Minnesota and Alaska, I salute you.

I shouldn't expect less from the great people who elected Governors Sarah Palin and Jesse Ventura.

At this hour, votes are still being counted to determine whether Al Franken, former Saturday Night Live writer and cast member, will become the junior Senator from Minnesota. In less personally exciting but equally interesting news, it looks like Alaskans have re-elected Senator Ted Stevens, who faces expulsion from the Senate on charges of corruption unless his appeal is successful.

I can't help but wonder if there's a conspiracy of Alaska and Minnesota residents to do something crazy every few years just to make sure we don't forget about their states under the layer of permafrost. Then again, maybe they're just bored.