I've never been a huge fan (nor detractor) of Larry Sabato, but I think his post on DailyKos about a constitutional convention was pretty compelling stuff.

There are a variety of interesting angles, but perhaps the most interesting was the discussion of a "Bill of Responsibilities" as well as a "Bill of Rights."

The basic idea includes some form of compulsory national service for all citizens -- not necessarily military in nature.

It seems to me there would be several advantages to this, including:

- Helping shape what it means to be an American in a positive way -- especially in a non-militaristic way

- Helping develop national unity across racial/social/economic/ethnic/gender lines (today's military is a great example of racial integration, though not as much ethnic/gender/cultural and possibly religious integration)

- If the program was run well, it would do some good, both at home and around the world

- By making national service a requirement for all new citizens, it would both create a path to assimilation as well as lessen the resentment that some feel towards immigrants

Of course, putting together such a program would not be easy; it would raise serious fundamental issues, including issues of separation of church and state. No doubt the program would have to be more tolerant of organized religious services than public schools (primarily because the participants are older, and therefore should be able to deal with diversity better), yet it probably would not go as far as the military does.

On the other hand, this and other issues are the kinds of things we need to work through, and what better way to work through them than with a program that could have so many benefits?

The median resale value dropped 5%; volume down 43%. (LVRJ)

The incident capped months of racial unrest after three white students hung nooses from a shade tree at the high school after black students asked permission to sit under it. School officials dismissed the noose incident as a prank, angering black students and their parents and triggering a series of fights between whites and blacks. The whites involved were charged with misdemeanors or not at all while the blacks drew various felony charges.

McMillin has insisted that his town is being unfairly portrayed as racist—an assertion the mayor repeated in an interview with Richard Barrett, the leader of the Nationalist Movement, a white supremacist group based in Learned, Miss., who asked McMillin to "set aside some place for those opposing the colored folks."

"I am not endorsing any demonstrations, but I do appreciate what you are trying to do," Barrett quoted McMillin as saying. "Your moral support means a lot."

McMillin declined to return calls seeking comment Monday.

Barker's father, David, said his family did not know the nature of Barrett's group when they agreed to be interviewed, adding, "I am not a white supremacist, and neither is my son."

But Barrett said he explained his group and its beliefs to the Barker family, who then invited him to stay overnight at their home on the eve of last week's protest march.

After three games, both Darrell Jackson and Deion Branch are leading their teams in receiving yards.

D-Jack has 166 yards in 11 catches and Deion Branch has 199 yards in 13 catches, including a touchdown.

The stats, however, don't really show how much more valuable Branch has been to the Seahawks than D-Jack has been to the 49ers. I've now watched all of each team's games, and D-Jack has been involved in relatively few pivotal plays. The most important plays I can think of came in week 1, when he recovered an offensive fumble, setting his team up for the game-winning TD, and when he dropped an easy touchdown in the same game.

Deion Branch was a non-factor as far as receiving goes in week 1, but in week 2 he was absolutely amazing, and if the Hawks had won, he along with Hasselbeck would have been the reason. Likewise, yesterday he had an excellent game, including an amazing 42 yard TD reception.

So far the trade is looking pretty decent -- but this weekend's matchup between the 49ers and Hawks will be the first real test.

I've been looking around for some good stats on dropped passes and will update this post if I find any.

UPDATE: I found this page showing D-Jack with two drops and Deion Branch with none, but given that Nate Burleson doesn't show up on the list, I am not terribly confident in the data.