*I get to work early and I leave late. Traffic to Uptown Kingston and back to Woodstock, as the radio helicopter watchdogs would say, is "light to moderate." Every so often there's a Long Island Expressway moment on Route 28 as a result of an accident. In Kingston, making the left turn onto Washington Avenue from Hurley Avenue is a one-red-light affair at most. Yet there's this piece in the paper today about a traffic study for the Stockade Area. I seem to remember us writing about its launch about a year ago. Bill Kemble's story lists a handful of recommendations. Well, OK. Nothing wrong with trying to make matters better. Nothing wrong with thinking ahead. In fact, there ought to be a lot more of that in government at all levels. But you'll have to excuse me for not getting swept away by the big picture here. Annoying as it would be, I wouldn't mind seeing more traffic in Uptown Kingston. It might reflect a revitalized economy.

*I've been jotting down notes for a speech I'm giving to local service clubs next week. Attorney General Andrew Cuomo declined an invitation and I was asked to fill in. I think there's a punch line to this late substitution. Your (clean) suggestions are welcome.

*The National Football League has always rejected claims that its huge popularity is connected to how much money is bet on its games. Oh, yeah? Look what happened Sunday, when Pittsburgh beat San Diego, 11-10, after officials determined that a touchdown on the last play of the game didn't count. Had the TD stood (and an extra point been made), the Steelers would have won 18-10 and covered the point spread. Instead, 11-10 was the final and bettors who had Pittsburgh with the points lost. Making matters more confusing was the officials' indecision for several minutes. When they finally sorted it out, CBS flashed the score quickly, then immediately went to the much-anticipated "60 Minutes" interview with Barack Obama. If you had money on the game and turned away, you didn't know the final score. No big deal, the Steelers won the game even without the final touchdown, you say? Not with millions of dollars on the line. Put another way, this morning's New York Times' sports section doesn't have the successful Giants and Jets as its lead story. Nope, it's about the NFL and betting. Not exactly what Commissioner Goodell would prefer to be Topic A for his league this week.