I was surfing Charlotte Church’s website (a whole nother story) and suddenly I hear music and an interview playing. I’m not sure what I clicked, but alt-tabbing brought a small window to the front. A couple of members from the band 311 were being interviewed. The interview was nicely done, with not too much of that freaking MTV "nervous cam" action. The really cool randomness of this incident is that just last night I was asking a guy what every happened to 311.

The website is Roxwel. It hosts videos, interviews, music biz news and more.

I suppose running for President is the ultimate status symbol. Leading with the War on Terror® and Radical Islamic Terrorism®, Fred Thompson offered nothing new in his announcement speech, and no new interpretation of why so many disapprove of the current White House occupant and his failed policies. He gave no sweeping insights into how he would do anything differently than Bush. And capping the tepid 13:50 viewing experience, he recited a Walter Reed Hospital Marine story. Bleh! What have I missed? Is this what the Right has been waiting for?

Meanwhile, the sheep munch quietly.

There’s something undeniably human about procrastination. You’ll never see a hungry animal corner its prey and then walk away thinking I’ll just kill the next one. No way. Instead, he pounces! Leaps! Claws extend sinking deep and snatching life itself from the hapless victim. We poor, highly evolved mammals should be so bold!

My flirtation with blogging (and writing in general) has simmered like a hearty stew for more years than I like to admit. Anyone who has ever felt the urge to write can recite from memory the many excuses that prevent putting thought to paper… or pixel. For too long, the comforting cotton of doubt, work, and school have dulled the clear siren call to write. But those sweet tones have finally broken through. It only took a little help from Fred Thompson.

For many dreary, rhetoric-filled months, pundits have treated Thompson’s candidacy like the Second Coming. It’s not a matter of if–but when will he gallop in on his made-for-TV white horse, snatch the pretty girl, and make Democracy safe for the world again. So I’ve taken notice now that an announcement of the announcement has been announced. I guess he’s been “fixin’ to get ready” as we Southerners say.

So have I. Now, I’m ready, or fixed, or possibly both. Either way, welcome to my first earnest attempt at answering my muse. I can’t promise the blog will be as exciting as a (God forbid!) Fred Thompson presidency. But at least I’m doing my part to make Democracy safe for the world again.