Dick Cheney gets a Bronx Cheer at a Yankees game! "Cheney, who visited both clubhouses after batting practice, watched part of the game from the box of Yankees owner George Steinbrenner and part from a first-row seat next to the Yankees dugout, where he sat between New York Gov. George Pataki and former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. Cheney was booed when he was shown on the right-field videoboard during the seventh-inning stretch." Could this be a precursor for what's to come when the republicans come to NY to exploit 9/11 for political gain for their convention? Let's hope so!

I've been listening to the new Beastie Boys album a lot in the last few days. It's such a straight ahead hiphop album. Some people have called it oldschool, and it's sort of true. There don't seem to be any live instruments and they don't really experiment with much like they have on their last few albums. There are no fast and furious punk rock songs, no psychedelic instrumentals, no Led Zeppelin or Beatles samples (that I can tell), none of the stuff that has made albums like Paul's Boutique and Check Your Head great. This album just contains top notch raps over great beats, and it's perfect just the way it is. And on more than one song, they give George Bush the sucker mc treatment. In That's It That's All is the line "'Cause George W's got nothing on me. We got to take the power from he," and It Takes Time to Build is entirely about the state of Bush's union and a plea for help. They also gave me a new anthem... "and if you don't like it than HEY FUCK YOU!"

Enough with pop culture trivialities and angry political rants for a moment. Today is a very special day. One year ago today, Anne and I got married in her parent's garden, making our love and commitment to each other official in front of our friends and family. It's been a wild year getting settled into the married life in a whole new city, making new friends, finding jobs, learning new things about each other even after all these years that we've been together. I think back on how I felt exactly one year ago and it was the best feeling I've ever had, standing there in front of everyone and seeing my beautiful bride coming to marry me. I think about the first time we met. I think about letters we wrote to each other, and fun times we've had both on special occasions and on just ordinary days. I don't think it's possible to love another person as much as I love Anne. She is the most sweet, caring, genuinely good person that I know. People who meet her the first time say that she just radiates goodness (which certainly helps to counterbalance the fact that I can sometimes be a bit on the evil side) and they are right. Not to be completely cliche, but she really does have a smile that lights up a room. Whenever I'm feeling down, I look at the picture we took in a photo booth on our first date and her smile hits me straight in the center of my heart and fills me with warmth. So if you see me today and notice that I'm a grinning idiot, now you know why.

It's election fever! No, not Bush vs Kerry. I'm talking about the Win John's Job contest. EDITED TO ADD: for me it's a tossup between Bob Levy and Richard Christie, though Sal the Stockbroker was pretty good too.

Hey kids, potato guns are dangerous!

Check it out: my dad is getting press in Florida for his music. I've got to say I'm a bit jealous of all the gigs he gets. I haven't touched my bass in months. It's not the sort of instrument that is much fun to play solo, at least not for me. I tried out for one band a while back which didn't pan out, and I took out an ad for people to jam with which was fun for a couple of nights. But I really miss being in a band. I miss being on stage and connecting with an audience, seeing them really getting into the music. It's the greatest feeling. One of these days I'm going to have to get off my ass and get something going again. I'm not sure if I can wait for my old drummer to move here in November.

You're in New York City and you just got hurt. Somebody calls the ambulance and the paramedics show up. One of them looks very familiar, though you have a hard time recognizing him in a paramedic uniform instead of spandex and chaps. While Sammy Hagar has his old job, Diamond Dave is getting a day job. (scroll toward the bottom)

Michael Moore has put his money where his mouth is. Fahrenheit 9/11 is available for free download in two mpg files. Their servers are SLAMMED, so look for it on your favorite peer to peer filesharing program (I recommend Bit Torrent). UPDATE: it appears to be down now. Hopefully enough people got it and it's being swapped all over the place.

I don't know what is stranger. That I got three hits from searches for Bush filmed in underwear or that I'm on the first page of search results for that.

