Chapter 78.8: McCain-Palin, My First Impressions

Perhaps first impressions is a misnomer, since I'm offering them here a day after the announcement. But I don't mind saying this was my first impression: if disaffected Hillary voters go for the Republican ticket purely because he selected a women to the vice presidential slot of the ticket, then there's something seriously wrong with how people think.

At a certain level, I feel bad for Governor Palin. She's being used like a pawn, though her career after 2008 has just been placed on a higher path. Her selection is so blatantly opportunistic — trying to sway those angry Democrats who were Hillary supporters — that it's beneath the presidency. Does anyone actually think that a person who's spent more time as the mayor of 8,500-strong Wassila, Alaska, than she has as governor of a state with just 670,000 people is ready to step in as president if something happens to the 72-year-old who could be the leader of the free world? Her selection completely undermines the Republicans argument that Sen. Obama is not ready to be president.

Moreover, this selection strongly suggests that the conservatives still run the Republican party, which will only bode poorly for those millions of Americans who ascribe the recent economic difficulties on the conservative policies of President Bush's administration and the previous Congress that followed essentially in lockstep. True, things aren't much better under the current Democratic-led Congress, but I certainly believe there was more debate about things now than there was during the first three-quarters of the Bush administration.

That's another thing I don't like about McCain's selection of Gov. Palin. He's reported to have made the decision based on just a couple conversations. I have enough faith in Sen. McCain to believe he assessed her background and recognized that Palin's conservative stands coupled with her willingness to rock the boat made her a good match for him. But I can't help but think he'd have done more to help his cause by selecting Carly Fiorina as his VP. She's already part of his team as a chief fundraiser and has actual experience leading major corporations. I recognize that Alaska is not exactly some political backwater, but I simply don't think Palin has more experience than Fiorina.

The more I read about Palin, the more I think she could be underestimated, so I'm sure there's a lot more to be learned. But I have to say, it seems to me that the Republicans have conceded that they have little shot of winning the election.

Chapter 78.75: There Be Monsters

Douse the lights, cue the creepy music, and sit next to your honey because the monsters are out in force!

At least that's what the Washington Post says. And no, they're not talking about Democrats or Republicans. It's not even hephalumps or woozles. Rather, the hoaxers are out in force. In addition to the recently exposed hoax of Bigfoot "sightings" in Georgia, there have been slightly less easily explained findings of what some folks believe are el chupacabra (YouTube video of CNN report) and the newly minted Montauk Monster.

I'm open-minded enough to believe that there are cryptozoological creatures that will turn out to be real. I enjoy watching Destination Truth on Sci-Fi as Josh Gates and his crew travel the world in search of living mythological creatures. And I think it's possible that a large ape-like hominid is living in the Pacific Northwest. (Perhaps the relative lack of Bigfoot scat supports my hypothesis that they were the first to create Pooper Scoopers.)

But I strongly suspect that until incontrovertible proof of life is discovered — like a swimming coelecanth — we will never be rid of monster stories like these. They're fun, they're silly, and in the end they may even do some good for small towns.

If nothing else, it's kept the summer interesting.

Chapter 78.7: Obama-Biden, My First Impressions

I heard the news today, Oh boy! About a lucky man who made the grade.

With apologies to the Beatles and with recognition that I'm alluding to a lyrical car crash — which is not what I mean to connote — I will say that I'm happy about Obama's selection of Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) as his vice presidential candidate – and with the secrecy in which he made it.

I think it was more than a year ago now that I interviewed a woman who was then newly installed as chief of staff for a Congressman. We had an off the record conversation toward the end when I asked her who she liked in the 2008 presidential race. It might have been early 2007, or perhaps even earlier. "I'm not sure why yet, but I like Joe Biden," she said.

Sen. Biden isn't perfect. Though he's clearly a bright man, he's prone to make stupid comments that can be interpreted in a way other than how he intended. He'll have to temper his sense of humor. While he's a Catholic, he's voted pro-choice; that'll be an issue for many Catholics. I for one do not vote for a president based on a person's opinions on this clearly important issue. But it will likely embarass the campaign when a priest chooses not to serve him communion, just as it did with John Kerry.

