I do think he could have done better on this front, frankly. But the sense that much of any of it was his doing or his responsibility is baffling to me.

Eh, I can understand. I got annoyed with that, but I also got annoyed with Clinton for not coming out and saying the whole Rev Wright blow up was lame media bullshit.

I think that this is what confuses me. Why are people expecting that the candidates will help their opponent? I mean, it is a contest after all.

But it isn't a contest for a prize. At least, it isn't supposed to be. And either way, one of them will have to continue on with the lame bullshit damage. Opposing parties is one thing, but it was in both their best interests that they played a clean fight and showed some sense of solidarity when it came to lame media bullshit.

It would have made them both look amazingly good if they defended each other against the lame bullshit. Would have made their party all the more appealling.

I think that this is what confuses me. Why are people expecting that the candidates will help their opponent? I mean, it is a contest after all.

Well, yeah, but it's a contest where the winner is going to go on to another, bigger contest the very next morning after winning, and is going to need the votes of the loser's supporters.

I did hear, at the beginning of the only debate I ever listened to, both Clinton and Obama in their opening speeches say, "I believe I'm the strongest candidate and the one who will make the best President, but my opponent is also great and if I don't make it to November I expect my supporters to throw all their strength behind him/her." That was spectacular, and made my heart flutter for both of them.

And about ten times more of that, and both of them more vocally having each other's backs even while competing with each other, would probably have gone a long way to dialing down the rhetoric from the fringes of their supporters and toward making the transition for the voters to one candidate, one party, let's all focus on November a little smoother than it's been so far.

I know the Kool-Aid phrase came from the Jonestown suicides, but as with most things, I do believe it's been softened over the intervening time. It now means something closer to having been swayed by an appealing idea or someone's personality, you'll follow their example. Time and the sarcastic use of the phrase has pulled its metaphorical teeth, I think. It doesn't provide the same frisson of horror as it did at the time.

Tommy, yikes! Glad you're all right.

Flowers don't make up for a killing schedule, Allyson, but at least they make you smile, meanwhile. And that's something.

Why are people expecting that the candidates will help their opponent? I mean, it is a contest after all.

In the end, though, aren't they both on the same side? The Democratic one?

Steph, without being able to click your clickity links, how long is the story going to be? That's cool and crazy.

Beavers said part of the overall increase in low-birthweight babies was due to a rise in multiple births as more older women use fertility treatments to conceive. But she said the birth-weight problem also has been worsening for single-baby deliveries.

Roughly half of the NICU babies were multiples. And multiple births are, of course, more likely with fertility treatment, but they are also more common in older women in general, even those who don't undergo fertility treatment.

One important factor, Beavers said, is the mother's overall health at the time of pregnancy and her access to good prenatal care.

@@ at this one. I know it must be true. But honestly, I had excellent prenatal care and I was in the best shape of my adulthood when I got pregnant.

sometimes it's all irritating.

And on a completely other topic: Teppy, that's not only amazingly cool, you've managed to make me seriously think--for a moment, anyway--about actually getting a tattoo. Still not doing it because of the needles and the phobia, but that is incredibly cool.

But what if you volunteer and find out that you're "is" or "of"?

But what if you volunteer and find out that you're "is" or "of"?

What if you're a comma, and you should have been a semicolon?

bonny, I got the email and we should be there! We're hoping for no thunderstorms so we can have dinner at one of the sidewalk cafes, too. Will you join us?

Sparky, I have an obligation after the workshop but I could sit with you guys for a drink first. It will be great to see you again.

I would totally get "is" tattooed on me.