Yesterday Anne and I saw Fahrenheit 9/11. After having some trouble getting our tickets on Fandango for the last couple of days, we finally were able to get them for the 4:30 matinee at the West Portal theater. We figured that getting there 1/2 hour early would be good since we anticipated crowds, but what we saw as we turned the corner of the theater was a line stretching around the block and signs saying that all shows were sold out and a midnight show was added. In fact, all shows in all of San Francisco were sold out. Now, given that San Francisco is the most liberal city in the USA, this is not a surprise. But as the reports flow in, this was the scene across the country. The film was all I expected it to be and more. It kicked off with the Florida recount drama and Bush's lackluster first 8 months in office and on vacation. Then the screen went black and there was the audio of the planes hitting the towers and slow motion shots of falling debris and freaked out New Yorkers. The opening credits rolled over a montage of Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz and Ashcroft getting put into makeup before going on TV. Wolfie was particularly disgusting, sticking his comb all the way in his mouth and getting it good and wet to do his hair. The first major applause happened toward the end of the credits for Bob and Harvey Weinstein, then for Michael Moore. After showing Bush's reaction to news of the attacks (sitting in a classroom for 7 minutes with a look on his face that said "oh shit, I'm in way over my head here"), Moore went on to discuss Bush's long history of ties to the Saudi royal family and the bin Laden family. He then went on to show how in the days after 9/11, all Bush wanted to do was find a way to tie Iraq into it. He showed what a failure Afghanistan and the hunt for bin Laden was. Then he went into the culture of fear that led to Americans embracing the Orwellian Patriot Act. After this, the bulk of the film was about the war in Iraq, prisoner abuse, corporate profiteering, and the failures of anybody in charge to have any real plan there. Anything you might have read about the grizzly war footage, they're not kidding. There are many disturbing images in this film. The entire audience cheered loudly when one disillusioned soldier said that if Rumsfeld came there today, he would demand his resignation. The audience also hissed every time Ashcroft came on the screen, and even for the split second that Ann Coulter was on screen. Afterwards, there was a long standing ovation during the credits and more cheers at the end of the credits when the words "Do Something" and the URL MichaelMoore.com came on the screen. When we left the theater, there was another line around the block to get into the next show and the feeling in the air was festive. I've been getting into flame wars about this film with right wingers on message boards all week. I know the futility of that, but sometimes I just can't help myself. I know I'm not going to change their minds and they're not going to change mine. This film is much like an internet flame war, though meticulously researched and well put together. It's not going to change any minds of the hardcore Bush partisans. But if any undecided voters (which according to the polls is the smallest number ever this year) see this film, I cannot see them possibly voting for Bush in November. What I think will be the real impact of this film will be turning out the people who typically don't vote to the polls. The September DVD release should help. I hope that President Kerry will remember this major boost when he's sworn in. Maybe he can put Mike in charge of the FCC.

This week's That 70's Recipe is dedicated to Freakgirl. I knew her blog was popular, but I had no idea just how popular until she linked to my campaign to complain to the FCC about Cheney saying the F-word and my traffic quadrupled for the day. I've known her way before she ran the biggest blog in New Jersey, and I know that she enjoys a tasty coctail from time to time. And what would be tastier than coctails with no alcohol, garnished with a button mushroom? Mmmmmmmmmmm chicken broth martinis!

I'm not a fan of Barbra Streisand. I don't like her music. I don't like her movies. But I absolutely LOVE the new version of People which she sang last night at a Kerry fundraiser: People I mean G-O-People Who'd believe there's such people in the world Bush sees a Lotta Condoleeza They're dividing the planet's oil According to Richard "Poil" And they're all just trainees Of Cheney's Now Rumsfeld We must get rid of Rumsfeld He's the spookiest person in the world As for Powell He's neither fish nor fowl He's in the back of the room While they're all fiddling with gloom No one's minding the store What's more Let's discuss this war we're lost in Don't ask what it's costin' What's a trillion or two to rule the world. The Senate Oooo, how I want the Senate All we need is two people in the world I see a Antonin Scalia How I dread every time he sits Scared out of my Wolfowitz Time those neocon guys Were gone byes They're lying While the globe is frying And the fishes are dying in the world And their solution For all of the pollution Is just to bear it and grin And practice not breathing in But things are gonna be great Just wait When the White House stationery Reads President John Kerry We'll be the luckiest people in the world

Democrat(?) Zell Miller seals the deal on selling his soul. "He's the highest-profile Democrat to back President Bush for re-election. And now, a congressional source says Georgia Senator Zell Miller will speak at the Republican National Convention in New York this summer."

I just sent the following letter to the FCC: I saw something on CSPAN today that greatly offended me. Vice President Dick Cheney used the F word live on television this afternoon from the floor of the Senate. What sort of message is he sending to our children by using language like this on the floor of the Senate and on live television? When the Brownback bill is passed, will it be possible to fine Vice President Cheney for this indecency? As an important public official in this country, he really needs to be made an example of. I would like to see him fined to the maximum extent of the law. Thank you, and God bless America. -- Jason Buckley San Francisco, CA I suggest that everybody reading this do the same. Be sure to bcc it to Howard.

