August 2008

Opus By Berkeley Breathed
Do you know what the "circle of life" means? (08/31/2008)

This place is the bomb By David Wolman
Something wild is happening on Christmas Island, once ground zero for nuclear test explosions. (08/31/2008)

Barack Obama on Stephanie Tubbs Jones Joan Walsh
Sitting alongside both Clintons, the Democratic nominee took time out from the campaign to honor a friend (08/31/2008)

Federal government involved in raids on protesters Glenn Greenwald
More extraordinary than these extreme raids is the fact that they are generating so little attention and even less outcry. (08/31/2008)

Bush, Cheney to skip Republican Convention Alex Koppelman
With Hurricane Gustav bearing down, more changes to the convention's schedule are likely in the offing. (08/31/2008)

Republicans limiting events for first day of convention Alex Koppelman
Official word is that there will be some necessary business conducted, but no politics. (09/01/2008)

Who said politics was on hold? Mike Madden
Mitt Romney attacks Barack Obama while introducing John McCain at a political rally Sunday, after McCain said Hurricane Gustav would put the campaign on pause. (09/01/2008)

Critics' Picks
What you need to see, read, do this week: Nazi TV, German robot music and an alternative to warmed-over Coldplay. (08/30/2008)

Joan Walsh looks back at the Denver convention
Thursday at Invesco Field. (08/30/2008)

Letters of the week
Readers reflect on Sarah Palin, health insurance, birth control and more. (08/30/2008)

The dark history of burned flesh By Andrew Leonard
Drop those spareribs, imperialist pig-eaters! A new book argues that the great American barbecue smolders on the coals of genocidal racism. (08/30/2008)

Massive police raids on suspected protestors in Minneapolis Glenn Greenwald
Several "hippie homes" are raided this morning by semi-automatic-weapon-wielding police squads. (08/30/2008)

McCain's Palin pick is the epitome of tokenism By Joe Conason
Suddenly all anyone needs to qualify as a potential commander in chief is to be a religious ideologue with female gender characteristics? (08/30/2008)

Knock it off, Paul Begala Joan Walsh
The veteran Democrat and Clinton supporter attributes Sarah Palin's poise to "her beauty pageant training." (08/30/2008)

Fighting Barack Obama Joan Walsh
In Denver this week the Democratic nominee laid out a feisty, populist message and pulled his party together. (08/31/2008)

Bateman: Biden's bringing the keg
Actual audio from the Democratic convention. (08/29/2008)

I married a Nazi -- the comedy Andrew O'Hehir
Czech master Jirí Menzel's black comedy about a lovable innocent turned Nazi collaborator is a work of nettlesome genius. Will anybody notice? (08/29/2008)

Everyone's favorite mean girl By Thomas Rogers
"Gossip Girl's" Leighton Meester on raging tabloid rumors, faux toplessness and her character's undeniable sex appeal. (08/29/2008)

Linking masculinity with erectile dysfunction
Tracy Clark-Flory responds to a new study about masculinity. (08/29/2008)

WayLay By Carol Lay
Jill watches "This Was Your Life." (08/29/2008)

Dr. Feelbad By Rahul K. Parikh, M.D.
Modern medical practice is burning out doctors. That's bad for our health and yours. We need a cure. But first I need a nap. (08/29/2008)

Why I love the city that brutalized me By Sarah Hepola
Before Katrina, all I knew about New Orleans was Bourbon Street clichés. Then I got mugged there and fell for a local boy and the glorious city itself. (08/29/2008)

Dress code: Head-scratchingly casual Kate Harding
If the Stuff White People Like blog doesn't have an entry for "cutesy, baffling dress codes" yet, it's about time. (08/29/2008)

What's that smell? Kate Harding
Scented candles for men will bring the fragrance of urinal cakes into your home at last. (08/29/2008)

Second hottest girl in NYC a transsexual? Tracy Clark-Flory
According to some, Jamie Clayton is better at being a woman than most biological females. (08/29/2008)

Should Obama have picked Hillary? Rebecca Traister
Did the GOP just co-opt the Democrats' chance at making history? Sarah Palin, a conservative, antiabortion, pro-NRA Republican, may just be the first woman in the White House. (08/29/2008)

News flash: Masculinity is about more than sex Tracy Clark-Flory
A study suggests that stereotypes about men's view of masculinity are wrong. (08/29/2008)

Quote of the day Katharine Mieszkowski
Sen. Barbara Boxer on Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. (08/29/2008)

Palin: A "maverick" move or a nod to the GOP base? By Mike Madden
She adds youth -- and inexperience -- to the 72-year-old McCain's ticket, but she is a by-the-book social conservative. (08/29/2008)

Liquoring up the Democrats By Mike Madden
Corporations with business pending in Washington spared no expense on Denver parties. (08/29/2008)

American revolutionary By Walter Shapiro
In his acceptance speech, Barack Obama stood up for Democratic values, took the fight to McCain -- and proved that the United States is still capable of reinventing itself. (08/29/2008)

What Sarah Palin means Joan Walsh
She lets John McCain appease the Christian right while looking like a social reformer. (08/29/2008)

John McCain's female card By Gary Kamiya
By choosing an X-chromosome cipher, McCain is trying to beat Obama at the identity politics game. But it's dangerous to fight on your opponent's turf. (08/29/2008)

Who is McCain's pick? Mike Madden
John McCain's campaign tops even Barack Obama's impressive secret keeping over the vice-presidential nomination, as his choice is still unknown. (08/29/2008)

Obama camp responds to Palin pick Alex Koppelman
In a statement, a spokesman for Barack Obama slammed John McCain's choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate. (08/29/2008)

McCain introduces Palin, asks for money Alex Koppelman
John McCain sends an e-mail to his supporters in which he calls his new running mate "a trailblazer and a reformer." (08/29/2008)

Another state not delivered Thomas Schaller
Palin's selection confirms that the idea of picking a running mate to help deliver that politician's home state is officially dead. (08/29/2008)

Handicapping Palin pick Thomas Schaller
Thoughts about how John McCain's choice of running mate alters the dynamics of the campaign. (08/29/2008)

Brian Schweitzer interview Thomas Schaller
Salon caught up with Montana's governor Thursday, a few hours before Barack Obama's acceptance speech. (08/29/2008)

McCain, Palin go PUMA hunting Alex Koppelman
At the first event for the McCain-Palin ticket, at least one reason why John McCain chose the running mate he did became clear. (08/29/2008)

Gov. Palin and Iraq Mark Benjamin
Asked about the surge in 2007, she said she hadn't "really focused much on the war in Iraq." (08/29/2008)

Nets confirm: It's Palin Alex Koppelman
John McCain has apparently chosen Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate. (08/29/2008)

Who is Sarah Palin? Alex Koppelman
The governor of Alaska, now John McCain's running mate, is relatively new on the scene. (08/29/2008)

Dobson says he'll vote for McCain-Palin Alex Koppelman
The prominent evangelical leader has been reticent about supporting John McCain, so his move may signal how happy social conservatives are with the choice. (08/29/2008)

Who's that lady?
Did McCain just pick a woman to win the Hillary crowd? Members of Salon's Table Talk community weigh in on the female vote. (08/29/2008)

Sarah Palin: Drill, drill, drill -- all the way Andrew Leonard
Offshore, onshore, in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge -- the Republican vice-presidential nominee makes no bones about it: Drill! (08/29/2008)

Sarah Palin and a melting Alaska Andrew Leonard
Global warming is nothing to joke about in the not-so-frozen North. Palin might be pro-drilling, but she can't ignore climate change (08/29/2008)

Ask the pilot By Patrick Smith
Who cares what planes look like? I do! Why do they have to look so ugly and boring? (08/29/2008)

Hurricane subprime Andrew Leonard
Insurance companies, already hammered by the credit crunch, wince as Gustav approaches the Gulf (08/29/2008)

The ultimate Japanese Shakespeare spaghetti western! Andrew O'Hehir
Takashi Miike's "Sukiyaki Western Django" offers a spectacular mashup of Kurosawa, Sergio Leone, Tarantino and the Bard -- and it's weirder than that sounds. (08/28/2008)

No more purple dinosaurs! By Heather Havrilesky
The creators of "Yo Gabba Gabba" tell the story behind the coolest (and least annoying) kids show on television. (08/28/2008)

Checking in on Day 3 of the convention
Rebecca Traister comments on the "convention experience." (08/28/2008)

Bateman: Barack Obama is our candidate!
Audio of Hillary Clinton speaking on behalf of the Empire State at the Democratic convention. (08/28/2008)

Salon in Denver: Obama delegates ready to celebrate
The system worked for delegates, who were thrilled to have voted to nominate Obama. (08/28/2008)

The road to Wikipedia By Laura Miller
How do we know what we know? A new book takes a long view of knowledge, from ancient oral traditions to the rise of universities and the Internet. (08/28/2008)

Tom the Dancing Bug By Ruben Bolling
Unremarkable Doug's saga continues. (08/28/2008)

Ain't no wind in T. Boone Pickens' sails By Joseph Romm
The oil tycoon's support of John McCain for president demonstrates that his heavily advertised plan for wind power is only hot air. (08/28/2008)

Beating up on women never gets old for Fox Abby Margulies
From gripes about Michelle Obama to news of a Miss USA reality show, Fox News has a field day beating up on the ladies. (08/28/2008)

