Annus horribilis redux

Good riddance, '08!
On our list of lousy years
You rank really high

I'm from the government...

Oh, the irony!
Only new jobs we've heard of
Process jobless claims

A real miracle

Santa and Rudolph:
Their business model succeeds
Without a bailout!

Snow day tradeoff

That wasn't so bad.
Fluffy snow everywhere, sure,
But no place to go



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Racine Pride

Tough call for Council:
Build a wall around Racine
Or do the right thing


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They live in our hearts

cold cemetery
broken hearts join to honor
candles warm our hearts


universal pain
brings us together briefly
remembering them

-- Peg Rousar-Thompson

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Hey, big spender!

Another bailout,
Another Ryan yes vote.
What's become of him?


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The government we deserve?

Stunning corruption!
Blagojevich sets the bar
High for successors



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It doesn't get much better

Forty thousand books!
Literacy is gift-wrapped
For Racine school kids


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Hell hath no fury

Old legal adage
Proved again at City Hall:
Anyone can sue.


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WWJS*

Mayhem in the stores.
More interest in Christmas
Shopping than in church.

(*Where Would Jesus Shop?)

Thanksgiving

Strange world we live in.
Millions go hungry, as we
Pass our plates for more.

Priorities change

Turn off the fountain!
What will kids do this summer?
Let 'em take the train!

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All Aboard?

Modest proposal:
Charge KRM passengers
What ride really costs


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Zoo Trees

Butterflies' flutter
Invites parents to recall
A child gone too soon

-- Peg Rousar-Thompson

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Next Summer

Bright swimsuits, small hands
Clutch chain link and watch water
No longer for them

--Peg Rousar-Thompson

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Classy, CNH

The unkindest cut:
"Laid off; clean out your desk; you're
Not material."


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Seasons merging

Here in the same week:
Ghouls, election and Santa.
Is time speeding up?

All Aboard!?!

A county sales tax
Could bring Racine rail service?
(Give Vos first ticket!)



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Alfresco

Obama's big win
Is a bright and sunny day,
With its own rainbow.


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Here's your phone back

Anybody miss
The damn RoboCalls today?
I didn't think so.

Interminable

Both parties agree:
Whatever happens Tuesday,
Thank God it's over!

Trick or your 401k

Halloween's nothin'
Economy and election...
Now those are scary!

Bostonians want to know

Stevens convicted;
Can he equal the feat of
James Michael Curly

Something spooked him

Ryan wakes from nap,
Spends fortune to campaign as
A fiscal tightwad?

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There but for the grace of ...

Parkside breathes easy:
An interim chancellor, but
Nobody in chains


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Pollsters never call me

On-the-fence voter?
Not after the last debate:
I'm glad they're over!

Paging Mr. Diebold

If we vote early
Can election be stolen
Before it takes place?


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Not much for RCCVB to work with

Charlie Gibson told
Viewers Racine's jobless rate,
and... and nothing else.

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Racine on TeeVee

It's our big close-up.
Hope we're not upstaged by that
John McCain fella


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You say potahto...

The hot debate here
Isn't Obama/McCain;
It's Tingle v. Hughes


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Actually, locusts would be a welcome change

First, economy tanks,
Then Favre quits and Brewers lose.
What's next: Locusts, rats?

First the economy, and now this?

No joy in Mudville:
However bailout vote goes
It won't help Brewers



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Biden's a bit player...

Debate's big question:
How well can Sarah Palin
Mimic Tina Fey?

No bread, just circus

Candidates posture
As stock market tanks. Let's hope
Brewers distract us.

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Updating the old fable

Bailout deal's fine print:

(No surprise) The ants must pay

The grasshoppers' debts.


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Well, since you put it that way...

Bailout plan: Shut up
And give us all your money;
The sky is falling.


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Quick work for our leaders...

The Great Lakes Compact:
So loved by all, it just took
Ten years to pass it.


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If only we knew the rules...

Stocks are up! Then down.
No, up! They're playing ping pong
With our retirement.


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My debts are just a rounding error...

Billions for Bear Stearns,
AIG. Hey, Mr. Fed!
Spare a dime for me?


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What is this, Florida?