Nothing likeDick Cheney being a cantankerous prick to break my short little bloggers block. "According to congressional aides, Leahy said hello to Cheney following the taking of the Senate group photo on the floor of the chamber. Cheney, who is president of the Senate, then ripped into Leahy for the Democratic senator's criticism this week of alleged war profiteering in Iraq by Halliburton, the oil services company that Cheney once ran. Leahy and other Democrats have called for congressional hearings into whether the vice president helped the firm win lucrative contracts in Iraq after the U.S.-led war that toppled Saddam Hussein. During their exchange, Leahy noted that Republicans had accused Democrats of being anti-Catholic because they are opposed to some of President Bush's anti-abortion judges, the aides said. That's when Cheney unloaded with the 'F-bomb,' aides said."

There's so much going on right now and I just don't seem to be very inspired to write anything about any of it. Luckily, there are lots of other bloggers out there who aren't suffering from bloggers block. For national politics, check out Exit Stage Left and No More Mr. Nice Blog. For politics with DC flavor, check out Zoe. For all the Michael Moore news fit to print and then some, check out the F-9/11 Blog. For a whole range of cool stuff, check out Freakgirl and Enormous Fun.

The Boss vs. the Shrub. Sign the petition to ask Bruce Springsteen to play a show at Giants Stadium while Bush mangles the English language and embarasses our nation further speaks at the republican 9/11 exploitation a-go-go convention on Sept 1 in NYC.

Kerry/Gonzo 04? Fear and Loathing in the Oval Office? "'Just to put your minds all at ease, I have four words for you that I know will relieve you greatly,' Kerry told the crowd of donors. "How does this sound -- Vice President Hunter Thompson.'" (scroll to bottom of linked page)

Droppin' science like Galileo dropped the orange... Does it really come as a surprise who the scientific community is supporting in the presidential race? "The Bush administration has ignored unbiased scientific advice in the policy-making that is so important to our collective welfare."

This rules!

What if you planned a huge public outcry against gay marriage and nobody joined in? "Across the country, evangelical Christians are voicing frustration and puzzlement that there has not been more of a political outcry since May 17, when Massachusetts became the first state to issue same-sex marriage licenses. Evangelical leaders had predicted that a chorus of righteous anger would rise up out of churches from coast to coast and overwhelm Congress with letters, e-mails and phone calls in support of a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. But that has not happened."

Oh this is just great: "Al-Qaida may 'reward' American president with strike aimed at keeping him in office, senior intelligence man says." You know it's going to be an interesting election when the perpetrators of 9/11 are actively campaigning for Bush, the 9/11 panel is helping to chip away at his credibility.

It's time again for another one of Those 70's Recipes! This one is full of chopped celery goodness. But what on earth is a jackstraw and who would think that would sound tasty?

Exclusive clips from the upcoming documentary "The Hunting of the President." It's a documentary about the right wing attacks on Bill Clinton that will probably not get a whole lot of attention because of it's release on the heels of Fahrenheit 9/11, but anyone with any interest in the dirty way that political right operates should really check this one out.

While another American is beheaded in the Middle East and the 9/11 commission continues to poke holes in the Bush administrations claims and actions, Bush and Cheney stick their fingers in their ears and sing La La La Iraq and Al Quaeda were connected, and expect us to just take their word for it as their credibility continues to crumble. At this point, the probability that Fahrenheit 9/11 will be the final nail in this administration's coffin is growing exponentially. Just look at the ferocity of the right wing campaign against it. You would think if their case against Moore (or for Bush for that matter) was a solid one, or if they actually respected the intelligence of regular Americans to make up their own minds, they wouldn't care if his film was shown. There is nothing more entertaining than watching these right wing rats bring out their claws when backed into a corner. If they were smart, they'd realize that their days are numbered and they would work doubletime to ram through every last bit of their radical agenda while they have the chance, but it looks like once again their macho arrogance will work against them.

Finally, somebody has taken the best part of hockey and built an event around it!

Time Magazine has a story on blogging. They mention a lot of the bigger names in the blogosphere (oddly, the word "blogoshpere" didn't make it in), but I was bummed that Metafilter didn't get namechecked, not to mention any of my co-contributors to the book Never Threaten to Eat your Co-Workers: Best of Blogs. And they don't mention the name of a single blogging tool (the closest they come is by mentioning Pyra Labs without even mentioning Blogger). Also missing was any mention of commenting and the online communities that can form around a blog. I guess I'm expecting a little too much from Time. edited to add:Also, while it was great that Fark and "not safe for work" were mentioned in the same sentence, there was no mention of the word "asshat." What's up with that?

