I would have concurred with the premise of the headlined question until this afternoon.  Lets see if the very fishy looking accident that took out journalist Michael Hastings goes into the "move along, nothing to see here" queue.  

We'll see what our media decides is more important, the security of their correspondence, or the security of their trip home driving their lovely new Benz.  I've never seen a Mercedes engine block travel that far, have you?  The video of the burning vehicle looks like a product of Hollywood special effects.  We live in mysterious times.

Do not expect those who are incapable of shame to squirm.

When, someday, we learn all there is to know about this, it will be like reading a domestic version of the Venona files.  It will only come out when all the principals are dead and gone and no one thinks it can hurt the statist agenda.

This whole thing stinks to high heaven.

I just just hope I can hang on for another 30 years or so.  There's no telling what comes out when we know as much about this President as we found out about JFK, and it is inevitable that we will.  

I suspect Ms. Jarrett will be better known after the fact than during the commission of the crime.

I play the clarinet and saxophone at a professional level, but don't work much any more - not that I don't play, I just play where and when I want.  As a musician and arranger, I was one of the many who gravitated into IT for a living since there were so many more jobs that had unfamiliar aspects like good pay, and benefits.

I find it interesting how many here yearn to "have musical talent" when I think of the hours spent grinding in a practice room so I could win some competitive audition versus another individual grinding it out in another room.  That's how you "have talent."  Gustav Holst said that anything worth doing is worth doing badly.  The point being that you have to do it badly before you can do it well.  You must have the guidance, motivation, and yes, ability to do so, but getting through those days and months of being quite awful is headwind enough for many.

That said, now that I'm able to pretty much pick it up and read about anything stuck in front of me, I wish I had the jazzer's ability to truly improvise.

Jacksonville, FL - lined up in the rain at 6:45 for a 7 AM start.  About 100 ahead of me, 250 + by the time the polls opened.  Counted 5 different poll watchers at my precinct, wearing bright yellow signs that said

I AM A POLL WATCHER AND I AM NOT ALLOWED TO TALK TO YOU - followed  by a badge # and the wearer's name.
Lots of kids in line with their parents, and a healthy count of naval personnel (my precinct is just north of NAS Jax.) 

A good natured crowd talked and waited, the line moved quickly when it started moving, and I finally finished about 7:45.  Ample lines were inside and plenty of voting machines were available for my precinct.  Word from others here at work indicate that the lines were less long in some other parts of town.  Most folks had sample ballots or a crib sheet for the phalanx of amendments on this year's Florida ballot.  I would rate my area as a strong Republican part of town, and I was buoyed by the turnout.  We'll see what we get by tomorrow.

re: Biebl's Ave Maria - yes, yes!! this, this!!  Even many good musicians have never heard this and do not know it, especially if they are not really choral people (and I am not). 

There is a YouTube of an Eastern European girls choir singing this that in my mind is exactly what angels must sound like.  You'll know it when you find it.  Wonderful, wonderful.

Same here!!  The salmon roe was like a religious experience.

Doug, my dad didn't make it past 56, and I have outlived him already.  

Still, I have been blessed in many ways, as have you.  Cherish each day and count your blessings.

I'm in what would be expected to be a Republican area of north Florida.  The Romney yard signs have blossomed like desert flowers after a rainstorm throughout my neighborhood this week.  

I'm feeling more and more like your gut instinct was on the money, Professor.  The momentum is palpable.  

That said, we have 12 amendments on the ballot - the longest in memory, written in the kind of language that makes one scream in horror rather than decipher it.  I'm skeptical that this won't be leveraged in some way to our detriment.  

"No pressure."

And what would it cost to manipulate Intrade?  Serious question.

This, Professor.  Hope you are well.

Are you going to believe those numbers or your lying eyes?  My gut as well as my eyes and ears tell me a different story.  Plus, I'm in a swing state.

Oh, goodness.  Small world.  One would think that "Oklahoma's top high school debater" would have made a lasting impression on someone with the forensic skills of our esteemed Professor.  I bet somebody does some extra research on this.

It has not been a good day for the Tammany side of things.

Agreed.  Luntz can pop up now and then with a useful insight, but here he's just talking his book.  He's a pro - it's what he does.

The mayor must not be a lawyer.  If he is, he's not a very good one.

He asked the question, but did no prep in making sure he'd get the answer he expected.  Is he really that dim?  Anglenos, please.  I gotta know.

All hail Wikipedia - does better than I can:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tracy_Flick