# Palin could host a show on conservative talk radio. No doubt, adoring callers would line up to talk to her. One problem, though -- winks don't translate well across radio airwaves, so some of those non-answers are going to be difficult for her to finesse.
# She could try her hand hosting a TV talk show. That would let her use her magic winking power. Of course, ratings might be tough to come by. People are likely to keep pressing the remote, thinking they've run across Tina Fey in a ""Saturday Night Live"" rerun. Or, they might well prefer to watch Fey in an ""SNL"" rerun. I know I would.
# Movies might be the answer for Palin. Perhaps she could star in ""The Tina Fey Story."" They could give Fey a cameo portraying Palin. It would be a hoot.
# Remember the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps, those people who keep watch for illegal immigrants coming into the United States across the Mexican border? Palin could organize a northern version, with Alaskans on porches keeping an eye out for Russian officials out joyriding in their Cessnas.
# Sarah Palin. Katie Couric. Grudge cage match. Enough said.
# Palin reportedly has a lucrative book contract. I'd advise her to take a walk down to the Wasilla library to re-familiarize herself with books (I'm betting it's been a while ...) and then hire a good ghost writer.
# She can raise oodles of money for the GOP. Oodles of oodling oodles. I can't really come up with a punchline for that one. I'll bet she could raise millions just by carrying around a bucket, being cute and winking at people.
# Can she mount a presidential campaign of her own? Her surprise exit as governor has some observers ringing political death knells, while others maintain she might still be able to ride that ""maverick"" rep into another bid for the White House.
Where's my money? I don't think quitting the governor's job helps her expand her base, but I'm betting she'll be back anyway. People who love Sarah love Sarah, no matter what.
The Republican Party seems to be seeking an identity these days, and fracturing into offshoot groups seems to be at least a possibility. Maybe Palin will tap into the whole Tea Party thing and become the voice of some new alternative political movement.
I'm hoping, though, that Palin finds other career opportunities.
#
New NASA satellite measurements released last week show sea ice in the Arctic is doing more than just shrinking in surface area. It is thinning dramatically.
The volume of older Arctic sea ice -- the thicker ice that survives the summer and builds up over time (or used to, anyway) -- has shrunk by 57 percent from the winter of 2004 to 2008. NASA scientist Jay Zwally said global warming is to blame. You remember global warming, right? That mythical thing Al Gore made up?
Sigh.
#
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals planned to do an exhibit Thursday that involved 3,500 gallons of pig excrement on the Statehouse steps, to protest megafarms. A Statehouse board said no.
I'm not going to get into the whole megafarms issue right now, and I'm no fan of PETA, but I have to say I've thought of dumping some dung at the Statehouse myself, especially in the wake of the recent budget battles. Admit it, you've thought of it, too.
My plan would require a few of those big cargo planes from the 179th Airlift Wing of the Ohio National Guard.
It'd probably get me in trouble, though, huh? I think I'll stick to writing columns.
Steve Goble is a copy editor and page designer for the News Journal. Visit his blog on our Web site. E-mail him at
sgoble@nncogannett.com.
http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/article/20090712/OPINION02/907120302
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