Today is weed abatement day. As the backyard was still a dirt patch all winter it collected a lot of wild seeds. I mowed 'em down last month but they quickly grew to 6 feet. Time to pull out the Agent Orange. Only problem with the defoliants is that they leave the dead weeds - so next week I'll have the 6 foot carcasses to mow down again. Would probably also be a good idea to throw out some grass seed. I'll have to tear it all out to finish the back yard - but at least it might keep the weeds down until that day comes. It likely won't be soon.

More ramblings on the Israelistine situation... The US could be on shaky ground here. They recognize an implicit deed to land by a people based purely on their claim to have had it given to them by the great spirit. That claim has been thrown out repeatedly by US courts. However (curiously) we allow the claim to stand when it's a worthless desert or swamp. Now I get it... At the same time, there's a glimmer of hope. Native America is thriving amongst us. Not on the reservations but in the cities. Not out on the plains. Why bother? The European system of distributing food did have some advantages over toughing it out in the cold trying to find a buffalo to kill with a spear.

The tell-tale signs of a productive day at home. It's tidy again. Well, except for the little piles of hand tools spread around the house. Each signifies yet another item checked off of the too-doo list.

It was last August when the kitchen was completed. The ensuing months I've enjoyed many a fine meal in it. Tonight though is the first spaghetti ala MAX. I also haven't made a batch of beer in a while. Both of these are what the kitchen was ultimately designed for. Well that and grill anytime in any weather. Life is grand. Would you care for a glass of Amontillado with that? I've got a cask down here in the cellar...

At the market I started checking out the labels. Brown fertile eggs. As opposed to (I suppose) infertile eggs. How would you know? Can I sue them for false advertising if any less that twelve hatch? And check out the queso fresco (cheese). Part skim milk cheese analog. Huh? So part of it is something like cheese. That's encouraging. Wonder what the rest is. ...Then there's fat free milk. Does that mean it's free of fat or that they're throwing in the fat at no cost? Did anybody ever ask?

They're showing some footage of Saddam as they talk about the latest rumours of wars. This amongst his ministers in a cabinet meeting. Wait, just a minute - that looks like a Fender Twin Reverb guitar amplifier over in the corner. Strange place to find one of those. On second showing it looks a bit more like a Bassman.

Charlton Heston repeats his mantra - " from my cold dead hands". Lessee, he must be pushing 80 and pretty much losing the ability to function in public. Won't be long.

Lebed died - injuries from a helicopter crash. He was on a collision course with the dark side as well. Once in the center of power in Moscow he was rewarded by becoming governor of Siberia. Ouch.