Interesting: Bookeaters and The Long Winters

We went to a fundraiser concert for 826CHI on Thursday at Park West. Saw some amazing things:

1. Ira Glass of This American Life worked his magic, producing a brilliant audio piece right in front of our eyes and ears. Ira had an iPod in a big white DJ dock which he somehow used to mix interview clips, music, and his own voice. Sublime.

2. John Roderick of The Long Winters played a great acoustic set just 30 seconds after jumping out of a cab from O'Hare. The website has five free MP3 tracks; I highly recommend them all.

3. Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie played a nice mellow set on guitar and piano. He even played Cindy's favorite song from their new album.

Helpful: Framing the health insurance debate

Here's a tip: Lose the phrase "cover the uninsured."

Helpful and Scary: Katrina flood graphic

From nola.com

Interesting: One cartoon says it all

Helpful: Win by not fighting?

This post by Kevin Drum today is exactly what I have been thinking about lately. Does massive military retaliation actually achieve the goals we want it to?

Panic! on the Disco Ball

Panic! on the Disco Ball
Originally uploaded by kuzmatt9.

Indigo Steve at Lollapalooza.

Offensive does not equal offense

Just to clarify: delusional, unobjective support for the Iraq War is not the same thing as being "tough on the war on terror." Hear that, Joe Lieberman?

Helpful: Google Send to Phone for Firefox

No surprise that I love this new Firefox extension. It has:
1. Google
2. Firefox
3. Cell phone texting
4. Usefulness

What more could I want?

Interesting: Secret Radio Project!

My hometown NPR station, Chicago Public Radio, has a secret. Me likey.

IL-10: Is Mark Kirk a Republican?

Look at his website, and you tell me. Wonder what he's ashamed of.

I+H: Happ arrives

After years of anticipation, I can finally read Mike Happ's political writing at my leisure, thanks to his new blog. And you can too.

Interesting: The costs of war

$2 Trillion?

Helpful: Weather Underground

When I look for weather online I want two things: 1) a current radar map, and 2) a 5-day forecast. I've found a site that gives me that without having to click through a million links. Weather Underground does it. And for $10/year, it's ad-free. Animated Doppler!

Interesting: Latest from Fair Illinois

Just got this word from my friends at Fair Illinois, the campaign I helped run this summer. Good progress!