Democrats, Republicans, Gooses & Ganders

Big News

President Bush and Nancy Pelosi had lunch on Thursday. Apparently, it was a successful meeting. Nobody got shot.
- The President had Cheney nearby for protection.

What a week. Democrats win everything. Nancy Pelosi marches into the White House. Yet amazingly, no talk radio guy has had a heart attack.
- Yet!

Millions of bottles of the widely used pain reliever acetaminophen are being recalled because they may contain metal fragments. Apparently, the main danger is to people who walk by their refrigerator and get attacked by flying magnets.

November 10 Now & Then

This is Youth Appreciation Week. Me, I appreciate youth so much I've decided to remain immature until my second childhood.

TV's "Sesame Street" premiered on this date in 1969. My favorite Sesame Street character was Oscar the Grouch. I always thought it would be cool to have your own room with a lid on it.
- You wouldn't have to clean your room; you'd just open the lid and let the ceiling fan blow everything out.

The world's first obscene musical opened on Broadway on this day in 1900. Floradora featured six beautiful young dancers with naked ankles and elbows. and they winked at the audience!
- And to arouse even more prurient interests, the six girls were promoted as a sextet. Well, it was just awful!- And a smash hit.

In 1909 Edward Weston walked across the U.S. from New York to California in 104 days, averaging 37 miles a day. Then, to prove he was crazy, he walked back. In only 77 days, averaging 50 miles a day. Weston completed the round trip on this date in 1909, his 73rd birthday, which he celebrated by soaking his feet.

Love & Learn

Eureka! - Discoveries for the scientifically bent. But fun for everyone. New science, super brain teasers, great trivia, and fun facts every week.

Sports Unlimited - Latest Tiger Woods video game reflects all of Aviara's details.

Travel and Adventure - A visit to Colorado can turn into a lifetime.

DVD Select - Newest, best and worst available on DVD, this week animation in abundance, including Cars, Monster House, Over the Hedge, Ice Age: The Meltdown, The Wild, The Ant Bully, and more.

Today's intriguing autumn question:

Have you noticed how geese always fly south in a V-formation? How do you suppose they pick the lead goose?
- And is her gander proud of her?

Shallow Thoughts

Did you ever wonder, on Veteran's Day do draft dodgers get to together and tell peace stories.

Back home we didn't have many veterans. The bank even had to foreclose on the American Legion hall.

Aggie-in-Chief Is the Man

Big News

President Bush is nominating Texas A&M President Robert Gates as his new Secretary of Defense. Most Texans wonder why the Aggie-in-Chief would want to accept a lower position.
- Probably to have more time with his family.
- Wow, when al-Qaida realizes an Aggie is running the show, they'll certainly run for the hills.
- Of course, Gates was also director of the CIA. That's what qualified him to be Chief Aggie.

Can you believe it? Suddenly millions of Americans like Republicans again.
- Admit it, they're not so bad when they're not in power.

There's nothing in this world sadder than politicians who take themselves seriously.

And now the GOP is in disarray. Hey, that's the way the party crumbles.

November 9th Now & Then

The Canadian Finals Rodeo is this week in Edmonton. It’s indoors so the cowboys won’t freeze their lassos.
- Rodeos in Canada are pretty much the same as anywhere else, except because of the cold weather, the older horses wear socks.

Pepa is 37 today. Pepa is part of a rock group Salt 'n' Pepa, famous for shakin' their "thang." Maybe since it's Pepa's birthday, she'll get to rest her "thang."

A massive power failure blacked out New England and Ontario on this date in 1965. It was terrible. Police reported a huge increase in crime: looting ... assault ... seeing-eye dog rustling....

The worst fire in Boston history destroyed 800 buildings on this day in 1872. Reportedly, the whole thing started when local baseball fans tried to light a fire under the Red Sox.

Love & Learn

The Alert Consumer: New TVs - Mitsubishi's 2007 DLP televisions, including its 57-inch WD-57731, offers 1080p as their maximum resolution, and have no problem playing 1080i or lower resolution images either.

Films in Focus: New & Recent Releases - Quick reviews of Borat, Flushed Away, Catch a Fire, Deliver Us from Evil, Marie Antoinette, Flicka, The Prestige, The Departed, Man of the Year, and The Queen.

Sports Roundup: Pro Football - Rams' John Shaw is not afraid of big moves.

Aging Lifestyles - It's time for participants in the Medicare Part D drug program to take another look at their coverage.

Today's Fun Fact:

The average adult snail has exactly 14,175 teeth. And though no snail has ever been photographed brushing his teeth, snails never have cavities.- Just don't let one breathe in your face.

Shallow Thoughts

Actually, election day is pretty boring when all you have to choose from are politicians

Just wait, with Democrats in control, on Sesame Street Rush Limbaugh will win the Oscar for Grouch of the Year.

How to Remove Political Mud

Big News

Well, the election's over. Now everybody needs a few days to catch their breath and forget their campaign promises.

Actually, there weren't that many campaign promises in this campaign -- just a never ending string of muddy TV commercials.
- If cleanliness is next go Godliness, that could explain why God didn't vote in this one.

Shouldn't there be some kind of warranty on congressmen, so if you don't like them, after the first 90 days, you can exchange them?
- Or if they don't keep their campaign promises, you get your taxes back?
- How about a constitutional amendment that declares anything said in a campaign commercial to be under oath?

It makes no difference who won or who lost. The bad news is we still have Rush Limbaugh.

November 8th Now & Then

"60 Minutes" reporter Morley Safer was born on this day in 1931. So let's all give a hearty cheer for Morley's mom. After all, she did make the world a little Safer.

