“Barry Bonds setting the home-run record is the equivalent of a car winning the Kentucky Derby.” –Casey

Okay, probably not, but still, this is a little scary:

Police are investigating the discovery of what appeared to be a partially detonated pipe bomb that had to be blown up by members of the Hartford Bomb Squad Monday evening.

Witnesses reported to police about 8 p.m. that they thought they saw a vehicle take off from the wooded area around the intersection of Brookside Road and Main Street seconds before a flash or explosion went off in the woods, Lt. William Darby said.

“Our officers went to investigate and found what appeared to be a pipe bomb that someone attempted to light but the pipe itself didn’t explode,” Darby said. “We called in the Hartford Bomb Squad and they also confirmed that it appeared to be [a] pipe bomb and detonated the device for safety.”

The intersection of Brookside and Main is less than a half-mile from my parents’ house — it’s practically in their backyard.

An annual report on President Bush’s health released this week revealed that Bush was treated for Lyme disease last year.

Among potential symptoms of Lyme disease are neurocognative impairment, hallucinations, and psychosis. Hmmm…I wonder…

Tommy Makem’s funeral is later today in Dover, New Hampshire. A large crowd of mourners is expected.

Rumor has it that my mom was planning to bring her guitar to the cabin in the Adirondacks where we’re meeting up tomorrow. If that happens, I suspect we may sing a few songs in Tommy’s honor.

P.S. Here is the Irish Echo article about Makem’s passing.