Due to a Drupal bug in support for PostgreSQL, we couldn't allow anonymous users to submit stories. I've found a patch for that bug, so now you won't have to register before submitting a story to us.

So - see something interesting? Feeing unreasonable? Tell us about it.

For those who came in late: for years now, tech and media companies have been trying to use copyright and patent law to restrict your freedom to share information, or modify or explore the devices you buy, or generally do anything that might decrease their profit margin. The two latest examples:

I came across this suprisingly objective, perhaps even positive, article on polyamory from the Baltimore Sun. (Pointless registration required - try BugMeNot.com.) Very nice to see.

According to VoteNoWar.org, Cuba is offering to send 1,100 doctors with over 26 tons of medical supplies to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. The U.S. has not even acknowledged the offer.

Looks like continuing the last battle of the Cold War takes precedence over saving American lives.

You can petition Congress and the White House to accept this offer of aid here.

Just to put the final nail in the coffin of the American Century, looks like W is going to get to select not just one, but two Supreme Court justices. With the Senate little more than a rubber stamp, you can bend over and kiss your rights goodbye.

Think it's going to take the nation a long time to recover from Katrina? It's going to take decades to recover from the damage done to this nation by George W. Bush.

For some time I've harbored a sneaking suspicion that, on occasion, some of my possessions will go off and have adventures without me.

I first began to consider this possibility at festivals like FSG and Starwood, when lost items would suddenly re-appear in places I was sure had already been searched.

Ok, fine. Between the consciousness-altering effects of staying up all night at the bonfire, and the generally magickal atmosphere at these events, perhaps one should be willing to let one's perception of reality warp a bit around the edges without complaint.

Well, we've got another buyer lined up for my grandfather's house. Third time's the charm? Hope so. Not only do we really need the money (I've gone about $50,000 in debt to fund buying his second wife out of the property and the renovations), but the emotional strain of not having my grandfather's estate settled yet is really wearing at all of us. We should settle at the end of September or early October.

Rarely has a natural disaster become so politicized. From climate change to Iraq to bankruptcy reform, the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina has touched on many current controversies.

It's been suggested that global warming may lead to more severe weather, including more (and more severe) hurricanes. And forecasters are calling for stronger hurricane seasons in the years to come; however, many are arguing that this is part of a natural cyclical variation. While we know with a good deal of certainly that climate change is occurring, and that part of it is driven by human activity, the picture just isn't clear enough to connect hurricanes with CO2 emissions.

An interesting new candidate has entered the race for the Maryland Senate seat being opened by Paul Sarbanes' retirement. Lise Van Susteren, sister of television personality Greta Van Susteren, supports stem cell research, gay marriage and abortion rights, and called the Iraq war a "terrible mistake." She's got my attention.

From www.venganza.org:

OPEN LETTER TO KANSAS SCHOOL BOARD

I am writing you with much concern after having read of your hearing to decide whether the alternative theory of Intelligent Design should be taught along with the theory of Evolution. I think we can all agree that it is important for students to hear multiple viewpoints so they can choose for themselves the theory that makes the most sense to them. I am concerned, however, that students will only hear one theory of Intelligent Design.

Let us remember that there are multiple theories of Intelligent Design. I and many others around the world are of the strong belief that the universe was created by a Flying Spaghetti Monster.