The Associated Press is reporting that Pennsylvania senator Arlen Specter has had a recurrence of cancer.

WASHINGTON - Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter's cancer has returned. The five-term Republican said in a statement released by his office Tuesday that he was diagnosed with an early recurrence of Hodgkin's disease, which is a cancer of the lymph system.

Apologies for the tiny diary - had to get it out there.

Once again elections mean absolutely squat.  The AP is reporting the following story.

HARARE, Zimbabwe - President Robert Mugabe's government raided the offices of the main opposition movement and rounded up foreign journalists Thursday in an ominous indication that he may use intimidation and violence to keep his grip on power.

Read the rest: http://news.yahoo.com/...

Will Bush invade?  Yeah. That's what I thought.

A deaf man who lives for the simple pleasure of flying kites. I came across Ray Bethell on Yahoo.  Impressed by his magnificent ability and moved to tears by the music, I had to share with my fellow Kossacks.  There is so much beauty yet in this world.  We MUST protect it.

There has been quite a bit of back and forth about Democratic presidential hopefuls and their vote for the war.  Some who still claim that it was the right thing at the time, etc. etc.  Living in DC and being "inside the beltway" obviously changes you.  We saw that with Al Gore in 2000 - overly managed, fearful, not sure of himself.  We see him now - confident, passionate. Prescient.

With that said, I've always wondered if my fellow Kossacks would honestly be able to respond to a poll about what they would have done had they been in Washington as representative to the people.

You may, if you wish, explain your vote.  Remember, this is October 2002.

Also, please don't shut up.

IMAX theathers in several Southern cities have decided not to show a film on volcanoes out of concern that its references to evolution might offend those with fundamental religious beliefs. -- Associated Press

Read Ebert's full article here: http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050328/COMMENTARY/503280301

Theater owners are now cowering at just the thought of undereducated fundies protesting the film.

The fundies have always been aggressive anti intellectuals - the scary thing is that their numbers have grown.  Apathy in kids in the 1970's and 1980's has led to this.  The current bunch seems even less motivated.

I am committed to learning new things everyday.  Thank you conservatives for teaching us these valuable lessons about the Schiavo case.

note The following is not original material.

An issue that is immensely important that has not generated even lukewarm interest is the state of President Bush's current health.  He has refused to take his annual physical until after the elections.  What is he afraid of?  What might he be hiding?  The American public deserves to know if a major party candidate for president is literally "fit" for duty.

"You skipped a physical in 1972 to hide something, and you're doing it again today.  What are you hiding Mr. President?"