Same-sex marriage ban lags in California Katharine Mieszkowski
Will love win the day at the ballot box in November? (08/28/2008)

Del Martin, lesbian pioneer and bride, dead at 87 Katharine Mieszkowski
Until death did them part ... (08/28/2008)

"WTF" of the day Catherine Price
Relatives of an 8-year-old Saudi girl, married without her knowledge to a man in his 50s, are fighting to get her a divorce. (08/28/2008)

Clearasil condoms? Catherine Price
Cambodian women find an unexpected use for the lubricant. (08/28/2008)

"Ugh" of the day Tracy Clark-Flory
The author of "The Re-Education of the Female" has a simple piece of advice: Do as men say. (08/28/2008)

Hail and farewell By Mike Madden
Hillary Clinton officially ended her historic campaign with dignity -- and her backers' predicted meltdown never happened. (08/28/2008)

Advice to Obama for his historic speech By Thomas Schaller
Five Democratic wordsmiths offer up their do's and don'ts. (08/28/2008)

Biden -- and Kerry and Clinton -- go on the attack By Walter Shapiro
Before Barack Obama's surprise appearance, a tag team of Democrats, including Bill Clinton, piles on John McCain. And Joe Biden, Rove-style, goes right for McCain's supposed strength. (08/28/2008)

John Kerry: I learned my lesson in 2004 By Thomas Schaller
The 2004 Democratic presidential nominee talks about his blistering attack on John McCain in Wednesday's speech -- and what he should've done differently four years ago. (08/28/2008)

Bill Clinton shows -- and gets -- the love Joan Walsh
"Barack Obama is ready to lead America," he tells an adoring crowd -- and suddenly Clinton haters who predicted mayhem in Denver are 0 for 2. (08/28/2008)

Eyes back on the prize Joan Walsh
Denver's finest moment so far was the roll-call vote, for all it said about the Clinton and Obama camps' capacity for grace, forgiveness and smart politics. (08/28/2008)

What's missing from the Democratic convention? Glenn Greenwald
Democrats have largely avoided discussions of the radicalism of the past eight years, and even more so personal attacks on John McCain. Is that wise? (08/28/2008)

MIA at convention: Anti-Bush swag Jeanne Carstensen
All the Obama memorabilia is great, but why so few jabs at our supremely unpopular president? (08/28/2008)

Report: McCain's veep choice to be notified today Alex Koppelman
John McCain has reportedly picked his running mate; all that remains is to let that person in on the secret. (08/28/2008)

Plouffe on McCain's "high-water mark" Rebecca Traister
Barack Obama's campaign manager says that John McCain will only see his numbers dip from now on. But with the GOP convention coming up, is he right to be so confident? (08/28/2008)

Bush might not make same mistake twice Vincent Rossmeier
Will Gustav get in the way of President Bush's scheduled speech at the Republican convention next week? (08/28/2008)

Obama delegates ready to celebrate Caitlin Shamberg
On Wednesday, we took a video camera and checked in with delegates at the Pepsi Center to see how they were feeling about the convention. (08/28/2008)

The next Barack Obama? Rebecca Traister
Newark's Cory Booker wows the Vote Hope crowd with a call for Democrats to inspire voters -- and learn to deliver when they're elected. (08/28/2008)

Cindy McCain's half sister will vote for Obama Justin Jouvenal
Even though he's from the party of "family values," John McCain is having trouble rounding up votes from some of his in-laws. (08/28/2008)

MSNBC's meltdown Vincent Rossmeier
The station's feuding anchors add an acrimonious subplot to the Democratic convention. (08/28/2008)

McCain camp responds Alex Koppelman
A spokesman for the presumptive Republican nominee says Barack Obama's speech was "misleading" and "fundamentally at odds with [his] meager record." (08/29/2008)

Republicans reportedly considering delaying convention Alex Koppelman
The GOP convention may not start on time as a result of tropical storm Gustav, which might provide a reminder of another storm the party would like voters to forget. (08/29/2008)

"With profound gratitude and great humility, I accept your nomination" Alex Koppelman
Barack Obama delivered a blockbuster of a speech to bring the Democratic convention to a close on Thursday night. (08/29/2008)

In ad, McCain congratulates Obama Alex Koppelman
John McCain says he's giving Barack Obama his day before the two get back to real campaigning, but the ad is evidence against that. (08/28/2008)

Celebrities don't hold campaign rallies Mike Madden
Barack Obama's big night was a campaign event, and the people there weren't just fans. (08/29/2008)

Gore compares Obama to Lincoln Alex Koppelman
Before an adoring crowd, the former vice president also drew on his own loss to George W. Bush to make the case for electing Barack Obama. (08/29/2008)

"This election is our chance ... to keep the American promise alive" Alex Koppelman
Read excerpts from Barack Obama's acceptance speech here. (08/29/2008)

A booming economy? Andrew Leonard
"Incomprehensible" GDP growth numbers make "recession" a hard word to say. But we'll say it anyway. (08/28/2008)

Christianists gone wild Andrew Leonard
Is the GOP trying to ban private funding of embryonic stem cell research? Some Republicans certainly seem to think so. (08/28/2008)

Scott Bateman: The Obamas are so cute!
Actual audio from Barack and his family during the Democratic National Convention. (08/27/2008)

Salon in Denver: Embracing Barack at Hillary's speech
Rebecca Traister gets reactions to Clinton's convention speech. (08/27/2008)

Red State Update: "Cookin' With Jackie Time"
Get ready to make convention corn fritters with Jackie Browles and Mr. Slaw. (08/27/2008)

"Traitor" By Stephanie Zacharek
Too much narrative trickery takes away from the real talent in this post-9/11 thriller, Don Cheadle and Saïd Taghmaoui. (08/27/2008)

We drive as we live By Kevin Berger
No wonder traffic will never improve. We are doomed by our behavior, as a drive in New York with "Traffic" author Tom Vanderbilt reveals. (08/27/2008)

The K Chronicles By Keith Knight
A fair and balanced look at Obama's run for the presidency. (08/27/2008)

Hope floats By Pasha Malla
She was unforgettable in Spike Lee's "When the Levees Broke." Now Phyllis Montana-LeBlanc explains what the storm took away -- and never could. (08/27/2008)

The joy of abstinence Judy Berman
A humorous blog and a conservative think tank on the benefits of not having sex. (08/27/2008)

Quote of last night Lynn Harris
Besides "No way. No how. No McCain." (08/27/2008)

Get your Mac on! Tracy Clark-Flory
Planned Parenthood offers up political protection with the John McCain condom. (08/27/2008)

The emerging abortion underground Lynn Harris
Researchers are set to study the whys of DIY termination. (08/27/2008)

Canceled: Beauty contest for nuns Tracy Clark-Flory
Father Antonio Rungi says his pageant plans were "deliberately misinterpreted." (08/27/2008)

"No way, no how, no McCain" By Joan Walsh
Hillary Clinton targets the Republicans -- and her loyalists who have been unwilling to give up the good fight. (08/27/2008)

When is a plot not a plot? By Mike Madden
A group of armed "meth heads" reportedly discussed shooting Barack Obama, but the feds opted for lesser charges. (08/27/2008)

Rolling with the punches By Garrison Keillor
Californians remind me of Londoners. They're less jittery than the rest of us, and disaster doesn't terrify them. (08/27/2008)

What makes Biden Biden? By Norman Kurz
The moral backbone that led the V.P. nominee to stand up to Milosevic and pass the Violence Against Women Act was bred into him by his father. (08/27/2008)

Greek columns? Really? Alex Koppelman
The stage for Barack Obama's speech is being set up, and it looks like the design could have been a lot smarter. (08/27/2008)

"Barack Obama is ready to be president" Alex Koppelman
Defying the expectations of naysayers, Bill Clinton delivers an enthusiastic endorsement of Barack Obama. (08/28/2008)

Florida, Michigan delegations go for Obama Alex Koppelman
The disputed states, which had voted for Hillary Clinton in primaries that violated primary rules, ended up giving the majority of their votes to Barack Obama. (08/27/2008)

Fired up for party unity Rebecca Traister and Caitlin Shamberg
After Hillary Clinton's speech on Tuesday night, we pulled out the video camera to check in with Obama and Clinton delegates and supporters. (08/27/2008)

Clinton supporter tapped to second Obama nomination Alex Koppelman
As the roll-call process gets under way, a prominent congressional backer of Hillary Clinton's speaks on behalf of Barack Obama. (08/27/2008)

Arkansas for Obama Alex Koppelman
The delegation from Clinton's adopted home state, which she won in a landslide in the primaries, gave all its votes to Barack Obama. (08/27/2008)

Lieberman camp pushing back on Novak report Alex Koppelman
Sources close to Joe Lieberman are reportedly issuing strenuous denials of a story that he has told John McCain not to choose him as his running mate. (08/27/2008)

Clinton rules Alex Koppelman
Some in the media just can't give up on the idea that the Clintons plan to undermine Barack Obama. (08/27/2008)

How it happened Alex Koppelman
The roll call at the Democratic convention was brought to the symbolic end that was expected when Hillary Clinton asked that Barack Obama be nominated by acclamation. (08/28/2008)

Obama wins New Hampshire (eight months later) Mike Madden
The Granite State casts all its votes at the convention for Barack Obama, in a sign of unity after Hillary Clinton won its primary. (08/27/2008)

