For kicks, I signed up to get Hillary's emails a few weeks ago -- just to try and understand what on Earth she might be telling people to make them think that she's still in this race, and so on. Today, I got the following email asking for my support to "count" Michigan and Florida's votes, and asking for me to write the DNC.

Of course, I immediately sent a letter to the DNC asking for just the opposite.

Having watched Olbermann's NBC 5 year anniversary **spoiler alert... stop reading now if you haven't watched***, I can't help but think we're seeing a pilot for a next gen news show.

[UDATED: Now with videos!! Spoiler Alert, formatted, added pew pew sniper sniper analogy.]

Go to the country and build yourself a home. - John Prine.

Obama's historic speech was a challenge to strive to be the best Americans we can be, and to hold ourselves to a higher level of political discourse. We should not accept looped video of Wright -- or Ferraro -- as real discussion about the issues facing this country, but as distractions from the real root causes hurting us.

I'm throwing down as a challenge to myself (and you're welcome to join me) to go the rest of the week without watching the pundits, or reading the "horse race" columns, and instead investing in reading an eco-diary, writing a diary on an issue, doing something good in the world, or just talking to ordinary folks at the neighborhood coffee shop or bar.

I tried taking a day off yesterday, and couldn't believe how much better I felt...