Do you think McCain's trying to throw it?

Not at all. Yes, answering questions is not Palin's forte, but she has really energized his campaign. Heck, people I talk too wish she was running for president instead of McCain. Personally, I think McCain will probably take the election. I believe Obama had a tendency to underperform the polls in the primary and I think he will underperform in the general election. Prepare to be up late on election night waiting on the results in Ohio.

Cashmere - my kids have been in school for umpteen years and yet those days always sneak up on me. I'm lucky they pay more attention than I do.

At the moment I'm clock watching - CJ gets back from his 3 day field trip at 2:30 and I need to be at school to pick him up. I'm terrified I'll get into work stuff and not leave in time, so I've been watching almost every minute tick by. Gah.

The deployment of a single brigade to the US would be very insufficient to, say, enforce martial law nationally. But it's still disturbing, as it will set a precedent. This sort of thing hasn't happened since the Civil War, and was outlawed 100 years ago (only to be overturned with all the terrorism fear mongering going on).

Things just keep getting worse: Transexual Asian Eels Invade New Jersey

Just when we thought that Dirty Jerse had hit rock bottom, its rivers and forests have become overrun with a slimy, invasive species of eel that can live for months during droughts and change sex if necessary in order to keep reproducing. The Asian swamp eels were found recently in Silver Lake (which is located approximately here in the Eastern U.S.).

The swamp eels eat just about anything that moves including invertebrates, fish, reptiles and amphibians and have no known predators, which may pose a disasterous threat to the New Jersey's native ecosystem. They are also highly adaptable, able to live through droughts by burrowing under the ground for weeks and somehow surviving Jersey's icy winters, something they do not face in Asia.

Mmmmmmm, unagi.

OK, I'm going to be picking up the new issue of Entertainment Weekly!

The Chron has published it's 2008 Bargain Bite list for the Bay Area.

One of the trends seems to be towards "huaraches" in Mexican food. To wit:

El Huarache Azteca

Mexican City-style corn specialties in various shapes are what put El Huarache on the map — starting with the bean-stuffed, oval-shaped thick tortillas called huaraches, because they look like the soles of the sandals. Sopes are thicker versions, and you can pick from many toppings, from cactus and carne asada to two eggs over easy or red or green mole.

Huaraches have been pretty big out here for the past few years. The big thing now is the jibarito, a locally-invented sandwich made with plaintains instead of bread.

Hmmm, I've never been to this place. Must check it out.

Brenda's French Soul Food

Chef-owner Brenda Buenviaje’s cute little storefront swarms with City Hall workers during the midday rush. But this is no ordinary lunch counter. Louisiana culinary traditions are well represented with chicken, sausage and okra gumbo; and po’ boys stuffed with fried shrimp or oysters and a smidgen of chipotle remoulade. All-day breakfast includes Southern-style grits and biscuits. Even the generous omelets make use of Crescent City ingredients, such as andouille and cheddar, and Gulf shrimp and goat cheese.

The big thing now is the jibarito, a locally-invented sandwich made with plaintains instead of bread.

Wacky!

"Could I get my banana with some pork on it?"