The Rebel Black Dot Song of the Day
19 Wheels, "Broken" from Sugareen (T.L.A.M.)

Commentary: In a rare but welcome bit of role-reversal, The Bradman introduced me to the music of 19 Wheels. I've been to the Blind Pig many times, but 19 Wheels was the only band I saw there with the Pig serving more as a bar than a concert venue; you've got to love live music on a weeknight. "Broken" was selected as a small celebration of his resumption of regular bloggy blogging. Woot!

Brad's Continuing Rant.

Science!
I adore the fact that the Tunguska Event is still a mystery nearly a century after the occurrence: Tunguska! Ooo, what should we do to commemorate next year's centennial? We have three hundred sixty-nine days to formulate and implement an appropriately grandiose plan. Let's make this a big deal, gang. Please submit your suggestions, no idea is too humble or too ambitious to be considered.

The Endorsement
I have to applaud the Bundeswehr for taking a stand against the massive fraud known as Scientology: cultlink.

Good on the Aussies for using humour to advance a worthy cause: ding-a-linglink.

Lastly, bugger the BBC's pompous moralizing, I say three cheers for skulduggery: spylink! Imagine how much better the lives of the Cuban people would be today had we succeeded in assassinating Castro in 1960 or '61. I miss the good old days when the CIA had the chutzpah to overthrow unfriendly regimes and the courage to support our allies in their time of need. Damn President Ford, God rest his soul, for Executive Order 11905!

Deep in the Heart of Darkness
Do you guys have any idea how much in rains in north Texas? Since May Day, we've had more days with at least some rainfall than days without. Sure, only two or three of those days have been rain-all-day harbinger of the Deluge days, but still. It rains all the time here, rains and rains and rains. And yet on those rare days when the rainclouds have parted and the accursed Sun has hammered this anvil-cum-state mercilessly, the ground dries up and cracks in no time flat. The ground here has no ability to retain moisture; truly, this is godforsaken country. The one bright spot? The Texans, being weather pansies for all seasons, are distraught about the rain. Heh heh heh. Pansies.

Oh, and just in case anyone has gotten the wrong idea, Heart of Darkness is one of the worst books I've read and Apocalypse Now is among the very worst films I've had the misfortune to see. My feelings toward Texas are not entirely dissimilar from my feelings towards Joseph Conrad.