AP - Former President Clinton forcefully endorsed Barack Obama's bid for the White House on Wednesday, telling delegates to the Democratic convention that Obama is "ready to lead America and restore American leadership in the world."

AP - Barack Obama stepped triumphantly into history Wednesday night, the first black American to win a major party presidential nomination, as thousands of Democrats transformed their convention hall into a joyful, shouting celebration.

On a night even Bill Clinton is singing the praises of Barack Obama, Governor Phil Bredesen, once again, offers his unsolicited constructive criticism of the Democratic nominee:

“What he’s got to do is get more specific — not so much in terms of putting out white papers — but really explaining to some of these undecided voters why is your life going to be better if you elect me,” Bredesen said. “I’m not talking about hope and change and stuff.”

That rhetoric has energized the Democratic base, Bredesen, but it hasn’t reached “that middle 10 or 15 percent, who may be D’s or R’s in their registration, but they’re certainly willing to go either way” and will likely decide Obama’s contest with Republican John McCain.

“It’s a different message for them,” Bredesen said. The Obama campaign should reach out to them by emphasizing “just one or two things” he’ll do to improve the plight of people who shop at Wal-Mart.

No class method - Roadside sofas
Drive to North Knoxville. Find a road with several sofas littering the roadsides. Put your sofa with its’ peers. Drive away. I’m not sure why people do this or how they get away with this big time littering, but it is clearly a popular practice.

College student method - Bonfire
It doesn’t matter if it’s one sofa or a dozen sofas, you set those suckers on fire and sit around watching them burn. I’m surprised college students aren’t regularly hospitalized for inhaling what must be toxic sofa fumes. I’m equally perplexed as to how poor college students regularly have multiple sofas to burn. Perhaps they collect the roadside sofas to fuel their bonfires.

Environmentally incorrect method - Put with trash
Disassemble bottom and arms of sofa to rediscover all the small toys that have been missing for months and years. Call trash service to request a large item pickup. Put sofa at your curb with a six-pack of unopened sodas for the trash collectors who have to deal with your heavy, stinky sofa.

Future “How to” posts will list options for getting rid of the evil cat that peed all over the sofa and alternative seating choices for a living room with no sofa.

AFP - Central Asian power brokers including Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Chinese President Hu Jintao were set to meet here Thursday for a summit overshadowed by Moscow's confrontation with the West.

AP - Mexico's Supreme Court was poised Wednesday to uphold legal abortion in the capital despite deep opposition elsewhere in the heavily Catholic country.

Katie left for Texas this morning at 4, and I am minutes away from starting my first ever night alone with the Bug.

Yes, Katie does the lion’s share of the overnight duties. C generally wakes up 3ish times overnight, and Katie gets up, gets her out of her bed, and soothes her back to sleep … or occasionally gets up with her and rocks her back to sleep when she’s not feeling well.

For the past year, I have helped here and there with overnight stuff, such as this morning when Katie left while it was still “night” to me. But I’d be lying if I said I was looking forward to tonight’s festivities.

Katie tends to notice the Bug’s needs before I get a clue that anything’s amiss. Last night I distinctly remember thinking - at about two in the morning - “wow, how did Katie hear C fussing? Did she really fuss, or did Katie maybe dream it?” No, Katie didn’t dream it.

Did I mention how much I am looking forward to this night?

And she’s asleep

AP - Gustav stalled offshore Wednesday and poured more misery onto Haiti after landslides and flooding killed 23 people. Oil workers began leaving their rigs and New Orleans drew up evacuation plans as forecasters warned the storm could plow into the U.S. Gulf coast as a major hurricane.

AP - We supposedly live in a classless society, but the velvet ropes have been spreading like weeds in recent years. How odd, then, that the power-saturated floor of the Democratic National Convention is, in fact, one of the most democratic places on Earth — providing, that is, you have the proper credentials.

By R. Neal.