We just got done watching the Democratic National Convention: Night of the Elder Statesmen. Al Gore spoke, and both Tiffany and I wondered why he didn't pull this speaking style out when he was campaigning for President. So much went wrong with his campaign, but so much seems to have gone right for him since then. He was looking elder-statesmanly, was glib, unforced, funny, and rousing.

Jimmy Carter also did his best, though he really doesn't have the timing or the chutzpah that Gore seems to have found in the last four years. He spoke, as he does these days, about a compassionate world screwed up by George Bush... then we fast-forwarded the TiVo.

But last among the elder statesmen was Bill Clinton. And again, we only wish he could run against George W. Bush, because he would clean up. He was articulate, homey, incisive and encompassing. He blasted George Bush and the Republican Congress, and hit on all the things I (we) hate about the current Administration. But just by being himself, intelligent, calm, appealing to our better side, he reminded us both of how much we hate George W. Bush himself.

Tiffany had to go to bed she was so worked up about the Right. I think I might have actually seen flames in her eyes.

I hope John Edwards is giving his running mate some tips on public speaking.

I had hoped to re-design this site soon, but a couple of things are conspiring to prevent me. Work, it turns out, actually requires me to work. Home also requires me to work. Plus, Movable Type, the company that makes this software I'm using, just announced that version 3.1 will be available by the end of Summer. So, I don't expect to work on the design of the site until then. Of course, I'll keep blogging.

I started writing/thinking about this post before Apple released their latest iPod (I believe they refer to it as iPod with Click Wheel, other people call it the 4G iPod). Now that they are out, I have to admit, I am underwhelmed. But I see room for hope.

I was looking forward to an iPod with a wireless connection. An iPod with which I could stream music to an Airport Express connected to the stereo in the living room. Or even cooler, an iPod that would connect to the iTunes Library on my Mac in the basement, and control playback from there, even if playback was happening on the stereo in the living room. The stereo with the really nice Mirage Bipolar speakers.

But the iPods that were released had none of that. They have a Click Wheel and some neat-o software perks. Whoop dee.

But there's hope.

Toshiba, in a now infamous incident, said that Apple had ordered a huge batch of their new 60 GB mini hard drives (the 20 Gb and 40 GB models are being used in the new iPods) for delivery this summer. Apple offers no comment.

Another company, that provides the wireless chipsets for Apple, announces a new, low-power version of their 802.11b wireless chips. The power consumption is low enough to be feasible for an iPod.

The rumor mill ran rampant with speculation about a major iPod announcement in late August, only to fizzle with some lame notice about, "Oh, that's going to be about the iPod mini," when the new iPods were released last week.

The prices of the two new iPods are the same as the lowest two prices for the previous trio of iPods, leaving room at the top for a pricier model.

Maybe a pricier model with added features, like a larger hard drive, and wireless capabilities? To be announced some time in late August, once production ramps up with the brand new Toshiba drives?

You heard it speculated here first, boyo.

I have a new index by which to measure Bush's chances of winning in the Fall. Bumper stickers. Call it the Index of Bumper Coverage. I live in Omaha, Nebraska. And yet, I see more bumper stickers declaring that Bush must be beaten than I see Bush supporters. Hm. Unless,of course, you include all the American flags around town. On cars, bumpers, poles, trucks, windows, you name it. Dogs, even. Yes, you can be a Patriot and still dislike the President, but that don't usually happen 'round here.

Go forth and procure yourself a toothpaste tube. Full is better. Hold it in one hand, name side up, cap pointing away from you. Flip it end over end so it makes one revolution, and catch it. The tube will have rotated, so that the name side is down. This works nine out of ten times. If I try really hard, I can get it to flip without rotating, but the natural tendency is to rotate.

I don't understand it. Anyone?