Well, Barack has come and gone -- sweeping into the throughly-corrupt environs of Berea, getting himself a complimentary tire gauge, then high-tailing it out before anyone could ask him if he knew the mayor's real address.

I didn't catch any of the coverage, though I heard he did link arms with the peculiar man who is governor of this peculiar state. Yes, they know what this region needs: a lot more of the same. That'll pull us out of our death throes!

I called Steve yesterday to ask him if he wished he were in Berea for the festivities. He told me he looks forward to the new administration: not only will the economy improve and the ocean levels stabilize, he's pretty sure his bowling score will go up as well.

And right now Steve is reading this, saying to himself, "You bastard, you used my line." Well yes, people who don't regularly post their material to the blog have their material expropriated.

This morning I explained to Cookie how someday he'd have to get a job and make himself useful to the economy. Then I told him about payroll tax withholding. We went out onto the front steps -- to sit on the stoop like a couple of mooks. It's August and the cicadas are singing quite loudly.

Still feels strange knowing that school will start in a few short weeks. Eh, it's turning out to be a fun summer. The other night we caught a glimpse of the fireworks they launched over the nearby Cuyahoga County Fair -- quite fitting in this period of watching the county government implode. Even the normally-execrable Plain Deal has discovered that maybe, just maybe, it can actually devote some resources to covering real news.

Still not quite as entertaining as the news headlines that emanate from the Sunshine State. Man Calls 911 After Casino's Slot Machine 'Steals Money'. Did I mention that Ohio's poor can now play Keno whenever they want?