A Sign of Things to Come?

Let's hope so!  In last week's primary election here in California, two San Diego County cities voted to reject the project labor agreements that Obama and the unions support so strongly.  One of those cities (Chula Vista) used to be our home, and in the past few years lost a major development project because the developer refused to be bound by a project labor agreement.

The margins weren't large, but they represent a sea change from the recent past, wherein voters pretty much rubber-stamped such progressive proposals  – even in San Diego County, one of the most conservative (politically) areas of California.  The union's loss here, after a well-financed campaign, is a big surprise to many.

Wouldn't it be just lovely if this were a portent of the November elections?

Hayabusa Lands Its Sample...

Or at least, we hope there's a sample on board Hayabusa, of the asteroid Itokawa.  The video below is from NASA, whose plane managed to catch Hayabusa's fiery re-entry over Australia's outback.  It looks like they've located the sample capsule and will pick it up in the morning...

Vast Riches in Afghanistan...

Now there's something I wasn't expecting!

Morning Walk...

I've missed these early morning walks for the past three weekdays, as I was in Arizona on business.  This morning was clear, with a light haze, and moonless.  The Milky Way was easily visible overhead, though not as crisp as it can be out here.  Venus was high in the eastern sky, by far the brightest object in the sky.

The dogs did their usual random things until we were about halfway down the driveway.  At that point, nearly simultaneously, all four (yes, even the border collie!) smelled something – and four noses hit the deck in tracking mode.  Shortly thereafter, all four were pulling strongly toward a pepper tree in the northeast corner of our yard – and I heard rustling underneath it.  I've no idea what sort of beast visited us, but the dogs clearly knew, and wanted to go investigate.  Sure wish they could talk to us!