Morning all,

I have been trying to do some work, but unfortunately, my excitement from yesterday has flowed over into today. That, and I am talking to a friend of mine about her attempts to get one of my superiors to go ice skating with her. Yes, we run the country out here.

Anyway, thought I would share some links with you.

First, yesterday was basically Christmas in Seattle. Jake Locker announced that he is returning to UW for his senior season. If you can imagine, having watched the 1995 Division Series the day before, added to the Locker news, I was feeling good.

Then a bombshell dropped. Could the Mariners actually be trading for a real, top-of-the-line pitcher? And in addition, not really give up that much for him? Yesterday was an awful day for the Anaheim Angels, who have now lost their ace (to Boston), leadoff hitting third baseman (to Seattle), top pitching target (to Philly) and seen the Mariners sign a pitcher no one had any idea they even wanted. And oh yeah, no matter what Angels' writers say, the M's now have plenty of money and a legit shot of some guy named Jason Bay. Who is running this team, George Steinbrenner?

Just a side note here, too. I want you to think real hard about the last time the Mariners traded for a frontline pitcher that was drafted by the Montreal Expos. You remember? Come on, think about it. His name was Randy Johnson. Sonics who? This is the best action in December since the old Building and Loan.

If you can't tell, I am having trouble containing my excitement. Then reality sets in. I live in DC, with politicians.

Like Senator Sheldon Whitehouse said about healthcare: "if you compare it to the alternative, it looks good... if you compare it to the possibilities, it looks pretty sad."

President Obama is telling the democratic caucus that if they don't pass health care now, no president will ever take it up again.

Has one man ever had this much power in Congress?

Archbishop Desmond Tutu on climate: "If we don't get it right, we're all done for."

And if you thought the Comcast-NBC situation would end with the sale, well, news for you.