*Mark Thursday, Oct. 22 on your calendar. That's the date of the annual Ulster County Chamber of Commerce-Ulster County Development Corp. Business Awards presentations at Wiltwyck Golf Club. It's always a classy affair, the Academy Awards of Ulster County business.

*I guess I was too kind in my negative assessment of Ulster County Legislature GOP Minority Leader Glenn Noonan. According to a quote from county Republican Chairman Mario Catalano in the Kingston Times , Noonan is an "idiot." Ouch!

*Isn't comparing Barack Obama with al-Qaida over the top, even for that gasbag Rush Limbaugh? And you thought Wanda Sykes' cracks about Limbaugh at the White House Correspondents Dinner went too far.

*Give my pal and colleague Alan Chartock a breather and fork up some dough to help end the WAMC Fund Drive. You know the number: 1-800-323-9262.