It's like we were best buddies or somethin'

Well, he's good enough... he's smart enough... and doggone it -- people like him!

Hmmm, I wonder why it looks as though Al's right eye is twitching in the picture with PZ.

I hope some of your readers in Morris will be able to make it to the live radio show tomorrow. I went to one in Seattle and it was a blast. And, as Al says, turn off your cell phone during the show "unless you're waiting for a kidney."

Two of Minnesota's favorite nuts!

So, who is he? Some kind of politician?

Which one..the one twitching, or the one drooling?

Ya lucky bastard!

Al was in my neck of the wood a few weeks ago. I had a scheduling conflict and couldn't attend but I suspect you and I are both be A.F. fans.

Al: Pirate beard man will sift me through his moustache!

PZ: Yes! My moustache!

Yay! Franken in 08.

Way to go! I should assemble my list of must-meet celebrities.

Y'know, Franken also posed with the husband of Karmen (Chaotic Utopia) a little while back.

Do ya think that Franken is embarking on his own mission of bagging ScienceBloggers???

I don't suppose he made any kind of announcement about a candidacy, did he?

Listen, Al signed my son's hat. Beat that!

Seriously, he has been all over Minnesota, fundraising for Democrats. He may run for the U.S. Senate from here in 2008 against Norm Coleman (the weasel with the oversexed dad.) But don't look for an announcement on the Senate until after the November elections. We are constantly in election mode here in the United States.

Anyone else have fond memories of the Al Franken decade?

Will Skatje be able to vote for him in the '08 primary (sorry, I don't know when Minn. holds its primary), or will she have to wait for Nov08?

Wilkins: That's Al Franken, a comedian best known for his work on Saturday Night Live, a few movies that weren't particularly terrific, and some excellent books of political humor that poke fun at our ruling regime. He's been raising money for progressive causes all over the state, and we're hoping he'll run against a Rethuglican senator of ill repute in Minnesota in 2008.

Skatje just turned 16 at the end of August. She should be able to vote in 08.

By the way, everyone, "nutcracker" is actually the troll known as Swiftee, of the illiterate blog "Pair 'O Dice". It must be sad to have such a poor reputation and such a despised name that one must always post under a pseudonym, so that people don't automatically discredit what one says because of one's contemptible history.

Wow, Skatje just turned 16? She's only eight months older than my boneheaded (but potentially brilliant) younger brother, who's only now learning to write coherently. I've read some of her blog entries. That's a sharp one you're rearing there, Professor.

When was the Al Franken decade? I think I missed it.

I believe that in the past you have complained about journalists' ignorance of science. So perhaps here is a partial remedy.

"I know a fair few of you are journalists, and I thought I would mention something that I'm in the process of planning to see if you had any thoughts.

Along with a couple of friends I am setting up a short course for journalists on how to interpret scienific research data, especially health data, focusing on clinical trials, claims for efficacy, and claims of harm. This will open covering simple issues like "what is a trial", "what is a placebo", "what does statistical significance mean", and so on, but it will go on to cover much more interesting and important areas, like how to spot the classic flaws in research data, the different ways of expressing risk, and what questions to ask to get the most useful information out of researchers/press officers/companies/cranks."

http://www.badscience.net/?p=306#more-306

Maybe you can pass this on to your favorite, or not so favorite, journalists to help with their continuing education.

When was the Al Franken decade? I think I missed it.

In his own words (12/8/79):

Thank you, Jane [Curtin]. Well, the "me" decade is almost over, and good riddance, and far as I'm concerned. The 70's were simply 10 years of people thinking of nothing but themselves. No wonder we were unable to get together and solve any of the many serious problems facing our nation. Oh sure, some people did do some positive things in the 70's - like jogging - but always for the wrong reasons, for their own selfish, personal benefit. Well, I believe the 80's are gonna have to be different. I think that people are going to stop thinking about themselves, and start thinking about me, Al Franken. That's right. I believe we're entering what I like to call the Al Franken Decade. Oh, for me, Al Franken, the 80's will be pretty much the same as the 70's. I'll still be thinking of me, Al Franken. But for you, you'll be thinking more about how things affect me, Al Franken. When you see a news report, you'll be thinking, "I wonder what Al Franken thinks about this thing?", "I wonder how this inflation thing is hurting Al Franken?" And you women will be thinking, "What can I wear that will please Al Franken?", or "What can I not wear?" You know, I know a lot of you out there are thinking, "Why Al Franken?" Well, because I thought of it, and I'm on TV, so I've already gotten the jump on you. So, I say let's leave behind the fragmented, selfish 70's, and go into the 80's with a unity and purpose. That's what I think. I'm Al Franken. Jane?

I guess there weren't any Rethuglicans there so the young boys were safe.

Great shot, PZ. You should get that one framed.