I'm finishing a long brief that's due by 5pm today. Here's a place for you to vent.

It's definitely the dog days of summer. Ad revenues are down, probably due to Congress being on hiatus, but blogging continues. There's RoveGate, Judge John Roberts, Cindy Sheehan and Republican fundraiser scandals to attend to - no vacation for us. There's also site hosting and outside subscription fees to pay. If you're in a position to contribute a few dollars, now would be a very good time. If you're not, no problem, no excuses are necessary.

• PayPal

• Amazon (Anonymous)

Update: Thanks to all who gave so generously. I'll be sending out thank you e-mails over the next several days. You really helped me and Talkleft out a lot and I greatly appreciate it.

Say Hello to:

• Low and Left, an offshoot from Left Coaster
• Unbossed
• SoapBlox Colorado

Now this is way cool. From Crooks and Liars:

Green Day has given me permission to host the video. I'm working on an interview with the band...

Release: This is the latest Green Day video, "Wake Me Up When September Ends." This timely and politically charged filmic vignette documents Green Day's view of the effects on young soldiers and loved ones left behind. The seven minute epic video causes a moment's pause to reflect upon and understand the impact of what you just watched. Directed by Samuel Bayer, it stars Evan Rachel Wood (Thirteen) and Jamie Be.

I hope this starts a new trend of bringing rockers and bloggers together. I'd be glad to host their views (I'll leave the video to C&L) or do an interview. Just send me an e-mail.

I have an all day Daubert hearing at which Government "experts" (agents and cops) will attempt to convince the judge that their interpretation of more than 100,000 wiretapped conversations of suspected crack cocaine sellers is both reliable and helpful to the jury. When the expert hears "I'm out of milk," he will tell the judge, the speaker is saying "I'm out of crack." Courts routinely admit this ridiculous evidence. With 17 of the charged 30 defendants still refusing to take plea bargains, it will take all day.

So if you have a thought on what's "crackalackin' " today (real translation: "What's happening?" -- ask any rapper, it has nothing to do with crack cocaine) here's the place.

I have an unpleasant day ahead, with no time for blogging.

A graveside funeral for my first federal drug client from 1976 with whom I've remained in contact (he was 62, had a stroke and died on Friday), followed by client visits at the jail, followed by court and a fourth attempt at bail for a client in a current drug case (bail was granted by the federal magistrate, overuled by the District Court Judge, his denial of bail was affirmed by the Tenth Circuit, and it's now back in front of the same District Court Judge.) And how kharmic is this: the judge in my bail case today was the prosecutor in the 1976 case against my client whose funeral I'm attending. How times change, and how they remain the same. Definitely one for the memoirs I probably will never write.

Anyway, I'm counting on readers (although TChris or Last Night in Little Rock might be around, so check back) to take over for the day. I'll be back tonight.

Having read quite a few criticisms and praiseful posts for Mithras' "Conservative Blogger Taxanomy," I'm ready to weigh in.

A few of Mithras' comments about right-wing bloggers are funny and dead-on. I disagree with his description of Instapundit, Glenn Reynolds. But it is his comments about Michelle Malkin that are particularly offensive, embarassing and inexcusable. Mithras writes:

Michelle Malkin: Far-right affirmative action hire who is so bigoted she'd arrest herself for trying to cross a border. Famously published a book praising internment of Japanese-Americans that was (a) incoherent and (b) probably not written by her. If she didn't have t*ts, she'd be stuck writing at Townhall.com.

• Happy Birthday to Jesse at Pandagon. He's jones'ing on birthdays (at 23, he talks about aging no less) so go cheer him up with a comment.

• Billmon on Judge Roberts' participation in a gay-rights case. [My take on it is over at 5280 today.]

• Jesus' General has very funny pictures today.

• Mark Kleiman says the AIPAC Indictments are bad news for Karl Rove

• Digby's on another roll, just read them all.

• Arianna's latest Judith Miller post is up - connecting dots between her and David Kelly, the British WMD expert who committed suicide.

• TBogg on AdoptionGate

Anyone feel like taking the reins here for the afternoon? I've said all I have to say - it's your turn.

If you're not a blogger, this won't have any meaning for you. But if you are, and you're considering moving from Blogads to Pajamas Media, go read Ann Althouse....and let me know here what you think. Which one do you think is a better deal for bloggers?

Videoblogger Crooks and Liars has opened a Cafe Press store with some cool looking items that helps pay for bandwidth. My favorites are here .

TalkLeft recently added a Cafe Press store but it's not nearly as impressive, because I'm graphically challenged. But, I do like the 4th Amendment subway tote (click on larger version.) Somehow, it seems appropriate to hand a bag that reminds the officer searching through your personal items without a warrant or probable of the wording of that great Amendment.

My internet service is down - it's been intermittent since Saturday. Comcast installed a new modem today but their main server that handles modem registration is down so I can't get online until that goes back up. Dial-up is way too slow to blog with, so here's an open thread for you. I'll be back whenever the gods at Comcast so decree.