Miscellany

I'm off for Texas for the weekend--a long drive just to get some decent barbecue, and frequently the barbecue is overrated in Texas. Fortunately, one of the exceptions to this is Angelo's in Fort Worth, and I've been told I get to go there.

I'll be back next week with some political considerations. Currently I'm wondering whether I should hold it against Republicans for treating me as if I'm stupid (I'm leaning in that direction), or hold it against Democrats for being feckless (I've leaned in that direction almost far enough to fall over). The other day I was listening to NPR ("Talk of the Nation," I believe, although I was trying to nap) and Kathleen Harris, the Republican Senatorial candidate was on. This is, of course, the woman who was Secretary of the state of Florida during the 2000 Presidential Election, has lots of dough and some most excellent hair, and has run one of the most embarrassing campaigns in recent memory. Jeb Bush and most other Florida Republicans have repeatedly stated that she doesn't have a chance and that she should get out of the race. She is admirably dogged in her determination (think Charlie Brown and football), but even her supporters can't think much to say in her favor. If the best thing you can say about a candidate starts (and ends) with his or her looks, that candidate is in trouble.

How much trouble? This is a candidate from the state of Florida looking for Republican votes. So she's on NPR? Some Republicans listen to NPR, of course, even in Florida. But my guess is that she already had those four votes in the bag.

W. should have rewarded her--as was said at the time--for her outstanding efforts to prevent a fair vote count (with more help from Gore than she needed) by appointing her Ambassador to Chad.

See you next week.

Hmmmm

Ok, ok. Next week turned out to be next month, plus a couple of weeks.

I've been a little busy; I shan't bore you with the details, but it looks like my book is going to be published, I'm working very very hard to try to avoid working at all next year (trying to turn a one-semester sabbatical into a two-semester one; add a summer grant at each end, and I'll end up being a very good banjo player. Do you think Deans read these?), giving some papers (Nashville in November; maybe LA in the Spring; maybe Jo'burg next summer; I've already had to turn down a trip to Australia, and one to China), going to Texas to see some family next weekend, I've finished the whole Pimsleur course (three sets of 20 cds) in Chinese, am approaching 100 characters memorized (traditional and simplified), start Managerial Accounting in October, teach three classes (including one I've never taught), trying to stay up on guitar--several styles and varieties--mandolin, banjo, dobro, playing a bit in the band, and I've got a lot of baseball to watch and two kids.

Sure, plenty o' time to blog.

If I were to blog, it would be about a) our President and his apparent desire--as a war hero with vast battlefield experience--to torture people, in spite of the advice of most of the military; b) our President and his apparent desire to keep violating the Constitution and the law by insisting on illegal wiretaps, in spite of the advice of such radicals as Jonathan Turley and Bruce Fein; c) a prediction on how quick the Cardinals exit the post-season (anything can happen, but if they get to the Series, I will reconsider that whole existence of God. I'll come to the same conclusion, but I'll reconsider it.)

Anyway, I'm going to try and set an hour or so aside to do this thing; I got to 5,000 posts at AnnCoulter.com, but most of my friends have left there (willingly or otherwise), and it has turned into a very unpleasant place, without its old sense of humor. How many times can you laugh at people who insist that the peace of God and the loving embrace of Jesus is best manifest by killing 1.3 billion Muslims?

Leave some comments if you are reading this. If you don't see this, your obligation is considerably ameliorated. Say that five times fast.