These are hazy days of late. I've noticed the slight fog in the air when I go out to get the morning paper, the scent of insecticide lingering from the visit by the mosquito-spraying truck. West Nile virus is in the area and spraying has started with grim diligence no matter what the environmentalists might think. I snatch up the paper and retreat to the house, glad that those pests are at least reduced in numbers. They get to swarm and torment people doused in personal insecticide shields until the official West Nile virus reports tip the balance in our favor.

Ah, for the good old days when DDT was considered beneficial! There are reports indicating that it actually is safe to use, but the haze of environmentalist propaganda keeps it from being used to save millions of human lives from mosquito-transmitted diseases. Ever since it was blamed for harming wildlife beyond the bugs, it has been demonized and driven from the common use that sensibly kept pest populations and associated disease rates low. Now we not only have mosquitoes, we have new diseases not seen in this area until a few years ago.

Even the fact that West Nile virus attacks a few animal species doesn't seem to help much in dispelling this haze. We watch for dead birds to signal the start of the yearly outbreak now. The find of a feathered tragedy on the lawn is no longer first considered a sign of feline misconduct, but instead is treated like a biohazard to be carefully disposed of before some miscreant mosquito feeding upon the carcass injects a potential plague into a human being. I wonder when the environmentalists will value these creatures enough to protect them along with human beings and sadly conclude that it won't happen until the birds themselves become an endangered species. So far the mosquitoes seem to be surviving just fine in spite of the spraying.

How the West Nile virus got to America is hazy itself. Stories that it might have been spread by terrorists don't help with the threats of terrorist attacks now that our presidential political campaign is in full swing. The Democrats are about to launch their political bombast via the airwaves with the assistance of the media. The presidential primaries are already decided with only the question of the Republican vice presidential candidate still being occasionally batted about when the commentators try to stir up a little controversy for the rating's sake. I take small comfort that the Democrats are going first so the terrorists might hold off since they would prefer Kerry over Bush. We may be gauging our safety by the presidential race polls this election year.

I'm annoyed that the Democratic campaigns prominently include smearing candidates' reputations and stirring up hatred rather than a careful consideration of the facts. We have entertainers unloading personal opinions during shows as though they are entitled to inject political commercials between acts. Their celebrity hardly makes them educated political analysts, yet they spew whatever hatred and vulgarity might catch the audience's fancy. They ought to at least warn their potential audiences in advance that they are actually holding a political rally. Where that is done openly it seems to add fuel to the fires of their politicized passions, but at least one knows what one's money is supporting.

The political perversity is reaching nauseating levels. I take comfort in the numbers of voters openly declaring that they are leaving the Democratic party. I remember a time in my youth when the Democrats were much more the party of the ordinary working citizens of America. If enough party members switch their allegiance in protest of the radicalization of the party, perhaps it will wither for lack of support. I don't see how it can correct its course to a more moderate position without eliminating most of the leadership of the party.

I have neither insecticide nor the TV off button to deal with the pests still devouring the tomatoes. I caught a glimpse of a squirrel teetering on the top wire of a tomato cage, wobbling desperately as it gobbled a tomato. I fumed as I considered running for the camera to get a picture of it, knowing that the fleet-footed felon would probably be gone before I could get back. Sure enough, it dashed for safety leaving the wounded tomato dripping juice from the damaged side.

I suspect that it needed water more than food since people are dumping out any standing water to eliminate mosquito breeding places and the wildlife is hard pressed to find enough water in this heat. We keep a water bowl out for the cats on the screened terrace and carefully change it frequently, but the wildlife won't come onto the terrace to share it. Even birdbaths must be kept emptied or the owner might face fines, so the birds can't have their cooling drink and splash that is such an entertaining feature of the summer garden. I don't even recall seeing the usual number of stray animals in the neighborhood lately.

I'm still hiding from the heat and pests inside, making the occasional dash for ripe tomatoes and spreading shredded paper on the garden as it accumulates. The crafting is going well because of it. I got the basic outlining done on the star block quilt and now have to fill in background and decorative motif quilting. I still haven't found that fair isle knitting book again so I've been working on a second child's sweater which is nearly done. I have the front done and about half the rows on the chest section of the back piece done, so I'm trying to finish it this weekend if circumstances permit.