Michael G. Cahill of Spokane was one of the victims of the Fort Hood shootings.Condolences to the family and anyone who knew him.

Remember when that was a hot topic? Republicans vowed to fix it. Well, that isn’t going so well. In fact, it isn’t going at all. But eight of 10 panel members, including Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Mike Simpson, are still requesting them.

This is an interesting site. The link is for McMorris Rodgers’ requests. You can look up anyone you want. Here are Rep. Mike Simpson’s requests.

I like the transparency.

That Coeur d’Alene Council race between Mike Kennedy and Jim Brannon is amazingly close. Five votes. Wonder how many people didn’t vote, because they figured it wouldn’t matter.

Thoughts on this or other news of the day?

So what were the biggest election surprises?

Election predictions, anyone? I think Ref. 71 will pass and Prop 4 and I-1033 will fail.

And afternoon darkness descends. I really don’t like rolling back the clocks.

What’s on your mind?

Here’s the last thread of the week. Use it wisely.

Let’s just call it heavenly dandruff or pretend it didn’t happen.

What are your thoughts today?

Halloween costumes. Palin is so last year. Who will be the scary pol this year?

Thoughts on this or other topics?

You, too, can be a pundit, but the rules have changed. Here’s helpful hints from the Washington Post’s Gene Weingarten.

Example:

”Rule 3: Being a modern pundit is like being a microwave oven — it’s about heat, not light. The current debate in America, for example, isn’t whether Barack Obama is, or is not, right for the country, it’s about whether Barack Obama is, or is not, Hitler. This sort of thing helpfully crystallizes issues for a public that is increasingly accustomed to black-and-white, either-or, on-the-island or off-the-island decision-making. The more simple-minded, the better.”

Been reading “The Big Burn” by Timothy Egan (grew up in Spokane). It’s about the onset of the Forest Service, the fierce battles to oppose setting aside public land and the huge fire that turned public sentiment to the foresters.

Find it odd that Heyburn State Park was named for an Idaho senator who battled Teddy Roosevelt and Gifford Pinchot because they wanted to prohibit commercial development on some lands. 

What’s on your mind today?

Green Bluff. Pumpkin doughnuts. Get on it.

What’s on your mind today (other than a Carpenters’ song)

Collect up those random musings and post them here.

Cloudy. No chance of meatballs. So I have to speak with high school kids wiith an alleged interest in journalism. What advice should I give?

What else is on your mind today?

Don’t like the topics in the other threads? Then test drive your ideas here.

Three topics in today’s Smart Bombs. Noticed this morning that the KPBX hosts smoothly folded the column into their pitches. Dang, they are good. Was also glad that they took the comment in the right spirit.

Thoughts on these topics?

Here’s Our View on the H1N1 vaccinations.

What’s your view? Will you or your kids be getting inoculated?

The Web site was experiencing technical difficulties yesterday. Sorry about that.

So what’s up today?

So it’s come to this.

  NEW YORK—According to a report published this week in American Journalism Review, 93 percent of all newspaper sales can now be attributed to kidnappers seeking to prove the day’s date in filmed ransom demands.

Here is a link to S-R endorsements in selected races.

Last call for alcohol. Last chance for dance.

Those were the daze. Any thoughts on the issues of the day?

The Lost Decade of investing. That’s what Dow 10,000 signifies

Anyone buy this book? Or that one? Did they offer refunds?

Thoughts on this and anything else?

I had my say on the reluctance of police to practice shared sacrifice. The loss of 22 officers looms, says the mayor. This is an issue with firefighters and other employee unions, too.

UPDATE: County seeking concessions, too.

Thoughts?

Well, the health care bill moves to the Senate floor. Is it a big deal that a single GOP senator has signed on? I don’t quite understand the importance of that. It’s not like she’s beloved in conservative circles, where she’s long been considered a Rino (Republican in Name Only). Nonethless, I’m sure she used that leverage effectively.

Thoughts on this or other matters?

Forty-six degrees (this morning) never felt so warm.

Thoughts?

Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492, and thus started the male tradition of never asking for directions.

Thoughts on this chilly day?

Of all the editorials published around the country about President Obama’s Nobel Peace Prize, the most concise is probably this one from the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in Little Rock:

 Enough said
   What is one to say on hearing that the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to … Barack Obama?
How about, for one brief shining moment of national unity, a little simple propriety, for there is no better guide to the perplexed than good manners:
   Congratulations, Mr. President!

No Olympics, but a Nobel Peace Prize. What a difference a week makes. Instant analysis here.

Discuss this or other items of interest here.

Take this link and you can hear Amber Waldref and Mike Fagan debate the issues.

Karen Kearney vs. Nancy McLaughlin here.

Jon Snyder vs. Mike Allen here.

Who do you support in these racea and why?

Is there really no interest in local elections? It’s a bit odd to me that a blog in Spokane is dominated by discussion of what goes on nationally and internationally. Local elections don’t matter?

Thoughts on this and other issues here.