Bitter Brew: I opened a charming neighborhood coffee shop. Then it destroyed my life, from Slate.

Post-Traumatic Strike Disorder: One New Yorker's heroic struggle to commute to work, from Slate.

The Chronicles of Narnia Rap: It won't save Saturday Night Live, but it could save hip hop, from Slate.

What Beast Is This?: The trouble with Christmas dinner, from Slate.

Bah, Humbug: The horrors of December in a one-party state, from Slate.

The Maccabees and the Hellenists: Hanukkah as Jewish civil war, from Slate.

Eluding Happiness: A Buddhist problem with Christmas, from Slate.

Kazakh Adoption Diary, from Slate.

Clinton's Guantanamo: How the Democratic president set the stage for a land without law, from Slate.

Xbox Economics, Part 2: More reasons Microsoft isn't charging enough for the season's hot game console, from Slate.

Love Match: Couples who cross-donate kidneys, from Slate.

Are Journalists Underpaid? Pity the sad, broke New York Times reporter, from Slate.

Kitchen Confidential: Professional chefs reveal their shortcuts, from Slate.

Do Giant Babies Grow Into Giant Adults? Birth size and its consequences, from Slate.

When Chinese Sue the State, Cases Are Often Smothered, from The New York Times.

Hosed: Which pantyhose are best?, from Slate.

Nerds in the Hood, Stars on the Web, from The New York Times. The video.

Gen the Genius, from the Yarn Harlot, featuring the greatest fan sweater of all time.

Happy Hanukkah!, from You Knit What?? "Just because you're Jewish doesn't mean you're safe from the tacky holiday sweater."

ACLU Pizza Ad, from AdCritic, courtesy of Brad.

The War on Christmas, the Prequel: When the holiday was banned, from Slate, courtesy of Alison.

Pro Bikes: Maureen Bruno-Roy's IF Planet Cross, from cyclingnews.com.

Novak Leaving CNN to Join Fox News, from The New York Times. Surprise, surprise.

Christmas miracle: Turtle gets braces, from The Boston Globe.

Cool fixed gear, courtesy of Kevin.

Funny cycling-themed mobile phone ad from Europe, courtesy of FenderGal.

Big Air!, from Fat Cyclist.

House Backs McCain on Detainees, Defying Bush, from The New York Times.

A Happy Hipster Hanukkah, from The New York Times.

FrankenFido: Our creepiest genetic invention, the dog, from Slate.

The "Out to Lunch" Defense: Karl Rove's story doesn't make sense and Beyond Spin: The propaganda presidency of George W. Bush, from Slate. both courtesy of Mark A.

The Backwards Bush Keychain, courtesy of Miyon. This keychain displays a digital countdown to the next election.

Show, Interrupted: Arrested Development lingers between death and resurrection, from Slate.

Naked and the Dread: I pose nude for students. Will the art world ever be the same?, from Slate.

The Lion, the Witch, and the Really Foul Candy: In pursuit of Turkish Delight, from Slate.

The Other Asian Miracle: The intimidating secrets of raising high-achievers, from Slate.

The Price of Motherhood: Ready to have a baby? You'll earn 10 percent more if you wait a year, from Slate.

Japanese get fat penguins to exercise, from The Boston Globe.

Non-denominational wrapping paper, from ThinkGeek.

Ask the Doctor: A brighter shade of.... yellow?, from VeloNews.

Glossy Skin, Vinyl-Clad Heart, from The New York Times.

When the War Room Is the Family Room, from The New York Times.

It's Not Your Grandpa's Moral Hazard Anymore: The problem goes corporate, from Slate.

Japan goes high-tech to catch gropers, from The Boston Globe.

Inquiry Details Claims of C.I.A. Prisons in Europe, from The New York Times.

Children Learn by Monkey See, Monkey Do. Chimps Don't, from The New York Times.

It's Sensitive. Really, from The New York Times. Fascinating article about narwhals.

When Clothes Help Make the War, from The New York Times.

Environment and Cancer: The Links Are Elusive, from The New York Times.

Team GB miss out on pursuit gold, from the BBC, courtesy of Mark A. Features some stunningly pathetic whinging.

Operation USO Care Package -- click here if you'd like to send one to a member of the U.S. Armed Forces stationed overseas. The cost is $25.

Suggestions for the Lance Armstrong Movie, by Fat Cyclist, from cyclingnews.com.

Men in Love: Is Brokeback Mountain a gay film?, from Slate.

It's All Too Much: Is there anything left to say about the Beatles?, from Slate.

Recent Engrish Discovery, courtesy of Josh.

A Necessity Airlines Shouldn't Take for Granted, from The New York Times.

Temp Jobs at the Wine Shop: Let the Orientation Flow, from The New York Times.

Yours, Mine and Heirs', from The New York Times.

Secretary Rice's Rendition, from The New York Times.

Ever So Humble, Cast Iron Outshines the Fancy Pans, from The New York Times.

Sit Happens: A search for the best desk chair, from Slate.

The Medical Tourist: How my shoulder sent me to China, from Slate. The Medical Tourist: Getting the Beijing treatment, from Slate.

Oh how I wish I could have seen Mario Cipollini on the Italian version of Dancing with the Stars.

Bike-powered iPod charger, courtesy of Mark A.

The Right Price for Digital Music: Why 99 cents per song is too much, and too little, from Slate.

Marathon of Mirth: Had enough Christmas parties yet? Bush has to host 26 of them, from Slate.

Better Bananas, Nicer Mosquitoes, from The New York Times.

Surf, Shave Ice and Sunsets on Kauai, from The New York Time.

A Star Chef at Your (Expensive) Stove, from The New York Times, courtesy of Mark A.

The "Left Behind" Movies: How to end the world on a budget, from Slate.

Vietnam War Intelligence 'Deliberately Skewed,' Secret Study Says, from The New York Times, courtesy of Mark A.

Field of Hallucinations, from The New York Times, courtesy of Brad.

The Shorts List: Amazon's selling stories and essays for 49 cents. Is anybody buying?, from Slate.

Hug and Run: John McCain is standing with Bush but running from Bushism, from Slate.

Moody? Cranky? Tired? Feed Me!, from The New York Times.

The Bicycle Diaries: Is it possible to live in America without a car? Uh, sort of, from Slate.

