I hate the whole "oh of COURSE that would happen right before an election" argument. It gets used on everything. But this smells a little bad to me. It seems to me like diplomatic agreements like this one are easy to time so they have maximum effect - say, a week before an election. Don't be surprised if this "breakthrough" falls apart right after the election.

N. Korea agrees to return to six-party nuke talks:

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill said Tuesday that six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear program could resume as early as November or December.

The agreement marks a breakthrough in the long-stalled talks and comes after North Korea detonated a nuclear device three weeks ago.

What an intelligent, reasoned argument. I've never heard it put better by anyone. How any human being could listen to him talk about this issue and not come out convinced he's right is beyond me.

What seems to get lost on people is the fact that the embryos used for embryonic stem cell research are going to be destroyed either way, whether they're used for research or not. They're originally intended for in vitro fertilization, and they have a shelf life. When that shelf life ends, they're thrown away. Future generations will look at the cures they have as a result of this research, then look back on all the blastocysts we senselessly threw away for years, and conclude that our era was among the stupidest in history.

When they're desperate, apparently. Here are some ads currently being run by Republicans in a last-second bid to save themselves. (From here)

In New York, the NRCC ran an ad accusing Democratic House candidate Michael A. Arcuri, a district attorney, of using taxpayer dollars for phone sex. "Hi, sexy," a dancing woman purrs. "You've reached the live, one-on-one fantasy line." It turns out that one of Arcuri's aides had tried to call the state Division of Criminal Justice, which had a number that was almost identical to a porn line. The misdial cost taxpayers $1.25.

In Ohio, GOP gubernatorial candidate J. Kenneth Blackwell, trailing by more than 20 points in polls, has accused front-running Democratic Rep. Ted Strickland of protecting a former aide who was convicted in 1994 on a misdemeanor indecency charge. Blackwell's campaign is also warning voters through suggestive "push polls" that Strickland failed to support a resolution condemning sex between adults and children. Strickland, a psychiatrist, objected to a line suggesting that sexually abused children could not have healthy relationships when they grew up.

The Republican Party of Wisconsin distributed a mailing linking Democratic House candidate Steve Kagen to a convicted serial killer and child rapist. The supposed connection: The "bloodthirsty" attorney for the killer had also done legal work for Kagen.

In two dozen congressional districts, a political action committee supported by a white Indianapolis businessman, J. Patrick Rooney, is running ads saying Democrats want to abort black babies. A voice says, "If you make a little mistake with one of your hos, you'll want to dispose of that problem tout de suite, no questions asked."

In the most controversial recent ad, the Republican National Committee slammed Rep. Harold E. Ford Jr. (D-Tenn.) for attending a Playboy-sponsored Super Bowl party. In the ad, a scantily clad white actress winks as she reminisces about good times with Ford, who is black. That ad has been pulled, but the RNC has a new one saying Ford "wants to give the abortion pill to schoolchildren."

The New York Times has a really cool election guide on its web site, that lets you track the polls and standings in the races across the country. I was hoping someone would put something like this out there.

You keep coming out with games that I feel morally obligated by my childhood to spend the ten bucks to download.

...I don't know what is.

Top US general says Rumsfeld is inspired by God - Yahoo! News:

The top US general defended the leadership of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, saying it is inspired by God.

'He leads in a way that the good Lord tells him is best for our country,' said Marine General Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Apparently the good Lord is a big fan of torture, graft, corruption, and incompetence. Who knew?

Stingray leaps into boat, stabs man in chest - CNN.com:

A leaping stingray stabbed an 81-year-old Florida boater in the chest, authorities said Wednesday, leaving its poisonous stinger lodged close to his heart in an incident recalling the one that killed Australian TV naturalist Steve Irwin last month.

The stingray revolution has begun.

...for what Fox News will be talking about nonstop from now until the election:

Second U.S. lawmaker faces misconduct allegations - Yahoo! News:

A U.S. congressional board which oversees a Capitol Hill internship program rocked by a sex scandal, discussed allegations on Monday involving a second lawmaker, said Rep. Dale Kildee (news, bio, voting record), a Michigan Democrat.

Not that it even sounds like anything will come of it:

The official, who asked not to be identified, said federal investigators were responding to a "single allegation" about Kolbe of Arizona. The official refused to say who made the allegation or what was being alleged.

Kolbe's office denied any wrongdoing.

"The rafting trip back in 1996 consisted of five current staff, two former pages and his sister," a spokeswoman for Kolbe said. "There is absolutely no basis and no truth to any (allegations of) inappropriate behavior."

If I were a Republican who knew people in the FBI, I'd pick right about now to make something up about a Democrat too. I hope they absolve Kildee quickly and this blows right back up in the GOP's face when it's exposed as a shameless attempt to save the party.

