4:55 p.m. Who knew? In an afternoon of mostly B Team speeches, former presidential candidate Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, had the delegates on their feet cheering with a stirring speech. “Wake up America!” he repeatedly said. Delegates ate it up.

3:55 p.m. New York Gov. David Paterson begins speaking to delegates at the Pepsi Center. Nothing unusual there. But why did Paterson, who is legally blind, need his speech displayed on the big TelePrompter at the back of the hall? And the countdown clock, which tells each speaker how much time they have left on the podium, probably didn’t serve much purpose, either.

1:30 p.m. Gazette photographer Kevin Kreck says he was denied entrance to the Pepsi Center because he was carrying a gas mask. He was allowed to get back in after returning the gas mask to his car, however he set off the metal detector. Security guards asked if he happened to have one of the free condoms being handed out just before the checkpoint – apparently the foil wrappers were setting off the metal detectors.

1:05 p.m. Sign at La Boheme Gentlemens’ Cabaret just a half block from Convention Center: “The sexiest Democrats inside. Whoever heard of a nice piece of elephant”

12:40 p.m. It’s official: Hillary had a schedule conflict and couldn’t attend.

12:22 p.m. Looks like Hillary is a no-show. Room is about half full now. Managed to find a plug at back of room to recharge laptop. Guess I will have to wait until tonight to hear Hillary. I’ll see if I can find out where she went instead.

12:08 p.m. Drescher: “The greatest weapon we have as a nation is to offer a better life through example. … success is our best revenge.”

12:06 p.m. Drescher: “Let us elect a candidate who will not legislate a woman’s body, but rather create a more female-friendly society.”

12:02 p.m. Fran Drescher of “The Nanny” is speaking. “I am so excited to be here. … I judge a man’s character by the woman with whom he chooses to spend his life. The fact that Barack married Michelle speaks volumes about him!” More tambourines.

11:54 a.m. No Hillary. No Michelle. Battery down to 19 percent. Ann Richards’ daughter is speaking now.

11:14 a.m. Man with clerical collar approaches front of room, interrupting speaker, and urges crowd to “recognize the unborn women.” The crowd drowns him out with tambourines and chants of “Obama! Obama!” as security guards escort the man from the hall.

11:04 a.m. Still no Hillary, no Michelle. Hope my laptop battery holds out. Hope my ears stop ringing from all the tambourines.

10:58 a.m. “Let’s rise up tonight and celebrate Hillary Clinton!” Brazille says to a standing ovation of waving tambourines.

10:55 a.m. “I signed my name to put Hillary Clinton’s name in nomination!” said Brazille, a super delegate. “I did it because Barack Obama understands that a united Democratic Party is a victorious Democratic Party in 2008.” Deafening tambourines.

10:51 a.m. Huge applause and deafening tambourines for Donna Brazille. “We will one day put a woman in the White House!” More tambourines. “Oh yes we can!”

10:50 a.m. Eva Longoria from “Desperate Housewives” is speaking. “Let’s make a difference!” she tells the crowd. Tambourines ring in response.

10:38 a.m. Another speaker. They’re now saying they “hope” to hear from Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama. I’m trapped in my seat by tambourine-wavers and others, so I guess I’m staying put for now. Update: The singer with the guitar was Rissi Palmer.

10:28 a.m. The room is packed. Tambourines are getting a real workout during the warmup introductory speech. Mention of Obama-Biden ticket gets loud applause, but this is clearly a Hillary crowd.

10:21 a.m. Still no Hillary, but the tambourines are ringing for the first speaker. Lots of shaking for this comment: “How about Michelle Obama last night?”

10:11 a.m. Still no Hillary, but the tambourines are getting a test drive as a young woman plays guitar and sings onstage.

10:02 a.m. Four Seasons Ballroom, Colorado Convention Center. Fleetwood Mac’s “Don’t Stop” blares from the speakers as Hillary prepares to speak. They’ve put tambourines on every seat. She’s addressing the Democratic Women’s Caucus. The theme: “Women Making & Shaping History.” Stay tuned for snippets from speech.

9:30 a.m. More free stuff. Anyone want a chocolate and peanut butter breakfast bar? They’re handing them out to fortify delegates outside the Convention Center. It’s going to be a long, hot day for them.

9:15 a.m. From Gazette photographer Christian Murdock: Jon Stewart spotted at the Grand Hyatt.

8:55 a.m. Different sort of green: Civic Center park has never looked — or smelled — so good. Grass is green and freshly mowed. Flowers everywhere. Still haven’t seen a single panhandler or mumbling guy with a shopping cart. Just people setting up exhibits and demonstrators preparing for their day.8:45 a.m. Free stuff or is there a message? Been approached already by folks offering free mints and free condoms8:36 a.m. More green sightings: who knew they made so many black hybrid Escalades and Yukons? Watch your step in Denver this week; they’re silent and menacing!7:35 a.m. Helicopters already buzzing overhead this morning — and not the usual traffic helicopters.7:00 a.m. Some out-of-town Democrats were grumbling about the long lines at events — the security line they had to pass through to enter the Pepsi Center just before speeches by Ted Kennedy and Michelle Obama were more like enormous scrums. Two North Dakota delegates also complained about the walk from Convention Center events to the Pepsi Center.8:30 p.m. Monday Despite all the fuss inside the Pepsi Center over recycling and composting, there was a decidedly less-green scene outside the arena Monday night.Dozens of large buses — bound for hotels — sat idling for at least a half hour waiting for delegates to emerge after the evening’s speeches. Clouds of diesel fumes choked the night air.

Photo by Dave Mayo