Events

The Chicago Marathon passed my house in two directions this morning, going north from mile 5 to 6, and then south right around the 15 km mark. Here, running north through Lincoln Park, is the Kenyan team, with race winner Evans Cheruiyot third from left: I didn't catch women's winner Lidiya Grigoryeva (she was well protected in the pack), but I did get Olympic gold medalist Constantina Dita (right) heading south on Clark Street. The course temperature has hit 26°C again, making this year's race almost...

As of 7 minutes ago, fewer than 100 days remain in the worst presidency in American history.

The African email scams have haunted our inboxes for so long now I hardly notice them any more. But this one I received today had such fluidity and verve, such poetry, that I feel impelled to share it: From the Desk of Dr.Anddy Vaina,And Counselors at Law,06 Bp 1704 Akpakpa CotonouBenin Republic. Dear Friend, How are you together with your Family today? My Dear our latest news to you today is that our Federal Government has approved all the funds owned by foreigners to be converted into ATM SWITCH...

Take out the trash day? Or just an ordinary Friday during these interesting times? Since lunch yesterday: Despite all the McCain Campaign's efforts to keep it under wraps for just three more weeks, an Alaskan legislative investigation released a report alleging Gov. Palin abused her power by trying to get her brother-in-law fired from a state job. Chrysler and GM are in merger talks. The administration (101 days, 4 hours left) took North Korea off the list of state sponsors of terrorism, leaving only...

The state that fought privacy rights all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1965 has now embraced them: The Connecticut Supreme Court overturned a ban on same-sex marriage Friday in a victory for gay-rights advocates that will allow couples to marry in the New England state. The court found that the state's law limiting marriage to heterosexual couples discriminates on the basis of sexual orientation. Not the most important item of news today, but one more example of how the right wing have failed to...

San Francisco's Mark Morford also noticed the Economist's "if the world could vote" tool: But come on, it can't be that much of a global landslide, right? Surely there must be some stiff, stoic nations out there who'd want a grumpy, tempestuous military man to lead the U.S., if only to have someone to play with in the grand sandbox of war and intolerance and oily greed? Is there really no military junta, no dictator, no incensed bomb-gathering nation that really wants McCain, if only for the joy of...

There is a saying in law school: First year they scare you to death. Second year they work you to death. Third year they bore you to death. I think the debate calendar skipped second year this time around. Though, must say, the Vice-Presidential debate scared me to death. Update, 20:58 CT: When is Brokaw just going to high-five McCain? I've seen more fairness in a high-school election. Update, 21:35 CT: Well, it wasn't the laff-riot I'd hoped, but still. Wow. I think Tom Brokaw lost.

Via the Economist, a video simulation of every airplane in the world over a 24-hour period:

The Bank of America Chicago Marathon, this Sunday, will box me in unless I have the foresight to park outside the race course before then. I'm not sure what to do about Parker, either; there are a couple of underpasses from where I live to the park, but it looks like from the time we wake up until about noon Sunday we're not going to go very far. The weather should be really good, though possibly a little warm. Good luck, runners!

Chicago is finally getting high-speed rail service: The ambitious project proposed for the Midwest would cover 3,000 miles in nine states. All lines would radiate from a hub in downtown Chicago. The cost of a fully completed Midwest network is estimated at almost $8 billion. Travel times of almost 5½ hours on Amtrak's route between Chicago and St. Louis would be cut to 3 hours and 49 minutes on a high-speed train, according to preliminary estimates. In the past year, more than 501,000 rides were taken...