Presidentabile?

Am I the only one who reads headlines like Secret Papal Election Set for April 18 and thinks Well how bloody 'secret' can it be if everyone knows where and when it's taking place? A UK citizen's ballot is even more secret than a cardinal's--nobody can say how she voted, not even the ballot counters--yet none of the papers is telling me Blair Sets Secret Elections for May 5.

monshu is more than a little bemused by all the fuss in the American news media about the ceremonies surrounding the death and election of a pope. I told him it's more of our peculiar republican monarchy envy. I think we secretly wish the President had a magic ring and seal that would be destroyed when he left office. And, as long as our candidates are going to be coronated through opaque processes in smoke-filled rooms, wouldn't it be nice if they let a little of the smoke escape to inform us of what had happened?

For this, you needed a librarian?

Pursuant to another conversation in the Blue Line Club Car last week, the character of Mary Jo Shively is from Franklin, Kentucky. By an amazing coincidence, this is the same hometown of the actress who played her, Annie Potts.

Weird!