-So the White House is fighting an invasion of raccoons. Being no dummies, the persistent creatures have found good digs and the squatters are resisting any attempts at eviction. Marylouise Oates (photo), author of the best selling "The Second Home Book", has a tip for the White House Staff. Her formula for corralling the raccoons is to use bacon and avocado as bait. Are you listening Washington?

-Very busy week in politics. In emerging Democratic Virginia, they elect their Governor this year. While former Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chair Terry McAuliffe has been garnering all the attention, a new Rasmussen Reports poll shows he might not be the strongest candidate. Virginia Progressive and environmental champion Delegate Brian Moran only runs 3% behind the Republican candidates while McAuliffe, who has ads running already, is 7% behind the Republicans.

-Aren't you glad that the moderate Republicans and Democrats saved us from spending all this wasteful money? Thank God we are safe! Just look at what they cut and how they protected us:

$16 Billion for New School Construction (think of the jobs!)
$3.5 Billion for Higher Educations Construction (think of jobs).
$1.2 Billion for Retrofitting Project 8 Housing (think of jobs).
$1 Billion for Head Start (think of children)
$65 Million for Watershed Rehab (think of jobs and environment)

-While speaking of the stimulus legislation, there is an amendment by right wing Republican Senator Coburn which forbids any of the money to be used by zoos, aquariums, museums or theaters! This will most likely be part of the bill. Are we nuts as a people?

-Hardly a word spoken by the national LGBT organizations and leadership against the appointment of anti-Gay Senator Judd Gregg to Commerce. Wonder if we'll hear anything if anti-gay Tennessee Governor Bredesen (D) is appointed to head HHS which means millions and millions to our community in the battle against HIV/AIDS, reproductive rights, LGBT health issues, etc.

-Wishing Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg a full recovery but didn't her health crisis make you glad Obama was President?

-Appears as though the Republican ticket for Governor and Senate in California in 2010 could be headed by two women. According to Scorecard, former HP CEO Carly Fiorina will take on Senator Boxer while former EBay CEO Meg Whitman will run for Governor.

-Another Carnahan is running in Missouri. Following in the footsteps of her father the late Governor Mel Carnahan and her mother former United States Senator Jean Carnahan, Secretary of State Robin Carnahan is going to run for United States Senate in 2010! She holds the record for having received the most votes in the history of Missouri. Watch out, Republicans!

-A "who's who" is turning out for folk singer Odetta's memorial service on February 24 at Riverside Church in New York City. Among those on the program are Maya Angelou, Harry Belafonte, Oscar Brand, Ruby Dee, Pete Seeger, Sweet Honey and so many more.

-The death toll in Australia's brush fires (photo) has reached near 100. The Melbourne area has been in an unbelievable heat wave with temperatures hitting near 120 degrees. Entire towns in Victoria State have been wiped out. Tragic.

-Sign o' the times: In Missouri, a job placement center had to cut back its hours and employees because of the lack of funds. Duh?

-Quote of the week has to go to Gail Collins, a columnist for the New York Times, where she talked about the moderates and the stimulus legislation:

But he (Obama) still wound up cooling his heels, waiting for word from the newly hatched moderate caucus on what would happen next. This is the group that was led by Susan Collins of Maine. In November, we apparently elected Collins and her fellow Maine Republican, Olympia Snowe, to help run the country. And you wasted all that time thinking about Joe Biden!

-The United American Families Act is being submitted into Congress again on February 13. Go the this Wikipedia site to discover how important this act is to us all then click here to help.

-Progressive and environmental champion Congressman Paul Hodes (D-NH) has announced he will seek the open Judd Gregg New Hampshire senate seat in 2010. He is really an incredible guy.

-Something must be right with the drinking water in Wyoming. With the help of 17 Republican votes they defeated a proposal to place on their ballot a Constitutional Amendment that would ban marriage equality. Our cowboy hats are tipped to the wise legislators in Wyoming! This kind of thinking is light years away from the dark days of the Matthew Shepard murder.

-Have now written over 1,000 posts for davidmixner.com. Thanks for your support.

-Our davidmixner.com poll last week had our readers by 52% picking "Milk" for Best Picture. "Slumdog Millionaire" came in second with 37%. Could be a close race.

-The wild turkeys are all over Turkey Hollow this year. Bet you thought the town's name was merely ceremonial. Ha! Here is a first hand look!