So it's come to this

Last year we had an incredibly difficult flight home, well technically the flight was fine. Due to some odd computer snafus at booking we stood in the airport and watched the plane take off, then needed to find another way to get back to the east coast. On a snowy day. On Christmas Eve.

I honestly don't remember how we resolved it. I know it took many hours in line and on the phone, lots of begging and pleading, and one very effective bribe. Getting off one plane we ran straight to Starbucks so we could keep our wits about us, and when the stroller paused by some teddy bears they had out front we were told, in no uncertain terms, "I want that one."

Well okay, we thought, it was a hard day for all of us, we'll take that one. If it makes her happy for then it's worth it to get through at least a few moments. How well did it work? Eleven months later, you tell me:

I don't know if it's Springfield or just the way of things these days, but Fall feels shorter every year. This is very upsetting since it's my favorite time of year. Nothing cynical about flowers dying or whatnot (although it does make me happy to see the smile of the faces of people who insist on talking about how wonderful 90+ degree days are), it's just aesthetically my favorite.

We had to wait for mid-October before it was cool enough to wear a jacket outside for real, but it finally happened. And we celebrated by a visit to the local pumpkin patch, where the World's Greatest Toddler picked out her new favorite toy:



It makes the spirit strong.

From NPR.org

Conviction Overturned In '60s Mississippi Klan Killings

A federal appeals court has overturned the conviction of a reputed Ku Klux Klan member serving three life sentences for his role in the 1964 abduction and killing of two black teenagers.

A three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said it agreed with arguments by James Ford Seale's attorney that the statute of limitations in the case had expired.

Seale was convicted in June 2007 of kidnapping and conspiracy in the abductions of Charles Eddie Moore and Henry Hezekiah Dee, both 19, who disappeared from Franklin County in Mississippi May 2, 1964. Their decomposed bodies were later pulled from the muddy waters of the Mississippi River.

Seale was arrested on a state murder charge in 1964, but it was later dropped. Federal prosecutors say the state case was dropped because local law enforcement officers in 1964 were in collusion with the Klan.

He was convicted largely on the testimony of Charles Marcus Edwards, a confessed Klansman who, for his testimony, received immunity from prosecution for his admitted role in the abductions.

I wonder if these people would be considered activist judges? Nah.

Sorry you weren't nominated for Vice President. Bummer, eh?

Dueling Twitter news feeds:

about 5 hours ago from CNN Alert
cnnbrk Georgia's president signs cease-fire declaration, diplomats now taking document to Moscow, Finland's foreign minister tells CNN.

about 4 hours ago from twitterfeed
nprnews Georgian Leader Says Russia Widening Conflict http://tinyurl.com/6yv24q

And America responds:





That'll learn 'em!

We had the "news" on this morning (okay, it was a morning show--but that's really not my fault), and they were talking about race relations in the election. All the sudden my daughter, who I did not think was watching, starting mimicking what she heard: "Black & white, black & white, black & white, black & white."

It was horrifying and hysterical and absurd. And clearly an indication that we need to change our morning routine. I wish I could remember what they call those things where they print the news onto paper.

I saw Jim Kramer on tv saying that everyone should start buying stock in oil companies now. Morality issues aside, there's nothing like following the old adage "buy low, sell after you get all the other morons to drive up the price."

Okay, so that's immoral, too. I don't know much about investing (never had enough to really make it relevant), but if there's one thing the past 8 years have taught us is that once an investment starts making money, it never ever ever ever ever stops.

On an unrelated note, anybody wanna buy a condo?


UPDATE: Quote from an NPR story this morning by a John Deere tractor dealer in Lincoln, Nebraska:

"This commodity bubble will burst just like the housing bubble burst and the tech bubble burst," Stiggey says. "We're very pleased with the marketplace right now, but we're not so naïve to think this is going to last forever."

Hey NBC--dump your overpaid hack and get Stiggey on the phone!