I’m off on an early flight in the morning to Washington, D.C. for a few days of meetings.  Fortunately, I don’t think I will be getting close enough to the Capitol building to be at risk of being irradiated by the toxic waves of bloviation still emanating from Senate Armed Service Committee hearing room.

The residue from Barbara Boxer’s speechifying alone probably has a half-life of more than 50,000 years. 

My apologies dear readers. I haven’t been very good at keeping my blog promises. (blogmises?)   Early on the 11th I promised some “deep thoughts about big things” later on in the day. Never happened. Well, I meant well. And like most Christians, though I judge others by their actions, I judge myself by my intentions. So, how about some shallow thoughts about trivialities instead? 

 I came across a great quote the other day that I thought was apropos of the MoveOn.org types and all the new 9/11 experts on what will and won’t melt steel: 

 “In the fevered state of our country, no good can ever result from any attempt to set one of these fiery zealots to rights, either in fact or in principle. They are determined as to the facts they will believe and the opinions on which they will act.” 

That was Thomas Jefferson. Here’s another for you: 

“Political extremism involves two prime ingredients: an excessively simple diagnosis of the world’s ills and a conviction that there are identifiable villains back of it all.” 

That was John W. Gardner, a cabinet member in the Johnson administration referring to the anti-war protesters of that day. Speaking of war. . .  I have already set my DVR to record Ken Burns new documentary in glorious Hi-Def. I am a huge fan Burns previous documentary work—particularly The Civil War and his series on the History of Jazz.  The subject of his new work is World War II. First episode of “The War” airs 9/23. Can’t wait.