It's barbecue night here. Which means an open thread for you. All topics welcome.

The ACLU has a lot of news today I didn't get to blog about.

• Report Confirms Continued Dragnet Collection Of Americans’ Communications

• Obama Administration Should Release CIA Inspector General Report Without Substantial Redactions, Says ACLU. Apparently, the Newly Released Detainee Statements Provide More Evidence Of CIA Torture Program (CIA Continues To Suppress Information From Detainee Tribunals With Heavy Redactions)

And, in the mail: a new novel, The Legal Limit, about a drug offender who faces a moral quandry and laws that always do justice. I can't tell yet if it's a pro-prosecution book or not. If you've already read it, let me know:[More...]

Hump day.

This is an Open Thread.

I just posted a piece at TPM Cafe Book Club on Eric Boehlert's book, "Bloggers on the Bus". The themes will be familiar to regular readers.

I will be writing more this week about a meeting with Bill Clinton I attended yesterday at his Harlem offices. A lot of food for thought was put on the table there.

Finally, please consider donating to Talk Left. If you like what we do, it would be nice if some of Jeralyn's costs could be defrayed. Here is the the paypal link, it's very easy (and takes credit cards even if you don't have a paypal account.)

If you don't like paypal, feel free to pull a few dollars out of your pocket and send it snail mail.

Speaking for me only. This is an Open Thread.

Little did I know one weekend in June, 2002, when I converted TalkLeft: The Politics of Crime, a little known website I created in 1999, into a weblog, I would spend hours every day for the next seven years on it. But, that's what I've done. Somehow, the years just flew by, and today, TalkLeft is 7 years old.

In an interview for a legal website a few years ago, I was asked what would happen to TalkLeft if a Democrat became president in January, 2009. My answer was: [More...]

Here's what's caught my eye this morning:

• Behind Bars, Sort Of....Can a prison have glass walls, balconies, communal cooking spaces and private bathrooms — and still be a prison? (NY Times Magazine) The answer: Yes, but not in the U.S. Europe is so much more enlightened. In addition to Austria, as I wrote last week, there's France.

• Unlikely heroin confession: Researcher reveals past as an addict to encourage new tactics in war on drugs (Chicago Tribune)

• Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman may run for Governor of Nevada, as an Independent. Oscar is a long-time hero of mine. As I've been saying since 2002, Run, Oscar, Run!

[More...]

Loose ends:

Letterman and Palin - What Digby Said. Letterman's behavior has been repulsive.

On Obama and DOMA -Aravosis and Sullivan seemd to be engaging in "victimology." (Explanation - I am criticizing Sullivan here. He and Aravosis are right on this issue.) Obama is proving yet again to have feet of clay. For example, where is his proposal to overturn DOMA? Or DADT? Pols are pols my friends. Those who choose to put them on a pedestal will always be disappointed.

Fight for your issues, not for pols.

Speaking for me only and this is an Open Thread.

In the news this morning:

• Patrick Kennedy returns to rehab
• Madonna wins her adoption fight in the Malawi Supreme Court
• Chasity Bono is undergoing a sex change operation to become a man. According to TMZ, once her breasts are removed, she can petition the court to legally change her sex. At that point, she is a "he" and can legally marry. How awful, that a person must undergo radical surgery to be able to marry his or her partner of choice.

  At a point during the gender change -- typically when breasts are removed -- the subject can go to court and ask a judge to legally change his/her sex. It's discretionary on the part of the judge in determining when the person switches sex and is entitled to a legal change, but typically it's when the breasts are removed. Judges typically do not require a genitalia switch as a prerequisite to a sex change.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

What are you doing or thinking about tonight? Here's an open thread, all topics welcome.

BTD is out of town for a few days. The TL Kid and I are about to grill some steaks. I'll be back here later tonight.

In the meantime, check out Nanci Griffith's new album. Howie Klein at Huffington Post has the details and notes her performance at the Grammy Museum in LA this week, which is part of a new program called "The Drop." She got a five minute standing ovation.

Her album is a must-have, as he explains here.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

I'm at the airport on my way out of town. I think J and TChris will be around.

This is an Open Thread.

Tiger shoots a final round 65 to win the Memorial. The Yanks rallied to beat the Rays. Federer ties Sampras with his 14th Grand Slam - winning at Roland Garros. Game 2 of the NBA Finals are tonight. Will Van Gundy mess up the Magic again?

This is an Open Thread.

If you are not watching Roger Federer at Roland Garros, you surely will be watching Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's appearance on ABC's This Week, where she will be interviewed by George Steph.

This is an Open Thread.

Post Script - a blogger was outed yesterday (his real identity was revealed.) I wish we could all hold to an ethic that would not allow such a thing to happen, but obviously that is not the case. There appears not to be a consensus on this issue. - Speaking for me only