Will the week get better

I was hoping the week would start to turn around today with the results from Commonwealth Stadium in Lexington today. Unfortunately, a win was not the result. Add that to the events of the past week, and you can tell it has not been a good week.

Ray Nagin should not be criticized. He did nothing wrong. The federal government was way too slow to respond.

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton will not make a complete campaign promise to serve a full second term.

The Chicago Sun-Times gives Eric Clapton's latest album, Back Home, only two stars. That's pretty pathetic if you ask me.

Governor Fletcher has been giving pay raises of up to 42% to state employees that have failed to get promotions.

Gov. Ernie Fletcher's administration has given unusually large pay raises -- up to 42 percent -- to several state workers who failed to get promotions and let one manager keep his $76,800 salary even after he was demoted five levels.

These uncommon maneuvers are called "hush money" by a Frankfort lawyer, Paul Fauri, who represents state workers with appeals before the Personnel Board. Fauri says the Fletcher administration pays extra to workers to silence them as they are shoved around the bureaucracy, making room for politically influenced hiring.

Back in the 60's, John Lennon was shocked when he found out he would be a father.

Cynthia says, "I watched his face drain of all colour, and fear and panic crept into his eyes. He was speechless for what seemed like an age.

"Then he broke the silence. 'There's only one thing for it, Cyn. We'll have to get married."

Lennon had previously rebuffed Cynthia's attempts to talk him into marriage.

Time asks if we still need Sir Paul McCartney. I believe that we still do. He's a legend in his own right.

McCartney understood that Godrich was trying to play the role of iconoclast to the complacent icon, and he was willing to go along with it, to a point. "There were a few times I thought, I could sack this guy," says McCartney. "I've produced more records than he's even looked at in a shop." Instead he convinced Godrich that he didn't need to be confrontational to get his point across, and gradually a positive form of creative tension emerged. "When I write, there are times—not always—when I hear John [Lennon] in my head," says McCartney. "I'll think, O.K., what would we have done here?, and I can hear him gripe or approve. And one of the good things about working with Nigel is that he became more of a co-worker rather than a grownup producer. His opinion mattered to me in a way that made me want to impress him."

Jason Marquis through his 2nd complete game in a row as the Cards picked up their 87th win this season by beating the Astros with a score of 4-1. Before tomorrow's game, Tony LaRussa will be honored by the Cardinals ownership in honor of him passing Sparky Anderson to move into sole possession of third place. Jeff Suppan will make his 28th start tomorrow as he attempts to get his 14th win.

Today in the year 2000, the Red Sox retired Carlton Fisk's number.

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Chris Lowe feels threatened by Coldplay. No idea why though.