Dumb as a Box of Rocks

A noted psychiatrist was a guest speaker at an academic function where Nancy Pelosi happened to appear. Ms Pelosi took the opportunity to schmooze the good doctor a bit and asked him a question with which he was most at ease. "Would you mind telling me, Doctor," she asked, "how do you detect a mental deficiency in someone who appears completely normal?"

"Nothing is easier," he replied. "You ask a simple question which anyone should answer with no trouble. If the person hesitates, that puts you on the track."

"What sort of question?" asked Pelosi.

Well, you might ask, "Captain Cook made three trips around the world and died during one of them. Which one?"

Pelosi thought a moment, and then said with a nervous laugh, "You wouldn't happen to have another example, would you? I must confess I don't know much about history."

And she wants to control our health care system?!

My Hero 5

Bill Clinton made a private trip to North Korea to secure the release of journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee. He did an exemplary job with no grandstanding and no kowtowing to the little dictator.

Dragon Lady

This is where I would be if it were cooler than 98 degrees today.

Birthday Party

Jordan's 8th Birthday party included a treasure hunt, s'mores around the patio fire, 4-wheel rides, an overnight bunking party, and, of course, cake.

Bounty Soup

The summer's bounty gathered from friends, the Farmers' Market, and our garden.

My Hero 4

Alan Jackson may have single-handedly changed the lives of countless children, thanks to a generous gift. Performing as part of "Concerts for a Cause" in LaSalle, Illinois, Jackson heard that the show failed to recoup its expenses, causing Easter Seals to be unable to reach its fundraising goals for 2009. Alan immediately wrote a check for $20,000, saving two programs that had been affected by the economy: the autism resource center and the Likotek in-home program that modifies toys to allow children with disabilities to play with them like other children.