Voter fraud charges
Spreading across Wisconsin
Seven weeks early


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It's a win-win

JT drops stock lists.
They save money; we forget
How much we're losing

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W@ do-nothing Congress?

Kohl tAkz on Ma Bell
ovr cost of txt msgN
r thums M:-) him.



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Are condolences in order?

The 1st District vote
Will produce a winner...and
Sacrificial lamb?


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Now for something completely different...

The spheres were a ball
But now it's time for something
Less same old, same old.


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Hawaii is looking pretty good, now...

Our gardens love rain
But volleyball is dicey.
Will sand turn to mud?


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Crime's tipping point

Twelve more city cops

Will stop crime? Or hush critics

With, "at least we tried."

Rob us with a gun
Or a tax referendum.
What's the difference?


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Collateral damage

Gustave's arrival
Silences politicians
How to thank a storm?

Storm

Smile, you're on candid camera!

When stopped by the cops
Your choices are few:
Obey them -- or sue



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Who woulda thunk it?

Both Kohl and Feingold
Like Obama's Biden pick;
Now that's a surprise



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All the beach resorts were booked?

Robin takes his bride
On a GOP honeymoon.
Oh, you sweet talker!


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A-List tourist destination

Milwaukee road trip:
Forget the Calatrava,
Let's see the Bronze Fonz!



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Truth is stranger than ...

Who needs TV soaps

When we have John Edwards

And City Hall


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If hiring was an Olympic sport...

Only time will tell,

But it looks like Unified

Nailed the landing

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Pols discover gas prices -- again

For 35 years
We've talked, not acted, on oil.
OPEC is laughing



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The welcome mat is NOT out!

Of all the tourists
Racine County doesn't want
Ash borer tops list


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The soap opera's over

Who'll regret it more:
Brett Favre? The Jets? The Packers?
Lombardi's ghost weeps


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Let's go to the tape...

Let's be honest, Brett:
When it comes to retirement,
You sure fumbled it.



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A pattern begins to emerge, eh, Watson?

Bloggers and council
Make clear their priorities:
Cops, cops... and more cops



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Brett's dilemma

If Pack offers me
$20 million to stay home,
I'd have to think...YES!


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If these walls could talk...

Memorial Hall

Has seen them all. I wonder

Who it would vote for.

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We're on 'Unified time'

Five-year plan for schools.
Isn't that what Hicks gave us
Seven years ago?


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Our churches, deputized...

War on crime weapon
Isn't guns or more police
But rather churches?


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Racine is a happenin' place

Triathletes. Cyclists.

Micro-cars and quilts on barns.

What a week it's been!

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Accreditation?

It wasn't needed,

But finally they got it.

So shut up, says Mac


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Politics as usual?

City employee

Fired. Accuses. Rumors.

Nasty plot thickens.



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'Nuts' comes to mind...

They swim, bike and run

Before most of us wake up.

Triathletes are _______.

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Third time's a charm?

Will Obama break

The Century Market curse?

They both need a win

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If I had any money, I'd be worried...

'All our banks are safe,

No failures are imminent.'

Are you reassured?

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Barns and quilts: Serendipitous bedfellows!

Attracting tourists:

Can it be as easy as

Putting quilts on barns!

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The dog ate my schedule?

Whoops! Felner Fallout
Trips up a Parkside prof who
Skipped class too often

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A new dawn for Democrats...

Jeff Thomas is gone,
So Dems will easily win
First District. Yeah, right.

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All I got was this crappy t-shirt

State aides go First Class
Demand the best (hotel, food)
Leave us with the bill.

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Independence Day responsibility

Parade, fireworks:
Perfect ways to celebrate.
Just don't forget why...

Fans love Brett? Who woulda thunk it

"If Favre 'has the itch'
Packers fans are quick to say,
'Aaron Rodgers who?'

And an opposing viewpoint:

Thank you, Brett, for all
your service but it is now
A-Rod's Packer Team.

--RWWackoStu

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Message on a blackboard...

Kids say, 'Great idea!'
Why can't Unified give us
A four-day week too?


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I'm from Congress, and I'm here to help...

Janesville plant closing
Must not ruin celebration
Of first Corvette Day

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Why does this always happen to us? Good karma!

