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.

On Obama, McCain and Robert Stone's Dog Soldiers, a really good diary by Blueness at Daily Kos. I especially like the parts about FISA and criminal law, about how of course we are going to be disappointed in Obama from time to time, but that's no reason not to support him for President.

A few quotes below, but there is much more, so go read the whole thing.

This is an open thread.

I assume, like me, this afternoon turned a little hectic for Jeralyn and TChris. I was out of the loop and have no idea what is going on. Let us know here. This is an Open Thread.

Tonight in Denver: Crosby, Stills and Nash.

Proceeds from the tax-deductable tickets go to the American Transplant Foundation. Thu 8 p.m. Wells Fargo Theatre, 700 14th St. $250-$1000. For more information, visit here.

The TL Kid and I will be there... one of the partners at his new law firm gave us their great seats right in front. (Thanks, Jeff.)

This is another open thread as the last one is full.

Here's an open thread for today while we're at work.

If you've got an opinion or news to share, you can do it here. All topics welcome.

Everybody at TalkLeft is working today and our morning open thread is full.

Here's another one.

I'll be at work today, here's an open thread for you. Also check out:

• Christy at Firedoglake recaps Sen. Chris Dodd's speech last night on FISA. Glenn Greenwald does too.

• Spencer Ackerman has moved his blog to Firedoglake. Cool graphic and definitely one to put in your RSS feed.

• Peter Swire at Think Progress on laptop searches by border security.

• Collateral News on Floating Prisons.

All topics welcome and please be civil.

I'm out for the afternoon.

If you're stuck at work or staying inside to avoid high temperatures -- or any other reason -- here's a place to chat.

I've been opposed to all of the proposed rewrites of FISA. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. We don't need a new FISA law. We need to force the President and his Administration to obey the law, not rewrite it so they can do as they please. Here are 10 mytbs about it.

As for Sen. Obama's statement today that he supports the compromise but will work with the Senate to eliminate the telecom immunity provision, my question is, how will he vote if the immunity provision stays in? It seems like he will vote for it. [More...]

I have two FISA thank yous to hand out.

The first is to Big Tent Democrat, who has been relentless in his opposition to the bill. I gave up on it long ago, believing there was no way around what happened today. I'm sorry my cynicism has proven true, and I'm appeciative that he keeps up the fight.

The second is to Colorado Congresswoman Diana DeGette who voted against the FISA bill and issued this statement. [More...]