And onward to #41....

Eddie couldn't sign warrant 41 fast enough. And he even brags about it on the commonwealth's website. Classy.

Eddie hits the big 4-0!

Ah, 40. It truly is a landmark. It's a time when one can reflect on accomplishments achieved and goals planned. It's the next big mark for the Abolitionist, who has eight years to go before hitting the number.

Unfortunately, for Big Eddie Rendell, 40 is not a reason for celebration. That's right, friends, the Guv signed death warrant numero cuarenta last Wednesday. He managed to find another white man, which is no small feat when signing a warrant in PA. White men are tough to come by on death row when your state has the second-highest minority death sentence rate in the country.

So #40 is for Daniel Saranchak of Schuylkil County. Sound familiar? He should. Saranchak was Tom Ridge's political football in 2000. Ridge, who never met a death warrant he didn't like, scheduled Saranchak's execution for the day after Election Day in 2000.

Anywho, many abolitionists walked away that night from their various outposts thinking that the state had killed a man, but Saranchak missed the needle by 10 minutes. Now, for the fifth time, the Quaker state, which is truly ironic when discussing the death penalty, is attempting to kill Mr. Saranchak. As the Abolitionist remembers from 2000, Mr. Saranchak killed his grandmother and uncle because he thought he was in a war....but I'm sure he's perfectly competent to meet the executioner.

Saranchak's execution is scheduled for September 22. Keep your ears open.

When the Abolitionist hears "40", he often thinks of U2's song based on Psalm 40:

I waited patiently for the lord
He inclined and heard my cry
He lifted me up out of the pit
Out of the miry clay

I will sing, sing a new song
How long to sing this song?

How long, indeed.......