Emily, the stowaway cat, is coming home, from The Boston Globe.

Nobody Bikes in L.A.: But they'd be a lot happier if they did, from Slate.

After Storm, Riding His Heart Out, from The New York Times.

Longer needles needed for fatter buttocks, from Yahoo! News, courtesy of Josh.

Item from Engrish.com, courtesy of Josh.

Cyclists team up in sport, life: Salem now home for dynamic duo, from The Boston Globe, courtesy of Robin and Josh.

Gimme an Rx! Cheerleaders Pep Up Drug Sales, from The New York Times.

Advice for Friends of Cyclocross, from the 20 Jan 1921 issue of Le Miroir Des Sports, courtesy of Brad.

In the Line of Fire, from The New York Times, courtesy of Rachel.

The Way We Eat: Dream Machine, from The New York Times.

The importance of being Darcy: Matthew MacFayden has a tough job filling Colin Firth's smoldering shoes, from MSNBC.

Harvard, for Less: Extension Courses' New Allure, from The New York Times.

Shop-Till-You-Drop Specials, Revealed Here First, from The New York Times.

Sex Ed for the Stroller Set, from The New York Times.

The Unwasteful Home: I Vant to Drink Your Vatts, from The New York Times.

Kazakhstan threatens "Borat" with court, from Yahoo! News, courtesy of Brad.

On the Effectiveness of Aluminium Foil Helmets: An Empirical Study, from MIT, courtesy of Mark A and his friend Julius.

Austen Power: A neat, fleet Pride and Prejudice, from Slate.

End the Mortgage-Interest Deduction! Why the left should embrace the Bush tax commission's most radical proposal, from Slate.

The Secret Language of Jeans: Why some people are willing to shell out for designer denim, from Slate.

How Do Legal Teams Work?: Have my lawyer call my lawyer, from Slate.

So, You Wanna Torch a Peugeot? How French hooligans set cars on fire, from Slate.

How Accurate Is Jarhead?: What one Marine makes of the Gulf War movie, from Slate, by Nathaniel Fick.

Stay Out of My Sock Drawer: The Supreme Court asks if a wife can let the police look for her husband's drugs, from Slate.

At Center of a Clash, Rowdy Children in Coffee Shops, from The New York Times.

Found: Sam Alito finally turns in his thesis, from Slate.

Ding-a-Ling-a-Ling: Ambulances can be dangerous places, from Slate.

President Cheney: His office really does run national security, from Slate.

Proselytizer for Pedaling Acts on His Words, from The New York Times, courtesy of Rachel and Mark A.

President Bush's Walkabout, from The New York Times, courtesy of Rachel.

The Delicate Job of Transforming a Geisha, from The New York Times.

'Gulag' leak from CIA men, from the Sunday Times, courtesy of Mark A.

A Wal-Mart-Brand Symposium: Academics and PR Coexist at Conference on Social Impact, from the Washington Post, courtesy of Mark A.

My Year of Hurricanes: A trip to the devastated Lower Ninth Ward, from Slate.

A Fred's-Eye View: Lookin' for some Road Rage, from VeloNews. (Downhill road racing.)

EPO maker to back California Tour, from VeloNews.

On Lanai, a Laid-Back Hawaii, from The New York Times.

Einstein on the Beach: The Ph.D.'s of Culebra, from The New York Times.

Karl Rove's Dying Dream: So much for the permanent Republican majority, from Slate.

Cheap thrills: Its prices are just one way IKEA is altering how America decorates, from The Boston Globe.

Beyond Gasoline: Taking the Future for a Drive, from The New York Times.

Red Devils knock off Lexington for first time, from the Burlington Union, featuring our own Rachel.

Take Back the Prom: How, and why, one school called it all off--and you can, too, from Slate.

Right to Wife: Why does Judge Alito treat women like girls?, from Slate.

The Coil and I: Adventures with a mad scientist's lightning machine, from Slate.

Is Maureen Dowd Necessary?: The Times op-ed columnist adds nothing to the debate between the sexes, from Slate.

The Word We Love To Hate: Literally, from Slate, courtesy of Alison.

Daily Show: Corddry - Double Vision. "Rob Corddry would love to report on Scooter Libby, but there's a giant ball of tin foil to look at."

Experts say US is losing war on terror, from Reuters courtesy of Josh.

A New Weapon for Wal-Mart: A War Room, from The New York Times.

On Target, from The Boston Globe Magazine. "So what's the big difference between Target and Wal-Mart? We welcome one to a prime corner of Downtown Crossing but cold-shoulder the other."

Two Koreas to Compete as Single Nation at Olympics, from The New York Times.

On Gravity, Oreos and a Theory of Everything, from The New York Times.

But Will It Stop Cancer?, from The New York Times.

Scientists Link a Prolific Gene Tree to the Manchu Conquerors of China, from The New York Times.

Trick and Treat: Sammy Alito is the whole bag of goodies, from Slate.

Scooter Who? How Bush will deal with the Libby indictment, from Slate.

Hands Across Catholic America: Should churchgoers hold hands during Mass?, from Slate.

A Long, Rocky Road With 39 Months to Go, from The New York Times.

Niger-Scooter-Plame-Gate: The bewildering scandal of the moment, from Slate.

My Year of Hurricanes: Calculating the good things that came out of Katrina, from Slate.

The Novak Report: When the Plame indictments come down, the columnist will have a lot to explain, from Slate.

Hear Me, Hear Me: The case of the year that the Supreme Court may duck, from Slate.

A Slate Soldier Goes to War: Arriving in a Combat Zone, from Slate.

The Brontosaurus: Monty Python's flying creationism, from Slate.

When Good Strips Go Bad, Doonesbury strips from Slate. "Harriet, we hardly knew ye. The following week of strips on the planned confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers were intended for publication beginning Monday, October 31st."

Flemish wife calls Walloon spouse "lazy," arrested, from Reuters courtesy of Josh.

Hijab Chic: How retailers are marketing to fashion-conscious Muslim women, from Slate.

You Knit What??, courtesy of Miyon.

Comparing Extremists: On the question of who's more out of the mainstream, the conventional wisdom is dead wrong, from The American Prospect, courtesy of Rachel.

How to be a Bike Snob, from cyclingnews.

