Democrat should applaud a thing that man says. Now do you want to hear how I really feel?

Last night's events make me wish I'd never left politics. But then I realize I have a house, a husband, a cat, a checking account and I only stay up late when I want to -- none of which would be likely if I'd stayed in Washington. But I digress.

John Kerry appeared dead in the water. And tonight he's credited with a "stunning" comeback. I love politics. On to New Hampshire.

One thing I miss about not living in the DC area - reading a hard copy of the Washington Post every day. Thankfully, I can read Tom Shales online. His review of tonight's remake of "The Goodbye Girl" answers all the questions I had about it.

Can you imagine where 14-year old golfer Michelle Wie will be in 10 years? Hell, in three years?

Finally, a news story about protesters at a Bush event. Not sure if you saw the earlier post (Jan. 5) about the Bush gang establishing "free speech zones" for protesters so that the President -- and the media -- don't have to be bothered. ProgressiveTrail.org has more about Bush's Stealth Administration. (Love the MLK, Jr. quote in the masthead, btw.)

I wonder who's idea it really was to place riot police on top of the buses that were used to block the crowds' view of Bush -- or maybe that's the other way around. Either way, the message is clear: protest has become a criminal act in this country; and you'll be punished if you don't submit.

One billion for space exploration. Plus one and a half billion dollars for traditional marriage promotion (r.r.) -- whatever that means. I was laid off 16 months ago - I have only been able to find contract work (which I know I should be grateful for but I've never gone longer than a few weeks between full time jobs in my life.) COBRA runs out in March. So I'm a little freaked. I can think of a few better ways to spend this money.

So there'll be another Bachelorette, huh? It all feels a little too incestous for me somehow (and yes I know none of them are related.)

And I hate to admit it but my husband can't wait for the start of My Big, Fat Obnoxious Fiance. Without going into horrible details, there was some tension between him and my family prior to -- and after -- our nuptials. All is fine now -- they rarely speak so it's easy to be polite. Sometimes I wish it weren't that way but as my sister Colleen would say - whaddya gonna do?

I really wonder though: is there no limit to the number of people who are willing to marry the stranger they meet on a reality show? I'm starting to think there isn't. So these shows are just going to proliferate until all the potential people willing to humiliate themselves are used up. Oh the horror of it all.

I must confess something though. I found my self inexplicably drawn to The Simple Life on several occassions -- only for a few minutes at a time really. And while Kevin was flipping channels last night, he stopped on the TSL "reunion" show. There was a big deal at the end of the show about a surprise for the family. It turns out Paris and Nicole drive out in a big electric blue SUV. I think that family should have been given a million dollars -- nay TWO million dollars for putting up with the two of them for more than two hours. I think entire Altus community was robbed. Big time.

Sometimes, I wish I were Al Franken.

Great article in last week's The New Yorker on SUVs and automotive safety (thanks Rich!). Can't get the article online but here's a Q and A with the author Malcolm Gladwell.

Maybe it's a cultural thing but the lawyer quoted in this article (R.R.) is way off base. I can thing of many words to describe the act of a mass-murderer who killed more than 200 people and hangs himself with his prison bedsheet. Believe me, "outrage" is NOT one of them.

First, we blamed Canada for the August blackout. Then we banned them - along with other stalwart allies - from Iraq reconstruction bids. Most recently, we've blamed them for bringing mad cow disease to the U.S.

So Bush has relented and will now let Canada bid (R.R.) on the second round of Iraq bids. It's amazing what a little face time gets you. I think Canada - as a whole - should enter some kind of spousal abuse program. That's what US - Canada relationship sure feels like to me -- I may hit you every now and then, but it's only becaus I love you. I can't wait to find out what really happened here.

I like David Letterman -- he had a very funny bit last night about the CBS.com website. Maybe you have to be in the online publishing business to truly appreciate it -- at least that's what my husband said. But trust me, it was close to outrageously funny.

I'd vote for Paul O'Neill if he ran for president. Even if he is a Republican. If I were in the White House, I'd want this story to die as quickly as possible and wouldn't do anything to prolong the coverage. Which is all this probe will do.

Note to self: deficits (fee required), specially large ones, do matter, despite what Dick Cheney says.

Update (Feb. 25.): Just realized the link was broken. Am searching for an article that you can actually read.

Kevin never believed her story about losing a winning lottery ticket. I told him he was too cynical and had a warped view of human beings. But I've been telling him that for years.

So that's the second time this week that he's been right and I've been wrong. And I've had to admit it (that's the key differentiator) Once more and the world might slip it's axis.

And to think for all these years we've been searching for a cure for the common cold. Now it may cure melanoma. At least that's what's happened in an Australian lab. Will withhold judgment on this until further testing is done. I just want to how how it occurred to someone to try it. Who da thunk it?

When anyone tells you the jobs situation is improving, show them this article.

Update-Tue Jan 13: My concientious colleague RG has brought to my attention that the link above is broken. Unfortunately, it's fallen victim to the growing prevelance of newspapers to move content into "Archives" and thus extort money to read it. I'm not blind and I know paid content is gaining acceptance but I think it's a little fascist to move news into paid content so quickly. It's not like the story's a year old or no longer relevant. And it's not the two dollars I have a problem with -- I just think it's done too fast, without any consideration for people like me, who need a little more time. I changed the URL to a working link at LATimes but I wouldn't pay on principle. Here's a rather detailed summary of the article from CBS.com. And sorry - I forgot the LATimes requires registration. So my apologies to anyone, especially RG, who may have wasted any time here. That was not my intent.

