Kenya burns as Presidential elections are contested

Jackson, NJ, 4:39p: As the year 2007 closes, this report by CNN and this one from BBC News tell of the chaos that has erupted in Kenya due to the disputed results of the election between incumbent President Mwai Kibaki and his opponent, opposition leader Raila Odinga. I am thankful the Songbird is here in the States and safe as I read and hear of deaths, fires and looting all over Nairobi and Kisumu, including the slum of Kibera in Nairobi.

Coupled with the reports from Pakistan following the Bhutto assassination of days ago, it looks as if the year will go out the same way it came in: in blood, fire and tragedy. And she has to go back to work there in just four days. Happy frickin' New Year.

UPDATE, Colts Neck, NJ, 1/1/08, 2:25p: CDC Nairobi has instructed the Songbird and all other employees to return to work on time next week. Stay tuned for further updates.

Belated birthday wishes

On a much less grim note: From the 29th, two days ago, best wishes to pagawne, wife of my dear friend wcg, and to libgirl. Hope your natal days were filled with joy and fun. Apologies for not being online to post then.

Who do you think needs to make a New Year's resolution?

The newspaper of record in my home city of New Orleans, The Times-Picayune, has a wonderful tradition this time each year: an editorial in which its editors list mock resolutions supposedly made by public figures to improve themselves and/or their job performance in the coming new year. The 2008 edition can be read on nola.com here.

I have similar ideas for resolutions by other, more nationally famous people. For example:

• I, Arthur Blank, resolve to hire a personnel director who can judge character better than me, so as to avoid any further embarrassments among players, coaches or management for the Atlanta Falcons.

• We, the Democratic leaders of the U.S. Congress, resolve to locate a specialist qualified to give us each spinal transplants before the 110th Congressional session resumes, so that when we challenge Junior Bush and his Republican Senate allies on politically charged legislation, we can hold out beyond the first push-back of resistance rather than fold like a cheap card table.

• We, Britney and Jamie-Lynn Spears, resolve to read every book about responsible parenting we can lay hands on while in rehab and do everything these volumes instruct.

How about you? Can you think of any resolutions your favorite (or least favorite) celebrities and public officials ought to be making? Post them here.