Immature? Perhaps. Cathartic? Absolutely.

Well, it all seems to be coming full circle, doesn't it?

I'm still not ready to dish the detailed dirt on what went down when I left CNN, but let's just say the first half (and only the first half) of this news makes me downright giddy.

Really really really stupid giddy.

I know it's unbecoming to gloat, but it's my blog, and I've earned the right.

Buh-bye.

As an aside, the only downside to this news is now the chaff could possibly be mentioned in the same sentence as the wheat. Know there is a HUGE difference between the people let go last week and this dismissal. HUGE.

Simply Crack

Anyone who knew me in college will attest to the fact that I could down a ridiculous amount of sugar candy (anything gummi and/or sour) without the slightest noticeable elevation in energy or mood. So imagine my surprise when a splash of limeade threw me into hyperactive overdrive last night.

I was amused. John, not so much.

Anyway, it's a relatively quite Monday so far considering how insane things have been lately.

There's a little health care news bouncing around. Nothing HCAN-specific right now, but that doesn't mean we can't find a way to get into the mix. Tom Daschle wants you to hold "health care discussions." Why not do it through HCAN and talk about our principles?

In Case You Missed It

Totally raunchy and hysterically funny from SNL last night:

Don't Call It A Comeback

Obama just told Brokaw on MTP that we should have poetry readings in the White House.

I think he should invite John.

UPDATE: Chez posted the transcript of what Obama said this morning. In addition to a call for the arts, there was this:

When it comes to science, elevating science once again, and having lectures in the White House where people are talking about traveling to the stars or breaking down atoms, inspiring our youth to get a sense of what discovery is all about.

Good thing CNN just fired its space expert and its entire technology and science unit.

Finally Friday

What a week! I knew it was bound to get busy, but just how busy how soon...not so much.

John's updated the poem of the week, and it's a tough one. I keep asking what it means. He keeps saying, "What do you think it means?"

His column will be up Sunday here. It's easier. There's a lot of rhyme.

I'll try and stop by over the weekend. Until then, have a good one.

Hail Mary

Not wanting to relinquish ownership of the regular feature she pioneered, Miss Lindsay comes through with a gem. It's "Seriously Florida, WTF?" Christmas Miracle edition:

Virgin Mary in Fort Pierce woman's brain scan; next stop: eBay

FORT PIERCE — A 42-year-old woman without insurance and mounting medical bills plans to sell an MRI scan of her brain in which the image of the Virgin Mary seems to appear.

Pamela Latrimore has been sick for years with cancer, arthritis and a series of serious ailments she blames on a childhood in Jacksonville, Ark., a place that has been investigated by the U.S. government for possible dioxin exposure. Dioxin is a toxic chemical linked to a variety illnesses including cancer and liver problems.

In 2002, Latrimore had an MRI of her brain done and the results were stashed in her thick pile of medical records. Her sister-in-law looked at the sheet recently and pointed out what appeared to be the image of the Virgin Mary.

Having seen where other supposed images of Mary or other religious icons were sold for thousands of dollars, Latrimore plans to post the MRI scan on eBay, the online auction site. She hopes to earn enough money to pay off some of the medical bills she and her contractor husband cannot afford.

Exit Strategy

Chez writes more today about Miles O'Brien and his colleagues being dismissed from CNN, and as he mentions, you can put Peter Dykstra on the list of most excellent peeps. He and Alex Walker - another casualty of the cut - were two of the particulars I was referring to in my earlier post. I just can't say enough good stuff about 'em.

I also agree with Chez that we're going to see more of the same in the near future. I coincidentally ran into a former CNN colleague today who asked if I'd heard about Miles and then wondered aloud who else might be let go. When I asked if he truly thought there would be more, he said he did - especially considering how many people make up the CNN political unit.

Now that the election's over, what to do with all those hard-working people who carried the network through the grueling cycle? Why reassign them or promote them or carve out a new niche for them when you can free up all that cash for new flashy gadgets and overpaid partisan talking heads?

UPDATE: Be sure to read the comment Miles' wife left on my earlier post. I don't think I've ever shared the story of how my leaving CNN went down - and I'm not going to get into it now - but I will say hearing how they treated Miles and his coworkers is no surprise having been there myself.