Linda's blog

I've just had the pleasure of reconnecting with a friend from college, who I had not seen or heard from since I graduated in 1982. He is the author of a book called "The Loop Year", in which he endeavored to walk the same 2 mile nature trail every day for a year. His name is John Sheirer, and it's a marvelous book. He pays attention to the details that change day to day on the trail, falls in love over the internet, and writes in a compelling style. You can visit his website: www.johnsheirer.com for excerpts. His memoir of a happy childhood is wonderful as well.

NC based "private security company" Blackwater Security is changing it's name to "XE" (pronounced "zee") in an effort to rebrand itself in the wake of their horrendous publicity.

Blackwater President Gary Jackson said in a memo to employees of the North Carolina-based company that the new name reflects the change in company focus away from the business of providing private security.

Spokeswoman Anne Tyrrell says the company felt the Blackwater name was too closely tied to its security work in Iraq.

I wonder if putting lipstick on this pig will work?

We all suspected it. Now VP Cheney has admitted that he was "directly involved" in the decision to allow torture of prisoners.

Courtesy of the New York Times, there's an interactive electoral map. Pick your own blue states and red states

We waited outside for hours, finally got in, and wound up going right back outside...but it turned out to be one of the most exciting things that has ever happened to me. We were close enough to the next President of the United States to count the stripes on the ubiquitous flag pin he has been coerced into wearing.

It's official, McCain lost the political game of Chicken. He's announced that he will be at the debate tonight in Mississippi.

So what's on your mind today?

Remember when John McCain was a different kind of Republican? Remember the Straight Talk Express? Seems like Mr. McCain has got to do a lot of talking to get himself out of this mess. The best cartoon I've seen so far after the break.

Our pals at over at the Dome have reviewed the DSCC's ad now airing that call's Elizabeth Dole the 93rd least effective senator. Is it accurate?

Just talk. Maybe about mooses. What is the plural of that, anyhow?