The Wild West's most famous dentist, Doc Holliday, died on this date in 1887. Doc was an unusual dentist because he never charged a fee to pull people's teeth. He did it just for fun.
- He did charge, however, to stop the bleeding.

The Canadian Rodeo Finals are this week in Edmonton. It's the only rodeo that features frozen Brahma bull riding.
- Alberta has the toughest cowboys in the world. In Alberta, steer wrestling is steer wrestling -- no time limit, two out of three falls.

Hugh Hefner’s daughter, Christie, turns 58 today. Don’t you know it was confusing being a baby around the Playboy mansion. Especially during the stage of breast-feeding.

Love & Learn

Opinion: Eat Like a Rabbit, Live to 140 - Some scientists say the human life span can be boosted to 112 heathy years, with some folks lasting 140 -- but ...

Today's Health Scene - Without warning, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome changes a family forever. How to lower your baby's risk of SIDS.

TV Closeup - Five years ago, Rachael Ray spent more than 100 hours a week managing restaurants. Now the relentless pert has launched a nationally syndicated chat show.

Financial Update - Parents don't know that some games can surf the Net.

Shallow Thoughts

Honest, my school was so tough, I was once suspended for cleanliness.

When you get too old to cry like a baby, you can always cry like a special interest group.

I saw the first sign of winter. The waitresses down at the drive-in have stopped shaving their legs.

Ah, Which Promise to Break First?

Big News

A recorded Bill Clinton called and asked me to vote a straight Democratic ticket. As opposed, I suppose, to a gay Democratic ticket.
- Before I decide, I'm waiting to see if a recorded George W. Bush calls.
- I like recorded politicians. They never get mad no matter what you call them.

Actually, you can't help but wonder, if Republicans win, who they'll attack to celebrate.

November 7th Now & Then

Today is Election Day in the U.S. Nobody seems to know why. It's just a tradition that every couple of years Americans go to the polls and make some really big mistakes.
- Most of us only do it to protect our griping rights later.

Jeanette Rankin of Montana became the first woman elected to the U.S. Congress on this date in 1916. They put in a special ladies room for her, but she never used it because she didn't have anybody to go with her.

U.S. President Lyndon Johnson established the Corporation for Public Broadcasting on this date in 1967. So, thanks to LBJ, now all Americans know how insects mate.

Evangelist Billy Graham was born on this day in 1918. Before he began preaching, Billy was a late-night disc jockey. And working the grave-yard shift gives you a lot to time to think about the grave yard. So Billy decided to devote his life to warning people to be ready when that great Chief Engineer shuts down their transmitter.
- Fortunately, Billy was never corny enough to put in those terms.

Love & Learn

Financial Update - Parents don't know that some games can surf the Net.

Inside People: Siblings - Turn grown sibling rivalry into revelry. Experts say holidays, such as this Thanksgiving, may be the perfect time to open your heart toward a sibling who is imperfect but still an important part of your life.

Long-Range Weather Fun - How to decide whether to fly south for the winter.

Today's grocery shopping tip:

Always remember, the supermarket ads use pictures of professional pork chops. Your pork chops may vary.

Shallow Thoughts

Do you ever get the feeling, no matter who we elect, the seat of government seems to have a whoopee cushion in it?

It's Election Day and the moment of truth -- the moment voters decide which candidates did the best job of not telling the truth.

Airline Recalls Defective Pilots?

Big News

Saddam Hussein was convicted Sunday and sentenced to hang. The only question left is whether the hanging will be broadcast live on "Entertainment Tonight."

Northwest Airlines may recall hundreds of pilots. The company did not say, however, how or if the pilots are defective.

A 49-year-old Indiana man was sentenced to 245 years in prison for three murders. With good behavior he could be out in 81 years.
- He'll only be 130, so his girlfriend says she'll wait.

November 6th Now & Then

Actress Sally Field is 60 today. She is one of America's favorite celebrities, but her fan club is disappointed in Sally's special effects. They still want her to win an Academy Award and fly in to accept it dressed in her Flying Nun outfit.

James Naismith was born on this day in 1861. He invented basetball, thank goodness. Otherwise, Shaquille O'Neal probably would be playing hockey.
- Can you imagine size-22 skates?

TV journalist Maria Shriver is 52 today. She'll blow out the candles and hubby Arnold Schwarzenegger will terminate the cake.
- Then they'll have their picture made flexing their cheekbones.

NBC's "Meet the Press" debuted on this day in 1947. Unfortunately, since the show is telecast early on Sunday mornings, nobody has seen it yet.

Love & Learn

Inside People: Siblings - Turn grown sibling rivalry into revelry. Experts say holidays, such as this Thanksgiving, may be the perfect time to open your heart toward a sibling who is imperfect but still an important part of your life.

Long-Range Weather Fun - How to decide whether to fly south for the winter.

Business Travel - Father of luxury luggage: Louis Vuitton or Francois Goyard?

'Tween 12 and 20 - Don't force dating issue just yet .. Heimlich maneuver a lifesaver .. Quit smoking now, for everyone's sake .. Being gay doesn't equal being bad .. The less TV, the better the grades .. Teen is a lonely number .. Almost impossible to be too thin...

Today's Feminist Proverb:

Don't criticize me until you've walked a mile in my pumps.

Shallow Thoughts

We have a 30-year fixed mortgage. That means the bank fixed it so for 30 years we can't buy anything.

I don't worry about crime. I enjoy sleeping under the house.

Life is full of wonders. My mind is constantly fascinated by some of the things my mouth comes up with.