Chris Mulick says there's no news behind the press release Gov. Chris Gregoire's office released with the headline:

Gov. Gregoire announces state’s strong bond ratings

The ratings are, in fact, unchanged from last year. Mulick says there was no press releases issued in November and December when at least one of the ratings actually represented an upgrade. Gregoire announced her re-election campaign in April.

California Republican Congressman Dana Rohrabacher says the United States is unprepared for the prospect of a giant asteroid crashing into earth.

I was once told the chances of being killed by an asteroid were the same as getting a flush in Las Vegas. Well, I’ve actually gotten a flush in Vegas, a royal flush.

I think he’s on to something. A new threat-level system should be implemented right away. One recently discovered asteroid has a 1-in-200,000 chance of hitting the earth. That could be threat-level “straight flush,” with a nice graphic of the poker hand. As the asteroid gets closer, the poker hand gets changes to a full-house. When the signs that should be erected in every town show two pairs, it'd be time to don the hard hat and catcher’s mask that should soon be as much a part of every American household as duct tape and plastic sheets.