I'm watching Federer-Nadal. Nadal up an early break in the first set.

Rain delay with Nadal leading 2 sets to none - 6-4, 6-4, 4-5 (on serve in the 3rd).

12:55 EST, match to resume momentarily.

Federer wins 3rd set tiebreaker on the back of 4 aces, 7-5.

Federer wins 4th set tiebreaker 10-8, staving off two championship points.

5th set, 1-1, deuce, rain threatening. 2-2, deuce. Rain delay. Play to resume momentarily. 6-6 in the 5th. No tiebreakers in the 5th.

Nadal breaks for 8-7. Serving for the championship. Nadal wings a forehead long. New balls? Nerves? Serve and volley for 15-15. Big forehand sets up easy volley for Nadal. 2 points way. Federer evens at 30-30. Feder misses backhand. Nadal has his 3rd championship point. Fed saves with an impossible backhand return. Service winner. Another championship point.

NADAL WINS! 9-7 in the 5th. Unbelievable match. What a look on Fed's face. he can not believe it.

This is an Open Thread.

In response to the request for a new open thread, here it is.

And in keeping with the weekend's celebration of American history and values:

Neil Young sends us a Fourth of July gift:

In the spirit of Independence Day, Shakey Pictures is airing this special web video for the 4th of July weekend. For best results, we suggest that you connect your computer to a good set of speakers, set your volume on LOUD and fire up the BBQ.

Let Freedom Ring!

(Keep on) Rockin' in the Free World, performed live with Crosby, Stills and Nash.

You might also enjoy clicking "Music Video" here.

The Byrds at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967.

...The chimes of freedom flashing

Flashing for the warriors whose strength is not to fight

Flashing for the refugees on the unarmed road of flight

An' for each an' every underdog soldier in the night

....An' for each unharmful, gentle soul misplaced inside a jail

... we gazed upon the chimes of freedom flashing.

Our earlier open thread is full, here's another one. How is your holiday going so far?

Enjoy your day. This is an Open Thread.

Update (TL): I've added the graphic and will repost some thoughts from a prior year: Given our President's stunning disregard for the rule of law and that it's the Fourth of July, I'm wondering what thoughts you all have on patriotism and liberty and on how this Administration has driven a stake in the heart of both. For opposing the war, we're called unpatriotic. Our civil liberties have been disregarded by everything from the NSA warrantless monitoring program to no-fly lists, the Real I.D. Act and federal immigration raids on workplaces.

One of the best tools we have is the ability to cast a vote and take our country back. 8 Years of Republican rule must come to an end. November can't come fast enough for me, and I'll be voting for every Democrat on the ballot. I encourage you to do the same.

Time for an open thread. Anyone around?

I have no idea what you all have been talking about but our mid-morning open thread is full, so here's a new one.

Please be civil. Thanks.

Wes Clark will be interviewed by Andrea Mitchell on MSNBC in the next minutes. If I can, I'll provide some highlights.

Glenn Greenwald thinks that Obama is going to allow religious discrimination in hiring by faith based groups. I am trying to get the best info I can on this.

Quick update - Clark stands by his statements and Andrea Mitchell says sure all that is true, but Obama does not have executive experience either. Clark gets off a great line on Mitchell I was asked a direct question and I answered it directly, I know that does not happen much in politics but it is what I do.

Clark is too good for these people. Andrea Mitchell is outraged on behalf of McCain and calls him "an extraordinary person." Andrea Mitchell is entitled to her opinion, but not when she is pretending to be a journalist.

This is an Open Thread.

My fanboy video for General Clark:

This is an Open Thread

General Wesley Clark will by the primary guest on friend of Jeralyn's Dan Abrams' show The Verdict tonight at 9 EST on MSNBC.

I will live blog the General's appearance. This is an Open Thread.

Over at daily kos, Lt. Gen. Robert Gard (USA Ret.) defends General Clark's statements. If you are a kossack, please try and get it some attention. It is well worth a read.

Columbia Journalism Review pans the Beltway Media's awful coverage of the Clark event.

I've been MIA this weekend, between having Anita, my first houseguest at my new house and the TL kid moving to a different apartment who brought half of his old apartment here for storage.

Since Anita will be spending the next six Saturday nights with me while she commutes from Owl Farm to attends classes at the University of Denver -- and again during DNC week -- I converted the lower floor of my house into a mini-apartment -- a bedroom/office/bath combo. I forgot how much fun buying beds, bedding and bath stuff is -- not to mention expensive. I'll be paying Crate and Barrel and Macy's for years, but the place looks great. I also put fresh flowers everywhere, something I rarely do when it's just me rambling around.

I'm off to the nursing home now to see the TL Mom, and then to help the TL kid unpack and arrange his new place, so I am still not ready to resume blogging.

Here's an open thread for you -- all topics welcome, from what you did this weekend to food, pets, politics, news of the day or anything else you can think of.

While I think very little of the dkos diary Jeralyn admired, I think this one is worth considering. It is a shame that it took blatant sexism for the diarist to see the problem, but it is great that he now see the problem.

Post Script - Everyone is entitled to their opinion but I thought the diary was quite admirable. I salute prose for it.

Our friend Ben Masel has a good action diary on FISA.

This is an Open Thread.