the new issue of Beeswax Magazine is a must-read;

Confessions of a computer programmer who wrote vote-rigging software for Republicans

The Ramsey case, which has no signifigance whatsoever, garnered 10,000,000 news stories

Rumsfeld goes after the American People on Iraq

Republicans pressure intelligence agencies to justify attacking Iran

and, I noticed some political commentary from Good Ol' Jim Ross on Raw Tonight: "This referee is slower than government aid to New Orleans."

Do yourself a favor and rediscover Richard Brautigan;

Ex-CIA Boss says US less safe

Kids have raised more money for Katrina relief than all major corportations

Bible School teacher fired for being a woman

Bush spurns world fight against AIDS

Apparently stripteases at funerals in China are such a problem the country has moved to ban them

and from Maine comes a Mystery Beast

Gorilla Biscuits @ The Pound (w/ Murphy's Law and Comeback Kid)

The show was awesome, way worth the money, and essentially a set by set reliving of my record collection from ages 15-20. Highlights included Dan's stage jump, the guitarist almost colliding with a steel beam, and the band stopping the show to call out "that guy in the black shirt" and telling him to "cut the shit with the elbows and shit." Man that placed smelled like punk rock.

In the news:

Intelligence Officialls doubt Bush/Cheney claims about Iran

The GOP is circulating 'A Democratic Win will aid Terror' talking point to it's party members and media outlets

The Yankees took two from the Red Sox, which I think also somehow aids the Terrorists

Free hot dog night at Thieves' Tavevern last night;

but in relevent news;

House GOP line up to support racial profiling at airports

China's WalMARTs are unionizing

Bill Gates' lashes out at Bush's HIV policies

And speaking of Hot Dogs, are they messing up human DNA?

The Bay Area Poetry Marathon

Last night I read at the final installment of the Bay Area Poetry Marathon, curated by Donna dela Pierre and Joseph Lease, and it was one of the finest nights of poetry I've been to in a while.

If I were going to ask a poet to filibuster for me on the floor of the Senate, it would be Edard Foster, and Doug Powell has such wonderful and humerous presence at the mic. It was at the Lab, which had a monsterous installation of flying machines going on, so the whole feeling was chaotic and great. Gloria Frym and Brenda Hillman highlighted the event, and Anna Eyre came in from New Mexico for it.

In the news;

The US helped Israel plan it's seige of Lebanon

Free Speech is continually limited on campuses

and, The African Desert has its own Mysteries

The Yankees taking over the lead in the AL East isn't just a problem for the Red Sox, it's a problem for America;

also, Kim Jong Il is nuts

The return of Spring Heeled Jack?

...not the ska band

Maurice Clarett only has himself to blame;

The Bush Administration, which bemoans militias, is funding it's own war profiteering global mercenary group

Joe Lieberman is reading off the GOP talking points

A Federal Court is consolidating all 17 lawsuits regarding Bush's illegal wiretapping

My fantasy baseball team is kicking ass:

When Huey Lewis asked for a new drug, he should have checked out Phil's Coffee on 24th and Folsom.

In non-coffee related news;

Bush and Rove offer Lieberman help

The White House is pushing to legalize War Crimes

and, 30 percent of Americans can't name the year 9/11 happened

See "Little Miss Sunshine"

It's the best movie i've seen in a long time.

In the news this weekend;

Bush didn't know Iraq had ethnic groups

Many troops on the ground say Iraq is in a Civil War

And an interesting story out of the UK about Israeli pilots

The new Killers single is, and it was odd when I realized it, watered down Meatloaf

Neocons and Cheney want Israel to start a four-front War by attacking Iran and Syria

A top General says Iraq is headed to Civil War

And, Katherine Harris continues to be the victim of Karma

In Other News;

The GOP Congress introduced a bill to raise the minimum wage BUT (they can't do anything legit) also cut wages for tipped employees AND repeal the Estate Tax, which only applies to the top one eighth of the top one percent, and will immediately add tens of billions of dollars in debt this year, and every year to come. Awesome. Way to go jerks.

Also,

Elvis' Teddby Bear Was Destroyed

Bigfoot sightings?

Rick Santorum is funding a Green Party Candidate to siphon votes from his Democratic opponent