It's official: Barack Obama is the Democratic nominee Alex Koppelman
His former rival brought the roll call to an end by successfully moving that Obama be nominated by acclamation. (08/27/2008)

Novak's back, warning against McCain-Lieberman ticket Alex Koppelman
The ailing columnist pens a missive arguing that the choice of Joe Lieberman as John McCain's running mate would be disastrous for Republicans. (08/27/2008)

Clinton releases her delegates Alex Koppelman
Meeting with delegates pledged to her, Clinton doesn't tell them how to vote, but does say she cast her ballot for Barack Obama. (08/27/2008)

Quote of the day Vincent Rossmeier
Former Democratic presidential candidate Michael Dukakis blames himself for Bush. (08/27/2008)

Biden, officially the vice-presidential nominee, takes the stage Alex Koppelman
On Wednesday night, Joe Biden showed why Barack Obama chose him as his running mate. (08/28/2008)

On the reaction to the columns for Obama's speech Alex Koppelman
Bloggers are criticizing the press for discussing this, but such things are the reason the actual issues become less important, and that's not solely the media's fault. (08/27/2008)

Monsanto's bane: The evil pigweed Andrew Leonard
Remember the boll weevil? A new terror is stalking the cotton fields of the American South. (08/27/2008)

A Brazilian Linux let-down Andrew Leonard
The government subsidizes free software. But does anyone use it? (08/27/2008)

Indian superheroes take a fall Andrew Leonard
The latest victim of the global economic slump: "Devi/Witchblade" and "Ramayan 3392 Reloaded" (08/27/2008)

A clean energy investment slump? Andrew Leonard
High energy prices are supposed to make solar and wind power all the more attractive. But new figures suggest that sustainability is losing some steam (08/27/2008)

Before Bergman and "The Crucible" Andrew O'Hehir
Carl Dreyer's erotic witch-hunt drama "Day of Wrath," made in Nazi-occupied Denmark, resurfaces with shattering clarity after a digital restoration. (08/26/2008)

Bateman: Joe Biden on the stump
Actual patriotic audio from Obama's V.P. pick. (08/26/2008)

Rabbit Bites: Buns goes for the gold!
At 11 inches and with feet the size of large carrots, Buns is built for Olympic hopping. (08/26/2008)

Salon in Denver: The RNC's "Happy Hour for Hillary"
McCain and Clinton supporters make new friends at the RNC-hosted event. (08/26/2008)

The souls of young Muslim folk By Justin Jouvenal
What it's like to be America's new "problem" in the age of terror. (08/26/2008)

This Modern World By Tom Tomorrow
Tonight: The latest stupid campaign season distraction that we in the media keep talking about! (08/26/2008)

About that whole "right to terminate an unwanted pregnancy" thing Catherine Price
Eighty-five percent of Mexico City's doctors have declared themselves "conscientious objectors" to a law guaranteeing women the right to have an abortion. (08/26/2008)

A different kind of double D Catherine Price
Is your breast milk vitamin D deficient? (08/26/2008)

Quote of the day Tracy Clark-Flory
How will "new style" feminists fight the inequalities symbolized by Hillary Clinton's defeat? (08/26/2008)

The sexiest zoo you'll see this week Salon staff
Orangina's controversial new ad features pole-dancing deer and lascivious zebras. (08/26/2008)

¡Viva Obama! By Mike Madden
In Denver, a group of Latino voters show why they may hold the key to power for Democrats in the West. (08/26/2008)

Angry PUMAs on the prowl in Denver By Rebecca Traister
They don't care if they make Chris Matthews happy, or if they make Hillary Clinton look bad. They don't even care that she wants them to stop. (08/26/2008)

Isn't she lovely? By Rebecca Traister
In her prime-time speech Monday, Michelle Obama foiled her harshest detractors and perhaps even won over Middle America. (08/26/2008)

Biden's mission By Walter Shapiro
All signs are that Joe Biden won't back away from the job ahead of him -- combat with John McCain. (08/26/2008)

How Michelle Obama nailed it Joan Walsh
Radiating love and passion for her family and her country, she answered questions we wish the nation didn't have. (08/26/2008)

Warnings to Russia from Joe Lieberman and Lindsey Graham Glenn Greenwald
McCain's two top Senate allies lecture Russia on the dangers of trying to dominate and interfere in other countries. (08/26/2008)

New McCain ad: "Hillary's right" Alex Koppelman
On the day of her speech to the Democratic convention, McCain's campaign recycles some of Clinton's attacks on Obama. (08/26/2008)

Plot to kill Obama? Alex Koppelman
Four people are under arrest, and authorities suspect they were planning to try to kill Barack Obama on Thursday night. (08/26/2008)

Swing state poll shows McCain doing better than he should Alex Koppelman
Voters want to elect a generic Democrat, polling in three key states shows, but that doesn't mean they'll choose Obama over McCain. (08/26/2008)

Hillary Clinton called Michelle Obama Alex Koppelman
Clinton, who not so long ago was in Michelle Obama's position, left a message. (08/26/2008)

Clinton to aim at McCain Mike Madden
Hillary Clinton's speech will bring the red meat on John McCain's economic policies. (08/26/2008)

Mitt Romney joins the mile-high club Mike Madden
John McCain's former rival shows up in Denver to slam Barack Obama and, officially at least, not audition for the GOP's vice-presidential nod. (08/26/2008)

What'd you think of Hillary Clinton's speech? Alex Koppelman
She may not have given the keynote address, but it was unquestionably Clinton's night, so tell us, what's your reaction to her speech? (08/27/2008)

The opening act for the Hillary show Mike Madden
Mark Warner and Brian Schweitzer take different approaches to warming up the DNC crowd for the night's main event. (08/27/2008)

McCain to announce veep choice Thursday night? Alex Koppelman
Some advisors are reportedly discussing the idea of announcing McCain's running mate on the night Barack Obama accepts the Democratic nomination. (08/27/2008)

Clinton vs. Warner Tuesday night (and 2012?) Thomas Schaller
There is an opportunity for one or both of the main speakers to leave a big impression on the Democratic delegates. (08/26/2008)

Sorensen, former JFK speechwriter, speaks Alex Koppelman
For the second day in a row, there was a passing of the torch from the Kennedys to Barack Obama, as Sorensen directly tied the presumptive nominee to his former boss. (08/26/2008)

Kucinich gets standing ovation at convention Alex Koppelman
Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich, who ran for president earlier this year, brought down the house at the Pepsi Center Tuesday afternoon. (08/26/2008)

Clinton makes the rounds
Before her big speech tonight, Hillary Clinton spent the afternoon addressing events organized by women's groups. (08/26/2008)

"Happy Hour for Hillary" Caitlin Shamberg
Salon travels, video camera in tow, to an event the McCain campaign organized in hopes of winning over some die-hard Clinton supporters. (08/26/2008)

Oil, Islam, and women Andrew Leonard
For Muslim women yearning for political power, Allah is not the problem. (08/26/2008)

English-only golf Andrew Leonard
The LPGA says its new rules requiring English-fluency are for the good of the golfers. But what about the TV ratings? (08/26/2008)

The new sun worshipers Andrew Leonard
The semiconductor chip industry has solar power on the brain. (08/26/2008)

Will Hurricane Gustav crash the Republican convention? Andrew Leonard
Drill here, drill now -- whoops, batten down the hatches, a storm is coming! (08/26/2008)

Blockbuster blackface By James Hannaham
"Tropic Thunder" inspired protest from disability activists. But why is no one complaining that Robert Downey Jr. is playing a black man? (08/25/2008)

Bateman: Rush Limbaugh on Barack Obama
Actual audio: "You can't hit the girl" and more from Limbaugh on the presidential candidate. (08/25/2008)

Salon in Denver: Pre-show at the Pepsi Center Caitlin Shamberg
Rebecca Traister tours the Pepsi Center on the eve of the Democratic National Convention. (08/25/2008)

Big Think: "Emotion is only weakness"
Former Staff Sgt. Eric Kocher talks about being a Marine and the media's portrayal of the military. (08/25/2008)

Who's at AT&T's Blue Dog party?
Glenn Greenwald and Jane Hamsher talk to friends of the company, but no one seems to know why they're there. (08/25/2008)

The heretic By Laura Miller
Giordano Bruno has been called a martyr to science and an occultist, but a new book argues that the brilliant philosopher's unconventional behavior did him in. (08/25/2008)

Busting the electric car myth By Pablo Päster
No, electric cars don't suck down the same amount of energy as gas guzzlers do. (08/25/2008)

I seem to be moving in with my boyfriend -- but why?! By Cary Tennis
His 9-year-old has Tourette's and ADHD, and I'm still a student ... is this a good idea? (08/25/2008)

What's up with black names, anyway? By David Zax
From Tayshaun to Rau'shee, Olympic athletes have been a reminder of distinctive African-American names. Before you poke fun, here's a history lesson. (08/25/2008)

And after the campfire singalong? Chemical peels! Sarah Hepola
"Spa summer camps" teach middle-school girls the enduring lessons of avocado masks and ginger foot scrubs. (08/25/2008)

"What to expect when you're aborting" Judy Berman
A young woman blogs about terminating her pregnancy. (08/25/2008)

What's black and white and objectified all over? Kate Harding
There's going to be a beauty pageant for nuns. Seriously. (08/25/2008)

Big fat contradictions Kate Harding
Weight-loss programming on TV is full of contradictions -- and so is the criticism of it. (08/25/2008)