Richard Roeper on Bush hate vs. Clinton hate. "Talk about your institutional amnesia. It is absolutely astonishing that some of the same people who spent more than eight years beating up on Bill (and Hillary, and Chelsea, and Buddy the dog), are now so offended by attacks against their guy that sometimes land below the belt. Folks, do you not see the hypocrisy at work here? This makes about as much sense as a bully taking a kid's lunch money for eight years -- only to complain when the kid finally lands a counterpunch during freshman year in high school. 'Ow! You're mean!'" (via F911 blog)

George Bush: Psychoanalyzed. Guess what? The results are not pretty (salon day pass required). "Three new psychological portraits of George W. Bush paint him as a control freak driven by rage, fear and an almost murderous Oedipal competition with his father. And that's before we get to Mom." See also "Prominent DC Shrink Diagnoses Bush to be a Paranoid, Sadistic Meglomaniac" from Capitol Hill Blue and "Psychologist Oliver James analyses the behaviour of the American president" from the Guardian.

Classic TV: Crispin Glover's infamous appearance on David Letterman (wmv file via monkeyfilter)

Although I think I've seen Clerks enough times that I can pretty much recite the whole thing in my sleep, I still want this upcoming special edition 10th anniversary DVD set.

What the hell is "monkey fishing???" (via fark)

For all of my East Coast homies and for anyone who plans to protest the republican 9/11 exploitation party convention in NYC, I've created a couple of new t-shirts.

Who is Bob Boudelang? The folks over at Democratic Underground have been accused of not being fair and balanced enough, so in the spirit of Equal Time, they have the right wing rantings of Bob Boudelang. Before anybody jumps up to alert me to the fact that Bob is actually a parody of right wingers, I know that. But I scrap with people just like Bob every day on the yahoo news message boards and he has them down to a T. In his latest column, "Bwahahahahaha Lefties! Ronald Reagan Will Still Be Dead in November!!", he offers such great gems as "At last the white males who built this nation and died for its freedom get to have a hero in Ronald W. Reagan, so shut up and move to Communist Canada if you disagree. And I am sure if they were not dead they would rise from their graves if they were not cremated or rotted away and point out that it is no coincidence that Ronald "W" has the same middle initial as Our Great President has a middle initial. Which is "W," the greatest of all the 50 letters of the alphabet. Explain THAT, Mr. Atheist! If this is not proof of God's plan for the greatest country in the whole stinking world, I do not know what is." I don't know if it's funny or scary that this guy's parodies with titles such as "The Greatest Woman In America Karen Huge Is Back, So There, Democraps, LOL!," "Traitor Democraps Should All Be Killed For Their Hate Speech!," and "It's Haspa Nabisco to Californnia, Baby!!" could probably be posted on the freakrepublic forums to rabid cheers.

Oh yes, it's that special time of the week where I post another one of Those 70's Recipes! This one isn't just tasty, inexpensive and moderately low in calories, it's SPECTACULAR!!!

Ray Charles has hit the road Jack, and he won't come back no more no more no more no more. He's probably adding some smokin' keys and gravelly vocals to the great jam session in the sky right now. Rest in peace, Ray. You will be missed.

Khaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan!!!! It's Shatner-riffic!

Morrissey vs Bush vs Kerry?

The Maoist International Movement is in the movie reviewing game now, and let me tell you, they make the CAPAlert guy look like Gene Shallit! They are both pretty easily offended by things most of us would just consider to be good old entertainment, but while Capalert takes issue with adults in underwear or mixed sexes sharing a hotel room, the Ebert and Roepers over at MIM take issue with the Dalai Lama. Let's compare their reviews of Shrek 2, shall we? Capalert takes issue with the fairy godmother for being a witch: "But the fairy godmother - err - fairy witch (Jennifer Saunders) can. She has plans for her son, Prince Charming (Rupert Everett) and Fiona. The witch wants her son to steal Fiona and will stoop to forcing King Harold to hire hit man, Puss-in-Boots (Antonio Banderas) to kill Shrek to get her way. Yes, to kill Shrek." MIM has very different issues with the fairy godmother: "Gender bureaucrat enemy of the people "Fairy Godmother" lives a life of dogmatism following the scripts in "Cinderella," "Snow White" and such books that she keeps in her library. Living off the exploited workers, and selling hocus-pocus to the people like many other unproductive sector flim-flam artists