But Biden's strength is his familiarity with foreign leader and his experience as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations committee. I'd been thinking that if he weren't selected for the vice presidency, he'd make a good Secretary of Defense. But I'm pleased with where he is.

The question to be asked of any vice president is whether he can handle the job of president. While no one wants to talk about it much, that is a matter of utmost concern for this ticket, because there are too many wackos out there who won't like the idea of an African-American president. I believe Biden could step in and do the job, though I hope Obama has a strong first term in the office. We're going to need steady hands atop our government for the next several years.

Let the love-fest begin!

I'm sure Sen. McCain also will select a capable partner (though I really don't think it'll be Mitt Romney, regardless of the possibility that it would swing Michigan his way). And this will be an election for the ages. Personally, I have great hopes for a President Obama. I think he'll be a strong leader and decades from now people will look at Sen. McCain as an unfortunate leader who went up against a tidal wave. (Too bad McCain wasn't elected in 2000, they'll say, but that's a discussion for a different time.)

It will be a difficult couple of months ahead, but I'm happy to be pleased with the Democratic ticket. It's been a long time since I felt this good about a presidential team.

Chapter 78.6: My Kind of Fish Story

What's not to like in this fish story (except possibly fish)? Apparently a couple of enterprising young students were intrigued by a conversation around the dinner table. Their father, a scientist, was talking shop about bird DNA (and who doesn't?), when one of the teenage girls asked if genetic barcoding could be done on sushi. "Yeah, I think you could," he replied, "and if you did that, I think you’d be the first ones."

Sciencephobes take note: that's how ideas happen.

What the girls found out is that, in a small and admittedly limited sample, many of the seafood meals one may purchase in New York City are fishy to say the least. That is, they're mislabeled. Of course, being sensible and sufficiently conscious of the litigious society we live in, they refused to label the ne'er-do-wells where they bought the faux red snappers and white tuna (nothing said about blue fish; where's their American spirit?). But they did say kind things about one fish seller.

While I might have blogged about this story anyway, the thing that made me most proud of these kids is that they're not pursuing science in college. Don't get me wrong, there's a dearth of good young American scientists coming up through the ranks — especially female scientists — so I'd have been happy to see them pursue the subject. But this means there'll be more curious, scientifically adept kids studying art, studying literature, studying history, studying economics.

As the article concludes, the wheel maybe coming around full circle.

In a way, Dr. Ausubel said, their experiment is a return to an earlier era of scientific inquiry. "Three hundred years ago, science was less professionalized," he said, and contributions were made by interested amateurs. "Perhaps the wheel is turning again where more people can participate."

Let's hope so.

Chapter 78.5: My, How Things Have Changed

Not so long ago, the next three Mets games would have been an electric series of games. The Braves are coming to town to play my beloved Mets. Alas, these are not the same Braves that won division titles every completed year from 1991 to 2005. (I still think the Expos would have won in 1994, but the strike killed baseball and essentially pulled the plug on that unfortunate franchise.)

One of the remaining stalwarts of those excellent teams from Atlanta that led the National League East for more than a decade is Larry Jones — better known as Chipper. In my opinion, he's a likely Hall of Famer, albeit not a surefire, first ballot honoree.

In an interview with the New York Times, he reflected on those heady days of 1999, when Bobby Valentine managed the Mets and Chipper was one of the most dominant bats in the NL. After taking two of three in a summer series, Jones commented about how Mets fans "can go home and put on their Yankees jerseys." While he was apparently inspired by some yo-yo who wore one of those split Mets/Yankees shirts, Jones was clearly not aware of how deep the divide can be between Mets and Yankees fans.

I suspect it's just as prominent between Cubs and White Sox fans, and maybe even between Dodgers and Angels fans.

Of course, the Braves can still hurt the Mets, who hold a tenuous 1.5 game lead over our latest chief rival, the Phillies. Losing the series to the Braves wouldn't destroy the Mets, but if they damage them in these dog days of August, the Mets could find themselves unable to shake off the inevitable questions about last year's epic, infamous demise.

