Can Tom Watson win the British Open? Watch this morning's 3rd round to see if he can stay in contention. He is currently tied for the lead.

The Tour de France heads to the Alps to end the Tour (before the traditional last stage that ends down the Champs Elysees.)

This is an Open Thread.

I'm sure there's lots of news today besides what we've covered. If you're online tonight, and feel like discussing something else, here's an open thread, all topics welcome.

For those of you watching TV, Big Brother 11 has an interesting development. Seems the house contains several bigoted residents who have made racial, misogynistic and homophobic comments. There's been a pretty big outcry on the entertainment boards and blogs about it. [More...]

Tiger may miss the cut at the British Open. Tom Watson is one shot off the lead. The Tour de France had another uneventful stage.

Watson drains a 60 footer on 18 to tie for the lead. What a great story. Tiger finishes +5. Needs a miracle to make the cut.

If there was ever any doubt that Stuart Taylor, Jr. is an Extreme Right conservative legal pundit, watch this. What struck him was Sen. Leahy "warning" that the GOP better treat Sotomayor right (I missed that myself. Not sure what Taylor was referring to.) He thought the GOP was quite nice to her. I rest my case.

This is an Open Thread.

After a long afternoon at the jail, it's another barbecue night here, along with belatedly watching the latest "Weeds." What are you up to?

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

The Wingnuts have been rolled out this afternoon in the Sotomayor hearings.

It should end shortly. Leahy announced that he will schedule a vote in the Judiciary Committee for July 21 (the GOP can impose a week delay on that vote) so the vote will be July 28. While it would be great for the Dems if every Republican voted against her but I suspect a few will vote for her. Her confirmation by the full Senate seems a foregone conclusion. She will be taking her seat on the Supreme Court on the first Monday in October.

This is an Open Thread.

Tom Watson leads the British Open at Turnberry. Stage 12 of the Tour de France was uneventful.

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I finally decided to get an Amazon Kindle which arrived today. I think I'm going to like it (so far I've read the manual.) One thing that is very cool is if you buy it through your Amazon account, it comes pre-registered with your account information and not only don't you don't have to register it, the free wireless is already on it so you can immediately scroll the store for books and download them.

It has more bells and whistles than I'll probably use, but it's quite legible and fast. Also, you can read the first chapter of any book for free before you buy.

If you'd like to check out the Kindle, here's the link:

Since I'll most likely be looking for a good fiction book to download tonight, here's an open thread for you, all topics welcome.

The All Star Game is tonight.

I will be in and out this afternoon so my live blogging may be um, delayed.

Update (TL): Part 1 of the transcript of this morning's Sotomayor hearing is here. Part II is here. Many thanks to BTD for his excellent coverage of the hearings.

In any event, this is an Open Thread.

The LA Times has a roundup of legal analysis on the Sotmayor hearings (We, of course, have BTD, just scroll down through today's posts.)

Marcy Wheeler was on Shuster's MSNBC program tonight and used the word "bl*wjob". Here's the video. Please don't use the word in comments without asterisks as the censor software at law firms will block us. Howard Kurtz thinks she should have used another word. Go, Marcy!

President Obama's telemprompter crashed to floor and broke today during a speech. He finished using his notes and the remaining prompter.

I'm going to put these weighty topics aside for a while as I watch The Bachelorette go from three to two in Maui and Weeds.

Happy 7th Blogiversary to Skippy.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

Thousands showed up in Denver today to register to audition for American Idol. By 7am, the line extended 1/4 mile around the stadium. The process continues through Tuesday, when those selected today and Monday will get to sing for the judges.

I wonder how many of them have read the release (pdf)they must sign before going on. Or, in the case of the younger aspirants, if their parents have read and understand it. Why do these reality shows get away with these one-sided contracts filled with legalese only a legal expert could decipher? Compare it to their FAQ's for auditioning, and the Rules, which are in plain English.

What happened where you are today? This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

It's dinnertime here and we're under another severe thunderstorm watch. Do I take a chance on barbecuing steaks or order in? Saigon soft shell crabs sound pretty good.

What are you all doing tonight?

How's your weekend shaping up? I have work to do.

This is an Open Thread.