I'm still hearing the comments.

"It's even better than last year."

"They had music outside … and inside."

&uot;Did you hear that guy with the harmonica?&uot;

For those of you who went out last Saturday to the Hambone Blues Jam, you were treated to a good time. Food and beverage trailers were set up, along with plenty of room for people to plop down their favorite lawn chair and listen to some good 'ol, down home blues.

And if the heat was too much, the blues were awash inside at Torge's Live. Many sought refuge in the air conditioned comfort and could watch the Pepsi 400.

Last year's Hambone was a hit. Some folks I talked with said if this year's was half as good as last's, it'd still be a success.

This year's was better.

Plus, it was great seeing all the hot rods and slick-looking cars during the car show held in the afternoon. If you got to see the car cruise later in the day, you got a real treat.

If anything, it's a testament to the hard work shown by those involved with the blues jam. They did a great job and I'm already looking forward to next year's production.

I don't know how many times I've seen in recent police reports that people called the cops claiming they heard gunshots, when in fact they heard firecrackers.

I don't want to be the one to say don't call the police if you hear something that sounds like fireworks. But let's use common sense, folks.

Anytime the Fourth of July comes around, you're going to hear firecrackers. And even if we live in town, there's going to be kids (and adults) that light them off.

Although it's always better to be safe than sorry, look outside your window when you hear the popping. If it's a bunch of 10-year-olds huddled together, nearly all of us could deduce what they're doing.

Use common sense to have a happy and safe summer.

It's hasn't been looking good for President Bush and his Cabinet on the issue of invading Iraq and Saddam Hussein.

You won't find too many arguments from people saying that Saddam should have stayed in power.

However, Bush's reasoning for the invasion was because Iraq housed weapons of mass destruction is looking weaker by the day. Even worse, the White House recently admitted that during Bush's latest State of the Union speech, the claim that Iraq was buying uranium in South Africa was, well, wrong.

Oops.

Wait, lemme guess … he got that intelligence from the Iraqi information director.

OK. That explains it.

Dan Fields can be reached at 434-2230 or by e-mail at :dan.fields@austindailyherald.com