Water From a Stone: In which Scott McClellan actually admits something!, from Slate.

A Slate Soldier Goes to War: The Things He Carried, from Slate. A Slate Soldier Goes to War:The Ups and Downs of Preparing for War, from Slate.

Grim milestone for U.S. military in Iraq, from The Boston Globe, courtesy of Mark A.

Iraqi death toll much higher than U.S., from The Boston Globe, courtesy of Mark A.

McDonald's to Add Facts on Nutrition to Packaging, from The New York Times.

Ivory Tower Intrigues: The pseudo-meritocracy of the Ivy League, from Slate.

Cheap: It's Chic, but Is It Good?, from The New York Times.

He's Having a Baby: And needs a stroller pronto, from Slate.

Dr. Atomic: An opera about the moral complexities of Hiroshima, from Slate.

My Big Fat 80's Bar Mitzvah, from The New York Times, courtesy of Rachel.

Protecting the Presidential Seal. No Joke, from The New York Times, courtesy of Rachel.

The Colbert Factor: The Daily Show's senior bloviator gets a desk of his own, from Slate.

Makeup Test: A questionnaire Harriet Miers can answer, from Slate.

Prez Iraq team fought to squelch war critics, from the New York Daily News, courtesy of Josh.

Caution: Student Driver: Can I learn how to drive a stick shift?, from Slate.

Who Is Scooter Libby?: The secretive Cheney aide at the heart of the CIA leak case, from Slate.

What's the Deal With Tom DeLay's Mug Shot?: Why doesn't it have numbers on it?, from Slate.

History of the World, Part 2: Jewish conspiracy theory: the satire, from Slate.

Where's My Avian Flu Shot?: How to ramp up vaccine production, from Slate.

Former Powell Aide Says Bush Policy Is Run by 'Cabal', from the New York Times, courtesy of Rachel.

The Harriet Miers Blog, courtesy of Alison.

Silent Night? Holy Crap! Tom and Katie's scary Scientology birth plan, from Slate, courtesy of Alison.

Item: Sisters Think Parents Did O.K., from The New York Times, courtesy of Robin and Rachel.

Meet the Life Hackers, from The New York Times, courtesy of Rachel.

Doomsday: The Latest Word if Not the Last, from The New York Times, courtesy of Mark A.

Chewie to Become U.S. Citizen, from Cinescape News, courtesy of Rachel.

Britain's Secret Service Indeed! Spy on It on Its Web site, from The New York Times, courtesy of Brad.

Don't Look Now... Here comes inflation, from Slate.

Miers and Brimstone: Let's stop pretending there's no religious test for nominees, from Slate.

Kid Power: Let's use it to fight the flu, from Slate.

No Gifts, from Bobke Strut.

All the President's Hacks: The New Republic makes a list, from Slate.

The Miers Test: You're a senator who wants to run for president. Do you dare oppose Bush's nominee?, from Slate.

How Are Nobel Prizes Awarded?, from Slate.

Say What?: Bush's speech was a sad, demoralizing spectacle, from Slate.

Do Dogs Think?: Owners assume their pet's brain works like their own. That's a big mistake, from Slate.

So, You Want to Be a Beer Vendor... How concessionaires make a living, from Slate.

Weaving Yarns In Cyberspace, from CBS News.

Me Against My Students: How I use the Internet to combat plagiarists, fabulists, and cheaters, from Slate.

An Open Letter to Assos, from Fat Cyclist.

Lance Armstrong's Endurance Tested By Sheryl Crow Concert, from The Onion.

How I Made a Carbon Fiber Bike in My Garage, by Damon Rinard.

God told me to invade Iraq, Bush tells Palestinian ministers, from the BBC, courtesy of Josh.

The October Surprise: It's your home heating bill, 70 percent higher than last year's, from Slate.

Author Nathaniel Fick: One Bullet Away, from WBUR's Here and Now.

Best Show on Earth, from Dooce.

Weeks Later, Most Storm Victims Lie Unnamed, from The New York Times.

Eminent Domain Revisited: A Minnesota Case, from The New York Times.

Slowing Is Seen in Housing Prices in Hot Markets, from The New York Times.

Gasoline surge leads to pedal power: Group expects sale of 20 million bicycles this year, approaching record years set in early 1970s, from CNN.

How to Succeed in Cyclocross Without Really Trying, from Kerry Litka's web diary.

Worth linking to again: Stuff on My Cat.

Miers' Qualifications Are 'Non-Existent', from Human Events (by Pat Buchanan), courtesy of Mark A.

Esquire wikis article on Wikipedia, from News.com, courtesy of Heather.

Treasures Amidst the Trash, from the American Enterprise, courtesy of Heather.

Abortion Might Outgrow Its Need for Roe v. Wade, from The New York Times.

Reimbursement Program for Troops Stalls, from The New York Times.

A Scholar Tackles the Wash, from The New York Times.

Are McMansions Going Out of Style?, from The New York Times.

Smooth Ride, from the MIT Media Lab, courtesy of Tad. "The colored-on map below represents the bumpiness of the streets of Cambridge."

Mind the Gaps: Intelligent design as an answer to all life's great conundrums, from Slate. Grow Some Testables: Intelligent design ducks the rigors of science, from Slate.

The Grip of Gas: Why you'll pay through the nose to keep driving, from Slate.

Spray paint the weapon in this battle: Anonymous vandal obscures cyclists' signs, from The Boston Globe.

Karen Hughes, Stay Home!: What on earth is she doing in the Middle East?, from Slate.

Giant Squid: Don't mess with them, from Slate. Giant Squid, Where Are You?: If they're so big, why can't we find them?, from Slate.

Compared With Their Filmmakers, the Penguins Have It Easy, from The New York Times.

Grizzly Mel, from Manolo's Shoe Blog.

Giant squid caught on film for first time, from BoingBoing.

Peeing statues spell out famous quotes and SMSs in wee, from BoingBoing.

Drug Secrets: What the FDA isn't telling, from Slate.

Wayward moose killed near BHS, from the Burlington Union.

Antiwar Fervor Fills the Streets: Demonstration Is Largest in Capital Since U.S. Military Invaded Iraq, from the Washington Post, courtesy of Mark A. Weekend of Protests Photo Gallery, from the Washington Post, courtesy of Mark A.