Searches Carried Out in Influence Inquiry - New York Times:

Federal agents executed search warrants on Monday at the homes of Representative Curt Weldon’s daughter and a longtime political associate in an investigation into whether Mr. Weldon, a Pennsylvania Republican, improperly aided their efforts to obtain lobbying and public relations contracts, law enforcement officials said.

Santorum's already dealing with the fact that he just kind of creeps people out (see photo). Now a Republican in his state is proving to be one of the most corrupt Republicans out there (and that's saying something). Nail, meet coffin.

I don't know how this kid can just sit there and watch this robot manipulate a Rubick's Cube with its evil, pointy appendages. I heard they tried to put a nice-looking head on this robot, and it twisted and mutilated it into the no-bullshit visage it now possesses. If this robot shows up at your doorstep, don't bother defending yourself. You will be changed. Made right.

Beer and crisps united at last:

Beer and crisps are a match made in heaven, but Kettle Foods is treading bold new ground with its new beer flavoured crisp.

Kettle Chips mature cheddar with Adnams Broadside flavour combines two pub staples - the Southwold brewer's beer and a strong ploughman's cheese.

"Crisps" is smelly for "chips". I mean British. Why did I say smelly? That would be French. Anyway, I'm totally drooling over these things right now.

Because it all sounds stellar to me. Particularly the first part, about cutting down on lobbyists' pull on legislation. I'm skeptical, but at least it's being talked about. If the influence of special interests can be reduced even a little bit, it will be the best thing that could possibly happen to this country. Laws should be written to serve the best interests of the country, not the companies that try to plunder it.

Pelosi says she would drain GOP 'swamp' - Yahoo! News:

Franklin Roosevelt had his first hundred days.

House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi is thinking 100 hours, time enough, she says, to begin to 'drain the swamp' after more than a decade of Republican rule.

As in the first 100 hours the House meets after Democrats — in her fondest wish — win control in the Nov. 7 midterm elections and Pelosi takes the gavel as the first Madam Speaker in history.

Day One: Put new rules in place to 'break the link between lobbyists and legislation.'

Day Two: Enact all the recommendations made by the commission that investigated the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Time remaining until 100 hours: Raise the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour, maybe in one step. Cut the interest rate on student loans in half. Allow the government to negotiate directly with the pharmaceutical companies for lower drug prices for Medicare patients.

Broaden the types of stem cell research allowed with federal funds — 'I hope with a veto-proof majority,' she added in an Associated Press interview Thursday.

All the days after that: 'Pay as you go,' meaning no increasing the deficit, whether the issue is middle class tax relief, health care or some other priority.

To do that, she said, Bush-era tax cuts would have to be rolled back for those above 'a certain level.' She mentioned annual incomes of $250,000 or $300,000 a year and higher, and said tax rates for those individuals might revert to those of the Clinton era. Details will have to be worked out, she emphasized.

'We believe in the marketplace,' Pelosi said of Democrats, then drew a contrast with Republicans. 'They have only rewarded wealth, not work.'

'We must share the benefits of our wealth' beyond the privileged few, she added.

How much contempt do you have to have for your own audience in order to think some of them would fall for this? (Foley's a Republican)

The one and only thing I like about fall, besides the fact that it's not winter yet, is that I get to make my crockpot chili. This recipe is adapted from one I found online, but thanks to trial and error, it's slowly morphed into the tour de force you see below. You're welcome.

3 lbs ground beef
4 cans of beans - 2 black, 1 pinto, 1 dark red kidney
2 green peppers, chopped up
1 large spanish onion, chopped up
2 fresh jalopeno peppers, seeds removed, chopped up
4 14.5 oz cans of diced tomatoes (chili-style if the supermarket has them)
1/2 can beef broth
1/2 can beer
A whole lot of chili powder, to taste (I use about a third of a normal-size McCormick's spice container)
2 tablespoons corn starch (KEY TO GOOD THICK CHILI!)

Brown the beef and onions in a frying pan. Drain, toss in a crock pot. Throw all the other crap in the crock pot, EXCEPT the corn starch. Let it cook on high for at least four hours. If you have more time and can do it on low for eight hours, even better. About an hour before you're going to serve (doesn't have to be exact), mix up the corn starch with a little cold water (to keep it from lumping), then dump it in the chili and give it a good stir. You'll notice it'll get much thicker and will suddenly resemble real restaurant chili.

From here:

Former Rep. Mark Foley is in an alcoholism treatment center three days after resigning from Congress amid allegations that he sent inappropriate messages to teenage pages, Foley's attorney confirmed Monday.

If I got busted for sending dirty e-mails to teenage boys, I'd try and blame it on alcohol too.

You made me giggle.

China: Who Will Succeed Hu? - Newsweek: International Editions - MSNBC.com