In high school I was Class Valetudinarian, though naturally enough indolence (not to mention snobbery) kept me from my graduation ceremony. Though, to be perfectly truthful, I didn't actually possess enough credits to legally graduate anyway; a panicked school administration invented two survey course grades in order to forcibly evict me from their precincts and into the arms of the Selective Service. Who received me gratefully, in due course. But I digress.

In some polls--and I think we can all agree without resorting to Harley's PhD dissertations (complete with flow-charts) that polls provide only the sketchiest outline of the electorate--as many as 20% of voters are considering voting for a third-party candidate in this election; this from the weakest field of such pretenders in recent history. Yet given both the obvious relative disaffection for both candidates by the general public, what can be done? Are there no alternatives to the deeply flawed, unfit, and untrustworthy John McCain and Barrack Obama?

Within the next few weeks, the two major political parties of our great nation will be convening to nominate two unelectable candidates. One of whom will become the next president of the United States. Traditionally, I enjoy rewatching the 1964 Henry Fonda film (adapted from his play of the same name by Gore Vidal) 'The Best Man' at this point in the election cycle. But not this year.

Earlier today, the Georgian national assembly overwhelmingly voted to declare war against Russia and to impose martial law. 15 days of martial law, for those of you who believe that Georgia's President Saakashvili is using this as a pretext to make himself dictator. This seems to indicate that the Georgians view this situation, win or lose, as a two week-long affair. But to me, the oddest aspect of all to this situation is the calmness and near-unanimity with which the Georgians have taken this momentous step.

My wife is the most fiendishly clever woman I've ever known. A few years ago, in a moment of whimsy, she suggested that we start our own private firm called "CPR"--or "Catastrophic Public Relations". We would specialize in reviving the apparently dead careers of celebrities and politicians after disasters; getting Paris Hilton out of jail, getting Larry Craig re-elected, or OJ Simpson a new film contract.

Re my earlier post on the subject: Despite the stalwart defense across the blogosphere of the public's right to not know, citing every conceivable political, psychological, and humanitarian excuse, the media may finally soon have to hold its collective nose and publish something on the John Edwards paternity story upon today's publication of candid photos of the ex-candidate and the kid:

http://www.nationalenquirer.com/exclusive_john_edwards_love_child_photos...

When I was a kid in suburban London I used to spend hours staring through the front window of the toy shop on Penge High Street, which featured a dazzling diarama of pre-Subuteo table soccer games, HO gauge model trains and houses, Airfix models and packets of toy soldiers, and of course Britains' 'Swoppet' knights. I can still get this same feeling when I visit the German Faller site: http://www.faller.de/start.php?lang=gb&naviUp=0&naviDown=0 or thumb through any of its catalogs that are sold as collectors' items on eBay. The feeling of magic in miniature, the sensation of world-building.

It happens, way more often than I care to admit. But Bruce Ivins' suicide (you don't need links, it's everywhere by now) seems to conclusively indicate that it was he who terrorized my city with anthrax mailings immediately after 911. Instead of Saddam Hussein's operatives acting through the 911 terrrorists, as I have stoutly maintained for the past 7 years. I was wrong. That doesn't get posted here much, but I'll say it again just for dramatic effect: I was wrong.

Out of sheer boredom, I've opened #theforvm on efnet. No bots yet, but I suppose I could install one if needed. You can visit by selecting 'random efnet server' when you open mIrc or any other IRC client. If you are new to IRC, you'll have to type a 'nick'--I suggest some variant of your Forvm username.

Hope to see you there.

UPDATE: The Sign of the Four

is what my wife wrote when she sent along this link: http://www.suntimes.com/news/nation/1077958,novak072808.article

My first thought was 'lawyer's advice.' However, since this story is most likely true, I must reverse my previous stand on his punishment for attempted vehicular manslaughter and leaving the scene of an accident--which this diagnosis might very well explain--and join the rest of the world in wishing Bob Novak a full and speedy recovery. I've lost two dear friends to brain tumors, and it's not something I'd wish on anyone.