How are we doing?

In an article about Rep. Gordon Fox's resignation in the Providence Journal, March 24, Rep. Nicholas Mattiello was quoted as saying that his "biggest concern is uniting and unifying the House".  Is that necessarily a worthy goal? In 2013 one party held 93% of the House seats and it's been this way for too many years.

I'm an independent voter and it seems to me that such a dominance of one party over the other makes for a greater chance for poor government not better government, regardless of party.

I'm reminded of Ed Koch, ex Mayor of NYC, who used to ask "How am I doing?"  I too have to ask, "How are we doing"?

Must be hard to be a lawyer.

In the Journal today (March 14, 2014) was an article, "Mother of molested teen urges change  in assault law". It seems there was a "loophole" that allowed her son's attacker to get off because there apparently was no "surprise" when he reached into the boy's shorts and touched his genitals as the boy was taking pictures on the East Bay Bike Path.

The new law might now enable conviction if the state can prove one "engaged in a sexual act against a person's wishes through force or coercion or through surprise for the purpose of sexual gratification".

Please forgive me for being so radical but isn't engaging in sex against a person's wishes enough? The perpetrator has to surprise the victim and be gratified too?  Are we crazy?