I still get that same feeling of horror and dread, accompanied by an inadvertent clenching of the posterior muscles, when I hear, "Mesa Jar Jar Binks!"

The trauma does not get easier with time.

Why am I on a Western kick lately?

I was beyond excited to find Dr. Quinn and Promised Land (okay, not a western, but I love Gerald McRaney) on GMC and I actually broke down and bought season one, volume one, of Bonanza on DVD. If I wasn't slightly more embarrassed than I'm willing to be when handing someone a Christmas list, I'd ask for the Big Valley (Barbara Stanwyck!!! oh, hurrah!) for Christmas.

Then again, it's not wholly unexpected. Back to the Future 3 was always my favorite BTTF movie.

Hey, does anyone else remember the two episode of Power Rangers (old school) that were western episodes?

Hahahaha! I crack myself up with my dorkery.

If I continue to get my healthcare from my employer's plan, will I still have to pay taxes on national healthcare?

And if I decide to join up, will my paycheck be adjusted since I'm no longer personally paying my healthcare? Or will that money just go into the pot?

I tried to look at the plan, but I can't make heads or tails of it. I just want to make sure Pelosi and company haven't seriously screwed me over more than I've already heard (limited funding for abortion, really, libs?) they have.

Watch out, Broadway! Broad Street ain't giving up its parade that easily!

Realistically speaking, it can come crashing down on Wednesday. But for now, the momentum has completely shifted back to our side and we are riding the LEE Amtrak train all the way back to the Bronx!

PHILLIES IN SEVEN!

If you stand in a good spot and the breeze picks up, you can get a whiff of the fear coming down from New York.

Or you could read all those trash-talking loser columnists who aren't even focusing on match-ups or stats and choose instead to take potshots all the live long day at Philadelphia.

The Phillies are taking the Big Apple and squashing it into cider.

And even if we don't, we've proven we have the far classier sports media, which chooses to focus on baseball rather than flinging dirt across the Ben Franklin bridge.

Watch out, Yankees.

The Phillies are coming.

WE'RE GOING BACK TO THE WORLD SERIES!

The NFL reinstates dog-killer Sick Vick, yet they have a problem with Rush Limbaugh sharing ownership in one of their teams? 

The NFL (and NAACP, but let's not TOUCH that) must pay for making me sympathize with that crazy son of a bitch.

Shut up, Al Sharpton.

And, Professor Hill? The large number of conservative radio talk shows only makes up for the rampant liberal television media. So go to hell. And I'm still waiting for that list you promised last week. Remember you made a list of overrated white people (most of the choices with which I agree) and then promised a list of overrated black people for this week? Your Thursday column has come and gone, so where's my list?

The liberal double standard is really starting to enrage me.

MOVE YOUR ASSES OUT OF THE WAY, LA!

WE'RE BLITZING RIGHT THROUGH YOU!

GO, PHILS!!

(Fuck the Yankees.)

Next stop: HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE!

WE GOT HIGH IN THE SKY APPLE PIE HOPES!

For you, Harry the K! I know you and Gary are thrilled up there!

Doesn't make up for signing that pig Michael Vick and letting Brian Dawkins go, but the Eagles just signed Jeff Garcia, the guy who should have ended the McNabb era back in '06.

I won't be actively rooting AGAINST the Eagles unless Vick's on the field now.

Kevin Kolb can't be feeling too comfortable right now.

Can't even post on FB, because all my RL friends are on FB.

I feel pretty much worthless right about now.

I realize that most educated, enlightened females realized they don't need a man in their life years ago and more power to them for it. I applaud them for that realization and wish I could do the same.

But I haven't had a man in my life for more than a few dates and/or a few makeout sessions in someone's car. What is it about me that is so only slightly attractive that I can only attract a man for a few weeks at a time?

It's really so very disheartening when everyone around you has someone, or has at least had someone, and I've never had anyone who lasted long enough for even my sister or my best friend to know about them.

I know that relationships can be a lot more trouble than they're worth and sometimes we're better off without them, but I'm at the point where I'd rather discover that for myself than listen to other people tell me about it.

I feel so completely worthless right now and I've been working hard over the past few weeks to hold onto something that won't make feel that way and I just can't. It's too much right now and I just can't do it.

Michael Vick?

MICHAEL FUCKING VICK?

I advise all Philadelphia residents to lock their dogs in the house after dark once this scumbag hits town.

Just what we need. Another scumbag roaming the streets around here.

No.

I think MOST things do have a scientific explanation or probably will at some point in the future, but there are just some things that by their fundamental nature cannot be proven or disproven.

Call me archaic, but I think clinging to science is just as dangerous as clinging to faith sometimes. I think it's a lack of imagination and understanding that have so many people so determined to prove things that cannot possibly be proven.

Karma. You can't prove there's no such thing. And I can't prove there is such a thing.

God. You can't prove there isn't a God (or gods) any more than I can prove there is.

Now that Beer Summit '09 is over, maybe the four men involved can get back to their rather important day jobs?

FACTS2 is down.

I can't notify social workers.

Kill me now, please.

Gary Papa's last text message to his colleague of two decades, Action News weather anchor and meteorologist Dave Roberts.

And when all's said and done, after everything is stripped away, that's all there is for any of us to do.

"Love and live." 

Gary Papa, who has been with Channel 6 Action News since April 1981, passed away today. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2003 and went public in 2004. For a while it seemed he had it beat and we were all thrilled to see him looking better and his hair growing back (though we never cared about his hair), but it came back in 2007 and he lost his battle earlier today.

I saw Gary at the Harry Kalas memorial in a wheelchair, but never dreamed we'd be losing him so fast.

All the love in the world, Gary. All the love in the world.

1.   At least we won't be facing a drought any time in the near future. If the rain ever stops, there will be many pretty flowers to admire.

2.  I start rehearsals for The Music Man tonight. I'll be pretty much making my own schedule in that regard for a couple of weeks and they only own my soul for the last two weeks before the show starts.

3.  My aunt Flo might be here now, but that means she won't be around for 4th of July weekend and therefore will not be messing with the Summer of Sangria this month.

4.  MERLIN starts on NBC this Sunday at eight. I suspect there may be a few things to PnL about, but I'm always on the lookout for new Anthony Stewart Head stuff. He always was my favorite character in Buffy, aside from Willow (and even she got on my nerves sometimes).

5.  My interest in Merlin led me to reread The Mists of Avalon, always an enjoyable experience.

6.  There's still twelve days left for the city and the union to come to an agreement, so there's no use in worrying about a strike right now.

7.  At least we have a comp day in exchange for no three-day weekend July 4th.

That's seven positive things and I didn't even mention that I'm still in touch with Gene. So go me. Impressive, considering the weather outside.

Also, random quote from me: 

I find it very amusing that everyone seems to forget that the creature who tempted Eve (who then in turn led Adam astray) was referred to as a "he." First documented (whether it's a myth or not) case of a woman losing out because she believed what a man told her, yes?

I received an official-looking form in the mail from (wait for it)...

United States Bankruptcy Court
District of New Hampshire Live Database

Notice of Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Case, Meeting of Creditors, & Deadlines

Yet another chapter begins in the unending saga of the JumpCon Debacle.

Shane Senter has filed for bankruptcy in New Hampshire.

Have any of my fellow JumpCon burnees received this yet?