Work with me here. We install video cameras in plain sight to detract robbers. We install those annoying "YOUR SPEED IS..." machines on roadways to warn speeders throughout the country. We place barriers along bridges so that jumpers won't...jump. We place rollover warnings on the visors of cars to warn us not to go too fast on a curve. Now I could go on and on.

One question: why NOT make public that radiation detection devices will be placed in large gathering spots? What's the harm in divulging that information -- wouldn't it be some kind of deterrent? I don't know. I guess the video cameras haven't stopped bank robberies so your guess is as good as mine.

When do you think the NYTimes will get off its high horse? This article points out that the Grey Lady really isn't much of a lady after all. But we already knew that, right?

How can you not stop and read a list of the Top 10 Morons of 2003?

Oh pulleeze...a 22 year old didn't understand what she was doing when she got married in Las Vegas? A place where she's making money hand over fist. This is what's wrong with most people -- so few are willing to be held accountable for their actions. And now a court of law says it's okay to do so. Sigh.

Update: And even more important, Kevin was right and I was wrong. Courts do grant annulments. Happy, honey?

Someone should tell Rolling Stone that courts grant divorces -- even to morons like Britney Spears -- call it the "I'm too stupid to marry" defense. Only the church grants annulments. Or at least that's what they taught at St. Mary's.

Update (Jan. 6): Kevin says I'm wrong. Courts grant annulments too. Who knew.

Just read this article for my latest outrage. I'm speechless. Honestly.

Okay - not completely speechless. I have one statement: every assignment editor in the world should be on notice to cover this story. And I have one question: how dare any member of the press covering the president call themselves a journalist? Shill, flack, hack, lackey, propogandist all come to mind. Any others you can add?

According to Merriam-Webster Online, the Word of the Day for Jan 05 is: handsel \HAN-sul\ (noun), meaning:

"*1 : a gift made as a token of good wishes or luck especially at the beginning of a new year
2 : something received first (as in a day of trading) and taken to be a token of good luck
3 a : a first installment : earnest money b : earnest, foretaste"

"According to an old custom in the British Isles, the first Monday of the new year is Handsel Monday, a day to give a small gift or good luck charm to children or to those who have served you well. As long ago as the year 1200, English speakers were using the ancestor of "handsel" for any good luck charm, especially one given at the start of some new situation or condition. By the 1500s, traders were using "handsel" for the first cash they earned in the morning — to them, an omen of good things to follow. Nowadays, it's likely to be used for the first use or experience of something, especially when such a use gives a taste of things to come." (emphasis added by me)

Do you think the homeland Security Service had any idea? Happy F---ing Handsel Day.

Has the world gone mad? Or is it just Washingtonians involved in the Bush Administration and the Homeland Security department? I woke up this morning to the news report about US-VISIT - a program here in the United States of America -- land of the immigrants -- that now requires fingerprints and photo identification of "foreigners" -- honest to god that's the word used in the newscast and the lower third graphic. We're talking about approximately 26 million people who will be affected -- not to mention the almost $20 billion it will cost when fully implemented.

Now on the surface, one's initial reaction might be that this seems like a good idea -- but then the story goes on to indicate that visitors from "29 countries and Canada" have an exemption if here under 90 days. You'd have to be a pretty stupid terrorist not to figure out a way around this one, huh? And with the exception of Japan, aren't all the countries listed just like us - predominately caucasian, western and/or christian? Correct me if I'm wrong.

Welcome to the growing police state once known as the United States of America. Start adding up all the "invasions" that are occurring. Read the last three paragraphs of this article. Don't say you weren't warned.

And to balance the outrage, I just love Brazil's response. Now there's a government that thinks fast on its feet.

So Pete Rose admits he bet on baseball -- one of two things he has to do to have a shot at the Hall of Fame. As I said almost a year ago (on Jan. 22 to be exact), if Rose makes it in, I will dedicate myself to the cause of restoring Joe Jackson.

Don't you think it's in poor taste to run a reality show called "Airline" at a time when news headlines scream about the latest threat to use one as a weapon -- or the latest "technical failure" that leads to hundreds of deaths? Maybe it's just me. And forgive me but maybe this show will appeal to those who never travel -- and have never seen up front the painful spectacle of humanity in any given airport or on any given flight. How about the reasoning given: people love to share their travel stories. That may be true -- but at least at a cocktail party there are no commercials. And I'd LOVE to know who's sponsoring "Airline."

In the interest of full disclosure, I used to work for A&E Television Networks until I was laid off -- the day after my boss "confided" in me that he was worried that he would be let go. But I've probably mentioned that outrage before. Time I got over it, I know. But you never really forget the true assholes you meet in life, now do you?

I interviewed Maxine Postal numerous times when I was a community news reporter. My beat was primarily government and politics -- but on a weekly you pretty much go wherever the news is. She was honest and direct -- two rare but wonderful qualities in an elected official. She died New Year's Day, just a little over a week after resigning as presiding officer of the Suffolk County Legislature. My condolences to her family and friends.