A few days...

Ernie Fletcher will answer questions from the public in a few weeks on 84 WHAS in a half hour show hosted by Joe Elliot. It makes more sense for him to be on for an hour. Expect him to ramble on and on and change the subject over and over.

The Ohio special election is today. Let's hope Paul Hackett wins!

The St. Louis Cardinals have four starting pitchers with wins in double digits (Matt Morris, Chris Carpenter, Mark Mulder, and Jeff Suppan). Jason Marquis should become the 5th starter this week or next. St. Louis is the only MLB team with 4 starting pitchers in double digits. Former Cardinal Raymond Lee Cunningham died at age 100. Jim Edmonds has hit 200 homers as a Cardinal. It took 5 plus seasons. Big Mac took 4. Jason Isringhausen now has sole position of 2nd place on the Cardinals all-time Saves list (130). Lee Smith has 160. During tonight's game, the Liverpool Legends performed during the pre-game activities.

Boston has a new record for grand slams in a single season: 10. They are up to 41 players to play this season. Wait, make that 42 with Jon Papelbon's major league debut. Happy B-day, Tim Wakefield.

Mazel Tov to Wade Boggs, Ryne Sandberg, Jerry Coleman, and Peter Gammons on their induction to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

In sadder news, President Bush endorses intelligent design, another way of trying to get religion into public schools.

President Bush waded into the debate over evolution and ''intelligent design" yesterday, saying schools should teach both theories on the creation and complexity of life.

In a wide-ranging question-and-answer session with a small group of reporters, Bush essentially endorsed efforts by Christian conservatives to give intelligent design equal standing with the theory of evolution in the nation's schools.

On other topics, Bush said he has no idea how Supreme Court nominee John G. Roberts Jr. would vote in a case challenging the legality of abortion because he never asked him about it. He also defended Baltimore Orioles first baseman Rafael Palmeiro, who was suspended yesterday for using performance-enhancing steroids.

Bush declined to state his personal views on ''intelligent design," the belief that life forms are so complex that their creation cannot be explained by Darwinian evolutionary theory alone, but rather points to intentional creation, presumably divine.

NJDC spokesman Ira Forman released a statement:

"George W. Bush's latest statements are yet another example of this White House's war on science; apparently he would gladly add America's public schools to the 'flat earth society' to which the current White House science team belongs," said National Jewish Democratic Council Executive Director Ira N. Forman. "Bush is suggesting that our public schools teach 'different ideas' to their captive audiences of school children, regardless of whether or not they're rooted in science or fact. I have a suggestion: let's also teach school kids about my new 'theory' -- that the Earth was created by space aliens. You see, teaching my theory and teaching 'intelligent design' in public schools enjoy the same level of support from the National Academy of Sciences and the American Association for the Advancement of Science: none. Zero. Zip.

"Public school science classes should teach just that: science. There is a time and place to teach religion to our children -- either at home, or in private or religious schools, or after the public school day and on weekends in our houses of worship. America's public schools are no place for this President to advance his 'flat earth society' mentality," Forman added.

President Bush made a bad decision in appointing John Bolton as UN Ambassador. If reform of the UN is his goal, don't expect it to happen. Bolton said he could care less if they lost the top 10 floors of the building. I should have an update tomorrow as I have the day off before a mini-vacation. In the meantime, Coldplay is in my DC player.