Bottle feeding baby = breast-feeding bovine? Tracy Clark-Flory
A reporter pretends to nurse a calf to promote a breast-feeding documentary. (08/25/2008)

Is change "scary" or is change "hopeful"? By Walter Shapiro
As the Democratic convention opens, with a speech by Michelle Obama and an in-person appearance by Ted Kennedy, undecided voters wrestle with their feelings about change -- and the nominee. (08/25/2008)

If we must discuss plagiarism, let's talk exorcism too By Joe Conason
Republicans and the press love revisiting Joe Biden's past, but everybody -- including the possible GOP vice-presidential candidates -- has one. (08/25/2008)

AT&T thanks the Blue Dog Democrats with a lavish party Glenn Greenwald
The nation's most influential faction in Congress meets with one of its most significant benefactors at the convention -- and forcibly bars the press and public from knowing what it's doing. (08/25/2008)

It's Obama time! Joan Walsh
Hillary Clinton released her delegates, and the party is coming together behind its new leader. Reasons to celebrate and reasons to worry in Denver. (08/26/2008)

Streets of Denver: Bandanna-clad kids clash with cops, one arrested Joan Walsh
A confrontation between police and protesters contrasted with what have been mostly uneventful protests. (08/25/2008)

Ted Kennedy to speak tonight? Alex Koppelman
The ailing Senator is now widely expected to at least make an appearance as he's honored at the convention, and maybe even to address the crowd. (08/25/2008)

Denver cop convention Jeanne Carstensen
Police in full riot gear are out in force in downtown streets. (08/26/2008)

What'd you think of Michelle Obama's speech? Alex Koppelman
It's the big question of the night -- I think she gave a great speech, and did exactly what she needed to, but I'm interested in knowing how Salon's readers felt about it. (08/26/2008)

Texas GOP uses Obama's half brother for attack ad Alex Koppelman
The spot references George Obama's poverty and asks, "If Obama cares so much about your family, why doesn't he take care of his own family first?" (08/25/2008)

Clinton, Obama camps reportedly still feuding Alex Koppelman
A fight is said to be brewing between the former rivals -- it focuses, in part, on the content of Bill Clinton's convention speech. (08/25/2008)

New Obama ad attacks McCain on economy Alex Koppelman
The spot uses Sam Cooke's "Wonderful World" to hit McCain for admitting that "economics is not something I've understood as well as I should." (08/25/2008)

McCain ad features former Clinton delegate Alex Koppelman
The spot highlights Debra Bartoshevich, a delegate who lost her convention slot after saying she'd vote for John McCain over Barack Obama. (08/25/2008)

McCain scores major endorsement Alex Koppelman
Reggaeton musician Daddy Yankee officially announced his support for John McCain at an event in Phoenix on Monday. (08/25/2008)

Salon in Denver: Previewing the convention Alex Koppelman
Salon's Rebecca Traister and Caitlin Shamberg report from the scene that was the Pepsi Center on the eve of the convention's opening day. (08/25/2008)

Obama cancels Sept. 11 fundraiser Mike Madden
Barack Obama's aides realize raising money on the anniversary of the terrorist attacks might be a bad idea -- too bad they'd already sent out the invitations. (08/25/2008)

Dems working on deal for roll-call vote Alex Koppelman
The AP reports that the deal, as currently structured, would involve Hillary Clinton's getting some votes before Barack Obama is nominated by unanimous consent. (08/25/2008)

"It's in your hands, Nancy" Rebecca Traister
Antiwar protest group Code Pink stole the show from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who spoke in Denver on Monday. (08/25/2008)

Dean gavels in convention Alex Koppelman
With a few short words from DNC chairman Howard Dean, the Democratic convention has now officially begun. (08/25/2008)

In downtown Denver, rumors fly about roll call Rebecca Traister
Supporters of Hillary Clinton share tidbits of information about possible scenarios for a vote at the convention, and are worried. (08/25/2008)

Athletes are just people Jennifer Sey
The outrage over Usain Bolt's chest-pounding proves that we expect athletes to be heroes -- and when they're not, we turn on them. (08/25/2008)

Scoring the Beijing Olympics John Krich
They get a 9 for pomp and spectacle, but only a 3 for furthering world understanding and a 2 for the fan experience. (08/25/2008)

On vacation King Kaufman
The Sports Daily column returns Sept. 2. (08/25/2008)

The eternal flame Gary Kamiya
Like all the Olympics, the Beijing games leave us with abiding memories -- and a spark of inspiration. (08/25/2008)

Bankrupt in Sacramento Andrew Leonard
C. C. Myers became a hero for rebuilding collapsed freeways in record time. He's having a harder time dealing with the collapsed housing market (08/25/2008)

When hippies ruled the Tennessee Valley Andrew Leonard
How a U.S. government agency in the Deep South made fertilizer more productive than ever before. (08/25/2008)

The subprime price tag Andrew Leonard
Half a trillion here, half a trillion there -- pretty soon ... (08/25/2008)

I Like to Watch By Heather Havrilesky
Mad respect to the disrespectful, from gold medalist Usain Bolt to the authority-questioning Marines of "Generation Kill" to the thoughtful artists on HBO's "The Black List." (08/24/2008)

Salon in Denver: Three minutes with Ed Rendell Caitlin Shamberg
Joan Walsh interviews the Pennsylvania governor. (08/24/2008)

Opus By Berkeley Breathed
Isn't there anything untouched by naked political rancor? (08/24/2008)

Joe Biden and the political establishment's overriding goal Glenn Greenwald
The Washington Post editorial page celebrates Biden's selection as "a heartening recognition that time in Washington can be useful." Is it right? (08/24/2008)

Hillary volleys Thomas Schaller
Clinton fires back at a John McCain ad invoking her words and images, and Joe Biden issues a video call to action. (08/24/2008)

Dems restore full voting rights for Florida and Michigan Alex Koppelman
The party's credentials committee gives full votes to both states' delegations, which had been punished for holding early primaries. (08/24/2008)

Report: Clinton will release her delegates Wednesday Alex Koppelman
Hillary Clinton is reportedly expected to tell her pledged delegates they're free to vote for Barack Obama. (08/25/2008)

Republicans slink into Denver Mike Madden
The GOP has set up a 24-hour rapid-response operation at the Democratic convention, complete with a fence and security guards. (08/24/2008)

Critics' Picks
What you need to see, read, do this week: Hypnotic novels, riveting movies and sexy "Sesame Street" guests. (08/23/2008)

Letters of the week
Readers reflect on education, air-conditioning politics and feminism. (08/23/2008)

Get me girl-drink drunk! By Sarah Hepola
Top mixologists update the classic summer concoction for a sophisticated craft cocktail age. (08/23/2008)

Too many feminists in the kitchen Tracy Clark-Flory
What is at the heart of feminism's generational rift? Cupcakes. (08/23/2008)

Nobody's yes man By Walter Shapiro
By picking Joseph Biden as his running mate, Barack Obama chooses experience over hope. (08/23/2008)

Joe Biden steps up for Obama By Mike Madden
The energized vice-presidential candidate uses Saturday's rally to chain John McCain to George W. Bush and propel the Democratic ticket toward the convention. (08/23/2008)

Republicans are already going after Obama-Biden Mike Madden
The text message announcing Biden was joining Obama's ticket went out around 3 a.m. Eastern, and by 6 a.m., McCain had a new attack ad. (08/23/2008)

Oops Alex Koppelman
Both Barack Obama and Joe Biden made odd slip-ups in their speeches Saturday. (08/23/2008)

What happened to the real Olympics? Gary Kamiya
By only showing snippets of classic events like the decathlon, high jump and pole vaulting, NBC is missing what makes the Olympics special. (08/23/2008)

What I couldn't write in China John Krich
Relative press freedom hasn't led to rampant muckraking, but it's not all smiles and "Have a great day!" beyond Olympic Beijing. (08/23/2008)

Where are the multifuel cars? Cyrus Farivar
Brazil has had them for years now. What's the holdup? (08/23/2008)

"Hamlet 2" By Stephanie Zacharek
To laugh or not to laugh at the worst Shakespearean high school musical ever -- that is the question. (08/22/2008)

"Death Race" By Stephanie Zacharek
Spectacular crashes, thunderous explosions, heads split open like watermelons -- and one killer body. (08/22/2008)

The man who rocks sexy Jesus Andrew O'Hehir
A superstar in Britain, comedian Steve Coogan hopes to ramp up his mojo with the high-school-drama farce "Hamlet 2." (08/22/2008)

Bateman: John McCain picks his dream team
Actual audio from the GOP candidate on "Larry King Live" in January 2001. (08/22/2008)

"The House Bunny" By Stephanie Zacharek
Anna Faris shines as an ex-Playboy bunny who discovers she can no longer get by on cuteness alone. (08/22/2008)

Steve Coogan on "Hamlet 2"
Andrew O'Hehir interviews the British comedian about his latest film. (08/22/2008)

WayLay By Carol Lay
Jill enters the Limbo Room, and orders a zombie. (08/22/2008)

Slipped through the cracks Logan Scherer
The stories we missed this week: More women opting for double mastectomies, working women thwarted by insecurity and the top 10 literary virgins. (08/22/2008)

My mom left my dad in a nursing home and lied about his chances of coming home By Cary Tennis
He thought he'd be returning home to die. But she just strung him along until he was gone. (08/22/2008)