A Web of Faith, Law and Science in Evolution Suit, from The New York Times.

Is It Better to Buy or Rent?, from The New York Times.

A Trend So New It's Old: More on the New York Times' career vs. motherhood story, from Slate.

Escape From Houston: How I fled Rita, from Slate. What's Causing All the Traffic in Houston?: Evacuation gridlock and what to do about it, from Slate.

Resolution Revolution: It's finally time to buy an HDTV, from Slate.

How To Monkey With the Web: The software that lets you rewrite your favorite sites, from Slate.

Paging Dr. Welby: The medical sins of Grey's Anatomy, from Slate.

What FEMA Could Learn From Wal-Mart: Less than you think, from Slate.

My Year of Hurricanes: The dramatic rescue of our lost cat from New Orleans, from Slate.

The Missing Link: The president's errant attempt to mix his troubles, from Slate. Shades of bin Laden and Iraq...

Martha's Makeover: She's fantastic on TV. Too bad her apprentices are so loathsome, from Slate.

Customer Service Heaven: An occasional series ferreting out hard-to-find phone numbers, from Slate.

Supersize Strollers Ignite Sidewalk Drama, from The New York Times.

Hurricane Relief? Or a $200,000 Check?: I'd take the check, and so would most of Katrina's victims, from Slate.

The Loot Stops Here: How to stop members of Congress before they spend again, from Slate.

Reinventing Television: We interrupt this broadcast to bring you a Special Report from Jon Stewart, from Wired, courtesy of Mark A.

Rethinking Originalism: Original intent for liberals (and for conservatives and moderates, too), from Slate.

Yes, Martha Fires Someone, but Pink Slip Is Scented, from The New York Times.

You Have Two Cows, from a million places on the Internet.

European jeers, from the Anchorage Daily News, written by my friend Heather. (Scroll to the bottom.)

Bestseller in Mideast: Barbie With a Prayer Mat, from The New York Times, courtesy of Rachelita.

Ass Backwards: The media's silence about rampant anal sex, from Slate, courtesy of a guy who probably wants to remain unnamed.

Challenged by Creationists, Museums Answer Back, from The New York Times.

Craving Hyphenated Chinese, from The New York Times.

Weasel-Words Rip My Flesh!: Spotting a bogus trend story on Page One of today's New York Times, from Slate.

Pity the Poor Fiscal Conservative: Because no one else cares if the government busts the budget for Katrina relief, from Slate.

Insensitive Idiots Market Katrina Drink, from AdRants, courtesy of Alison.

Helvetica Kicks Crap Out of Arial, from AdRants, courtesy of Alison.

A Shop for Riders Hooked on Wheels, from The New York Times. Strangely, this was in the auto section. And what's up with the lame headline?

Tax Cuts Weather Storm, from Slate.

Beyond the Astrodome: Helping the evacuees in Houston, from Slate.

Many Women at Elite Colleges Set Career Path to Motherhood, from The New York Times.

The 6 Percent Solution: Skip Real Estate Agents, from The New York Times.

Different Strokes: Pro golf goes transsexual, from Slate.

Pushing Subaru's Buttons: The Four Levels of Stability Control, revealed!, from Slate.

Bush's Second Second Inaugural Address: The president tries to start this term all over again in New Orleans, from Slate.

Jimmy Carter's favorite charity: a wildly expensive way to help small numbers of the non-poor, from The Weekly Standard.

Romney view on bugging stirs responses: FBI rules detailed; Muslims angered, from The Boston Globe.

Moments of Truth: What John Roberts really thinks, from Slate.

Reading Faulkner With Oprah: It's underrated, from Slate.

Vatican bid to find gays in seminary stirs concern, from The Boston Globe.

Mass. Lawmakers Reject Gay Marriage Ban, from AP, courtesy of Alison.

Everybody Poops, from Wonkette.

Where To Hide From Mother Nature: Wyoming? Nope. West Virginia? Think again, from Slate.

Homeland Security's Lousy Morale: Only the Small Business Administration has unhappier employees, from Slate.

This man almost died because of Bush's FEMA, from the Philadelphia Daily News blog.

An irritating speck?, from Universal Hub. Oh Mitt Romney. Just go home already.

Corruption, from the Interdictor.

Confirmation Report: Oh, the Humanity!, from Slate.

Bi-blog Coverage of the Tennessee State Fair, from Nashville Stitch 'n Bitch. Some of these entries will take your breath away. Creepy dolls, crochet, 9/11 -- need I say more?

Minority Retort: This is your moment, Democrats. Don't blow it, from Slate.

The Worst-Laid Plans: Why was emergency planning so awful?, from Slate.

Comedian David Spade (L) spoofs host Martha Stewart on the set of her nationally syndicated talk show 'Martha'..., from Reuters (photo).

CPAC of the South, from Wonkette. "Today, the New York Times investigates the Christian conservatives' fifth column: Penguins."

Freakonomics: Does the Truth Lie Within?, from The New York Times Magazine.

After the Flood, from This American Life. Definitely worth a listen.

FEMA Director Michael Brown resigns: Chief steps down following removal from role in New Orleans aid effort, from AP, courtesy of Alison.

Remember that Time Anderson Cooper Got Mad?, from Wonkette.

Hack of a Job: The president learns that a good hack is hard to find, from Slate.

Going Courting: How same-sex marriage opponents came to love the courts, from Slate.

Chief Justice Rehnquist's Drug Habit: The man in full, from Slate.

Dispatch From New Orleans: What the rescue workers find, from Slate.

The New College Try: Helping low-income students write their application essays, from Slate.

The Indie Game: The secret to success is a Hollywood star, from Slate.

Whoopsi Gras, from Mark Fiore.

Too Good To Check, from Wonkette, courtesy of Mark A.

WSJ: White rich elude Orleans chaos, don't want poor blacks back, from Raw Story.

Police Trapped Thousands in New Orleans, from Workbench.

FEMA Chief Is Relieved of Storm Duties, from The New York Times.

Enough. It's Over, from Daily Kos.

Physician who told off Cheney lost his home in Katrina, arrested by Cheney's M-16-carrying goons, from OpEd News, courtesy of Josh.

Hurricane Katrina: New Orleans flood superimposed on metro Boston, from the Boston Globe.

