GO BUCKS!

On a tour of Florida, the Pope took a couple of days off to visit the coast for some sightseeing. He was cruising along the beach in his car when there was a frantic commotion just off the shore.
A helpless man, wearing a maize and blue Michigan jersey, was struggling frantically to free himself from the jaws of a 25-foot shark. As the Pope watched, horrified, a speedboat came racing up with three men wearing scarlet and gray Ohio State jerseys. One quickly fired a harpoon into the shark`s side. The other two reached out and pulled the bleeding, semiconscious Wolverine from the water. Then using long clubs, the three beat the shark to death and hauled it, too, into the boat.
Immediately the Pope shouted and summoned them to the beach. "I give you my blessing for your brave actions," he told them. "I heard that there were some bitter hatreds between Wolverines and Buckeyes, but now I have seen with my own eyes that is not true."
As the Pope drove off, the harpooner asked his buddies "Who was that?"
"It was the Pope", one replied. "He is in direct contact with God and has access to all of God's wisdom.”
"Well," the harpooner said "he may have access to God`s wisdom but he doesn't know anything about shark fishing. Is the bait holding up OK or do we need to get another one?”


Little Johnny is in first grade at a school in Michigan. The day before the big game, the teacher asks who is a Michigan fan. Every student in the class except little Johnny raises their hand. "Johnny, aren't you a Michigan fan?" the teacher asks him.
"No. I'm an Ohio State fan."
The teacher is somewhat puzzled. "How can you live in Michigan and be an Ohio State fan?"
"Well," he says, "my mom is an Ohio State fan and my dad is an Ohio State fan, so that makes me an Ohio State fan."
Now the teacher is annoyed. "Well what if I told you that your mom is a moron and your dad is an idiot?"
Little Johnny doesn't miss a beat. "If that were the case, then they'ld be Michigan fans."

It's so refreshing...

that the election is finally over. No more Sunday afternoon campaign calls. No more mud slinging he-did-this-she-did-that-no-I-didn't commercials. The air smells a little sweeter now that the political posturing is done for a while. While I am disappointed that the Democrats now control the Senate and House, I'm not surprised. The Republican controlled Congress we've had the last two years has been lackadaisical at best. Coupled with that, the Chicken Little national media has apparently been able to convince the sheep that we are losing the war in Iraq. "Vietnam", they cry with much handwringing. Just yesterday, I heard the newly minted Speaker of the House talk about sending more troops in. This from the party that has repeatedly called for withdrawl from Iraq. She also promised a new era of bipartisan cooperation and honesty in Congress. I remain skeptical of both claims. The last several years have seen some of the most partisan wrangling ever. And honesty from a politician? Is there really anyone naive enough to believe that. On the upside of the turn around in the House and Senate, the Democrats now have two years to so totally screw things up that there is no way they'll be able to get their candidate elected president. It's all about the silver lining.

An educated voter is a smart voter

As I'm sure most of us know, November 7 is Election Day. Apart from the standard fare of Senate and House races at the State and national level and the gubernatorial race, there are a number of issues for Ohioans to consider this year. The link in the title will take you to an unbiased breakdown of issues 2-5. The text that will appear on the ballot for each issue and the full text of each proposal is available as well as arguments for and against each issue. This link will take you to a list of links to find information about the candidates for the Senate, House and Governor of Ohio. If you are planning to vote, and I would encourage you to do so, it would behoove you to take the time to become at least passingly familiar with the issues and candidates you'll be voting on. Whether you are a democrat, republican, independant or something else, please take the time next Tuesday to exercise one of the greatest freedoms we have as Americans.