"Sluttyienna" Miller and the sexual double standard Jessica Wakeman
Slut-bashing never goes out of style in Hollywood. The latest victim: Sienna Miller. (08/22/2008)

Sarah Haskins on chick flicks Kate Harding
We don't care if we look like pathetic fangirls -- Sarah Haskins just keeps being too funny to resist. (08/22/2008)

Be-yawn the valley of the dolls Sarah Hepola and Judy Berman
Margaret Cho is known for being provocative and hilarious. The first episode of her VH1 reality show was exactly what she doesn't want to be: Boring. (08/22/2008)

Sassy in pink Kate Harding
A seventh grader chooses to fight school administrators who suspended her for having pink hair. (08/22/2008)

GOP: Here's to Hillary's big party! By Walter Shapiro
Nothing would delight Republicans more than for the Clintons to upstage Barack Obama at the Democratic National Convention. (08/22/2008)

How Obama can be the un-Kerry in Denver By Thomas Schaller
Three veteran Democrats game out the Democratic and Republican conventions. Beware of PUMAs! (08/22/2008)

Heading to Denver Joan Walsh
Watch for Salon's full convention coverage all next week, here and on Open Salon. (08/22/2008)

Salon Radio: Amrit Singh of ACLU and Dennis Perrin Glenn Greenwald
Is the CIA on the verge of being held in contempt of court for destroying interrogation videos? Do Democrats love war as much as the GOP? (08/22/2008)

The right and men who live off their second wives' inherited wealth Glenn Greenwald
Rush Limbaugh: "He's basically a skirt-chaser, folks. He's a gigolo. Well, there aren't too many of these companies that have little heiresses running around that are single, have 500 million that some guy can marry into." (08/22/2008)

Reports: Clinton wasn't vetted, Chet Edwards was Alex Koppelman
One Democratic source says Hillary Clinton "was not asked for a single piece of paper" by Barack Obama's team. (08/22/2008)

Obama ad: McCain "out of touch" Alex Koppelman
The latest spot put out by Barack Obama's campaign takes a swipe at John McCain's many houses. (08/22/2008)

Mittmentum? Alex Koppelman
One report suggests that John McCain has settled on former rival Mitt Romney as his running mate. (08/22/2008)

McCain camp strikes back on houses issue Alex Koppelman
With a nasty ad, John McCain's campaign tries to shift the focus on to Barack Obama -- and Tony Rezko. (08/22/2008)

Quote of the day Alex Koppelman
One reporter puts the proper perspective on the question of elitism in the presidential race. (08/22/2008)

Clinton still carrying heavy debt Alex Koppelman
Hillary Clinton has apparently barely made a dent in her campaign's sizable debt -- in fact, she raised only $2 million in July. (08/22/2008)

Setting expectations for Obama, McCain camp fuzzy on facts Alex Koppelman
Badly twisting history, John McCain's campaign says Barack Obama should get a 15-point bounce from the convention. (08/22/2008)

Biden our time Thomas Schaller
Nothing for sure yet, but all signs at this late hour on Friday night point to an Obama-Biden ticket. (08/23/2008)

Report: Biden gets Secret Service protection Mike Madden
The signs keep pointing to Joe Biden as Barack Obama's running mate, with the hours dwindling before that text message shows up. (08/23/2008)

It's Biden Mike Madden
Barack Obama has picked Joe Biden as his running mate, CNN reports and the AP confirms. (08/23/2008)

All hail Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh! Gary Kamiya
I love the American beach volleyball champions -- and it isn't just because they have great derrieres. (08/22/2008)

The U.S. track team loses its grip Gary Kamiya
In a nightmarish 30 minutes, the world's track powerhouse is humiliated -- while amazing little Jamaica laps it again. (08/22/2008)

Hench items King Kaufman
The U.S. track and field debacle and NBC's shabby treatment of the games' glamour event. Plus: Keri Walsh. And: Teddy Atlas. (08/22/2008)

The Frodo smile of Laura Wilkinson Gary Kamiya
The great diver's farewell look showed us all how to say goodbye. (08/22/2008)

Really, honestly ... King Kaufman
Enough with the diving, NBC. (08/23/2008)

Learning curve
What advice would you give to someone going off to college? Members of Salon's Table Talk community weigh in this week. (08/22/2008)

Beyond Obama's V.P. pick: Six other great uses for text messaging Cyrus Farivar
Or, why can't I pay for my parking meter from my mobile like the Estonians do? (08/22/2008)

The case for oil price speculation improves Andrew Leonard
Most economists are still resisting the theory that oil markets were manipulated earlier this year, but some new evidence is testing their resolve (08/22/2008)

Don't worry, be happy, buy a flat-screen TV Andrew Leonard
Gas prices got you down? House in foreclosure? Who cares? Your new television is awesome! (08/22/2008)

Peak dirt Andrew Leonard
Soil science isn't a glamour sport, but from Burkina Faso to Wisconsin, human survival depends on getting it right. (08/22/2008)

Sold! -- to the man in Lycra Andrew Leonard
Beleaguered real estate agents have found a new selling tool -- the trusty bike (08/22/2008)

Coming soon to a theater near you: Cirque du Soleil, "Rent" and sports in 3-D? Cyrus Farivar
Nationwide, movie theaters are starting to show nonmovies. (08/22/2008)

Bateman: Slurpees and doughnuts for Biden
Actual audio of Delaware Sen. Joe Biden courting Indian-American voters. (08/21/2008)

On covered women and candy bars
Tracy Clark-Flory on ads in Egypt that promote the veil as a protection against sexual assault. (08/21/2008)

One devastating home movie Andrew O'Hehir
As the floodwaters rose in New Orleans, "street hustler" Kim Roberts turned on her camera -- and captured a story more thrilling than any Hollywood blockbuster. (08/21/2008)

Tom the Dancing Bug By Ruben Bolling
The history of Doug, an unremarkable cartoon character. (08/21/2008)

The Democratic convention just got less boisterous Rebecca Traister
A brief eulogy for Ohio Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, the first African-American woman elected to Congress in Ohio. (08/21/2008)

Unveiled woman = unwrapped candy bar? Tracy Clark-Flory
An anonymous campaign warns Egyptian women to protect against sexual harassment by covering themselves. (08/21/2008)

Friends with benefits Catherine Price
Is it time to legally recognize the bonds of friendship? (08/21/2008)

My husband's an alcoholic but doesn't think he has a problem By Cary Tennis
What can I do? Should I leave? (08/21/2008)

Is the semicolon girlie? Salon staff
Broadsheet writers and Salon book critics debate the idea that some punctuation marks are more feminine than others. (08/21/2008)

Viagra for women Judy Berman
Two experimental products aim to jump-start women's desire. (08/21/2008)

No transwomen allowed Judy Berman
The Library of Congress offers David Schroer a job and rescinds the offer after learning he's becoming Diane. (08/21/2008)

HHS: Doctors can refuse abortions Tracy Clark-Flory
A new proposal defends "health care provider conscience." (08/21/2008)

A card for every occasion ... including same-sex marriage? Catherine Price
Hallmark stirs controversy by launching a line of greeting cards for gay weddings. (08/21/2008)

Does air conditioning make people vote Republican? By Edward McClelland
I blame A/C for the decline of the labor movement and for decimating the Midwest's population. Mostly, I blame it for the election of George W. Bush. (08/21/2008)

Pushing right-wing American politics -- in Israel By Gregory Levey
Are Israeli politicians increasingly beholden to conservative Americans who lavish them with financial support and political pressure? (08/21/2008)

Remembering Stephanie Tubbs Jones Joan Walsh
She was a great advocate for her district and for all of us, and she'll be missed in Denver next week. (08/22/2008)

The decay of serious journalism and Rachel Maddow's new show Glenn Greenwald
The New Republic -- of all places -- laments the loss of "nuance or intellectual rigor" on television as epitomized by MSNBC's troubling decision to give an actual liberal her own show. (08/21/2008)

Veep too late Thomas Schaller
Whomever he chooses, Obama should have moved earlier to select his running mate. (08/21/2008)

Hammering homeboy Thomas Schaller
Talk about rapid response: The Democratic Party and candidate already have materials and video out pummeling homeboy. (08/21/2008)

McCain-Lieberman Thomas Schaller
The Times' Gail Collins gives her take on the "bipartisan" possibilities. (08/21/2008)

Debate formats announced Thomas Schaller
Campaigns agree to format and rules for the three presidential debates. (08/21/2008)

Less dessert Thomas Schaller
Obama gets back to basics with some long-overdue, Hillary Clinton-style messages for kitchen-table voters. (08/21/2008)

1980 vs. 1988 Thomas Schaller
With the polls tightening, it's time to pause and reflect on whether 2008 is going to be more like Reagan's first election -- or his third. (08/21/2008)

Waiting for Cheney Thomas Schaller
Tarmac delays are sinful and insulting to regular people, but only if you're a liberal. (08/21/2008)

How many homes do you have? Thomas Schaller
The Politico finally busts John McCain. (08/21/2008)

Softball stunner King Kaufman
After the second straight Olympics in which a U.S. women's team has been on the wrong side of a "miracle," it's time for women to try baseball (08/21/2008)

Chasing the dragon Jennifer Sey
For young stars like Shawn Johnson and Lolo Jones with their whole lives ahead of them, the Olympics are a tough act to follow. (08/21/2008)

