One year ago today, Sen. Paul Wellstone (D-MN) was killed in a plane crash. In his honor, today was Wellstone Music Day, at which close to 50 live music events took place in Minnesota. Similar concerts were held in Austin, Texas, Berkeley, California, and Woodstock, New York.

We were in St. Paul, MN that awful day. Here's our account of learning about the crash shortly after it happened.

One year ago today, Sen. Paul Wellstone (D-MN) was killed in a plane crash. In his honor, today was Wellstone Music Day, at which close to 50 live music events took place in Minnesota. Similar concerts were held in Austin, Texas, Berkeley, California, and Woodstock, New York.

We were in St. Paul, MN that awful day. Here's our account of learning about the crash shortly after it happened.

The New York Times says of all the Bush judicial nominees, Janice Rogers Brown is " among the very worst ."

As an archconservative justice on the California Supreme Court, she has declared war on the mainstream legal values that most Americans hold dear. And she has let ideology be her guide in deciding cases. At her confirmation hearing this week, Justice Brown only ratified her critics' worst fears. Both Republican and Democratic senators should oppose her confirmation.

The New York Times says of all the Bush judicial nominees, Janice Rogers Brown is " among the very worst ."

As an archconservative justice on the California Supreme Court, she has declared war on the mainstream legal values that most Americans hold dear. And she has let ideology be her guide in deciding cases. At her confirmation hearing this week, Justice Brown only ratified her critics' worst fears. Both Republican and Democratic senators should oppose her confirmation.

The AP reports that service in Vietnam has become an issue among candidates for President. Here's the wrap-up of who served and who did not.

Clark and Kerry served, which everyone knows by now because they mention it in every speech. Each received a Purple Heart after being wounded in action as well as the Silver Star for "gallantry in action."

Only John Edwards and Howard Dean got draft lottery numbers. The war ended before Edwards number was called (#178.) Dean was excused for a physical condition. The AP isn't too charitable towards Dean on the subjectr:

In an interview with the AP, Dean said he had known since he was in high school that he had an unfused vertebra, a condition called spondylolysis. Dean tried to spell the condition during the interview, but got it wrong after three tries, even though he is a medical doctor and worked as an internist before entering politics. He laughed over his difficulty and defended himself by saying he is not a bone specialist.

The AP reports that service in Vietnam has become an issue among candidates for President. Here's the wrap-up of who served and who did not.

Clark and Kerry served, which everyone knows by now because they mention it in every speech. Each received a Purple Heart after being wounded in action as well as the Silver Star for "gallantry in action."

Only John Edwards and Howard Dean got draft lottery numbers. The war ended before Edwards number was called (#178.) Dean was excused for a physical condition. The AP isn't too charitable towards Dean on the subjectr:

In an interview with the AP, Dean said he had known since he was in high school that he had an unfused vertebra, a condition called spondylolysis. Dean tried to spell the condition during the interview, but got it wrong after three tries, even though he is a medical doctor and worked as an internist before entering politics. He laughed over his difficulty and defended himself by saying he is not a bone specialist.

What's good to read today? Atrios on identity politics.

Jeanne D'Arc of Body and Soul on Walmart's agenda.

Patrick Nielsen Hayden of Electrolite on the recent Hosting Matters DOS attacks and cyberterrorism--not.

Oliver Willis has picked himself a bride.

Hesiod at Counterspin tells us what we need to know about Republicans and the gay marriage issue. For more, check out Dave Cullen at Conclusive Evidence who keeps all his posts on this issue on one page.

Melanie is the new guest blogger for Daily Kos and she's doing a great job. Kos, by the way, should be a father any day now.

Avedon Carol at Sideshow tackles Republicans and who should pay for the war in Iraq.

David Neiwert of Orcinus on Bush and First-Amendment zones.

Patrick Taylor of LegalWrites details the deportation of Maher Aher from begining to end.

What's good to read today? Atrios on identity politics.

Jeanne D'Arc of Body and Soul on Walmart's agenda.

Patrick Nielsen Hayden of Electrolite on the recent Hosting Matters DOS attacks and cyberterrorism--not.

Oliver Willis has picked himself a bride.

Hesiod at Counterspin tells us what we need to know about Republicans and the gay marriage issue. For more, check out Dave Cullen at Conclusive Evidence who keeps all his posts on this issue on one page.

Melanie is the new guest blogger for Daily Kos and she's doing a great job. Kos, by the way, should be a father any day now.

Avedon Carol at Sideshow tackles Republicans and who should pay for the war in Iraq.

David Neiwert of Orcinus on Bush and First-Amendment zones.

Patrick Taylor of LegalWrites details the deportation of Maher Aher from begining to end.

The ACLU announced today that it will assist Michael Schiavo in his attempt to have the new Florida Law preserving feeding for his mentally disabled wife declared unconstitutional.

Yesterday we traveled to West Palm Beach. From Denver, that's an all day trip. Today we start our assignment--at 6am with a jog on the beach followed by our first meeting at 8am. We'll check back in this afternoon.

Our newsfeed (on the left) won't be updated until Sunday or Monday. We recommend you visit Hamster, Cursor, Buzzflash , How Appealing and Common Dreams for news and views of interest.

On a related note: This is our first trip with our new laptop generously and anonymously purchased from our Amazon wishlist last month. It's awesome--just what we wanted--and so much faster and better than our old one which was on its last leg. In case our benefactor is reading TalkLeft today, we just wanted to express our thanks again.

Yesterday we traveled to West Palm Beach. From Denver, that's an all day trip. Today we start our assignment--at 6am with a jog on the beach followed by our first meeting at 8am. We'll check back in this afternoon.

Our newsfeed (on the left) won't be updated until Sunday or Monday. We recommend you visit Hamster, Cursor, Buzzflash , How Appealing and Common Dreams for news and views of interest.

On a related note: This is our first trip with our new laptop generously and anonymously purchased from our Amazon wishlist last month. It's awesome--just what we wanted--and so much faster and better than our old one which was on its last leg. In case our benefactor is reading TalkLeft today, we just wanted to express our thanks again.

The American Bar Association will announce Friday that it is launching a drive to reform death penalty representation in states across America that authorize the punishment:

The American Bar Association is launching a nationwide campaign to reform defense systems in states that employ the death penalty.

"Time and time again we learn of cases where, due to inadequacies in defense, people are wrongfully convicted and sentenced to death," ABA President Dennis Archer said in a statement Thursday. "This is unacceptable in our society, and the American Bar Association aims to do something about it."

Archer planned to make his official announcement Friday at the Hofstra University School of Law, which will be holding a daylong conference on capital defense issues.