First...  some of the beautiful stuff happening in my neighborhood; and then a much uglier almost-rant.  Beautiful Stuff First:

Did you know the Koch Brothers-backed groups spent roughly $77 on television advertising in the run-up to this week’s election. The money was spread all over the country, and they were the biggest outside spenders on television in Arkansas, Iowa, and Louisiana airing a combined $25 million in ads in those three states. Republican candidates for the Senate won Arkansas and Iowa, and a Republican is favored to win a runoff in Louisiana. It’s easier now than it used to be to buy a seat in the U.S. Senate or the House of Representatives.