And Down They Come

The Quinn reign begins as promised…

The 2-foot high “Rod R. Blagojevich, Governor” title displayed at the Bolingbrook toll plaza vanished from sight today, replaced by the utilitarian “Boughton Rd Plaza 89.”

“You’re taking down the sign?” a passing driver called out to assembled Illinois Tollway officials and media. “No way!” he added, giving a thumb’s up signal.

A symphony of truck horns blasting and cars tooting approval accompanied two workers atop an aerial lift who fastened three blue, aluminum panels over the former governor’s name.

 

It’s hyberbole, but watching the video of this immediately reminded me of the Saddam Statute falling in Iraq.

Mr. Steele

The Republicans have just elected a new party leader, former Lt. Governor and Senate candidate from Maryland, Michael Steele.

 

First, of the 5 or so candidates, I considered Steele the superior choice by a long shot.

Second, the general wisdom is that Steele is the moderate of the group, which is a word that always makes me feel warm and tingly.  Says Marc Ambinder:

If he reverts to form, it means that the RNC has just selected a chairman who will not prioritize social issues above economic issues.  When people speak of broadening the party’s geographic diversity, they are speaking in code. They mean that the party needs to welcome more moderates; needs to be more forgiving of departures from orthodoxy; need to be less antagonistic to pro-choicers and gays.

 

I remember that my gut reaction to the Sarah Palin pick was similar to this, so I’m ignoring my gut for now.  We will see what direction Steele takes the party, and then decide.

Korean Drummer Steal the Show

Oh my…this is hilarious.  A Korean group which seems to be from the late 80s (though it could be modern day Korea) is performing what seems to be a sultry, seductive song.  But the drummer is in a world of his own.  Priceless.  The head-banging at about the 3:00 mark is my favorite.

Is It Christmas?

A new, helpful website.

HERE

Morning Music

Paradise City – Guns N Roses

Stability

An interesting post from a favorite blog, The Happiness Project.  The blogess was surprised to learn that one of the five vows required of a monk is that of “Stability.”

Merton explains: “By making a vow of stability the monk renounces the vain hope of wandering off to find a ‘perfect monastery.’ This implies a deep act of faith: the recognition that it does not much matter where we are or whom we live with…

When I first read this, it reminded me of – what else, marriage. Marriage is a vow of stability, made with the conviction that by committing yourself to one person, you’re better able to achieve happiness than by searching continually for the “perfect” person, and that the ordinariness that descends on it after the early exhilaration and novelty wear off is, in fact, one of its most prized aspects.

Morning Music

When You Come Back Down – Nickel Creek

One of my favorite songs of all-time from one of my favorite groups of all-time.

First Steps for New Governor

One of our future governor’s first acts will be to take down the atrocious tollway signs.  I love it…

“The signs will go down, and we’ll probably have a ceremony to do it,” Quinn told the Tribune. “I might even ask some toll payers to help us out.”

Without Me the Puzzle is Incomplete

Next time you are down and feeling that no one really gets you…

Pop in your copy of “Cheers to You.”

Morning Music

Gold in the Air of Summer- Kings of Convenience

I love this one.