Storm Warning: How the flood compromises U.S. foreign policy, from Slate.

Dangling Man: Michael Brown twists slowly in the wind, from Slate.

Why Do People in New Orleans Talk That Way?: The origins of the accent, from Slate.

It's So Fine To Be a Refiner: Who you should really hate when you fill your tank, from Slate. And then there's the taxes too...

Dispatch From New Orleans: The people who won't evacuate, from Slate.

Meet the F**kers, from the Daily Show (video). Key quote: "Prior to heading FEMA, Brown spent the '90s as the commissioner (this is true) of the International Arabian Horse Association. I guess he stands out in that most Bush appointees are beholden to Arabian people."

"Oblivious, In Denial, Dangerous", from Atrios.

What's My Motivation?: The Department of Homeland Security is doomed to failure without a structural overhaul, from Slate.

An Imperfect Storm: How race shaped Bush's response to Katrina, from Slate. "I don't think Kanye West can support his view that George W. Bush just doesn't care about black people. But it's a demonstrable matter of fact that Bush doesn't care much about black votes. And that, in the end, may amount to the same thing."

FEMA Head Bears the Brunt of Katrina Anger, from AP, courtesy of Mark A. Quote from Trent Lott: "I did threaten to physically beat a couple of people in the last couple of days, figuratively speaking."

Gay marriage up to governor now, from the San Francisco Chronicle, courtesy of Mark A. Mark writes: "A tiny glimmer of good news amid all the incompetence. How I long for the old days of a_i which featured mostly odds and ends from the Globe."

No Relief: Why we shouldn't aid Katrina's victims too much, from Slate. It's an interesting argument, though the author doesn't take into consideration the inconvenience and opportunity cost of being displaced due to a natural disaster.

Summer-House Lit, Part 1: On not owning a vacation home, from Slate.

God Outdoes Terrorists Yet Again, from The Onion, courtesy of Mark A.

Right city, wrong state: FEMA accused of flying evacuees to wrong Charleston, from CNN.

Timeline: How the hurricane crisis unfolded, from the BBC.

News of a Very Small World, from Wonkette.

FEMA chief sent help only after storm hit, from The Boston Globe, courtesy of Mark A.

GOP Begins Damage Control, from the Washington Times, courtesy of Mark A.

U.S. declines some foreign offers of hurricane aid, from the Washington Times, courtesy of Mark A.

Editorial: FEMA fails its core mission, from the Washington Times, courtesy of Mark A.

Homeless: How do you pay for a house that no longer exists?, from Slate.

Could Drinking Floodwater Save Your Life?: Dehydration vs. contamination, from Slate.

What Is Martial Law?: And is New Orleans under it?, from Slate.

$41 Billion, and Not a Penny of Foresight: Why is the New Orleans recovery going so badly? Just look at the DHS budget, from Slate.

Tragedy Has Many Meanings, from Overheard in New York.

Chertoff's Reading Habits, from Wonkette.

The Beautiful Mind Strikes Again, from Daily Kos. Barbara Bush: Things Working Out 'Very Well' for Poor Evacuees from New Orleans, from Editor & Publisher (first heard about this from Mark A).

A blog from New Orleans, in the thick of it, from Blue Mass. Group.

FEMA chief: Victims bear some responsibility, from CNN, courtesy of Mark A.

Frustrated: Fire crews to hand out fliers for FEMA, from The Salt Lake Tribune.

N'Orleans and the 2008 GOP Convention: Laissez bontemps roulez!, from Reason's Hit & Run.

Can FEMA Do Anything Right?, from Daily Kos, courtesy of Josh. "Just take a look at this list of stories."

Time To "Swift Boat" NorthCom Commander, from Daily Kos.

A flood of words, from the Chicago Sun-Times, courtesy of Mark A. "Context is required to understand Kanye West's latest outburst -- criticizing President Bush on national TV during telethon."

The city where the dead are left lying on the streets, from the Independent, courtesy of Mark A.

In Europe, High-Tech Flood Control, With Nature's Help, from The New York Times.

New Orleans paper rips federal response; Times-Picayune: Everybody at FEMA should be fired, from CNN.

Editorial blasts federal response, from CNN.

White House Enacts a Plan to Ease Political Damage, from The New York Times.

Storm Exposed Disarray at the Top, from the Washington Post.

Bush Visit Grounded Relief Helicopters, from Daily Kos.

The Department of Homeland Security Was Preparing for "Two Catastrophes" in New Orleans, from Is That Legal?

The Cavalry Didn't Come, from Wonkette.

Culture of Life, from Atrios.

Text Message from New Orleans: A Rehnquist Joke, from Wonkette.

Scientists want help to save Louisiana wetlands, from CNN.

The Army Corps of Engineers vs. Lake George, from Wonkette.

Chertoff: Katrina scenario did not exist; However, experts for years had warned of threat to New Orleans, from CNN.

The Rebellion of the Talking Heads: Newscasters, sick of official lies and stonewalling, finally start snarling, from Slate, courtesy of Mark A.

The big disconnect on New Orleans: The official version; then there's the in-the-trenches version, from CNN.

Congress Likely to Probe Guard Response, from AP.

Halliburton hired for storm cleanup, from the Houston Chronicle.

Finally, from Wonkette.

Department of Homeland Screw-Up: What is the Bush administration doing?, from Slate.

Government Saw Flood Risk but Not Levee Failure, from The New York Times.

From Margins of Society to Center of the Tragedy, from The New York Times.

Katrina's response hits first hurdle, from the BBC.

Local Officials Criticize Federal Government Over Response, from The New York Times.

Flushing out the ugly truth, from Salon (watch ad for free site pass). "The horror in New Orleans has exposed the nation's dirty secrets of race and poverty. Americans are ready to help. Will our leaders show the way?"

Remain silent!, from Salon (watch ad for free site pass). "As they've done after every crisis, right-wingers are insisting that to question the Bush administration is unpatriotic. But no one should be afraid to hold our incompetent leaders to account."

Bush fought funding in Energy Bill for Gulf Coast protection, from Salon (watch ad for free site pass). "The administration strongly opposed the new funding as 'inconsistent with the budget.' "

Anatomy of an unnatural disaster, from Salon (watch ad for free site pass). "With FEMA gutted for Homeland Security and flood projects delayed for lack of funding, the New Orleans nightmare should surprise no one."

