Did you hear the one about the defense contractor in New York who threw a Bat Mitzvah for his daughter and lined up Steve Tyler and Joe Perry, Kenny G, 50 Cent, Tom Petty, Stevie Nicks etc. to perform for her? The defense contractor is none other than David H. Brooks, CEO of bulletproof vest maker DHB Industries.

I wake up every day listening to NPR. It's one place where I figure I can get somewhat even-handed reporting. Today, I woke up to a piece by David Welna on "Frist Takes Judicial Filibuster Fight to Churches". And what does Mr. Welna say in that piece?

"Democrats call a simple majority rules change banning judicial filibusters the nuclear option due to the toxic effect they say it would have on Senate relations. They say they would retaliate by slowing Senate business to a virtual standstill..."

The news is full of dreck that sounds like facts but are far from it. Frist in his address makes a point of saying that Democrats originated the phrase "nuclear option", and Welna follows up with this. As a listener would I question it? Do I have the option of asking Mr. Welna which Democrats he's talking about? What is his source? He ends the piece by saying neither side is willing to compromise, after playing an audio quote from Joe Biden describing what he thinks is a reasonable compromise. How lies become facts...I'm done with NPR.

I have to admit that I hadn't read the new Bankruptcy Bill. I knew it was bad but it turns out that it's even worse than one might have thought. Not only are we apparently bringing back debtor's prison, but for those without means, it may be next to impossible to find legal assistance.

About those pesky voting machines...this from Federal Computer Week: So absentee ballots are the way to go?

While you may not have heard much about the environment at the Convention, there have been some rallys by environmentally-minded delegates, citizens, and legislators. On Tuesday, the LCV (League of Conservation Voters) had a rally at Columbus Park headlined by Democratic 'cause celebre' Barak Obama (before his speech at the Convention). Today at the Marriot Copley, Environment 2004 put on a Town Hall rally that included speakers like Carol Browner (former administrator of the EPA), Attorney General Eliot Spitzer of NY State, Congressman Mark Udall, and Rob Reiner (lover of children and nature). They all spoke eloquently, passionately, and intelligently about the environmental atrocities of the Bush administration. None, however, spoke as eloquently, passionately or intelligently as Robert Kennedy, Jr. It was even better than his Uncle Ted's speech at the Convention the other day (and that was a terrific speech). And it was loudly applauded by an enthusiastic audience that included former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno (boy, do we miss you, Janet!).

I know he's said it all before, but it was inspirational to hear him in person. His book, Crimes Against Nature, is coming out in a few weeks. Read it. And vote. (By the way, LCV gives Kerry a 96% on his environmental voting scorecard.)