If you follow the lead singer of the Decemberists, Colin Meloy, at all in his personal blog or twitter feed (@colinmeloy) then you know he has strong opinions about a few things. Mostly to do with music, Oregon and occasionally politics. Well, all three came together recently in the form of two political decisions made in a short amount of time that could very well affect him, his band mates, and much of the musical community nationwide. more ›

Seattle’s first new strip club in nearly 20 years is set to open sometime this summer in the basement of Fantasy Unlimited, ironically right on the S.L.U.T. line. With a nod to freedom of speech, the newest addition to the Déjà Vu family marks the end of the city’s 17 year moratorium on such establishments and is considered a huge victory for First Amendment activists and dirty old men alike. more ›

Susan Paynter thinks all the talk about "freedom of speech" around Referendum 1 (the four-foot rule, etc.) is a ruse -- what the clubs really want to keep "legal" is prostitution:

If we want a vote, up or down, on legalizing prostitution, then, in the words of G.W. Bush, bring it on. But if, outside of Nevada, we still oppose the oldest profession when it is practiced on the street, do we ignore it when it's inside a club that may soon be built next to your house?

"Although touching is supposedly forbidden, in the less-lighted recesses of at least two of the clubs, men reported seeing 'dancers' opening patrons' pants, putting on condoms and, at the very least, rubbing private parts through men's clothing to the point of some tough laundry stains."

Gothamist posts on the capture of a NYC perv thanks to Little Brother and a camera phone. They also scour the city for vodka martinis and Shamrock shakes and spot the friend from the Wonder Years at a city law firm. New York police think that Littlejohn is their man. more ›

Seattle area websites and the sys admins who tend to them are trembling in fear today after the horrific retrubution for the Mohammad Cartoons was paid upon our collective heads over the weekend. Riots, arson, killings, silly pictures drawn of our idols? No, worse! Hacktivism! A local motor scooter club for women had their site defaced with "If insulting a Messenger of Allah ( God ) is a Freedom of Speech !!!? & it Creates Hating Then, I'll Show you my Freedom Of H4x0ring in Your Servers !!!" and similar. more ›