Just a quick note: the dredwerkz is alive and well. I have at least two reviews to write, as well as some binary object stuff to deal with. I'll try and get to it all this evening, assuming I don't have as much fun as I've had the past three days. Nothing says fun like a special guest from the big apple, combined with my final triumph over my illness. I'd say I'm back to 95%.

Okay, I'm still sick as a dog, coding frantically and ticked off about the election returns. In between some particularly thorny css/js problems though, I figure I have enough time to do a little light blogging. (I wonder if artists, mid-commission, stop to doodle?) The other day, without my knowledge, my credit limit was doubled. Yes, yes, some of you are saying, it doesn't matter. But in my mind, it does matter, for the simple reason that I could, if I so desired, go out and purchase a small automobile on my credit card now. Okay, a used car. Still, the fact that anyone would trust me with so much money is empowering. After two years of having a credit card, I've still yet to carry a balance. Maybe its a financial game of chicken, with each side raising the ante until I fold, carry a balance and lose a great deal of money, or I call their bluff, purchase a boat load of stock, sell before the month is out and reap the rewards. Only time will tell.

While I'm shamelessly extolling my credit card worth, I might as well mention an item from my past. Oddly enough, while at college in a small antique store I once happened upon a first-edition book that was illustrated by my namesake. I really wanted the book but the cost was too high so I cut a deal with my parents where they would front half the money and I'd pay the rest. The book has remained at my parent's house ever since, although I'll occasionally look at it carefully. Recently, however, my mom took it to an appraiser who revealed that it was in excellent (better than fine) condition and that she should go to the website referenced above (abebooks.com) to check prices. I thought it was expensive beforehand, but it appears to have appreciated even more rapidly than a nasdaq stock. Either that or the salesperson had no idea of its trus worth. The book itself has no defects, no inscriptions, no tears and is in the original glassine dust cover. Even more strangely, shortly after purchasing the book, I saw another copy in a museum in Philadelphia for a Parrish exhibit. Their copy was in much worse shape than mine...which made me realize just how rare my copy was. In this day and age it's a curious notion that something cannot be duplicated or is original...pricing such an object is a strange endeavor. Okay, enough introspection. Back to work!

They say it's darkest just before dawn. Here's one tiny glimmer of hope in the insanity that has befallen our nation. Will Pitt's departure at the 11th hour (scripted, of course) mean that others might fall? Paul O'Neil, anyone? Tommy Thompson? We can only wait and hope...hope that something, anything, can reverse the course our country has charted.

Nothing's worse than being sick, except to be sick and watch the Republicans take control of the government. Now America will be sick, for at least two years. Read this article in the washington post and try to suppress the gag reflex.

Suddenly, items that had been bottled up in the Democratic Senate have new life. President Bush has new hopes for action on his conservative slate of judges, his energy plan calling for drilling in Alaska's wildlife refuge, and the policies he favors on topics such as homeland security, terrorism insurance and prescription drug coverage. With Democrats losing their ability to set the Senate schedule and launch probes of the administration, chances improve for Bush's hopes to extend last year's tax cuts, curtail jury awards, cut business regulations and overhaul Medicare.

At the same time, White House officials said last night that most of their early effort in the new Congress will revolve around stimulating economic growth. Wary of the struggling economy as a vulnerability for Bush heading into his reelection race, administration officials said Bush was likely to introduce a new economic-stimulus package early next year. Among the plans being drawn up are new tax cuts for businesses and investors.

It's almost worst case scenario. Conservative judges, permanent tax cuts going to the wealthy, less regulation and all the rest. God help us. God help us all.

in addition to the election madness and the peyser.com redesign, i feel like i've been squeezed like a sponge, with every bit of healthy liquid inside me removed, leaving only a dirty exoskeleton, sponge style. perhaps i'm getting sick. perhaps i ate something bad last night. perhaps there's no explanation. i just want to get through this day, watch 24 and the election returns, and have some dinner. of course, i have to make it through work first...