'Innocent until...'
But it sure looks like Parkside
Dodged a bullet.

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Maybe eHarmony.com could find a match

Like jilted lovers,
Unified and Parkside have
Something in common.

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Too early for Never mind?

'It's always something,'
Roseanne Roseannadanna
taught us... eh, Parkside?

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This weekend, we got it right

Racine at its best:
Lighthouse Run, Greek Festival
And no damn shootings.

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Get the warrant next week...

FISA listens in
When Osama calls. Or Mom.
I feel safer now.


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Allies, eh?

Our cannons return!
Both point north, at Canada
What am I missing?

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Define Amtrak customer service

Man sits in restroom
No seats on Hiawatha
When more daily trains?

--Juie Jacob

One step forward, two steps back...

Tiles on a wall
cannot stop the shooting just
up the road. How sad.

--RWWackoStu

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Latest classroom challenge

¿Qué habla usted?
When kids get through Unified
Let's hope it's English

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Who knew it was this easy?

Broken glass and tile,
Mixed with talent and hard work
Have transformed Uptown!

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Condiments That Kill...film at 11

You say tom-ah-toe
And I say salmonella;
Let's stick to ketchup.


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This was fun! Let's do it all again...

A second search free?
PROACT's retreads could come back
To haunt us again!

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So, you think you can do better?

Please forgive Tom Hicks
As he reads the news today
With a little smile...

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Definitely, an incomplete...

Don't know what happened,
But Pulliam's withdrawal
Earns both sides an F

And:

Many of us said,
"begin the search again, please."
Sue Kutz didn't listen

--RWWackoStu

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Mother Nature, ill-behaved

Rain, rain, go away,
Come again some other day.
NOT on the weekend!


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Let's hope Monday never comes

First Friday was great
And now the beach is open
For a fun weekend

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Motel 6 months to a year...

We'll leave the light on
For Waukesha's criminals
At Mac's B&B

And a concurring viewpoint:

I'd rather have them
In Mac's jail, rather than right
Next door to my house

--RWWackoStu

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Resist 'sinking ship' metaphor...

Class, write an essay:
'How I would run Unified.'
Best one gets the job.

And...

How sad for our schools
No Superintendent yet
What the heck's going on?

--RWWackoStu

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Sphere Madness? No, genius!

Downtown's a museum
With art at every storefront.
Wow, how neat is that!


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The Kinzelman Effect

When they hear 'Racine,'
More than kringle comes to mind
In clean beach circles


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Grant writer

Murder, crime and shootings
Becker's cure for Racine is
A new grant writer.....

--RWWackoStu

Fast track to nowhere

With gas at four bucks
Train sounds better and better.
Too bad there ain't one.


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We shall never ... learn?

Memorial Day:
Flags and parades, and each year
More deaths to regret.

And, from a reader:

Memorial Day
Honoring your sacrifice
Freedom isn't free

--RWWackoStu

Unintended consequences

Where did that come from?
Suddenly I gained five pounds!
Oh yeah, pancake day.

--Monte Osterman

First things first...

Oil execs profit
Before alternatives fuel
Our energy needs.

--Anon.

Imagine what he could do for an encore

Whatever your view
Of Paul Ryan, this is clear:
He doesn't think small.


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Downtown puts on a happy face!

Sixth Street all-but done,
Arty spheres come out to play.
Downtown rejoicing!


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The little train that ...

The train will be late,
But KRM supporters
Are sure it's coming.


And an opposing viewpoint:

Listen John Lehman
We don't want your choo choo train
What an idiot

--RWWackoStu

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Dress code: Tuxedos and sequins

World's Best Prom tonight!
Eight schools, 2,000 seniors...
Thanks, Rotarians!

Trial balloon

VP Paul Ryan.
It has a nice ring. But will
Obama choose him?


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The President's sacrifice

Bush stopped playing golf
out of respect for war deaths?
Why not stop the war?

--1dog2cats3kids

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We'll pay those bills tomorrow!

Budget compromise:
Refinance, delay school aid
...State House foreclosure!


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Mother's Day was yesterday!

The day after, Mom:
What's for breakfast? Where's my lunch?
Pick me up! See ya!

