I caught the League of Conservation Voters' debate with the Democratic candidates this afternoon. (On channel 7 -- broadcast TV, no less!) I think the Dems may actually have learned something from the disciplined lockstep of the Republicans -- the candidates have been refraining from attacking each other, and focusing on attacking Bush. I know, it's really early still, and once the primaries get close the infighting will probably begin, but things are looking a little hopeful for once.

On the California front, well, I just don't know. Car alarm kingpin/plutocrat/recall bankroller Darrell Issa is facing questions about his possible involvement in three auto thefts, in 1971, 1972, and 1980. And Ah-nold Schwarzenegger is starting to get coverage from real reporters, who might just ask some real questions along the way. Will it be enough? I wish I could believe in the inherent intelligence of the voting public, but I have seen too many elections to fall for that one again. (sigh.)

The blogosphere is alive with posting upon posting about the recent Supreme Court decision in Lawrence v. Texas, including some discussion of Justice Scalia's typically bitter and sarcastic dissent. But not enough has been made, in the humble opinion of the MRJEFF3000 organization, of this passage from Scalia's, Rehnquist's and Thomas's dissent:

State laws against bigamy, same-sex marriage, adult incest, prostitution, masturbation, adultery, fornication, bestiality, and obscenity are likewise sustainable only in light of Bowers' validation of laws based on moral choices.

That's right -- these justices, the ones George W. Bush wants more of, are worried that the Lawrence v. Texas decision strikes down state laws against masturbation.

And, from the Woodland Daily Democrat:

Donald Ray Hefner, born April 15, 1919, passed away unexpectedly on June 24, 2003.