Hacker: Gymnast He is 14, not 16 King Kaufman
A blogger uses Google and a Chinese search engine to find government documents showing the uneven-bars champ's birth date as Jan. 1, 1994. (08/21/2008)

Running into history Gary Kamiya
Usain Bolt's performance was the greatest individual athletic feat of our time. (08/21/2008)

Rogge: Usain in the membrane King Kaufman
The IOC chief criticizes the magnificent Bolt for celebrating. Is he an idiot or just crazy? (08/21/2008)

Obama: The big-spending fiscal conservative Andrew Leonard
The New York Times tackles Obamanomics -- and does a darn good job. (08/21/2008)

Has Palm gotten its groove back? Cyrus Farivar
It's crunch time for the fledgling Treo maker. (08/21/2008)

Ask the pilot By Patrick Smith
Avoiding speculation, the pilot weighs in on the Madrid plane crash. (08/21/2008)

The geeks go green Cyrus Farivar
Google.org puts up $10 million in geothermal energy, following others in Silicon Valley. (08/21/2008)

Biopiracy and bird flu
A U.S. government patent application raises a knotty question: Should a country own property rights to the diseases that afflict its citizens? (08/21/2008)

The new Cold War: Bad for a hot planet Andrew Leonard
When Russia and Georgia rolled out the tanks, Europe's effort to cut back on greenhouse gas emissions may have gotten blitzed (08/21/2008)

Speculation nation Andrew Leonard
"Irrational Exuberance" author Robert Shiller predicted both the dot-com bust and the housing market collapse -- and now his new book offers fixes for America's bubble mentality. (08/21/2008)

Bateman: Barack Obama meets Rick Warren, confronts evil
Actual audio from the Democratic candidate at Saddleback. (08/20/2008)

"The Rocker" By James Hannaham
Is this comedy about a heavy-metal wannabe a Gen X rock 'n' roll fantasy? (08/20/2008)

Portrait of the artist as a fallen angel Andrew O'Hehir
Indie hero Azazel Jacobs talks about casting his own parents -- and their eccentric, amazing New York apartment -- in his entrancing breakthrough film "Momma's Man." (08/20/2008)

No chicks up for Obama V.P.?
Rebecca Traister discusses the search for the perfect vice-presidential candidate -- and why it may not be a woman. (08/20/2008)

The K Chronicles By Keith Knight
The new "Star Wars" films are dead to me. Don't exist. Never happened. (08/20/2008)

Bush officials sneak-attack nation's wildlife By Katharine Mieszkowski
A new regulation could neuter the Endangered Species Act -- and the administration knows it. (08/20/2008)

The slush pile gave me writer's block! By Cary Tennis
Everything was fine until I started reading unsolicited manuscripts. (08/20/2008)

In California, docs can't say, "Sorry, you're gay" Lynn Harris
In a final decision on a 1999 lawsuit, the state Supreme Court rules that antidiscrimination law trumps "religious freedom." (08/20/2008)

Hooking ain't easy Tracy Clark-Flory
A 23-year-old "aspiring journalist" writes about the history of hooking -- and tries turning a trick. (08/20/2008)

... Or me? Lynn Harris
Bikini Coffee -- now expanding -- offers more than one kind of stimulant. (08/20/2008)

Like a woman scorned Sarah Hepola
Wanna get back at a cheating ex? Get out your digital camera -- and your can of spray paint. (08/20/2008)

A chick-less ticket? Rebecca Traister
Awaiting word of the Democratic vice-presidential pick, it looks increasingly less likely that it will be a broad. (08/20/2008)

Debunking anti-Obama e-mails By Mike Madden
Error-filled chain e-mails designed to scare voters away from Barack Obama are circulating widely on the Internet. Salon deconstructs a pair, one smearing the candidate, the other his wife. (08/20/2008)

American credibility on trial By Jo Becker
Was one of the youngest prisoners at Guantánamo rushed to court by the Bush administration for political reasons? (08/20/2008)

Salon Radio: Charles Grassley on the anthrax investigation Glenn Greenwald
The GOP senator describes his dissatisfaction with the FBI and reveals the hearings to be held by the Judiciary Committee. (08/20/2008)

Meet me at the state fair By Garrison Keillor
Llama judging, deep-fried pineapple on a stick, hot tubs, acres of machinery -- it's all here for the taking at the annual carnival of ideas. (08/20/2008)

John McCain's summer of slime Joan Walsh
The GOP nominee will say anything to get elected -- and the media is letting him get away with it. Plus: Bill Maher to Obama: Pick Hillary! (08/20/2008)

Journalists and their good friends in the White House Glenn Greenwald
The wall between the government and the establishment media barely even exists in theory any longer. (08/20/2008)

Ralph Reed makes cameo in Obama ad Mike Madden
A new commercial in Georgia links a John McCain fundraiser with the GOP lobbyist -- and with Jack Abramoff. (08/20/2008)

Poll: McCain's running a negative campaign Mike Madden
An NBC/Wall Street Journal poll shows voters think John McCain, not Barack Obama, is running a negative campaign. So why is it working? (08/20/2008)

Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones dies Mike Madden
The five-term Democrat from Ohio, 58, had suffered a brain aneurysm Tuesday night. (08/20/2008)

Is McCain winning? Mike Madden
A new poll shows John McCain with a 5-point lead over Barack Obama. (08/20/2008)

Are Obama supporters planning 9/11 fundraiser? Mike Madden
An e-mail invites supporters to join Warren Buffett at a campaign event in D.C. on the seventh anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. (08/20/2008)

Clinton team will shut down protests Mike Madden
Hillary Clinton's aides are assembling a 40-person "whip team" to keep her supporters from disrupting the convention next week. (08/21/2008)

Oh, Hillary's brother, where art thou? Mike Madden
Hillary Clinton's brother Tony Rodham meets with McCain advisor Carly Fiorina in Pennsylvania. So much for party unity? (08/20/2008)

Obama drops a veep hint -- maybe Mike Madden
Barack Obama refers to his vice president as "he," spurring speculation about the pick to dizzying new heights. (08/20/2008)

No more "sleepovers" for Ohio voting machines Mike Madden
Sorry, Ohio election officials -- the secretary of state says you can no longer store voting machines in your homes. (08/20/2008)

Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones critically ill Mike Madden
The Ohio Democrat, one of Hillary Clinton's staunchest supporters, had an aneurysm Tuesday night and was rushed to the hospital. (08/20/2008)

Sayonara, superdelegates Mike Madden
Barack Obama's campaign wants to revise the rules for the Democratic primaries for 2012. There would be fewer superdelegates and later elections. (08/20/2008)

In defense of race-based rooting Gary Kamiya
At the Olympics, you sometimes find yourself rooting for athletes because of their race. And that's OK. (08/20/2008)

The mystery of beach volleyball King Kaufman
Those hand signals the women flash behind their butts: They must be explained. Again. (08/20/2008)

Lolo Jones' Olympian failure King Kaufman
Steps from gold, she clips a hurdle and falters, leading to an agony that's unique to the games. (08/20/2008)

Sweet swift deities in spikes John Krich
My day of track and field was glorious, but I long to turn the Olympics back to the purity of my boyhood dreams. (08/20/2008)

Babe Ruth and the Nippon Ham Fighters King Kaufman
NBC's baseball announcers make stuff up about both. And insult West Virginia for good measure. (08/20/2008)

The bane of San Francisco cycling Andrew Leonard
Two years ago, high oil prices made Rob Anderson's crusade against bike lanes look dumb. Today, words fail. (08/20/2008)

Google sets up "Big Tent" for bloggers at Democratic and Republican conventions Cyrus Farivar
But don't bloggers already know about Google? (08/20/2008)

China, Tibet and iTunes Andrew Leonard
The iTunes Music Store suddenly doesn't work in China. Angry downloaders say the Olympic popularity of "Songs for Tibet" is to blame (08/20/2008)

Empowerment, not emasculation Andrew Leonard
If India could survive Alexander, it can survive Disney. The foreign adventures of "High School Musical," continued (08/20/2008)

American Airlines offers in-flight Wi-Fi. Hot damn Cyrus Farivar
$13 for flights over three hours, otherwise only $10. (08/20/2008)

Red State Update at Saddleback: Too late to pray
Jackie and Dunlap talk to protesters at the church's presidential forum. (08/19/2008)

Bateman: John McCain meets Rick Warren
Has the GOP candidate been replaced by a Christian cyborg from the future? (08/19/2008)

The strangest live album ever By Michaelangelo Matos
The Fiery Furnaces know how to make perfect pop songs, and they know how to rock -- but on their first live album, they just want to tear things apart. (08/19/2008)

This Modern World By Tom Tomorrow
I just don't know about this Obama fellow ... (08/19/2008)

Did doctors remove babies' hearts too soon? By Rahul K. Parikh, M.D.
Colorado doctors are under fire for performing infant organ transplants prematurely. But they made the right call. (08/19/2008)

A new use for stem cells: Breast augmentation Catherine Price
Enterprising doctors have figured out a way to use a woman's own stem cells to make her boobs look bigger. (08/19/2008)

Who will save public schools? By Amy Reiter
You! says Sandra Tsing Loh, whose hilarious "Mother on Fire" is a rallying cry for urban parents who can't afford a fancy private institution. (08/19/2008)

