It’s a comfortably warm night here in the Valley of the Sun – a perfect one for watching the planes above gliding towards Sky Harbor Airport and enjoying the welcome silence of no central air units whirring in the houses all around you. With such a clear head, I can actually think a little more clearly about things… like the following:

…How do you know October has come to the Valley of the Sun? When the lawns of people who have landscapers are given a #1 buzz in preparation for the fall seed planting that will take place next week. Weird to see such a contrast in people’s lawns, but it’s also funny to see how it all seems to happen like clockwork. Those who take care of their own lawns always wait a little later to keep the green carpet going a little longer, hence the contrast between their lush (albeit fading) green and everyone else’s dead yellow.

…Although I can’t see her normal show during the day, I always look forward to seeing FOX News’ Martha McCallum on “The O’Reilly Factor” for the weekly Pop Culture Quiz segment. Not only is she attractive, but I like her smile.

…And fellow news babe Harris Faulkner ain’t too hard on the eyes, either.

…The Democrats attack on Rush Limbaugh for his “phony soldier” comment is nothing but a artificial controversy ginned up by Senate Democrats to divert attention away from the political hit they were taking after refusing to condemn Moveon.org’s attack on General David Petraeus two weeks ago. It just goes to show you how politically tone-deaf Senate Majority Leader Harry “Dumb As A Stone” Reid is; their attack would have had a whole lot more substance and credence if they had used the same amount of energy to condemn loony leftists smearing the reputation of a fine military servant.

…”Heaven Knows” by former disco diva Donna Summer (sung with the late great Barry White) has to be the worst disco tune ever made. And that includes Gloria Gaynor‘s “I Will Survive”.

…Though, come to think of it, all that disco stuff – even the worst of it – still sounds a heck of a lot better than any of the rap and hip-hop crap that some people mistake for music out there now. And it’s definitely better than anything that whiny, self-absorbed Sheryl Crow could croon, either.

…For my money, Bob Newhart is and will always be the funniest comedian I’ve ever seen. Just seeing him on TV – even if he’s not really doing anything – makes me smile.

…Surprise, surprise – seems the New York Yankees (they of the $200 million payroll) have been sticking it to the taxpayers of New York for all kinds of lavish gifts masqueraded as building costs for the new Yankee Stadium under construction, including crystal baseballs, post-season bar tabs, wool baseball caps, and gifts for corporate fatcats. They’re not called the “Evil Empire” for nothing…