He was a fourth generation Californian in a family of agriculturalists and farmers. Phillip Hefner, the patriarch and Donald's great grandfather, arrived in California in 1849 and was engaged in the hay and grain business, along with farming instead of gold mining. By 1853, Phillip owned 1,800 acres of river bottom and upland property between Oroville and Marysville, on the East Side of the Feather River. Phillip was a very successful and influential orchard farmer and livestock rancher. His oldest son Frank married Fannie Mae Heckart, whose family arrived in California in 1865 after the Civil War and settled on cattle ranches half a mile east of today's Butte College. Donald Ray Hefner was born in Oroville, Butte County. He attended elementary and secondary schools in Oroville and later graduated from the University of California, Davis, with a bachelor of science degree in agriculture. Donald was an accomplished catcher on the Aggie's baseball team. Donald was twice elected captain and he earned three letters. Donald went on to be the starter for the Santa Ana Air Base, Mississippi Keesler Field, and Newfoundland Gander Air Base baseball teams. Donald enlisted in the United States Air Force in August 1941 and was honorably discharged in September 1945. In the course of his service he became a "90-Day Wonder" and ended up a first lieutenant. He went to work for Spreckels Sugar Company after the war ended and remained in their Agriculture Department for over 30 years until his retirement. Mr. Hefner's employment in the Spreckels Sugar Company's Agriculture Department was a happy time, with Hefner becoming the district manager for the last 13 years of his employment. Donald enjoyed his fellow co-workers and the civic duties that he was involved with while working for the sugar company. He became the President of the Woodland Chamber of Commerce, president of the Yolo County YMCA, and president of the Girl Scout Council. Hefner was very active in the interests of the Woodland Medical Clinic and was director of the Woodland Hospital Foundation for six years. He was a fundraiser for the Woodland Hospital Foundation and lured Spreckels Sugar Company into a $25,000 donation and C. Nelson Hackett into the gift of a 40-acre parcel worth $100,000, plus others. In 1946, when Hefner moved to Woodland the population was approximately 7,000 and ripe for the talents of "Donald R.," as he later became known. He was soon chairman of the Agriculture Committee, and his fun began. Along with Lou Meikle and Willie Marks, the three promoted the "Gracias Bracero Day." Senator Kuchel was in attendance of this special celebration. Next came the bus rides within the community to acquaint the local merchants of their treasures within their county. The merchants were treated to a royal lunch by Eyvind Faye who introduced them to a product that was not a local staple - huge French prunes soaked and injected with brandy. Everyone but the bus driver was happy! The next great-established event was the annual award for the "Outstanding Agriculture Business Person of the Year." Mr. Hefner felt that he had the unique knowledge of knowing people who worked for the community, but were not in the agriculture business just for the money - they were interested in the youth and the community too. Mr. Jim Leathers was the first choice for the Outstanding Agriculture Business Person of the Year. Mr. Hefner was the fourth person who received this award and blamed Jim Cranston for his selection. Donald R. always said that if he were a cow, he would no doubt have C. of C. on one hip and S.S.C. on the other. Buster Giovanetti had a great idea that he sold to Hefner and that was the Babe Ruth Baseball League. It was a real hit, with the assistance of Bill Griffith, Jim Leathers and everyone else in the community. In 1964 Woodland hosted the World Series. Fritz Erdman bailed the league out, thanks to Jim Leathers. Another new development was the Nelson's Grove campground and picnic area. Nelson's Grove sat in limbo until Don Hays and Hefner went to work on this project and turned this beautiful picnic area over to the YMCA. Dr. Nichols and Bill Griffith earlier worked on this project with the YMCA. President Nixon needed help in his re-election and sent his secretary of Agriculture, Earl Butz; to speak at a luncheon attended by 600 community members at the Yolo County Fairgrounds. There was a television interview with speeches that were handled very professionally by Regnar Paulsen. Mr. Butz was elated by the event and presented Donald R. with a coveted memento, a set of rhinestone "RN" cuff links, for his dedicated efforts as chairman of the event. One important event that was not agriculturally oriented was the challenge of saving the Second Baptist Church from oblivion. The church was torched and the insurance money was held-up for sometime. Hefner and 11 other past Chamber of Commerce presidents took over the task of finances, site clearance, and the rebuilding of the church. The Rev. Lindsey and Harry Ackley were the nominal leaders of this project. The church was rebuilt and at the dedication Donald R. was asked to pass the collection plate, when he was also honored as the real leader of the pack. He did so in honor of Glen Gravink, and the Foley Foundation who donated the money for the church pews. After complete retirement, Mr. Hefner ran a dozen or so small localized funding drives in his area for the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society, the Mothers March of Dimes, and others. Donald R. retired with the happy attitude of "done this, done that, I am going fishing." Hefner inherited an 86-acre parcel near Fairbanks, Alaska, from an uncle who was in the 1897 gold rush. This land parcel, plus a piece in Kodiak, made for enjoyable trips to Alaska with many a salmon and halibut on the fishing line. Mr. Hefner and his wife Lucille also spent many wonderful years fishing, hunting, reading and relaxing at their cabin at Bucks Lake. However, the last few years contained some bitter pills in the form of declining eyesight and heart disease that Donald R. bore with dignity and tolerance. No fishing, no mountain cabin, no hunting. "Papa Don" was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and friend who will be greatly missed by all. Mr. Hefner was preceded in death by his mother and father of Oroville, his first wife Ellora Doney, his beloved son Lynn Allen, son-in-law Paul Moore III, along with his brother Harold Hefner of Sacramento. He is survived by his wife Lucille, their children and their families: Donna DeVries and her husband Joe of Davis, and their children Jeff and Doney; Deborah Moore of Danville and her children, Ellora Cooper and husband Gary, Lisa Sanguinet and husband Jeff, and Paul IV; Scott Hefner and wife Diane of Dixon, and their children, Miles and Kevin; stepsons, Keith Mannee, Kent Mannee and wife Dena of Woodland, and their children Kristina, Ryan and Tamara Cartagena and husband Robert; daughter-in-law, Susan Hefner and her daughter Heidi Lynn of Woodland; and three adorable great grandchildren and numerous special friends. As requested by Donald R. there will be no memorial services, his family will celebrate his life at a private family gathering. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that those who wish to make memorial donations please send them to the Woodland Memorial Hospital Foundation, 1207 Fairchild Court, Woodland

I think this one cost $500 (for 15 or so column inches, I'm not surprised.)

