Friday random thoughts

• The House on Thursday helped the Farm Bill take another step forward. It thoughtfully provides for food stamp and nutrition programs — and for California nut, vegetable and fruit growers — but still puts too much primacy on subsidizing Midwest cash-crop agribusiness.

• Simply FYI: In 2005, the Farm Bill gave out $1,471,397 to "Tracy" area farms. An outfit called Crimson Valley North was Tracy's top recipient with $99,168 in federal subsidies.

• I wonder if the CHP could set up some kind of checkpoint for this? Although, pulling over the Discovery at speed might be a little tough.

• Attorney General Alberto Gonzales might not be able to recall much more than his name while under oath, but the FBI director and federal documents don't have the same memory problem.

• Help goes hand in hand with hope: It's nice to see the senior center and private merchants help our community's most vulnerable. Kudos all around.

• Maybe it's the bland, recited statements that are to blame: Does anyone else find it disturbing that the YouTube debates questions were infinitely more interesting and thought-provoking than the Democratic candidates' answers?

• Random thought of the week: "It's good to be back. But it'd be even better to be gone again."

• Calvin and Hobbes quote of the week: "Somedays, even your lucky rocketship underpants aren't enough."