What makes a state “red” or “blue”? The simplest explanation seems to be which way it voted for president.

Washington voted for John Kerry and Al Gore, but it was 29th lowest in the nation in state and local taxation per $1,000 of personal income for 2004, according to the latest figures available from the state Department of Revenue. That’s lower than Idaho. Which is the red state again?

Then again, Idaho has a more progressive structure, because it has an income tax. As a result, it taxes the poor less and the rich more. Which is the blue state again?

Rush to judgment. In the July edition of Scientific American, Michael Shermer notes the results of a study conducted at Emory University that used 30 self-described Republican men and 30 self-described Democrats. Each set was shown clearly contradictory statements uttered by George Bush and John Kerry during the 2004 campaign.

The Republicans ripped Kerry. The Democrats denounced Bush. Each side gave their own guy a pass.

That’s hardly surprising, but here’s the best part. The men’s brains were scanned to see which parts were activated during this exercise. It wasn’t the parts engaged in reasoning.

Emory psychologist Drew Westen summed up the results: “Essentially, it appears as if partisans twirl the cognitive kaleidoscope until they get the conclusions they want, and then they get massively reinforced for it, with the elimination of negative emotional states and activation of positive ones.”

My guess is that Viagra heightens the effect.

So, how was your Friday morning? At 8:45, I depart with my son and daughter to drop them off at activities. After delivering my son to karate camp, I remember I was supposed to bring photos we’d taken of a recent karate event. We have about an hour to kill, so my daughter and I return home to get the photos. Then we drop shirts at the cleaners.

As we return to karate camp, my wife calls from work wondering if we’ve seen her cell phone. We haven’t, but I tell her we’ll return home because we have some time before my daughter’s dance class. We pick up the cell phone and head to dance class.

En route, it dawns on me that I don’t have my employee security badge. I drop off my daughter and return home a third time.

Can’t find the badge. Drive back to cleaners to see if it’s in one of the pockets of the shirts. It isn’t. Drive back to dance class because my wife is there. Take her badge (she works here, too) and head to work.

Can’t get into garage without my badge, so I drive around and around looking for 10-hour meter. Find one. Only have a dime and some dollar bills. Pop the dime in, hustle three blocks to work, head to top floor cafeteria, exchange dollars for quarters, hustle back to car and plug meter. Arrive at work at 11:15.

So, if the column seems a little hostile today. …