A Tragedy By Any Other Name, from Wonkette. "A tipster informs us that down in New Orleans, they have a name for the flood waters that have invaded the city: Lake George. Email attributed by tipster to 'friend at the EPA'..."

Did New Orleans Catastrophe Have to Happen? 'Times-Picayune' Had Repeatedly Raised Federal Spending Issues, from Editor & Publsher.

Budget cuts delayed New Orleans flood control work, from Reuters.

Storm disaster fuels doubts over US terror plans, from Reuters.

Gone With the Water, from National Geographic (October 2004). "The Louisiana bayou, hardest working marsh in America, is in big trouble -- with dire consequences for residents, the nearby city of New Orleans, and seafood lovers everywhere."

FEMA Dir. Mike Brown fired from prior job at Horse Association, from Daily Kos.

Nagin's Nightmare: Full Transcript, from Wonkette.

Category 4 Hurricane Determined To Strike U.S., from Daily Kos.

Interesting stuff on Katrina at Atrios.

City of Nature: New Orleans' blessing; New Orleans' curse, from Slate.

Compassionate something or other in action, from Daily Kos.

Bloggers on Blogging: Heather Armstrong, from Rebecca Blood.

Official Quits on Pill Delay at the F.D.A., from The New York Times.

The Pitch: A Series About Wacky Terrorists, from The New York Times.

American Science, RIP, from Stay Free! The scientist stamps from USPS are parodied as anti-scientist stamps. Hilarious. And sad.

"Mr Housing Bubble" shirts strike chord, draw ire, from The Boston Globe.

I Feel Your Fetus's Pain: Compassionate conservatism enters the womb, from Slate.

"I have not urged my own children to enlist", from the Blue Mass Group.

Governor Landslide, from the Blue Mass Group.

Hitting the ceiling, from Asymmetrical Information. What a Gas! But Hawaii isn't laughing, from the Wall Street Journal.

What -- and Where -- Is the Strategic Petroleum Reserve?, from Slate.

I invaded the White House press corps, from Salon (watch ad for free site pass). "I had front row seats at the media's Great Slave Rebellion over Karl Rove. No wonder our democracy's in trouble."

Scientific Savvy? In U.S., Not Much, from The New York Times.

The Chucks Without the Laces, from Manolo's Shoe Blog. Perhaps the only blog where Chuck Taylor and Jacques Derrida co-exist in the same post.

Both Sides of the Windshield, from Fat Cyclist.

Pricey Therapy : The downside of making postpartum depression sexy, from Slate.

It's a Jerk!: Should men want to watch their wives give birth?, from Slate.

Alive and Kicking: Why no one truly believes in a dead Constitution, from Slate.

Cut It Off: Another disgusting religious practice, from Slate.

Rape Charge Follows Marriage to a 14-Year-Old, from The New York Times.

Mormonism may sour Romney for some in Christian right, from The Boston Globe, courtesy of Alison.

Gates of Fire, from Michael Yon's blog. From MSNBC.com: "There is actually good reporting coming from Iraq -- check out Michael Yon's blog, for example. And it's possible to get a clearer picture of the strategic picture than most big media accounts provide."

Stuff on My Cat.

Boing Boing's $250,000 Intelligent Design challenge (UPDATED: $1 million), from Boing Boing.

Jim Leftwich's Flying Spaghetti Monster T-shirt at Boing Boing store, from Boing Boing.

Industrial Revolution, from Frazz.

Missed Church? Download It to Your IPod, from The New York Times.

Today's Horoscope: Now Unsure, from The New York Times.

Cutting through search-engine clutter, from the Boston Globe.

Strictly Speaking: Slate readers pull the plug on the living Constitution, from Slate.

Zoo tortoise gets a fiberglass shell-patch after surgery, from Boing Boing.

Scientist Trading Cards, from All Too Flat.

Troops' Gravestones Have Pentagon Slogans, from AP.

Bush says anti-war protests threaten to weaken the United States, from AP. The photo of the "BS Protector" is priceless.

The Dogs of Track and Field: How to turn your pet into a superstar athlete, from Slate.

Pat Robertson's Hit List: It isn't only Chavez he wants gone, from Slate.

It's a-Living: Reader responses to the living Constitution, from Slate.

It's Not About the Mountain Bike: The real problem with Bush's holiday is that it won't stop when he goes back to work, from Slate.

Even in Summer, Americans Dread Winter Heating Bills, from The New York Times.

Avast! Pirates Steal Readers' Hearts, from The New York Times.

The Parable of Jesus and the Rubber Chicken: What if Christ spoke at a Republican Party fund-raiser?, from Slate.

The War Pragmatists, from Daily Kos.

Quelle surprise! Iraqi women to be f***ed over!, from low culture.

Reasons To Go On Living: Does anyone believe in a "living Constitution" anymore?, from Slate.

What Does Democracy Look Like?: How to spot real change in the Middle East, from Slate.

The New Industry Standard: Why you may soon own Google, from Slate.

Should I Move to Amsterdam?: Weed, Tightwads, and Hookers, from Slate. Should I Move to Amsterdam?: Living the Dream, from Slate.

I Came, Eyesore, I Conquered: Perimeter security is ugly and may not keep us safe, from Slate.

What Are Supernotes?: The best fake money that money can buy, from Slate.

Louisiana getting fatter faster than other states: State rises to fourth place in nationwide obesity rankings, from the Shreveport Times, courtesy of Paul A.

Equal Time: No tax-exempt status for churches that refuse to distribute pro-evolution propaganda!, from Slate.

Press Wrestles With Grammatically Incorrect 'Virgin', from Editor and Publisher.

Who decides--and how?, from Asymmetrical Information, about the Merck verdict.

Happy Statehood Day!, from Ono Kine Grindz.

Our Trump Card, from Reason's Hit & Run.

This summer skier's outfitted in proper attire, from the Boston Globe.

Should I Move to Amsterdam?: The Quest for Gezellig, from Slate.

To Snip?: Help Slate's circumcision research project, from Slate.

Constitutional Contention, from Slate.

MSNBC: majority of Americans "extremists", from Daily Kos.

Venezuela Slams Robertson Over Remarks, from the Washington Post.

