Got clobbered this morning on the basketball court. I play Monday nights and Sunday mornings. Sunday is a clinic as well as a scrimmage (a new specialty every 10 - 12 weeks: shooting, defense, one-on-one, etc.) so the group is mixed in skill and intensity. I'm low-midrange, and I like playing with people a lot better than I am, because I learn so much. But one of them fired me a pass this morning that bounced with some serious force off my nose. From him, I'm learning whom to keep an eye on.

Meanwhile my political mouthpiece (Dan -- link above)has endorsed Wesley Clark. This is an interesting choice. I met Gen. Clark once, was on a panel with him. (Long story.) I was impressed with the guy to the point of overcoming my natural distrust of military men when they speak on policy. (Though I'm not sure he overcame his natural distrust of fiction writers.) I like Dean. If I could do anything but sit on the sidelines while Iowa and New Hampshire make this decision I think I'd vote for Dean. But my mouthpiece has an interesting point. A Clark nomination would give the Democrats a chance to run a war hero against a Republican draft dodger. How often does that happen?