Well. The old poop went and did it:

Donald Ray Hefner, a longtime Woodland resident and community booster, died unexpectedly on June 24, 2003. He was 84.

He was born on April 15, 1919, in Oroville, into a family of agriculturists with California roots dating to the 1850s. He attended schools in Oroville and later earned his bachelor's degree from UC Davis, where he was a catcher and captain on the baseball team.

Hefner continued playing baseball for military teams after enlisting in the U.S. Air Force in August 1941. He rose to the rank of first lieutenant. He went to work for Spreckels Sugar Company after World War II, remaining in its agriculture department for more than 30 years, the last 12 as district manager.

Hefner, who moved to Woodland in 1946, served as president of the Woodland Chamber of Commerce, the Yolo County YMCA and the local Girl Scout Council. He helped establish the Outstanding Agriculture Business Person of the Year award -- an award he later received himself.

He also played a key roll in the growth of the local Babe Ruth Baseball League, which brought its world series to Woodland in 1964, in the creation of the Nelsons Grove campground and picnic area, and, with other past Chamber presidents, led the rebuilding of the Second Baptist Church after it was destroyed by fire.

After retiring, Hefner also ran several local fund drives for the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society, the Mothers March of Dimes and others.

He enjoyed fishing for salmon and halibut and hunting on land in Alaska passed down in his family since the 1897 gold rush. When poor eyesight and heart disease slowed his Alaska hobbies, he continued to maintain his flower garden.

" Papa Don" will be remembered as a devoted husband, father, grandfather and friend, his family said.

He was preceded in death by his first wife Ellora Doney, son Lynn Allen, son-in-law Paul Moore III and brother Harold Hefner.

He is survived by his wife Lucille and their children and their families: daughter Donna DeVries, her husband Joe and their children Jeff and Doney; daughter Deborah Moore and her children: Ellora Cooper and her husband Gary, Lisa Sanguinet and her husband Jeff, and Paul IV; son Scott Hefner, his wife Diane and their children: Miles and Kevin; stepson Keith Mannee; stepson Kent Mannee, his wife Dena and their children: Kristina, Ryan and Tamara Cartagena and her husband Robert; daughter-in-law Susan Hefner and her daughter Heidi Lynn; three great grandchildren; and numerous special friends.

As requested by the deceased, no memorial service will be held. His family will celebrate his life at a private gathering.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations be made to the Woodland Memorial Hospital Foundation, 1207 Fairchild Court, Woodland, CA.

Of course, when they say "By Enterprise staff" what they really mean is "obituary written by the deceased, and edited somewhat by Enterprise staff." Or something like it. No link yet at the Democrat. Maybe tomorrow.

A lovely SNL parody of Bill "No-Spin" O'Reilly can be found here, until such time as NBC shuts 'em down.

Uzbekistan Watch, Part II...
Ruslan Sharipov, an Uzbek journalist and leader of a human rights group has been arrested and charged with homosexuality and what seems to be soliciting minor males for sex for money. Sharipov acknowledges his homosexuality, but denies the other accusations, calling his arrest a "political order".

The futuristic vehicle known as the Segway is reputed to be incredibly stable. Despite its two-wheeled configuration, its sophisticated gyroscopes and computers make it practically foolproof!

Practically foolproof.

What are country radio media consultants telling stations about the Dixie Chicks these days?

We've been very carefully tracking a massive quantity of local research on Chicks music over the last six weeks in client callout, gold testing and internet research and can assure you that heavy users of country radio have not changed at all in their positive acceptance of a large volume of Dixie Chick music.  There are at least seven Chicks songs which when tested in the last few weeks were called "a favorite" by at least one third of all respondents.
...
Pragmatically speaking, failing to play the most popular songs of your target listeners for political reasons creates a major vulnerability, which can be used against you by a competitor.

(From McVay Media.)

Some kind souls are hosting an mp3 of the recent Franken/O'Reilly unpleasantness. (Warning: it's a 53.5 MB download!) You don't get to see O'Reilly's angry scowl, or his Miami Vice-inspired jacket and t-shirt combo, but then, this is a cruel world.

Bush lied.
People died.

Daily Kos pretty much sums it up.