We'll see what happens. For some reason, I think this could be an exciting season, regardless of how mediocre the Braves have become.

Chapter 78.4: Is Glavine Done?

Though the 2007 baseball season is long since finished, Mets fans have not forgetten the terrible way it ended. After weeks of bullpen failures and a lack of clutch hitting, John Maine took a no-hitter deep into the game, and while he wasn't able to toss the first no-no in Mets history that day, he was able to win the game and get the Mets back into a tie for first place.

The next day, Tom Glavine couldn't get out of the first inning.

So, while it may not be fashionable among Mets fans, I was saddened to read that his career may be over. Glavine's injured elbow has caused him to shut it down for 2008, and he hopes the Braves will take him back in 2009; he doesn't want to play anywhere else, he said.

Though I've never met him, I have a lot of respect for Tom Glavine. He always worked hard, he answered reporters' questions, and he genuinely seemed to understand a fan's perspective. Plus, he is and will always be a family man. Some of these players talk about how a decision has to make sense for their family, but then they take a few million dollars more to go elsewhere. He did it too, but for some reason, I believe his family meant more to him than the money.

I was proud to see him win his 300th game as a Met. I'm happy he played for my favorite team and that I saw him pitch a few times.

So if this is the end, I'm sad for him and for baseball. But I don't think he's too worried. He's got a family that loves him and he's got nothing to be ashamed of overall — not even that last 1/3 of an inning in 2007 (though I didn't think that at the time).

Chapter 78.3: That's Sir Penguin to You

I've heard of emperor penguins, but this is a different kettle of fish altogether. Apparently, a king penguin that lives at the Edinburgh Zoo and serves as mascot for the Norwegian King's Guard, has been knighted. (Love the photo!)

According to the zoo, there have been three penguins named Nils Olav — after the the lieutenant who selected the mascot (Nils Egelian) and the then-king of Norway, Olav V — and these birds have gradually swum up the ranks, culminating in a knighthood today.

I'm aware of Caligula's reverance for his horse, Incitatus, who a famous Roman historian claimed was to be named a consul of Rome (though the legend was that the horse was named to the Senate). If a penguin can be knighted and Leona Helmsley's dog, Lucky, could get $12 million in a will, perhaps Caligula wasn't as crazy as he's reputed to have been.

Chapter 78.2: Old Friends

I've had a lot on my mind recently. Family. Past. Future. Money. Lack. Vacations. Staycations. Children (which kind of incorporates all the previous thoughts).

It's been hard to sit down and write about things like that on a blog, especially since I don't intend to bare my soul for the world to see here. I probably say too much already.

I'm meeting up with an old friend after work...today. It's been a couple years since I've met up with him. Basically, I want to catch up. Acknowledge my history. Hopefully laugh. But there are many old friends with whom I should do the same thing. It's difficult to restart one's past. You never know if it'll build momentum — and sometimes it was better off left in neutral.

But I try to be hopeful. We are nothing without history.

Chapter 78.15: Happy Belated Birthday, NASA

Somehow I let this pass me by. NASA has turned 50!

I consider myself something of a "spaceophile," so I should have remembered this date. I would have sent a card.

Chapter 78.1: Middle of the Road

It has begun, as I believed it would. The political parties — or at least the media — in the United States are seeing a shift, not merely away from Republicans but also toward the center. In short, the number of independents is increasing.

Indeed, in the New York Times story I've linked to above is this very interesting paragraph: "Over the same period, the share of the electorate that registers as independent has grown at a faster rate than Republicans or Democrats in 12 states. The rise has been so significant that in states like Arizona, Colorado and North Carolina, nonpartisan voters essentially constitute a third party." (My emphasis)

I've argued with friends who enjoy political debates that the Republican party will undergo a significant shift as moderates wedge themselves away from conservatives. But the Democratic party has seen a shift as well as more centrist Democrats (I count myself as one) find themselves less comfortable with the more left-leaning liberals. To my eyes, that will be the deepest chasm that emerges if there is an Obama administration — especially since it's highly likely to be accompanied by a Democratic majority in both bodies of Congress.

I'll leave it at that for now, but this is a topic I'll return to.