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The Arizona Technology Council has released its 2008 Vote TechSmart guide, which rates state legislative candidates based on their support of tech-related issues.

The Phoenix-based organization represents the legislative interests of the local technology industry. It has about 500 members, including companies and other associations.

The TechSmart guide, which you can find on the council's Web site, lists the group's candidate endorsements for each of the state's 30 legislative districts. The council, led by President and Chief Executive Officer Steven Zylstra, has also graded all current legislators based on their votes regarding tech initiatives during the 2007-'08 session.

The council was a big supporter of a research-and-development tax credit bill, which the Legislature passed and Gov. Janet Napolitano signed. According to the bill, companies that spend $2.5 million or less on qualified R&D endeavors will receive a 22 percent credit. The previous credit was 20 percent.

Are we in a recession? The debate continues.

Most Americans seem to think so, according to various consumer surveys. But economists who cling to the typical definition say no. U.S. economic growth so far hasn't been negative in any quarter since 2001, and you need two straight down quarters to meet the common recession definition.

Anyway, a slew of economic reports Thursday and Friday should clarify the picture better. These include fresh numbers on second-quarter GDP, auto sales, manufacturing strength (or lack thereof) and unemployment.

Economists seem to be expecting real GDP growth to come in a bit above 2 percent for the April-June stretch, helped by those one-time tax-rebate checks. Meanwhile, U.S. unemployment, at 5.5 percent, has been rising but hasn't reached recession-type levels.

Stay tuned for  what could be an interesting 48 hours.

I spent 15 minutes posting the best blog of my career only to lose it by getting knocked off the Internet here in my luxurious Flagstaff hotel.

So you'll have to settle for this.

'It's never a good thing when a player makes an unscheduled trip home to the Valley. Center Al Johnson continues to be bothered by a sore knee, so he went to the Valley to have it checked out. Lyle Sendlein replaced him in the starting unit.

'WR Anquan Boldin is still out but it's hoped he can return by early next week, at the latest. He has a strained hamstring.

'The Cardinals dime package on defense could be very productive. In that alignment, strong safety Adrian Wilson moves to a linebacker spot. Free safety Antrel Rolle becomes the third corner, and Matt Ware and Aaron Francisco enter the game at the safety spots. Coordinator Clancy Pendergast likes the way Ware and Francisco play the ball. Wilson, at 230 pounds, is physical enough that the Cardinals won't give up much in the run game. And he's playing next to Karlos Dansby. Throw in corners Rod Hood and Eric Green and that's a very fast group of guys on the field at one time.

'TE Ben Patrick continues to impress. He made a great twisting, diving catch for a TD today. Steve Breaston caught a long TD pass from Matt Leinart, beating Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie and Matt Ware. Breaston showed off his speed. He got behind DRC and the rookie couldn't catch him. Leinart should have been sacked on the play by linebacker Clark Haggans. But then Haggans appeared to jump the snap a bit, too.

OK, now I'm going to click the SEND button, and like former Cards athletic trainer Johnny O used to say, cross everything I have at least two of......