What does it mean to be an "anti-feminist"? Catherine Price
Men's rights lawyer Roy Den Hollander has just completed a trilogy of anti-feminist lawsuits. Watch out, women's studies! (08/19/2008)

I escaped death -- and now I want to live! By Cary Tennis
Should I try to return to life as it was before, or should I set out on adventures? (08/19/2008)

The Big O Sarah Hepola
The frustrating contradictions of Oprah Winfrey. (08/19/2008)

It's a Maddow Maddow Maddow Maddow world! Rebecca Traister
Rachel gets her own show! Rachel gets her own show! Rachel gets her own show! (08/19/2008)

Dixie is gone with the wind By Thomas Schaller
No economic-populism-inspired revivals are going to turn the region blue. Virginia's Jim Webb is a lonely exception. (08/19/2008)

How Democrats can take back the South By Bob Moser
The author of "Blue Dixie" says don't give up on the region -- but don't pander to it with Clintonian centrism. (08/19/2008)

Rice: Military power is "not the way to deal in the 21st century" Glenn Greenwald
Bush's secretary of state sermonizes against the use of military force as a means of delivering a message. (08/19/2008)

Sandbagged at Saddleback Joan Walsh
Evangelical voters simply can't vote for somebody who's pro-choice, Rick Warren tells BeliefNet -- after Obama's visit. (08/19/2008)

The fall of Bush's man in Pakistan By Juan Cole
Despite Pervez Musharraf's despotism and double-dealing with U.S. enemies, George W. Bush, John McCain and the GOP embraced him to the bitter end. (08/19/2008)

What Obama needs most
Beyond readiness to assume the presidency, there are other things Obama needs to consider as he makes his veep decision. (08/19/2008)

AP gets prickly with Lieberman Thomas Schaller
Talk about your Freudian slips. Major wire service tells us how it really feels about Senator Sanctimony. (08/19/2008)

Obama bares teeth in Orlando Thomas Schaller
Finally, the senator realizes that sometimes he will need to show a bit of anger if he wants to win this thing. (08/19/2008)

No October surprise by Rev. Wright Thomas Schaller
A correction to my original post about Jeremiah Wright's book publishing plans. (08/19/2008)

Gore to speak on final night Thomas Schaller
After much anticipation as to when Gore would speak, the former veep gets an unusual and unusually potent spot: Thursday night. (08/19/2008)

Subject, verb, POW Thomas Schaller
If McCain stole the cross-in-the-sand story from Solzhenitsyn he is not going to admit it, but he will express outrage at the insinuation and play the POW card, again. (08/19/2008)

Moser's blue Dixie Thomas Schaller
If anyone can make the case for Democrats' refocusing on the South it is Bob Moser, but the region that has really turned -- and keeps turning -- blue is the Northeast. (08/19/2008)

Afghan attack on French troops Thomas Schaller
More bad news from that other, forgotten war. (08/19/2008)

The big convention bounce Thomas Schaller
Nate Silver and Mark Penn argue that the conventions may be pageants, but they are pageants with payoffs. (08/19/2008)

Why do runners "shut it down"? King Kaufman
Saving energy for the final is one thing, but slowing down before the tape in heats looks like a recipe for disaster. (08/19/2008)

Dare to struggle, dare to win! John Krich
Nike darling Liu Xiang let down his nation. Shouldn't the poster boy for the new China have crawled across the finish line -- no matter what? (08/19/2008)

Gymnastics tiebreakers are nuts! King Kaufman
Crazy rules cost American Liukin a gold. Then again, all gymnastics rules are crazy, and sane ones wouldn't have helped her. (08/19/2008)

Mom favored for Sap-o-Meter gold King Kaufman
Slate has a scientific method for measuring the mawkishness of NBC's coverage. (08/19/2008)

Memo to NBC gymnastics commentators: Shut up! Gary Kamiya
Their overheated, U.S.-obsessed reaction to Monday night's uneven-bars final made America look like a banana republic. (08/19/2008)

Paulie Walnuts has been located! Gary Kamiya
The scary "Sopranos" mobster showed up in Beijing, cunningly disguised as an American pole-vault coach. (08/19/2008)

Fool's gold Jennifer Sey
The real question to ask after Liukin and He's routines: Why can't there be a tie? (08/19/2008)

High School Bollywood Musical Andrew Leonard
After marketing the gold-minting franchise in India, Disney brings it all back home. (08/19/2008)

Hulu is already very good, so why isn't it awesome? By Cyrus Farivar
As more of us discover online video, frustrations abound. (08/19/2008)

Inflation throws a sucker punch Andrew Leonard
Wall Street shudders as new figures show prices rising at the fastest rate in 27 years (08/19/2008)

Playboy TV to launch "Gadget or the Girl" Cyrus Farivar
Why can't we have both? (08/19/2008)

The oil price puzzle Andrew Leonard
With crude oil prices $30 below their peak, analysts are suffering whiplash. But no matter how low they go, it won't be for long. (08/19/2008)

Beer, happiness, and academic productivity Andrew Leonard
Are scientists who quaff ale less productive? Or are they just a lot more fun? (08/19/2008)

Big Think: "Globalization is good for the poor"
World Bank country director David Dollar discusses globalization and China's role as a superpower. (08/18/2008)

Did you hear that Alaska has more oil than the Middle East? By Peter Dizikes
Busting the myths about cheap and unlimited oil being broadcast by Rush Limbaugh, Jerome Corsi and other dinosaurs. (08/18/2008)

Doctors fighting about money: Now that's rich By Cary Tennis
His parents paid for everything and mine did not. So I'm in debt and he isn't. Why are we fighting about this? (08/18/2008)

Quote of the day Kate Harding
A witness to Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi's wedding wishes opponents of gay marriage could have seen it. (08/18/2008)

Awesome or awful? Fat camp scholarships Judy Berman
Essay contests invite children to win a summer of free weight loss. (08/18/2008)

Our cupboard was bare By Heather Ryan
I had a master's degree. I had a job. But to feed my three children, I had to swallow my pride and go to a soup kitchen. (08/18/2008)

The hemline effect Judy Berman
With the economy in the toilet, one mother cheers the return of modest clothing. (08/18/2008)

Girl talk Kate Harding
Is it ever appropriate to call women "girls"? (08/18/2008)

Wanted: "Ugly ducklings" Tracy Clark-Flory
The "beauty disadvantaged" are invited to flock to Mount Isa, where they'll be treated as swans. (08/18/2008)

Sunday morning at Saddleback Church By Mike Madden
Most of Rick Warren's churchgoers still back McCain, but praised Obama's "values." The weekend's big winner was Warren. (08/18/2008)

The sacrifice-free election strategy By Walter Shapiro
Neither candidate speaks with much candor about solving the energy crisis. But the GOP will use U.S. oil drilling as a weapon against Obama. (08/18/2008)

Doubts over the anthrax case intensify -- except among much of the media Glenn Greenwald
While most independent observers express increasing skepticism over the FBI's case against Bruce Ivins, the establishment media uncritically amplifies those claims (08/18/2008)

Musharraf steps down Thomas Schaller
The Pakistani president, yielding to growing presssure, resigns as jubilation breaks out in many quarters of the country. (08/18/2008)

Macaca-versary Thomas Schaller
A pioneering political videographer reminds us that two years ago the Internet politics era changed forever. (08/18/2008)

The attention-driven Warren Thomas Schaller
The power play we saw at Saddleback proves that when it comes to self-regard the difference between preachers and politicians is a matter of style, but not degree. (08/18/2008)

The attention-driven Warren, Book II Thomas Schaller
Warren gets defensive when pressed again about the "cone of silence." (08/18/2008)

McCain's McMansions Thomas Schaller
There's a new video about the real elitist running for president. But don't count on McCain ever being subjected to John Edwards-level personal scrutiny. (08/18/2008)

De-"(br)othering" Obama in Denver Thomas Schaller
The New York Times has the key piece Monday about how the Obama camp will use the Democratic National Convention to recast its nominee in eyes of wary voters. (08/18/2008)

Saddleback up Thomas Schaller
It's not clear who won the Rick Warren evangelical grilling Saturday night, and maybe McCain cheated. (08/18/2008)

The attention-driven Warren, Book III Thomas Schaller
Fishers of men need the right bait, and Rick Warren's television show had two presidential nominees on the end of the line. (08/18/2008)

The naked city John Krich
Beijing's artists deserve a gold for the sheer wealth of their audacity and talent. (08/18/2008)

Baseball gets chippy King Kaufman
Six hit batsmen, two collisions, an injured catcher and a woozy top prospect. No wonder big-league teams want no part of the Olympics. (08/18/2008)

33 and fabulous Jennifer Sey
The most astonishing event of the women's individual gymnastics event finals was turned in by a 33-year-old mom. (08/18/2008)

Where have you gone, Allen Iverson? King Kaufman
The U.S. men's return to basketball dominance is a lot less interesting than those fascinating days of dysfunction in Athens. (08/18/2008)

Short people got no reason to live Gary Kamiya
It isn't enough that tall men get all the girls and win all the elections. After Usain Bolt's ridiculous world-record sprint, now we can't even run away from them anymore. (08/18/2008)

What the Georgian cyber-attacks mean for the U.S. Cyrus Farivar
While Tbilisi's Web sites "burn," Washington fiddles. (08/18/2008)

Opus By Berkeley Breathed
Hiding from life's minor unpleasantries in the "happy place." (08/17/2008)

