Here are a few ideas that I hope Congress, the presidential candidates and the president will keep in mind regarding this whole bailout proposal:

• Yes, Wall Street needs a big influx of cash in order to not sink us into a depression. I get that we're potentially at a very grave risk here economically. But you can't let the greed mongers who created this mess walk away unpunished. If the government is going to buy these near-worthless assets in the hope they can sell them for something, I think the industry has to make up the difference. If the government can somehow turn these assets into $700 billion (or whatever the final number is), great. If not, the industry makes up the difference, not the taxpayer.
  
• By the next debate, Obama and McCain need to figure out an answer to Jim Lehrer's question about what are you going to delay to pay for this $700 billion. 
• We need oversight on this industry. This can't happen again. Our national debt was too high before this mess started; before the stimulus check went out. We don't need to stymie the free market, especially now, but we have to make certain this doesn't happen again. There is a happy medium; lawmakers just need to find it.
  

I am not happy with this economic news. Because these Wall Street fat cats need to be even more rich than they already are, they go and tank the economy and effect the lives of real people. Thanks, all of you who contributed to this mess. I hope you're having fun counting your millions this Christmas while good families go without because of your mess.

My best friend is a proud new dad.

Jason Liam Mills was born to John and Krysten Mills at 11:15 p.m. Sept. 23. Poor Krysten was in labor for 19 hours before delivering by c-section.

He was 19.5 inches long and weighed 7 pounds, 5 ounces.

When I talked to Johnny this morning, he was totally engulfed in new-dad euphoria. That's where you just want to sit and hold them and stare at them for hours on end.

Congrats to you, John and Krysten. Welcome to the Parents Club.

And welcome to the world, Jason Liam. I can't wait to meet you.

We're having it this Friday and Saturday at 6520 Southwest Way in Columbia.

Items for sale will include:

• Lots of vintage stuff
• Home improvement material
• Housewares
• Missouri Theatre seats
• Women's plus-size clothes
• Baby items
• TV
• Movies
• Books
• Stereo

All of this and more! Hope to see you there.

So a few weeks ago, I volunteered to take over the opinion section. Since then, I've worked toward these goals:

-- Bring more diverse opinions to the section. We have some wonderful local writers, but we could always use more. We could especially use more viewpoints from women, conservatives and from people who aren't white. In my mind, these are the three areas we're most lacking.

So hey, if you write well and you have something to say, e-mail me. Oh, and you should be from mid-Missouri (sorry, but I'm about to go off on a local rant).

-- I want to get as local as can be. We have the opportunity to take wonderful content from the LA Times and Washington Post, but I believe people want to read what other people in Columbia, Mo., and the surrounding area think about local issues. I'll be glad when the presidential election is over, because maybe then some of our columnists will turn their attention back to local issues (or at least discuss the election in a local context).

Just as I wrote that last paragraph, I had a brainstorm. Why not challenge everyone -- and I do mean everyone -- to discuss this question: How will Columbia be affected by the presidential election. I've asked our local columnists to answer it, I've asked Clyde Bentley to extend an invite on MyMissourian and to his editorial writing class, and I'll write a column in the Missourian asking readers to weigh in with their thoughts. Oct. 19 is Theme Week for the Opinion section.

-- OK, back to the goals: Next up, encourage more community dialogue. This means publishing comments in print. Encouraging letters and guest columns. Reaching out, having a discussion, not just lecturing to the masses. That old stuff doesn't work anymore. We're facilitating conversation now, not trying to lead public opinion.

-- Next, I need to find a better way to bring Five Ideas to the Web each week. We're doing it now, but we used to get so many more responses when it was in the old eMprint. The lessons to take from that: Set it to read ideas one at a time, and include a "send comment" button on each one. Now, how do I make that work in the current django framework?

Those are my immediate goals. I'm sure there will be a new set down the road. For now, that's my focus with the section.

So I've had some time now to chew the fat surrounding Sarah Palin's nomination for vice president. Here's what I think:

• For McCain, it was a good choice. He needed to do something to shake up the race, kind of like when he canned his whole staff during the primaries. Palin appeals to conservative voters, the religious right and the neocons. The only downside is that he took away the experience argument, although it can be argued whether or not longtime politicians are good for the government or not (and, for the record, I'm lukewarm on term limits. Yes, it's nice to boot out those who would make a career of it rather than operate in the public good, but I hate to kick folks out who do make a difference).
  
• For those whining about the way Palin was treated, well, that's politics today, for better or (much) worse. The mainstream media did the right thing in vetting her; it was the blogosphere and angry liberals who trashed her name far worse than it should have. Until you can prove the Desperate Housewives theory, be responsible and don't put it out there.
  
• As far as the pregnant daughter goes, big deal. Oh my gosh, you mean a 17-year-old didn't mind her mother? C'mon, how does that make her a hypocrit? Now, if she were pushing the daughter toward an abortion, yes, that would make her a hypocrit. This doesn't. This makes her a rare politician these days -- someone who practices what she preaches by supporting her daughter in her time of need. Good for her.
  
• I think it's sad it took 24 years to get the second woman vice presidential candidate.
  
• As far as the charge that McCain picked Palin in the hope of scoring Hillary voters -- duh! I'm sure that was one of his many reasons for picking her. And of course she's not Hillary -- she's a Republican for god sake! Why are liberals so up in arms about this selection? McCain chose the candidate he felt complimented him best. And in the end, wasn't that Obama's same reason for picking Biden?
  

What the Palin selection does do is makes things personal, which is to say, puts a spotlight on character, values and, by association, social issues. And that's where John McCain thinks he can win with what is essentially a two-pronged approach -- she appeals to the GOP base; he appeals to the independents and pro-choice Republicans. A big-tent theory, if you will.

Overall, I think picking Palin was a good move. The race needed to be shook up, and McCain did just that. It helps breed that maverick image at a crucial time, especially with Obama coming off his event at Invesco Field like a man on fire. McCain knows he has to keep it close to have a shot on Election Day, and Palin staved off most of the momentum from what is likely to be Obama's biggest event outside of the debates.

Seven weeks to go until the election. Should be fun.