THE BLUE BELLIES, FRESH BLACKTOP AND OTHER RUMINATIONS

*I am hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst, as the Cards are getting ready to play the hated Blue Bellies in Lexington this Saturday. It could be ugly, but I'm wishing for the upset. The outcome of this game could go a long way in determining the ultimate fate of Stevie Krags as the Louisville coach.

*The new pavement in front of my office on Pearl Street has reminded me of when I was a child, and they blacktopped Borden Road where I lived. How I loved riding my bike on it, gliding on the smooth new surface for hours and hours.

*Having an early morning workout sets a great tone for the rest of the day.

*Is it just me, or does the Ohio River appear to be clearer and more blue than it used to?

*It is never appropriate or acceptable to heckle the president of the United States, no matter how much we may disagree with his or her views.

*I agree with President Obama that Kanye West is a jackass.

*I know that many people in America have been put into financial ruin by health care costs. The cost of health care in our country is obscene, and I think that something needs to be done about it. At the same time, I am uncomfortable with the idea of creating a huge new federal bureaucracy to deal with the issue. I'm not sure what the answer is, but I would like to see the debate conducted with more civility.

*I still don't know whether Certs is really a candy or a breath mint.