Hey QCI-ders! Reporting from downtown Jewell, Iowa for tonight's Weekend Update. I'm working on few big posts... yea, it takes me that long to jot them down. Anyways, here's a huge portion of randomness to for you to read. Que the music!

COUNTY CONVENTIONS - You know what's wierd? Today is the first time in a longtime that I didn't go to a county convention. I opted for playing with my little niece Ainsley this morning. We were coloring... Ducks, tigers, bearcats and cows... it was a blast! But I know a lot of you folks where out there today. Got calls out to my peeps out there on how it went. And now I'm asking my loyal readers. What was the buzz? What did you hear? Any Drama? As always, got scoop? Email me.

STEVE KING ANOUNCEMENT - I'm starting to think 2 things... either we have very slow news days in Des Moines or our local tv folks like to blindly hype things that aren't gonna happen. That's what happened this week in Des Moines with Steve King's announcement that he will be running for re-election. I watched, half awake, on "Today in Iowa" on 13 that was talking about Steve King's special announcement this week. And I'm like, "Dude, what's he gonna do?" (Half awake mind you) Then one of my sources shot back at me later that morning when I got to the office... "He's only making stops in Sioux City and Counciltucky." Then the hack instinct of the force ame through... running for re-election aye?

Good for him. Steve King rocks. This isn't the right time to against Harkin. But there has been some buzz off and on that he's looking at Big Lug's seat. Glad he's in the saddle for Congress. Will he go afer Big Lug

BARKIN' AT HARKIN - Steve Rathje found himself a primary opponent this week, former State Representative George Eichhorn. Alright, I'm gonna ask for it. Can we have an American Gladiator challenge between these 2 at the RPI Lincoln Dinner? DK, I'd sponsor a table if this was so... I'm just sayin'.

JEWELL FEATURED - For those of you who know me best, I'm pretty Texan when it comes to my hometown of Jewell. This month, Jewell is featured in Iowan Magazine. While you will only get a fraction of the article online... in the print version, you will get a picture of the old town entrance sign I made in college. Here's part of the story... to check the rest, buy it on newsstands.

STATE BASKETBALL COMEDY - For those of you into the high school version of March Madness, you saw the pregame ad. But my sister in law Sarah got a bigger kick out of watching the 4A Championship game when it opened up it's broadcast with, "The Championship Game brought to you by... Teen Pregnancy, It's for Real!" Still laughing now.

MORE LOCAL TV COMEDY - Here in Central Iowa, it's the Variety Club telethon weekend. You know who is one of this year's hosts? HACKSAW JIM DUGGAN! HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Seriously, this is the best telethon I've watched, ever. Whenever a new goal is reached... HOOOOOO! Friggin awesome! Seriously, listened to his interview this morning on "Takedown Wrestling" on KXNO. Great guy! Great interview! Trivia of the day, did you know Hacksaw was recruited by ISU in the 70s? And his tour guide in Ames was the legndary wrestler Chris Taylor? Again, it was a great interview and got to learn more about one of my favorite pro wrestlers... and how here you go! HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Another 7.2 from a veteran Iowa Blogger for you QCI-ders (That’s what I’m gonna call you folks, ala Jim Rome’s clones). For those of you who were there at the beginning of the Krusty Kraze, you’ll know our interviewee today, the world famous Yoda.

I’ve known Mr. and Mrs. Yoda since I’ve been in the game. They’ve always been good to me. They even spent almost a full day making sure the Shark (one of the old Hoopty’s) got up and going when stranded in Cedar Rapids. Let’s welcome Yoda to the QCI stage! Here’s his 7.2:

1. Tell us your daily routine… what’s the play by play?
Fresh cup of coffee, take youngling padawons to daycare, Drudge Report, e-mail, return calls, train jedi, deal with the press, fix my son’s broken toy of the day, Repeat. I try to get as much quality time as possible with my padawon learners Aiden (3 ½) and Ainsley (6 months). The Force is strong with these two.

2. What’s the most rewarding part of your gig?
Are you kidding? If you ever had the chance to wield a green lightsaber you would never have asked that question. The Jedi mind trick thing doesn’t work nearly as well as it is believed to.

3. Give me a big prediction – ala Chris Mathew’s “Tell me something I don’t know.”
Two things: Mitt Romney will be the next Republican president of the United States and Krusty Konservative is actually the real Krusty from the Simpsons and not some Des Moines politico.

4. What are you listing to right now? What’s in your mp3 or CD player right now?
Van Halen, U2, Sonny Humbucker, Max Rebo Band

5. What’s your favorite hangout (bar, restaurant, etc.)? What do you recommend I get when I’m there?
The Mos Eisley Cantina sans the droids (trust me) where I recommend the Correlien Ale. Eventually I will make the pilgrimage to Sammy Hagar’s Cabo Wabo Cantina and then that will be my new favorite. There I would suggest several rounds of Sammy’s very own Cabo Wabo Tequila.

6. What’s the last ball game you went to?
Cedar Rapids Roughriders vs. Ohio Junior Blue Jackets (Hockey)

7. If you were not in this current gig or career, what would you be doing?
I would be the endlessly returning champion on the World Series of Pop Trivia or maybe a movie critic. I guarantee the Oscars would be very different then. For instance, my nominees for Best Picture would be: The Bourne Supremecy, Casino Royale, Transformers, Live Free or Die Hard and Pirates of the Carribean – At Worlds End. Winner: Casino Royale

7.2 What’s with?
What’s with Hillary Clinton claiming she has extensive foreign policy experience because she traveled abroad with President Clinton on Air Force One? That is like saying Cheryl Crowe can win the Tour De France because she dated Lance Armstrong.

A very special plug for one of our great friends Chad Barth. Barthy is putting together his 2nd Annual Fundraiser for the Walk for Epilepsy. As some of you may know, this cause is very close to his heart, his sister Christina has Epilepsy as well as his cousin Ryan.

Money raised goes for awareness for the cure. So if you are in the DC area, come out and party for a good cause! If you live elsewhere and can't make it… buy a ticket or send some dineros his way. Send some QCI love...

For more information check out http://www.walkwithchad.com/. Click on the nifty poster above that’s circulating inboxes everywhere. Never heard of Crossin Dixon? Below is the video of their hit “Guitar Slinger.” Give early and often QCI readers!

You knew it… even in the dark days of the summer of 2007… you still knew it in your gut. John McCain completed the biggest comeback in modern politics last night by sealing the nomination. Which reminds me of the best advice I ever received. “Never ever, ever, ever, ever, EVER give up.”

Here’s highlights from last night’s speech:



Dust off some of them seats on that Straight Talk Bus… there’s room for everyone on board!

To keep you satisfied (while I am working on other posts)… let’s start the VEEP talk. Who is it gonna be? Who’s it gotta be? Who would you like? Who wouldn’t you like?

Talk amongst yourselves…

Holy crap dude, Favre retired. Dude, not a Packer fan (Chiefs all the way! Or sadly, as Pops calls them, the Kansas City Cubs). But for real, I don't care what you say or who you root for. Not rooting for Favre is simply Un-American! Anyway, for a quick post in the Big Peach category, here’s a quick salute to Favre by comedian Nick Mortensen. Nick proves that fan is short for fanatic… hilarious. Quick warning on the language... Probably NSFW, unless your boss is cool. If you’re a football fan in general, get ready to laugh your ass off… Dude… Favrrrrrre…

Hat Tip Green Bay, Booze & Broads for posting this back in December... Favrrre...

UPDATE: McCain on Favre... Swany, need to print the McCain/Favre t-shirts!