Today is the birthday of two Americans who ran for president. Ross Perot is 85. Bruce Babbitt is 77.
You probably couldn't find two more diametrically opposed politicians.
Babbitt is a tall Democrat who served Arizona as Attorney General and, for 9 years, as governor. He later became U.S. Secretary of the Interior and was twice considered by President Bill Clinton for a seat on the U.S. Supreme Court. He ran for president in 1988 but dropped out after disappointing results in Iowa and New Hampshire.
Perot is a pint-sized billionaire Texas businessman who ran for president twice in the 1990's. The first time he was an independent and the second time as the candidate of The Reform Party.
Both men were unsuccessful.
Speaking of businessmen running for president, there's Donald Trump.
And speaking of creatures trying for future glories, consider this one in my backyard.
Need a closer look?
He appears to be considering a high dive into the bird bath but I've never seen him there so he may just be checking it out.
The other night a different creature was checking out our patio lamp.
The praying mantis crawled briefly into the lamp but apparently decided it was too hot and came back out again. Fascinating critter.
O.K. That's all I've got today. Except for one last thought on the Charleston tragedy and its aftermath.
