Wow... it's been weeks since I last wrote...

Since then:
the lights went out over the NE.... thanks to the emphasis on "making more money" vs "maintaining the infrastructure for the best good". I guess we NEVER will learn that Greed is not a good thing.
Looks like Schwarzenegger will be our next gov... he a bit to tied to the Bushies but has been a boon for the comedy acts and journalists. Name's hard to spell, but he's definitely got that cartoon quality so lacking in most politicians.
The good Texas politicians are seeing much more of Albuquerque than they wish. and I'm sure that they will all have listened to many more "Texan" jokes than they wanted. I don't think that a month's vacation in the New Mexican desert was high on anyones schedule. but hey... Albuquerque is a great city....
Viruses and worms all over the internet.
The UN was targeted in Iraq: and the good old US diplomacy contiues stomping around making more enemies than friends. My heart hurts for everyone in Iraq and Afganistan including our troops..
Ashcroft is stumping the nation.... trying to sell the "Patriot Act" as a "good thing"....
The FCC is trying to backpedal and sell "localization" and what they REALLY REALLY meant when they gave another chunk of the public airwave exclusively to the BIG MEDIA.... all for the little guy??

On the local front:
Brother Charlie and Jan stopped by on their way from Australia to NY... Big reunion in NC.. guess I need to help plan. Presently it looks like well have between 12 and 14 people sharing 3 beds... hmmmmm...... camping in the mountains in Sept is a great idea. Should be fun once I get over my normal hermit's preference for solitude...
Figs are ripe: can't keep up with them... tried drying but failed completely.. got lots of lovely mold. Made fig/raspberry preserves... tasty.. but have no idea when we'll actually consume it. Woud take it to the reunion but don't think I want to try to get it through airport security...
The birds like the figs... but the foxes like the birds... and the birds don't like the foxes... the foxes also prefer the cat's food to the figs and the cats don't eat figs ... so I will have LOTS of rotten figs soon...

today reading by/about:
Paul Begula
Dubyas' World
The Smirking Chimp
Peter Hart @ Fair.org

all for now....