Now we know the truth…

http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/07syTeObiBSkbrsB

Breathing Exercise

Author unknown

Find a comfortable chair to sit in, or lie on the floor. Remove your shoes. Close your eyes but not too tightly. Take a deep breath: Inhale blue... Hold it. And exhale red... Repeat.

Now tense up every part of your body, really really tight. Hold it...hold it... Now relax. Feel your body melting into your chair or into the floor. Again: Tense tense tense... And relaaaax.
Now I want you to picture yourself lying on a gorgeous, secluded beach. Breathe in the fresh air. Feel the warmth of the sand. Hear the rhythmic lapping of the ocean and the palm trees swaying in the gentle breeze. You have no worries. No cares. Your 401(k) is flush with cash. You feel completely relaxed. You are at peace and everything is fine.

Oh, look. John McCain is walking by. Without opening your eyes, gently raise your hand and wave. 'Hi, Senator,' you say. 'Sorry you lost the election in such a massive landslide. Too bad, so sad.' He waves back and says, 'Thank you, my friend. In the end, the best man won. By a hundred and fifteen electoral votes.'

And here comes Sarah Palin, wearing her Miss Congeniality sash. Again, you lazily raise your hand. 'Hi, Sarah. Too bad the Troopergate report got ya booted from office,' you say. She replies, 'Oh, that's okay. Now I can spend more of my time monitoring that sneaky Putin over there in Russia. I hear he's training an army of judo experts.' She trips over a piece of driftwood. You let out a relaxing sigh and take a sip of your margarita.

Oh, and here's Dick Cheney, trolling for spare change with his metal detector. 'Hey, Dick,' you say. 'Takin' a break from the war crimes tribunal?' 'Yep,' he replies. 'They got Rumsfeld in the dock now. If things go according to schedule, I should get my life sentence later this afternoon. Oh look...I found a nickel.' He wanders out of sight. You take another cleansing breath.

Just as you're about to drift to sleep, a group of former senators approaches. Coleman. Dole. McConnell. Collins. Cornyn. Stevens. Chambliss. Roberts. Smith. Sununu. 'Hey, folks,' you say. 'Whatcha been doin' since your massive losses?' They reply as one: 'Beach volleyball!!' You nod. They get swallowed by a rogue wave.

And now, very slowly, count backwards: 5... 4... 3... 2... 1... Open your eyes.

Repeat as needed.

You deserve a break today…

…from all the financial angst. From Jon Stewart:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQK1al91drs

Sorry—I only give to Nigerians

An urgent appeal:

http://angrybear.blogspot.com/2008/09/your-urgent-help-needed.html

Psychological Perspective

And now, another broad (and focused) view on American politics from psychologist Deepak Chopra:

http://www.chopra.com/node/1064

Of Diversity and Demographics

The Republicans may have achieved the impossible in St. Paul: making Minnesota whiter—at least for four days—but there is another issue increasingly gnawing at the soul of the Republican Party too. Consider this sober, balanced article by David Frum, a fellow at the conservative American Enterprise Institute. Four pages worth reading. Try just the first, although it gets better. A welcome, thoughtful consideration for those eager for a break from the barrage of shouting and sound bites:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/07/magazine/07Inequality-t.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin

You Can Bet on It!

With money.

Legally.

Fortune magazine reports that Intrade: The Prediction Market is remarkably accurate in predicting the outcomes of political, economic, weather, and other trends and events. Buy and sell shares in definite conclusions to current questions. Or just watch. http://www.intrade.com/