A WORD OR TWO ABOUT MUGWUMPS -- Where oh where have mugwumps gone? --

If you think we're living in some "tough tiddy times", you could be right.

After all, when makers of "Wonderbread" and "Twinkies" have just declared bankcruptcy, it makes all wafflers, whifflers, and wunderkins of world a tad nervous.

Not to be discouraged, it's time to look on bright side of things. After all, arrival of mad cow disease just means there's a lot more opportunity to find new love of your life in organic veggie department at your local super-duper market. And, if that doesn't work, try hanging out in tool section of your nearby big box home renovation store. That's where you're bound to bump into all do-it-yourself pennypinchers who just adore swapping tall tales about their latest extreme-makeovers.

Anyway, where was I? Yes, mugwumps, well they're an endangered species.

It seems that world is only looking for cowboys these days. And, not just any cowboy will do thank you. Only those with a pronounced Texas drawl, an oil well on back nine, and a long blunderbuss that will blast heck out of varmints digging holes in well-manicured fairways, need apply.