Courtship Ideas of South Asians Get a U.S. Touch, from The New York Times.

What's Comparable Worth?: Why John Roberts railed against "equal pay for equal value", from Slate.

Like mother, like son, from Daily Kos.

Should I Move to Amsterdam?: Bikes and Bitterballen, from Slate.

RNC is bankrolling legal defense of the architect of New Hampshire vote suppression, from Blue Mass. Group.

Surveys Shows Romney Lags, from Blue Mass. Group.

What Cindy Sheehan Really Wants: Now imagine if she gets it, from Slate.

Pastafarianism: Flying Spaghetti Monster cult grows, from BoingBoing.

The Dread Pirate Bin Laden: How thinking of terrorists as pirates can help win the war on terror, from Legal Affairs.

Ministry of Reshelving puts 1984 in its proper place, from BoingBoing.

What Makes People Gay?, from Boston.com. "The debate has always been that it was either all in the child's upbringing or all in the genes. But what if it's something else?"

The Big Gulp, from Wired. "NASA pisses away millions hauling H2O into orbit. But there's a better way -- recycle astronaut urine. Just one question: How does it taste?"

Mindful of Symbols, from Scientific American. "On the way to learning that one thing can represent another, young children often conflate the real item and its symbol. These errors show how difficult it is to start thinking symbolically."

Group Theory in the Bedroom: An insomniac's guide to the curious mathematics of mattress flipping, from American Scientist.

Lions and Cheetahs and Elephants, Oh My!: Let them run wild. In North America, from Slate.

The Word on the Street: The cumulative genius of Overheard in New York, from Slate.

Thigh the beloved country, from Salon (watch an ad for a free site pass). "Muscle-bound models sporting 'big butts' star in Nike's fall ad campaign. Can this real-women marketing craze be real?"

Kid Karma, from The Sneeze.

Target: Discount retail goes to The New Yorker, from Slate.

Recycled Sentiment, from Flying on 2 (my dad's blog).

God Wasn't Thinking Of You, Fred Phelps, from Electric Venom.

Improper Advances: Talking dream jobs with the judge out of court, from Slate.

Bill Clinton's Plan for World Domination: Clear your schedule for his third inauguration, here in New York in September, from the New York Metro.

Evangelical Scientists Refute Gravity With New 'Intelligent Falling' Theory, from The Onion.

Got SUV Guilt? Peace of mind can be yours for $274, from Slate.

Book 'em, from Salon, a humorous essay by Garrison Keillor. "If Ketchikan, Alaska, can have a $223 million bridge, can the nation's English majors score some swanky libraries?"

Consider the Lobster, from Gourmet, courtesy of Jennifer. Love this article.

The hollow man, from Salon. "Bush's inability to feel the pain of others -- highlighted by Cindy Sheehan's peace vigil -- is a stark contrast to the anguish LBJ felt over casualties in Vietnam."

The State of the Debate on the War: Kittenpimps, from Wonkette.

Forget the Call of the Wild: In Montana, the R.V. Set Is Drawn by the Words 'No Taxes', from The New York Times.

Riding Fung Wah? Wear Asbestos, from CarPundit.

Department of awful headlines, from Asymmetrical Information.

One rule for Peloton One: Don't pass the president, from USA Today, courtesy of Robin.

How Wildfires Get Their Names: The story of Burnt Bread and Dirty Face, from Slate.

Priest's pooch welcomes N.D. parishioners, from Boston.com.

Rove Has Competition, from Wonkette. " 'The people of today's Americas want a politician who can speak their language and speak it badly.' Andy Dick is Harlan McCraney, the man who knows why our children isn't learning." WATCH THIS MOVIE!

When Politics Kills, Grief Becomes Politics, from Cold Fury.

Thou art no Romeo: Famed swan couple is all-female, from Boston.com.

Under Pressure, from The New York Times, about sous vide cooking.

The Other Army, from The New York Times, courtesy of Brad. This is about mercenaries private security companies.

Make all sorts of things, with PVC, from Make.

How to Use Google Maps EZ, from Bluweb.

No More Electric Bills: Well, not quite. But 'zero-energy homes' keep them low, from Newsweek.

One Bag: The Art and Science of Travelling Light.

No More Fighting with the DMV: Custom Car Emblems from youremblem.com Are Great, from Real Tech News.

Teen forced to close fair booth - for Marshmallow shooter!!, from Make.

The Budget Traveller's Guide to Sleeping in Airports.

President Bush Sells Pizza in New Zealand, from AdRants, courtesy of Alison.

Pet Tricks -- and an Accidental Career, from NPR.

Reading "Lord of the Flies", from Salon (watch an ad for a free site pass). "Almost 20 years ago, I wrote a paper on William Golding's survival tale -- without reading the book. This summer, I thought I'd see if it was truly as dreadful as I imagined." Speaking as someone who read the book and refused to write the paper: YES.

Bush Vows To Eliminate U.S. Dependence On Oil By 4920, from The Onion.

Tom DeLay, Opera Buff: I'm not making this up. I swear, from Slate.

People try to lose weight at McDonald's, from Boston.com.

Rice Capades: What the secretary of state has done right, and wrong, in her first six months, from Slate.com.

You and Your Dumb Money: Why you picked the wrong mutual funds -- again, from Slate.

The White Stuff: How vanilla became shorthand for bland, from Slate.

Evolution vs. Religion: Quit pretending they're compatible, from Slate.

The Denim Bubble: Is the $300-jeans market about to crash?, from Slate.

A list of bike paths getting funding in the transportation bill, from Boston.com, courtesy of Mark A.

Vatican stops diocese in taking parish assets: Millions at stake as O'Malley must get OK of pastors, from Boston.com.

Amusing/Interesting books that I've read in the past year or so.

Amusing/Interesting magazines that I'm currently reading.

Amusing/Interesting movies that I've seen in the past year or so.

Absence makes, from from This Fish Needs A Bicycle.

Soldier's mom digs in near Bush ranch: Senator sees 'echoes of Vietnam' in vigil to meet president, from CNN, courtesy of Mark A.

Mass. auto insurers set to seek a rate cut: Industry proposal could impede Romney plan, from Boston.com, courtesy of Mark A. I have to agree with Romney (even though I dislike him) -- the current system is ''Soviet-style."

