I'm not seeing any interesting news to write about so far today.

I did figure out why I still need my iPod touch even though I have the iPhone 4 -- the treadmills and bikes at the gym that have tv screens attached and let you hook up your iPod or MP3 players aren't updated for the iPhone 4 and I got a warning that it wouldn't play right and there would be sound interference. Good thing I brought both this morning.

It's only 2:00 and I'm already thinking about dinner, not a good sign. Anyone have some good ideas? I think this spicy quinoa, cucumber and tomato salad in the New York Times looks pretty good.

I'll be working the rest of the afternoon, so here's an open thread, all topics welcome.

Still working.

Open thread.

Has anyone noticed Comcast just added dozens of new HD channels, including, finally, news channels like CNN, Fox and MSNBC? Also lots of the smaller cable channels. Mine went live yesterday, and they didn't even announce it, they just showed up in my channel guide. I feel a little bit better now about how much I pay them. A very welcome change.

Another good move by New York Governor David Paterson today: He signed a law preventing cops from storing information gained from their notorious "stop and frisks" when no charges are filed.

Last year alone, the New York Police Department stopped 575,304 people, mostly black and Hispanic men, and recorded their names, addresses and descriptions into an electronic database. The stops are based on a standard of reasonable suspicion, lower than the standard of probable cause needed to justify an arrest. Only about 6 percent of those stopped are arrested.

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

The Senate passes the financial overhaul bill. It now goes to Obama for signature.

Arizona's SB1070 is getting its first court hearing today. Only one of the seven lawsuits against the law is being heard, that of Officer David Salgado and the statewide nonprofit group Chicanos Por La Causa.

Scott McInnis vows on Facebook not to quit ("I'm in it to win it" he says) but our local Fox affiliate is reporting the Republican Governor's Association is withdrawing its support and canceling fundraisers for him.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

Is anyone following the new Big Brother season? I think Kathy (the Arkansas Deputy Sheriff) is the saboteur. Other possibilities: Lane or Matt.

My iPhone 4 dropped two calls today. My 3G never dropped one in two plus years. I still like the 4 better because the sound is clearer and the internet is so fast. But I'd give it up quick for the IPad which has become my favorite. Especially for reading books and magazines and watching Netflix and videos.

Whoever thought Ward Churchill and Scott McInnis would have something in common? The plagiarism story continues to escalate, with the Denver Post calling on McInnis to "throw in the towel" and Colorado Ethics Watch filing a complaint against him and asking for an investigation. But McInnis defused the second accusation somewhat today when the Washington Post columnist whose column he appropriated said it was with his permission.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

We're headed to 100 degrees today and I have to go to the dentist.

The Barefoot Bandit is deported after pleading guilty to illegally landing a plane and paying a $300 fine. (Updated, original version of CNN article said he was sentenced to three months in prison or fined $300.) The NY Times has more on the deportation.

John Wyma, whose information led to the Blagojevich wiretaps, is testifying today. The prosecution seems close to resting and the judge may delay the trial a week for Blago to begin his defense. His lawyers say they will argue lack of criminal intent and reliance upon advice of counsel and others.[More...]

In Brooklyn, the cops are using a program called "Stop, Question, Frisk." They made 52,000 arrests last year. The ACLU today says Brooklyn Women Knew Their Rights and You Should Too.

The NYCLU offers this updated palm card (or iPhone app) walking you through what to do if you’re stopped by the police.

The palm card not only apprises people of their rights, it helps them defend those rights. For instance, it informs people how to proceed if they are unjustly arrested.

A word to the wise: learn the laws in your state. In New York, police can't make you identify yourself if they don't reasonably suspect you of a crime, but that is not the case in some other places. So check out the ACLU’s national know-your-rights card...

An iPhone App -- what could be simpler? If you don't need it, e-mail it to your kids or someone who might. [More...]

BTD is in hearings and I'm busy at work. Here's an open thread, all topics welcome. Please keep it civil.

I'm cheating a little bit this morning - working while keeping an eye on Stage 8 of the Tour de France, which has a mountaintop finish in the Alps.

Later, I'll be watching the World Cup final. Full preview post around noon.

Open Thread.

Today is Saturday, just two more working days until Monday for me.

Open Thread.

I missed the news today due to work, and my new i-Phone 4 arrived today and I'm about to set it up. (I'll let you all know how it goes and what's good and bad about it when I'm done. So far, it's still in the box.)

If you've got something to say, here's a place, all topics welcome. Please let me know if I missed anything big.

iPhone update below: [More...]

Big Brother 12 begins tonight. There's a saboteur this season. (Update: I hope the female sheriff is the first to go. After that, the mensa guy.)I guess most people are watching LeBron make a decision.

The Emmy Award nominations are out (list of major awards here). I'm glad to see that Breaking Bad is up for Best Drama Series, Best Actor (Bryan Cranston) and Best supporting actor (Aaron Paul as Jesse Pinkman). And I'm really disappointed Mary Louise Parker and others from Weeds didn't get a nod. It should have gotten best comedy over Nurse Jackie. Nurse Jackie isn't funny, it's depressing, and the episodes are repetitious. Edie Falco can only do so much, and she can't carry the whole show.

Damages and the Good Wife picked up a few, and while I like Damages more, I have to say Archie Panjabi for best supporting actress in the Good Wife (the private investigator role) is a much better pick than Rose Byrne in Damages. Juliana Margolies is probably a shoo-in in best actress, particularly since Glenn Close didn't have much of a part this season in Damages, but Aaron Paul as Jesse Pinkman in Breaking Bad way deserves to win over Martin Short for Damages.

Jimmy Fallon will be host for the Aug. 29 show.

This is an open thread, all topics (tv related or not) are welcome.