Tomorrow it's official

Seems weekends don't like me enough to let me post a story here, and the past weekend's rife with them. For one, The New York Times' Monica Davey brings to the national spotlight the effort to recall Kansas City mayor Mark Funkhowser. My, uh, appreciation for the mayor is not (how shall we say it) enthusiastic. He was a wonderful, no-nonsense auditor but he's a lousy politician. We might need more honest-to-God-and-John-Q-Public people out there in office, but when you make missteps in the first year like not doing a simple background check on a Parks Board nominee (not to mention the only one from North of the River when the previous administration included three Northlanders!) and then waffling on your stance toward her, you start to rub too many people the wrong way. Interesting that the Mayor chose Orange for his campaign colour in recognition of the Orange Revolution in Ukraine; sadly, much like how the two catalysts of Ukraine's rejection of Russian influence five years ago lunged at each others' throats afterward, Funkhowser and the City Council remain at odds and, if the recall effort proves successful, a special election on 24 November is likely.

Then comes more fallout from the MP expenses scandal, and reports of its effects rippling into U.S. mainstream media. And, more jovially, Cinderella this year being dressed in black and gold, as Missouri's softball team mercy-ruled UCLA to advance to the NCAA Women's College World Series for only the second time in the program's history. Cinderella will face an uphill climb through the ball, as defending champions Arizona State are first in Oklahoma City. On a close-to-home note, the walk-off home run was sent out of the park by third baseman Gina Schneider, who graduated from Liberty HS along with my brother in 2005.

And thus marks what will likely be my final post for several months from the great state of Missouri as tomorrow, I become The Missouri Expatriate. After attending two commencement ceremonies and a benediction with family, observing debates from both the state house and senate during the last week of session, cleaning out gutters, spackling plaster onto a drywall ceiling, lunches with old friends, and visiting a lot of family, it is time for me to rest and commence with my move to England.

Until my next post, best wishes to one and all.