A Special Election Day Knitwithcats Award

The Knitwithcats Award is given to those who excel in finding excuses not to blog. This time the award goes to someone who has every reason TO blog right now--a new baby, a new career, and if news from the gossip rags are correct, a recent change in marital status. This would be a great time to update all his fans on the recent goings on in his life. However, it appears that my once upon a time presidential pick has not updated his blog or his Facebook page since January!

His last post was lengthy and, frankly, had too many words for me to care to read the whole thing (especially since I just started reading the Twilight series. Have you read that? I'm loving it! But I digress...). It ended with:

Do not turn away from these great struggles before us. Do not give up on the causes that we have fought for. Do not walk away from what's possible, because it's time for all of us, all of us together, to make the two Americas one.

Yes John, yes! Don't give up these great struggles. Instead, why don't you share them with the public via your personal blog. Maybe throw in a recipe or two. Banana bread or pecan pie would be a nice touch. Let us know what you have been doing with yourself lately. Do you knit? Because my friend Essie just let us know about a great sale they are having on thick wool at one of the yarn stores and we would be happy to let you in on the deal. How about some pictures of your pets wearing funny hats or sunglasses. People always like to see those sorts of things. See John? So many things to blog about that I really don't know what you are waiting for.

It seems I am not the only one missing Edwards' blog posts. News Groper just went ahead and made up a post for him, empathetically titled Oh cut me some slack, the cancer was in remission!

So, John Edwards, this knitwithcats award is for you. Sorry, there is no monetary benefit to getting this award but if you leave me your address, I will knit a nice little sweater for the new baby and send it your way.

Dineometer's Financial Suggestion for the United States

Does anyone remember that reverse Robin Hood skit from Monty Python many years ago? Steal from the poor and give to the rich? That's what this whole financial bail out sounds like to me. All I know is that some financial executive's Caribbean retreat is being protected while an increasing number of my non-wealthy friends seem to be losing their jobs.

How are we, the shirtless masses, going to come up with the cash to fund this $700 billion plan? Well, we here at Dineometer have a solution.

Lets have a yard sale.

Yard sales are the traditional American way to raise some quick cash when short on funds. The U.S. has many things that are not being used right now and should be put out on the White House lawn with a big ol' orange price tag on them. I'm not talking about Amy Carter's tricycle from the White House attic, or unused bottles of spray-on-hair from the Reagan administration, we need big ticket items. Here are a few suggestions for underutilized items that could be sold:

1) North Dakota. Trust me on this one. I used to live there and we are not using this state. I suggest we sell it to Canada. It could be like a Florida for them complete with a Polar Disney (don't forget your parkas on the roller coaster kids!) and instead of a Universal Theme Park, how about HGTV World or Home Shopping Land (take a ride on the Hummel figurine-go-round). Apologies to my friend Kathy who lives in North Dakota. Although, I am not sure if they ever did get the internet up in rural NoDak so she might not even see this. Sorry Kathy!

2) Dan Quayle. Did you know he is still alive? No really. Lets pretend he knows a bunch of important security secrets and sell him to China.

3) The Grand Canyon. Judging by activities in my own neighborhood, we seem to be running out of room for high priced condos and really big houses. Given that the average visit to the Grand Canyon is only about 2 hours which is the length of a feature film, why not sell this space to land developers. For once real estate agents wouldn't have to lie about the "great view."

4) I can't think of any others right now. Any suggestions?

I think I'm going to go email this to my congress person.