We're asking readers to suggest questions for candidates Martha Coakley, Michael Capuano, Steve Pagliuca and Alan Khazei. We can't guarantee every question will be posed on the air, but we plan to publish the best of them before the Dec. 1 debate.

For more from Dave Granlund, visit www.davegranlund.com.

Massachusetts' "Great and General Court" is considered a full-time legislature, but "full-time" apparently has a different meaning on Beacon Hill. How many of the rest of us with full-time jobs get to take off the week before Thanksgiving and not be expected back at the office until after New Year's Day?

You're driving your kid to soccer practice and the "check engine" light comes on. If you're like most people, you have no idea what that means, but no worries, you can drop it at your local independent repair shop, perhaps the same family-owned shop that fixed your father's car. You can trust them to diagnose the problem and quickly make any repair your vehicle for a fair price. Much to your surprise, your mechanic says he can repair the underlying problem, but he can't turn off the "check engine" light, or perhaps, he can't even correct the problem and he sends you to the dealer to resolve the issue.

When seeing is not believing

With apologies to James Whitcomb Riley:

What were they thinking? A panel of scientists has issued guidelines for breast-cancer screening that could undo years of education and advocacy that have saved tens of thousands of lives. In a report that smacks of health-care rationing, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that instead of annual mammograms after the age of 40, women should wait until age 50 to receive regular screening, and then only every other year instead of annually.

The residents of Dudley, Mass. have finally taken a firm stand. No, not to change their name to something less dweebish than Dudley, for instance Mantown, Surf City, Hitsville USA, or Copenhagen. Instead, proud Dudleyites have said enough is enough to rogue households harboring large numbers of cats. Town meeting decided that three felines are plenty. If you want additional ones then register as a kennel and pay the town $50. Or just pay $50. No word yet if the same deal applies to owning too many dogs. Or for that matter, having too many children.

For more from Dave Granlund, go to www.davegranlund.com

The conversation continues at Holmes & Company, a new blog that is the online cousin of the Daily News Opinion pages.  Editor Rick Holmes and a wide range of commentators opine on a wide range of topics - and readers can weigh in as well.