Essential Estrogen

Two earworms this week -- both by the amazing Ella Fitzgerald. The first is from a live performance in Berlin in 1968, I Can't Stop Loving You. I'd cut off my big toe to be able to swing loose and beautiful like Ella in this number. Such beautiful, rich, easy vocals.

Next is Ella and Louis Jordan singing the tune that's on all Iowans' lips -- Baby, It's Cold Outside. So, break out the flannel sheets and tuck in with your sweetie.

Flying over the Iowa blogs:

• Coy Bundy has an interesting take on Michelle Obama' comments that she was "proud of my country."
• Don McDowell picked up on a news item posted this week by my Iowa Independent colleague Douglas Burns that announced Western Iowa Democrat Joyce Schulte will make another run for the 5th District Congressional seat. The seat is currently occupied by Steve "Brown People Scare Me" King. I'm pleased that Joyce is running again, but the part of these links you don't want to miss are all the anonymous comments on Cyclone Conservatives.
• Speaking of King, Charlotte Eby reports he's keeping his comments about the recent Iowa GOP leadership change to himself. Meanwhile Dave Price says that Caleb Hunter is the frontrunner for the job as RPI's executive director. (By the time this is published the blog, the RPI's state central committee should have already made the decision, since they were scheduled to meet.)
• Claire Celsi poses a question: Are Americans hostile to knowledge? The evidence says yes.
• Moe at Iowa Voice has a ton of beautiful photos of American bald eagles.
• Iowa Voters reports that Rep. Mary Gaskill wants computerized ballot scanners to be double-check with hand counts.
• Lisa has the latest on Iowa women's music and events.
• Mainstream Iowan says that Mitt Romney spent $97 million on his unsuccessful bid for the White House.
• It appears as if my friend Chris as Red Hog Diary is contemplating hanging up his blogging cap. There's a notice on the top of his blog that the site's for sale. Say it ain't so, Chris!
• Ted Sporer made me physically ill this week when he told me that Bill O'Reilly and I shared a similar thought. (I know! UGH!) Basically, why did the NY Times endorse Arizona Sen. John McCain given their scoop on his sordid affair... or nearly sordid affair... or whatever?
• Author and businessman Michael Richards has a guest blog at Women for Peace Iowa: The Pervasive Economic Infrastructure of War.
• Grant Young at Questions, Comments & Insults wants you to relax and grab a warm beverage while he spins the tale of the Legend of the Button Guys.
• And, yeah, I know Happy to Be from Iowa is actually in Minnesota. But, she'll always be an Iowan as far as we're concerned. Not to mention that if she hadn't crossed the state line, she probably would not have found this odd news item about a convicted felon riding a bicycle around in this crappy weather with a shotgun alternating between his lap and back. Yikes! I'd like to order a case of whatever he took to keep warm.