It is interesting that Hillary Clinton did not acknowledge her defeats on February 12th and yet, on the next day, declared Barack Obama to be the front-runner. What is also interesting is that Senator Obama accepted that title.

You won't find this stated in clear terms in the news reports. In fact, I haven't heard it mentioned even by the talking heads on the major news networks. It is, however, very obvious that this is the case.

What makes this so obvious is an ad the Clinton campaign released today and the words of both Senators during the day. The ad challenges Senator Obama to a debate. Senator Clinton repeated that challenge each time she appeared on a news show. She couldn't have made it any clearer that she feels she is falling behind in the race for the Democratic nomination.

The person who feels they are trailing in a political race is always the one who calls for more debates. The front-runner always declines, if it is possible to do so without hurting their position. Senator Obama stated that they had already had 18 debates and didn't think they needed another.

This is a classic example of the situation as it now stands. Expect more calls from the Clinton campaign for debates and expect the Obama campaign to keep rejecting those calls.

Two things struck me about yesterday's primary results. The first is that there are serious fractures in the makeup of the Republican party. The other is that the Democratic race is much more evenly matched than anyone expected it to be even two weeks ago.

There is no doubt that John McCain has emerged as the front-runner in the Republican nominating process. Barring an unforeseen disaster he should lock up the nomination over the next month.

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I intended to follow the results of the primary voting closely last night. Unfortunately, I found myself spending more time watching the weather channel then watching the news stations. That's life - plan one thing and end up doing another.

Severe storms started to move through the area in the early afternoon. There were tornado watches and warnings for the next eight hours. Luckily, for me, the worst of the storms passed to the east, west, or north of me. Other people weren't so lucky. One tornado destroyed some warehouses about eight miles west of me and another struck a shopping mall about eight miles north. There was little loss of life in the immediate area. The highest death toll was in the neighboring states of Arkansas and Tennessee. The total death toll from these storms stands at forty-eight as I write this. Hopefully it won't go any higher.

If Barack Obama wins the Democratic nomination his choice of running mate will become a huge issue. I've been thinking about possible choices (I know, getting way ahead of the game) and have wondered if Hillary Clinton might not be the best choice.

My reasons for Hillary have nothing to do with the usual reasons for picking a running mate. Instead, this proposition is inspired by the Bush/Cheney ticket. The thought of Cheney becoming president was enough to keep any serious impeachment talk off the table. The same might be true in the case of a VP Clinton.

There are plenty of nutcases out there. Barack would become an instant target for their hatred. Yet those same haters hate Hillary Clinton with a passion. The thought of her becoming president might be enough to offer Obama more protection than that provided by the Secret Service.

When the dream began I was at a doctor’s office, a neurosurgeon, apparently. We talked, but I don’t remember what was said. Then he said, “Let’s take a look.” I remember him making a slice in my scalp. I could feel the pressure, but no pain so he must have given me a local. The next thing I remember is him holding something in his hand that he had pulled from inside my skull. I suppose it was a piece of brain. It had little stems sticking up out of it, like stamen on a flower. He pulled one off, looked at it closely and then tossed it aside with a comment about needing to replace it. He looked at each one in turn. I think I remember him tossing aside at least one more. That’s all I can recall now. I’m writing this at least 8 hours after awakening.

It is easy to tell where the individual elements of the dream came from, but the overall symbolism and what it was trying to tell me is more obscure.

The neurosurgeon is simple – I’ve been communicating with several about redesigns for their web sites. I’ve also been viewing neurology animations. One of the animations was about drilling a burr hole in the skull, so that explains that part also. Earlier in the evening I was taking photographs of flowers – Asian lilies. These have very large stamen, similar to the items in my dream. Very simple dream analysis so far.

What I am puzzled about is what part of my brain (id, ego, personality,???) I feel is defective? Something is bothering me and I apparently need to work it out. There must be something about myself that I think needs to be fixed. Of course, that is rather obvious. Like many people, there are a lot of things I’d like to change about myself. I wonder which one this was about?