My pre-convention analysis is on its way — expect it within the next two hours. Busy with Homecoming, a bit of the day got away from me and the storm, depicted above, dropped a lightning bolt about thirty feet outside my window to knock internet service out for the better part of an hour. I'm proceeding accordingly.

PLANS, RESULTS: It's longer than I anticipated, and about three-fifths complete. I leave now for a closing shift, so look for it tomorrow.

Designing posters based on a "pioneer aviators" theme for the Ohio Aviation Association Annual Conference this October, I've found the National Aviation Hall of Fame website to be a helpful catalog of aeronautic greats and, with its pleasant historical narratives, a catalyst for graphic ideas. Those narratives must nevertheless be taken with a grain of salt; moreover, the site's content is either organized and examined by volunteers or those lacking proofreading skills, as demonstrated by passages like this one:

[Jimmy Doolittle] won the Thompson Trophy in 1932 flying the Gee Bee R-1 at a speed of 252,686 mph saying it was the most dangerous airplane he ever flew.

That's got to be dangerous, seeing as how 252,686 miles per hour is over three hundred times the speed of sound.

In my excitement to sing the praises of a beautiful woman who happened to be a progressive Republican, I skipped over the fact that Shandi Finnessey was crowned Miss USA, not Miss America. A woman, of course, corrected me. No matter; the right still has pageantry cornered:

Erika Harold may be a former Miss America but the 2003 title-holder has been busier than ever. Harold will be a law student at Harvard this fall. But before heading off to Cambridge from her home state of Illinois, she has a scheduled stop in New York where she'll be a delegate to the Republican National Convention.

She'll be there as President Bush formally accepts the party nomination. Some Republicans hope it will be the first of many campaign events for the former beauty queen.

"I would be very interested in considering the possibility of running for public office," Harold said.

See you on a ballot sometime soon, Erika.

North Korea's totalitarian government, arguably the world's most diabolical regime now that Saddam Hussein's finished, wants President Bush out of office. No such ire for John Kerry. That ought to tell you something.

Art imitates life: over the past few days I've been watching the fourth season DVD set of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. The last one for tonight was an episode entitled "Rules of Engagement," where Lieutenant Commander Worf is on trial for extradition to the Klingon empire for having accidentally fired upon and destroyed a civilian transport in the heat of battle. It turns out that a passenger list bandied about by the opportunistic Klingon advocate is identical to the list of a transport feared destroyed two weeks before Worf's incident — so in fact the ship was a decoy, Worf is innocent, and the Klingons are caught in an attempt at political manipulation.

But what struck me was that when the advocate was shown the roster list by an interviewing Captain Sisko, he answered the question of his familiarity with it by claiming the names were "seared" — yes, seared — in his memory. Though not really.

A doubly good evening of Republican-rich activities. Arriving home from a door literature drop for Ohio State Senator Bob Spada, I discovered that cinema ne'erdowell Dennis Hopper is a supporter of President Bush, among other erstwhile denizens of the left — something that should cause much chagrin at ABC News' The Note, who tried to claim otherwise earlier today.

While walking in a nearby neighborhood, I approached a woman mowing her lawn. Now these situations can flip like a coin — some people are good stewards and happily take a moment of their time to greet a stranger, while others would be rather be left alone. She was of the first kind.

I bellowed my lines, full use of the diaphragm, over the din of her mower. Walking door-to-door. State Senator Spada. Literature, in case she'd like to know more. He'd appreciate her consideration and support.

She took the literature, giving it a look, turning back to me and then to the paper for a second time. She squinted, looking up. "Democrat or Republican?"

"He's a Republican." Loudly and proudly.

"Good," she beamed, kicked the mower into full throttle and took off at the grass again.

Counterculture: it's all a matter of perspective. (Via the Corner.)

Best. Contest. Ever. And it's coming to Cleveland.

Yes, I'm behind in tacking up four favorite albums for the month — one month behind. And I'll be late this month as well. If you'll excuse me, there have been more...important matters in which to invest my time.

Chicago-based, arty webzine The Saturnine Detractor doesn't interest me much, but the collages of my friend Gabe McElwain (here, here and here) are worth your time — and lobbying effort towards proper commercial distribution.

OKAY, MAYBE A BIT: This review of the Flamin' Groovies has its heart in the right place. That goes for any review making an aside to knock Sixties devolution music and Seventies arena rock.