Carol,

very nicely done. I have been reading reading/watching you for about a year and love the style of your art. This week's is notable for the characters' expressions as well as your characteristic off-beat ending. Keep up the good work.

I remember when we were supposed to use the plastic bags so as to save the trees. Now our paper bags are recycled and plastic bags are harming the trees.

Shopping, like taking out the trash is getting so complicated, no plastic, no glass, no metal... oh well.

Thanks Carol, for another of your wonderfully offbeat strips.

I came out to watch a friend run in Chicago this year. At the two mile mark hundreds of folks were walking. That is not racing and it was hard, almost embarrassing to keep cheering as they walked past me. A marathon is a race.

I also marathon, but on inline skates, a wonderful sport which is losing popularity in the US as it gains in the rest of the world. Those races all have minimum finishing times. If you are too slow you get swept up. Mind you, this time is still quite generous, but races run on volunteers and if you aren't willing to work, why should someone come out and volunteer for you?

I compete most years in the Athens to Atlanta Road Skate, an 87 mile event in GA. As I age I know in my head that my P.B. is most likely behind me, but in my heart I still hope for that one great tail wind to carry me home to another record finish. THAT is what walkers are missing, the thrill of competing. The thrill of the crowd to cheer them on as they sprint for the finish.

Once again Hillary has connected with the voters and the media with an emotional appeal. (Her tears and last night's concluding statement.) Now I think she knows what she's needed to do all along; fire people up.

I am happy to see however that a democrat, Obama, has understood that point from the beginning. Voters do not vote for rational reasons. Like cars, we want the model that makes us feel good. This knowledge seems to have been closely held by republicans for far too long.

That Obama is smart, proved by how well he's run this race is almost a given. He'll be an inspiring leader and a good manager of our resources.

I followed HRC's advice to go to her Web site to comment about her next move. However the title of the survey is "We're with you Hillary" or the likes. Though I asked her to please leave the race I fully expect her to count me as one of millions who support her continuing in the race.

This really is not a move anywhere for Senator O. What we've known here in Chicago all this is that he is a moderate and at times that is frustrating. We'd like him to take stronger stances on liberal issues.

Though I live just north of Chicago both individuals described here are two of the most politically uninvolved people I've ever met. First is my Italian immigrant neighbor, semi-retired from a position as a union carpenter. He's in his seventies and only thinks of his tomatoes and pears. He comes up to me in March and asks if I think "he" can win. That Obama he says, I really think he's got something on the ball. I am 90% sure this gentleman has never voted for a democrat. I think we are too interested in helping the minorities most times to gain his support.

The second individual is my girlfriend's father, I KNOW he has never voted for a democrat before. He now lives in Chicago by way of Erie, Pennsylvania and Elkhart, IN. He was not in Chicago for Obama's senate race so he really has not been as exposed to B.O. as much as the average Joe on the street. Nevertheless, he has a "Sign Up for Obama" sign on the door of his apartment where residents can sign up to show their support and wears his "I believe in Hope" button everywhere.

I have no idea what sparked these two old(ish) white guys to take so well to Obama, but they have. I find it very encouraging.

they neither embedded their own ad into the page on their site nor provided the URL in a hyperlink form. You have to cut and paste the URL into your browser. I thought there were at least a few tech-savvy republicans.

The first rule of advertising is to place a credible spokesperson on the screen. And once Hillary speaks tonight no republican will listen to Hillary (just like old times) and all of Hill's true followers will go for Obama. This is a losing ad strategy. Unless you consider getting under dem's skin a worthy ad strategy.

Colbert in his wonderful send up of President Bush was as pointedly sticking it to the Washington media. The most telling part of the entire performance was the dearth of laughter from the subjects of the joke sitting out at the tables.

that Jill makes it back. I have been drawn into the storyline and guess what. I'm in the mood for a tail with a happy ending this year. Reminds me of another story I've been following this year.

"Last week, Lieberman met with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and told Reid that if he lost his chairmanship, he'd leave the Democratic caucus."

There have been a number of times in my career when I've seen individuals pull the "if you don't _______ I'm quitting" ploy or had it pulled on me. I think it best to always call the individual's bluff. This type will always be a fly in the ointment.

'nuf said.

and that's all I've got to say.

America, the world's best health care with the world's worst access.