INC = Incompetent

In Minnesota politics, after the state government ground to a halt while R's tried to stall so the D's would look bad, and D's walked out at the last minute to play hardball, they're all losers.
At least, that's the feeling from most citizens of the state. On television, one voter said, "If they have an INC after their name on the ballot, I won't vote for them."
This may be the first election in years where being the incumbent works against you. Minnesotans are angry, and it just remains to see whether they'll be unforgiving.
Our governor had promised the Indian tribes that are heavily into gaming that he wouldn't tax them. Then, in the age-old tactic of "Divide and Conquer", he tried to enlist the impoverished tribes in the state's Northern, less-populated regions, to come together to make a racetrack near Minneapolis over into a taxpaying "Racino."
Gambling is growing so fast it's replacing Social Security as the way to ensure a comfortable future after 65. Oh, I'm sorry: that's the stock market, isn't it?
It's lucky the state legislature decided to get back to work. Those 9,000 folks sitting, twiddling their thumbs, were about to gain the advantage of a contract that said, after two weeks of shutdown, they would get a check for all their stored vacation and sick leave.
That would have run into tens of millions of dollars, and have made the taxpayers even more irate.
As it is: Throw the rascals out.

Forehead Lines

This palsy acts as a sort of "poor man's botox", in that it erases all the age and care lines (read "wrinkles") on the paralyzed side of my face.

So when I'm told that I'm beginning to get a wrinkle or two, I'm actually thrilled. That may mean I'm getting a little bit of the use of my nerves, see? And that could lead to being able to wink and blink and nod...no, I can still nod. It's the winkin' and blinkin' that I can't do.

It keeps swelling up at times, and now I've started losing my balance when I tilt my head back and then up. The doctor who did the craniotomy says that's normal, though, so I guess I'll keep on going.

The 4th of July was uneventful. I worked on a writing project, but I did get to see Chubby Checker one night, and the Lettermen another day. Chubby puts on a high-energy show, and really got the people involved. The Lettermen tried, I guess, but they would only sing bits of their songs. There's only one of the three originals anyway, so perhaps the old guy couldn't hit those high notes that were so easy in the '60s. I'd say their Letter was a C.

The Lettermen's act was more a revue in the Las Vegas sense. Show tunes, impersonations, and the like. It was a beautiful day at Taste of Minnesota, though, and it was good to get out and get fresh air.