Barack Obama's purpose-driven gamble By Mike Madden
The Democrat wanted to show he could compete for evangelical votes, too. Will he succeed? (08/17/2008)

Are we now officially a Christian nation? Joan Walsh
I admire Obama's courage in going to the Saddleback Church forum, but I regret he did it. I hope he doesn't come to feel the same way. (08/18/2008)

The bluest day John Krich
Sun shines bright on Beijing at last -- a perfect day for pure sport, beckoning all to party (and spend) within the Forbidden City. (08/17/2008)

Critics' Picks
Salon selects the songs of the summer -- from the Jonas Brothers to Beck and beyond. (08/16/2008)

More on Obama and race
Joan Walsh on the presidential candidate. (08/16/2008)

Get Rielle By Justin Jouvenal
The life of John Edwards flame Rielle Hunter has been a novel, literally, with Bolivian marching powder, movie scripts called "It's All About Uranus" and electrocuted horses. (08/16/2008)

Race and the presidential race, again Joan Walsh
More analysts are concluding that Barack Obama is being hurt by being black. How do we know if they're right, and what Obama should do? (08/16/2008)

A tale of two Beijings John Krich
It wasn't the Red Army that killed feudalism -- it was the Olympics. (08/16/2008)

Web users demand privacy, then give it up Evan Ratliff
As Internet companies track our every move, what to do about data privacy? Do we need a comprehensive law or should individuals be responsible? (08/16/2008)

Scarlett and Penélope do Barcelona Andrew O'Hehir
Can a sapphic love scene between Scarlett Johansson and Penélope Cruz make Woody Allen seem relevant again? (08/15/2008)

Scott Bateman: Who can the American people trust?
Actual audio: Sean Hannity and Alan Colmes randomly shout about John Edwards. (08/15/2008)

Does the Pill affect mate choice?
Tracy Clark-Flory responds to a new study about the effects of the Pill on how men smell to women. (08/15/2008)

"Star Wars: The Clone Wars" By Stephanie Zacharek
George Lucas fills in the "Star Wars" blanks with an animated tale that may make more sense than his live-action films. (08/15/2008)

A French master's farewell to love Andrew O'Hehir
Eric Rohmer's pastoral Renaissance fantasy, "The Romance of Astrea and Celadon," couldn't be a weirder, or lovelier, way to say goodbye. (08/15/2008)

WayLay By Carol Lay
Jill doesn't know that she's Evolving Doors' first client. (08/15/2008)

My marriage was a mistake By Cary Tennis
I wanted to be the bride but I don't like being the wife. Now I face the toughest decision of my life. (08/15/2008)

Slipped through the cracks Logan Scherer
The stories we missed: Women turn off breast-feeding, bikini waxes a hit with tweens and VH1's most famous pickup artist gets sued. (08/15/2008)

The couple who lived in a mall By Lisa Selin Davis
After Michael Townsend and Adriana Yoto found their skyline blighted by a colossal mall, they protested it in an unusual way -- they moved in. (08/15/2008)

"WTF" of the day: "Dive In!" underwear ... for kids Judy Berman
Parents are outraged over a suggestive pair of "High School Musical" panties. (08/15/2008)

"We want our kids back too" Kate Harding
A new viral Web campaign seeks to raise awareness about missing children of color. (08/15/2008)

Wankipedia Kate Harding
Chickipedia achieves new heights in the blatant objectification of women. (08/15/2008)

Kick off those heels! Tracy Clark-Flory
A new study says bosses are risking their employees' health with "sexist" dress codes. (08/15/2008)

The Democrats get religion By Sarah Posner
Will the political mission to fashion an evangelical glow around Barack Obama lead to the White House? (08/15/2008)

The Newer Deal: The path to a Democratic supermajority By Michael Lind
How Democrats can win big in 2010 and beyond -- by doing the opposite of what they're doing now. Think FDR-style liberalism, not McGovern. (08/15/2008)

A pre-convention memo to Hillary Clinton By Joe Conason
Ignore your sniping campaign team. Smart advisors would tell you to give Barack Obama your undivided support from now until Election Day. (08/15/2008)

Illusions of victory under Bush By Andrew Bacevich
How the U.S. wildly overestimated the use of military power in Bush's global war on terror. (08/15/2008)

Happy days are here again! Joan Walsh
The Obama and Clinton campaigns come together to prove Maureen Dowd wrong. (08/15/2008)

Salon Radio: Jane Hamsher Glenn Greenwald
What are the short-term and longer-term plans for Accountability Now and Strange Bedfellows? (08/15/2008)

McCain, Obama keep up the ad wars Mike Madden
Both campaigns are running harsh new TV commercials about taxes and the economy. (08/15/2008)

McCain raises record cash Mike Madden
In his second-to-last month raising money for the presidential campaign, John McCain took in $27 million, leaving him $21.4 million in the bank. (08/15/2008)

Players win, and winners play Mike Madden
Politicians' new favorite tactic: Give money and get a chance to win a prize. How did campaigns turn into glorified raffles? (08/15/2008)

Corsi: Hey, I'm just doing my job Mike Madden
The conservative hatchetman says his Obama book is an important piece of scholarship, just like some of his other weird theories. (08/15/2008)

More money, more problems Mike Madden
Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens faces new accusations in a federal criminal case that threatens his political career. (08/15/2008)

Why we identify with Olympic athletes Gary Kamiya
Yes, their feats are unimaginable -- but they pull us up with them. (08/15/2008)

Get the names right King Kaufman
NBC's lazy approach to pronunciation isn't limited to non-American athletes. The Peacock even butchers "Beijing." (08/15/2008)

Watching Nastia's gold and Shawn's silver Jennifer Sey
As a former elite gymnast myself, it's hard to watch Olympic competition. But then Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson blew me away. (08/15/2008)

Grace under pressure, and over power King Kaufman
It would have been great to see Shawn Johnson's explosive athleticism win the women's gymnastics gold. (08/15/2008)

The devil's playground
Would Satan like s'mores? Notes on camp, hellfire style, from a member of Salon's Table Talk community. (08/15/2008)

Rat-brain robot alters direction of human history ... again! Evan Ratliff
New robot, not such new science. (08/16/2008)

The grave new threat we face from music Evan Ratliff
Binaural beats pumped into your headphones can cause you to experience sex- and drug-like ecstasy. (08/15/2008)

Ask the pilot By Patrick Smith
What do U.S. carriers need to do to regain their status as world-class players? Wi-Fi would help. (08/15/2008)

Bateman: George W. Bush on the invasion of Georgia
The president is deeply concerned about Russia's recent (that's a tongue twister!) actions. (08/14/2008)

An actress cut in two Andrew O'Hehir
French sex symbol Ludivine Sagnier on passion, perversion and her new film "A Girl Cut in Two." (Please, don't call it a porn movie.) (08/14/2008)

"The obscenity is in the head of the audience"
Andrew O'Hehir interviews Ludivine Sagnier about her new film, "A Girl Cut in Two." (08/14/2008)

A fraud's life By Louis Bayard
Can great art spring from a lie? Two new books about forgers raise provocative questions about the links between authenticity and genius. (08/14/2008)

Tom the Dancing Bug By Ruben Bolling
In which psychoeconomist Dr. Von Mole explains the mechanics of this psychological recession. (08/14/2008)

All-American funny girl Judy Berman
Margaret Cho returns to television with a Kathy Griffin-style reality show. Can she make it work this time? (08/14/2008)

My alcoholic husband does not feel deserving of love By Cary Tennis
We are now in a crisis of sorts, and his lack of self-regard is dragging both of us down. (08/14/2008)

"WTF" of the day Catherine Price
Rush Limbaugh offers his take on why John Edwards decided to stray. (08/14/2008)

A softer line on abortion Catherine Price
Could an addition to the Democrats' platform on reproductive rights help court evangelical Christians and Roman Catholics? (08/14/2008)

Ruining relationships one Pill at a time? Tracy Clark-Flory
Researchers say birth control alters women's pheremonal sensibility -- but do we know enough yet to draw conclusions? (08/14/2008)

Girl crush: Julia Child Judy Berman
America's favorite chef was also a top-secret WWII spy. (08/14/2008)

America's next transgender model Tracy Clark-Flory
For the first time, Tyra Banks' reality TV show will feature a transgender contestant. (08/14/2008)

A hint of freedom for Iraqi women By Anna Badkhen
Cultural repression by the Muslim militias has waned slightly, but women still miss freedoms they enjoyed under Saddam Hussein. (08/14/2008)

Johnny, I hardly knew ye By Walter Shapiro
After covering John Edwards -- and liking him -- for years, what I thought I knew about him was wrong. But reporters often misjudge candidates. (08/14/2008)

Putin's war enablers: Bush and Cheney By Juan Cole
Russia's escalating war on Georgia reveals the consequences of the Bush administration's long assault on the international rule of law. (08/14/2008)

And the shortlist dwindles ... or does it? Mike Madden
Looking for clues about Barack Obama's running mate in the schedule of speakers at the Democratic convention may be fruitless. (08/14/2008)

Let the whining continue Mike Madden
Phil Gramm reappears among John McCain's top aides, a month after he quit the campaign for calling America a "nation of whiners" about the economy. (08/14/2008)

Obama's favorite lyricist: Obama? Mike Madden
Barack Obama and John McCain pick their favorite tunes. A will.i.am one on Obama's list might seem familiar. (08/14/2008)

McCain sends pals to war</