Thrill ride: Tom "Pohaku" Stone works to revive the ancient Hawaiian tradition of he`e holua, or lava sledding, from the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, courtesy of Rachel.

Independently, Two Frogs Blaze the Same Venomous Path, from The New York Times.

Espresso crema shots, from BoingBoing.

There Goes the Sun: Which sunscreens work best?, from Slate.

They're Not Stupid -- They're Lazy: The real reason American high-schoolers have such dismal test scores, from Slate.

How Japan's Postal Service Got $3 Trillion: It wasn't by selling trillions of stamps, from Slate.

Farewell to my first true love..., from Crazy Aunt Purl.

Kerry Litka's thoughts on Matt Damon playing the role of Lance Armstrong, from CycleDisciple.com.

Vice Follies: Why prosecuting victimless crimes is a colossal waste of time, from Nashville Scene.

Political Lightning Rod Planted on New Hampshire Farmhouse, from the LA Times.

The Fall of the House of Saud, from The Atlantic.

White House Denies Existence of Karl Rove, from the Onion, courtesy of Alison.

BREAKING: Novak Takes His Lack of Balls and Goes Home, from Wonkette. What Makes Bobby Run? (Part 1), from Wonkette. What Novak Was Running From ... Was it ... a book?, from Slate.

Harold and Kumar go to White Castle, from Kottke.

Brain-Dead Va. Woman Gives Birth, from the Washington Post.

Timbuktu for the Timid, from Slate.

Army battling decline in black recruits: Trend has worsened since war in Iraq, from the Dallas News.

Japanese develop 'female' android, from the BBC.

Harris Says Newspapers 'Colorized' Photographs, Distorting Her Makeup, from the Tampa Tribune. Katherine Harris's Extreme Makeover, from Wonkette.com.

Moral Maturity: Bill Frist, closet pro-choicer, from Slate.com. But, let's not forget this gem from the Harvard Medical School honors grad:

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: ...Now, you're a doctor. Do you believe that tears and sweat can transmit HIV?

SENATOR BILL FRIST: I don't know. I can tell you...

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: You don't know?

SENATOR BILL FRIST: I can tell you things like, like...

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Well, wait, let me stop you, you don't know that, you believe that tears and sweat might be able to transmit AIDS?

SENATOR BILL FRIST: Yeah, no, I can tell you that HIV is not very transmissible as an element like, compared to smallpox, compared to the flu.

The Souter Factor: What makes tough conservative justices go soft?, from Slate.com.

The Blogs of War, from Wired.com. "On the 21st-century battlefield, the campfire glow comes from a laptop. It's a real-time window on life behind the lines - and suddenly the Pentagon is on the defensive."

62-year-old woman found guilty of assaulting a federal aviation security staff member, from BoingBoing.net. "She squeezed the breast of the security person after she claims the security person had done the same to her."

Daily Show on Scientology, from BoingBoing.net.

Condoleezza Hairdo Alert System, from Sparkle Pony.

Sushi Lesson: How to eat sushi properly, from Bayosphere (previous parts of the series are available; the series is ongoing).

I'm Glad That Somebody is Thinking About This Stuff, from Instapundit.com.

"They always throw around this term 'the liberal elite.' And I kept thinking to myself about the Christian right: what's more elite than believing that only you will go to heaven?" - Jon Stewart

Court Finds Bias in Policy of Schools for Hawaiians, from The New York Times.

Documents Tell of Brutal Improvisation by GIs: Interrogated General's Sleeping-Bag Death, CIA's Use of Secret Iraqi Squad Are Among Details, from the Washington Post, courtesy of Mark A.

GPS Is My Co-Pilot: Which in-car navigation device is best?, from Slate.com.

Steal This Billboard, from Experience the Message, courtesy of Alison.

Santorum's Mighty Wind: The AccuWeather Protection Act of 2005, from Slate.com.

The Cinema of Latter-Day Saints, from The New York Times.

Sweet Streams: How to listen to new music for free, from Slate.com.

Sticking Up for Thimerosal: Read the studies -- it's safe, from Slate.com.

Catholic Justice: Quit tiptoeing around John Roberts' faith, from Slate.com.

"Ghost bikes" eerie reminders of accidents, from the Seattle Times, courtesy of Tad.

God vs. Satan: Who's the better investor?, from Slate.com.

The State of the Church-State Debate: Has Noah Feldman come up with a feasible compromise?, from Slate.com.

Dog beats most in swim from Alcatraz, from Boston.com.

President Bush Shows His True Feelings?, from Wonkette.com, courtesy of Mark A.

Is Housing Too Expensive? Blame the Government: Maybe zoning laws are causing the real-estate bubble, from Slate.com.

Twelve Sequels to Dances With Wolves That, Due to Monetary Constraints, Were Never Produced, from McSweeneys, courtesy of Alison.

Special-Interest Bike Shops, from McSweeneys, courtesy of Alison.

We Can Leave Iraq by 2007: Here's how, from Slate.com.

Nelson-Lodefink Ball clock Phase 1, from Finkbuilt.

Britsh Wit Unappreciated, from Wonkette.com.

Site syndication

I think my site syndication problems may finally be fixed. Here's the feed you should use: http://mingshan1.blogspot.com/atom.xml

Cat got your keyboard?, from Salon.com (watch ad for free site pass). "A clever new software program will keep Mr. Cuddly's paws off your computer."

How Does the Heat Index Work?: Pretty well, if you're 5-feet-7, from Slate.com, courtesy of Mark A. The Assessment of Sultriness. Part I: A Temperature-Humidity Index Based on Human Physiology and Clothing Science, from the American Meteorological Society, also from Mark A.

Market share, from Boston.com. "Economists have long used their tools to analyze social phenomena. Now sociologists are learning to stop worrying and love -- or at least study -- the market."

Roberts Nickname Contest Results!: What Bush will call his Supreme Court nominee, from Slate.com.

Girls in (Cowboy) Boots: Attitude on the Hoof, from The New York Times.

Futuro Flashback: The Prefab From Another Planet, from The New York Times.

By Data Obsessed, from The New York Times. My favorite part about this article: the photo captioned "Today's cyclist has computer-generated information" features a cyclist using a helmet and aerobars that are at least 10 years old.