Mother's Day sentiment

Luckily, mothers
don't rely on cheesy cards
to know we love them.

The gas tax vacation express

Gas tax vacation,
Oh, joy! With that 18 cents
I'll go ... um, nowhere.

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Laughs from oil execs
Push gas prices up before
Bush leaves the White House

--Anonymous

Torture

In the name of peace
we've lost our humanity.
What have we become?

--1dog2cats3kids


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A likely scenario

When Bush, Ryan speak
About torture, are they like
Three little monkeys?


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Book 'em, Danno!

A little advice
For Racine's seven new cops:
Be careful out there.


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Life doesn't get much better

Pancake Day. Art fair.
Paddling down the Root River.
Racine at its best.


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Let's be careful out there...

Seven more recruits
Join city's war against crime.
Fingers in the dike?


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Unhappy anniversary

Mission Accomplished
The president said. Since then
Four thousand more died.


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Wartime accommodations

Disgusting barracks
Surprised our Army's top brass.
What else don't they know?


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Where is Racine?

Man died in harness,
Friend already dead inside.
No separation.

Racine all wonders
How a man could sit watching,
Never try to help.

Where is Racine when
Children are crying on streets
Needing warmth and love?

Where are residents
Who bitch, moan, and complain
On every blog?

On Journal Times’ site
They spew their criticism
Offering no hope.

Yes it is a crime,
Yes it is a tragedy,
What this man has done.

But 'til you shut up,
Pay attention, listen - you
Are no different.

How can I say this?
If you harm more than you help,
You silently kill.

Stop blaming others
For this city's misery,
Death and destruction.

Turn it around-now!
Try something new, different.
Love everyone.

No more cruel judgments.
Only hope, kindness allowed.
For everyone.

If you can do it,
Maybe others will try too.
Be a role model.

What a difference
We can make in our city
If we have hope, love.

Not just for victims,
For everyone involved,
For every crime.

Maybe you will laugh,
Perhaps I am crazy too.
But we have to try.
(Or we will all die).

--RacineGirl

The answer's always B

Multiple choice test:
School Board's final answer won't
be graded for years


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Oil companies cry foul

New electric cars
Purr past Racine gas stations.
Exxon will be shocked!


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This Saturday!

Racine Pancake Day
Sticky, filling, tasty treats ...
Volunteers needed!

Jet skis on North Beach

Jet skis on North Beach
Play wastes energy noise stinks.
Catamarans, please

--Lori Artiomow

Since fuel prices climbed
I can't afford to travel
North Beach here I come

--1dog2cats3kids

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North Bay dilemma

Ash borer moves in
And there goes the neighborhood.
So much for imports.


Hidden from our view
irridescent green insects
kicking our ashes

--1dog2cats3kids

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Fill 'er up with Lake Michigan breezes?

Wind farms on the lake
Make cheap electricity?
Pipe dream in spring air!


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Scribbled on the blackboard

While the Board debates
the public waits patiently.
Is one worth hiring?

-- By 1dog2cats3kids

Real winner

Keystone victory
Hillary won? Obama?
McCain in landslide

Alternate approach

Gunshots heard often.
Let's arm our retired cops.
Or... disarm hoodlums?



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Earth Day 2008

We live on this Earth
Every day. How nice of us
To care once a year.


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My summer vacation

Beating Paul Ryan
Is Democrats' Job One.
A long, hot summer


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Development trial

Lost money, lost land
Wood lands pined for settlement
Jury's time wasted


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It's April, and FEMA's on the job

FEMA feels our pain.
(Better late than never.)
Thanks for the snow aid!


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The Price Is Right in Hindsight

Gas $3.51!
By the end of summer,
Will we think that's cheap?


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Speaking in tongues

McCainconomics,
then School Board finalistspeak:
We need codebreakers!


McCain story.

School Board story.

The day after

April 16 brings
smiles: a small refund! May I
have that in nickels?

Unified superintendent search (cont.)

Meet the finalists.
Two possible, one trainwreck;
What were they thinking?


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Unified's superintendent search

Sunday morning list
Questions already forming
Consultant's bungle?



Super intention-
But ghosts already rising
April winds resume



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