I'm following the results closely - who will get the first pick in the NBA draft and then the right to draft the great John Wall? Oh you aren't following that? Maybe you were more interested in Dave Zabriskie's win in Stage 3 of the Tour of California? No? Yanks-Sox? Celts-Magic? No?

Dancing With The Stars? Lost penultimate episode? No?

Well there are some election results in PA, KY and AR too. I'd like to see Halter beat Lincoln, but a runoff is likely. Other than that? Meh.

You can keep us informed in the comments.

Open Thread.

My iPad has arrived! I'm about to take it from its box and set it up. Many thanks to the very generous TalkLeft reader who gifted it to me. It's got wi-fi and 3G and a docking station/keyboard.

I'll report back on how long it takes to set up and what I think of it in a few hours.

If anyone has any ideas for a great apps to add (non-games) please let me know.

If you're not watching sports, there's "24" and Dancing With the Stars. I know we have an open thread up, but since I'll be busy with my iPad for a few hours, here's another one. All topics welcome.

Tonight at 9 Los Suns! get back in action as they face the defending champion Lakers in LA.

Go Suns! Beat LA!

Here is a preview from the Suns fan (which is all of us, right?) perspective.

Open Thread.

BTD is in depositions today and I'm busy at work.

As I wrote last night, Bernie Kerik starts his 48 month prison term today. I read somewhere he'll be at Cumberland, MD. It's a medium security prison with an adjacent camp. I assume he'll be at the camp.

As for Bernie and Rudy, in an interview last month Bernie said he hadn't spoken to Rudy since 2006 but "We will be friends for life." Memo to Rudy: Don't even think about running, you'll never live down your association with Bernie.

Here's an open thread, all topics welcome.

The season finale of Pacific, Survivor, and Desperate Housewives all air tonight, while Celebrity Apprentice gets down to the final two. As if that's not enough, there's a new Breaking Bad and Brothers and Sisters.

What are you watching?

Here's an interesting op-ed from 2000 on why we need to maintain Miranda by former prosecutor and author Scott Turow. I like this part:

Catching bad guys is important, but it is not the only thing this society values; we also care about certain minimal standards of decency in the government's treatment of citizens and limits on the authority of the state.

The requirement to recite Miranda is an important reminder to the police that the war on lawlessness is always subject to the guidance of the law.

Turow has a new book out, the sequel to "Presumed Innooent" called Innocent, in which former prosecutor Rusty Sabich is back in the defendant's chair, charged with murdering his wife.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

It's freezing here, nothing but cold rain for days (and snow at higher elevations.) For a city that is renowned for 300 days of sunshine a year, something is askew. I don't ever remember it snowing after May 10 before. As someone who hates home maintenance, it's really a drag. The front part of the front lawn has sunk below the sidewalk and needs to be re-sodded and have a big water cover raised. The sprinkler heads need to be raised. Who does this stuff? How do you even know who to call?

The power generator and transformer that blew out the neighborhood the other day has left other problems. In addition to shorting out my coffeemaker, it blew out a huge light fixture that sits on a ceiling that's 20 feet high. As if I have a ladder that high (or would climb one even if I did) so now I have to find an electrician. Who has time for this stuff?

What are the alternatives? Move to the new Four Seasons downtown? A million dollars for 950 square feet sounds absurd, but at least you just pick up the phone and dial 0 when something goes wrong. Of course, since I don't have a million dollars laying around, I guess I don't have to seriously consider it.

How small of a place would you move to avoid maintenance responsibilities? Or, if you don't mind home maintenance, but crave space, how many miles from town would you be willing to move in order to have a few extra thousand square feet that you couldn't afford in the city? And why are so many things in life a trade-off?

Also, if someone handed you a check for three million dollars, where would you live? Would you stay where you are now? Buy A farm in the country? A brand new condo? Would you expend a year of your time with architects and designers creating the place of your dreams?

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

Open Thread.

Bill Simmons interviews Lost honcho Carlton Cuse.

Chuck has been renewed for a 4th season.

Fringe is getting freaky, or freakier.

Unlike some music snobs (Jon Pareles with the back story), I liked this:

Only half of my house has power restored after 20 hours. Xcel Energy needs some serious improvement. First it's a generator, then it's a transformer, now it's who knows what and customer service isn't too helpful. Too bad there's no alternative. Who gave power companies a monopoly in the first place?

Update: 7:20 pm: Xcel gets a reprieve. They just sent a truck to my house and a very nice man tinkered with some switches in the box outside and my power is back. Only one casualty: The coffeemaker. The blow-out last night permanently killed it. I wonder if they'll buy me a new one? Probably not, but if something had to blow, better a coffee pot than one of the computers

On the TV side of things (at least one set is working) we can finally say goodbye to the New York version of Law and Order. It's moving to LA. If it's as bad as Southland was, maybe it will finally be the death knell for the prosecution oriented program.

In crime news, Tennessee wants to ban felons from owning certain kinds of dogs: [More...]

The big event tonight is the Celtics-Cavs Game 6 in Boston, with LeBron, fresh off possibly the worst performance of his career, trying to stave off elimination and maybe, just maybe, playing his last game as a Cav.

I hate the Celtics, but I don't really care for the Cavs either. In any event, either team will lose to the Magic in the next round.

The Suns-Lakers do not start their series until next Monday. Sheesh. That said, Viva Los Suns! BEAT LA!

This is an Open Thread.

Suffice it to say that I will not be writing a word about the stupendously idiotic critiques of Kagan based on her being "elite."

My gawd, this is the Supreme Court; of course we want the best and the brightest. That is not to say they all come from elite law schools, but it is absurd to disqualify a nominee because they come from an elite law school.

This is an Open Thread.

I'm just getting online today. Time management is becoming a serious issue, I've definitely got to learn some new tricks because I am not ready to give up blogging.

Sorry for my absence, I'll try to do better.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.