So big

Quick check: is anyone else still getting dozens of emails stemming from the Sobig.F virus outbreak? This is making me crazy. I don't even use screensavers, let alone wicked ones.

(nearly) Free Radical

I find the Kathy Boudin case just fascinating, sad and fascinating.

You don't say

At the Co-op today I saw a flyer for the August meeting of the Madison Area Polyamory Society.

It is, the flyer said without a trace of irony, an open meeting.

Eh

More than once this summer I've found myself saying, "When we move to Canada..." It's a joke, and it stems in large part from the legalization of gay marriage up there, and in small part from what I learned about Canada from Bowling For Columbine.

Except it sort of doesn't feel like a joke. I'm not saying it's going to happen anytime soon, but it's starting to seem like an option. I'm sure the Canadians wouldn't appreciate a massive exodus, but wouldn't everyone be happier if us gays and fans of universal health care just moved to Canada and left the U.S. for the evangelicals and the gun nuts?

The nonjudgemental advice columnist

I always wanted to be an advice columnist, but they usually seem so preachy and snide. So I will be the upbeat Nonjudgemental Advice Columnist.

Here's my response to a question a reader posed recently to advice columnist Carolyn Hax. What do you think?

I've got a 9-year-old daughter and am getting married to a woman who has no kids, is ambivalent about wanting any and has had virtually no experience with them. Still, she gets along beautifully with my daughter and (I think) will find being a stepparent rewarding. She has problems, though, with my ex-wife (finds her controlling, which she is to an extent) and wants me dealing with her as little as possible. My ex and I have been reasonably cooperative regarding decisions about our kid. Is this ex-wife aversion something I should be worried about, or is this to be expected early on?

Single Dad

I'm sure whatever you do, you will work it out. Go for it! Congratulations on your impending nuptials!

Nonjudgemental Advice Columnist

When the rain comes

At the Isthmus block party last night the Junkers played their last show, a fun set cut short by one of the most dramatic rainstorms I've ever seen--right after we played "Whiskey River" ("I am drowning..."), natch.

There were some concerned faces among us musicians: our equipment got wet, some of it quite wet. The stuff would have gotten wetter had it not been for the quick thinking of our friends (thanks, friends!), who stormed the stage and brought everything to safety. Ed said his gigantic bass cabinet might need to dry for a month, but as he said, he's not a bass player anymore. Substitute drummer Brian Howard also looked a little worried about his kick drum. I don't know much about drums, but it doesn't take Jim Keltner to see that torrential rain could be bad for those sculpted wooden beauties.

After a moment or two to regroup, both Ed and Brian seemed much calmer. And they seemed to think everything would be fine.

Which is to say, I suspect all the toys in Junkersland will be okay. I can't say quite the same for the equipment belonging to Sticha Bros., the company that did the sound: those mics and monitors ("wedges," as we say in the bidness) got rained on for a long time.

It was a wonderful, exciting time! It's a tremendous honor to be voted Madison's favorite country band again!

And I enjoyed singing "Psycho Killer" with the Hometown Sweethearts.