Why?

1. Why can't I ever give the Linn County Board of Supervisors credit for doing something right?

Ok, I'll give it a try.

I give the supervisors credit for approving property tax abatements today for owners of flooded property who were deprived of the use of their homes, businesses etc. It's the right thing to do.

The supervisors often do the right thing, but unfortunately, sometimes, they have to be shoved in the right direction.

They didn't see the problem with pay hikes until people went ballistic. 

They didn't agree to do a full feasibility study on the possibility of making the temporary and popular Linn County West offices permanent until I-Jobs denied them state funding for $12 million in rennovations to the less popular Administrative Office Building.

And the long-smoldering issue of property tax abatements wasn't handled until after flooded property owners started getting tax bills in the mail.

Government is always going to be reactionary in some respects. But these are the sort of instances when forethought, good political instincts and a strong leadership impulse would have come in handy.

2. Why can't Elmo make me feel more confident about H1N1?

The federales are launching public service ads featuring that lovable red monster from Sesame Street washing his hands and sneezing into his elbow.  The Washington Post's Dana Millbank points out that this is the sort of warm, fuzzy and useless strategy the government is left with because of the nation's stunted capacity to swiftly produce vaccines.

But hopefully "Vaccinate Me" Elmo will be ready for Christmas.

3. Why is a thumb cut a serious  injury nowadays?

I cut my left thumb through the nail with a chef's knife over the weekend. It stopped gushing and hurt for a while, but I didn't think much of it.

Until I picked up my BlackBerry and went to reply to a text message. I was suddenly debilitated. Have you ever heard the sound of one thumb texting? Well, yes, it sounds the same as two. But that's not the point.

Please, protect your thumbs. Protective gloves, thimbles, whatever. Don't let this happen to you.

4. Why all the sudden fuss about cigarette butts?

Most people wanted an indoor smoking ban. What did you think was going to happen when you banished smokers into the elements? They should not be littering, but still, you could sort of see this coming.

Do what I do. If you get tired of seeing all that litter, duck into the bar. No butts in there.

5. Why do the Twins do this to me?

They were all but done just a couple of weeks ago, and I was ready to turn my attention to football. Then they get hot and pulled me back in. They always pull me back in.

I know heartbreak probably looms. But I have to watch.

Speaking of, it's the bottom of the 6th tied 0-0 with the Sox , so I have to go.