Sorry for being AWOL. Busy. And will be busy for the next few days as well.

Open Thread.

It's been a busy work day and now I'm headed out to dinner.

Here's an open thread, all topics welcome.

This is a photo I took of the Monument to Labor sculpture in Omaha, Nebraska, by Matthew Placzek. (larger version here.) It's a tribute to the workers in the labor unions that helped build Omaha and is the second largest labor memorial in the country.

Here's a brief primer on Labor Day.

Have a great holiday, this is an open thread, all topics welcome.

I think it's going to be a slow-news weekend. And the weather here is too nice to stay indoors. But it's the start of Labor Day weekend, so we need some appropriate music. Here's Bon Jovi with "Work for the Working Man." (Nice touch that the video also features Jack Bauer of "24" since we're on the precipe of the 10 year anniversary of 9/11.)

For those of you online, here's an open thread, all topics welcome.

President Obama will speak next Thursday at 7pm ET, so he doesn't interrupt NFL football. I could care less about football, but I would hate to miss eviction night on Big Brother, and with 8 million viewers, that's nothing to sneeze at. On tonight's show, here's hoping Shelley goes home.

Condi Rice had some sharp words today for Dick Cheney's portrayal of her as "tearful" in his book.

"It certainly doesn't sound like me, now, does it?" Rice said in the interview. "I would never -- I don't remember coming to the vice president tearfully about anything in the entire eight years that I knew him."

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals ruled today that due process rights apply to all, even the undocumented. The opinion is here.

There's also a new Jersey Shore and Project Runway tonight. This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

College football season starts tonight. Go Gators!

Open Thread.

Time for dinner and Big Brother here.

Anyone have any interesting Labor Day plans? Maybe you can get in the mood with Salt of the Earth with Mick and Keith -- the Concert for 9/11 version.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

Today's early Open thread.

College football just around the corner. Go Gators!

Open Thread.

Hitting the reset button and figuring out what is on tap for the week.

Until then, Open Thread.

Hurricane Irene is all the talk today.

I'm traveling to Washington today to get a closer look. No blogging until tonight.

Open Thread.

Busy day, but wish me a happy birthday anyway. Like Jack Benny (who?), I'm 39.

Open Thread.