The Voice is back! The first singer from Scotland was really good. It's going head to head against the X-Factor premiere on Wednesday, and Simon Cowell is really upset.

Even if you've never watched Bachelor Pad, tonight's finale is worth watching -- just for the ending. It really is a first for the show and pretty controversial.

In other news, CU Prof Ward Churchill lost his battle to regain his job today. The Colorado Supreme Court opinion is here. Churchill will try again with the U.S. Supreme Court.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

Your turn. All topics welcome.

I'm back in NY after the DNC. I apologize for the sparcity of my blogging from Charlotte - I was juggling a lot of balls, including some important work issues. Tomorrow I hope to provide a comprehensive post on the goings on and what I think they mean for this election. In the meantime, it's Saturday and that means college football. My picks on the flip.

Open Thread. Go Gators!

Busy work day, but I see the jobs report is out.

If you're driving on East Colfax today in Denver, be prepared for delays. A 19 year old is holding the manager of a Radio Shack hostage at Colfax and Glencoe. Shots have been fired, the police are everywhere, and the 19 year old says he's not coming out.

Businesses in the adjacent strip mall and nearby streets have been evacuated. Traffic on Colfax is blocked by 40 to 50 police and emergency vehicles. Fifteen to 20 cops, including SWAT-team officers, are in front of the RadioShack. Others searched the alley behind the store with their guns drawn. Along Glencoe Street north of Colfax, cops have lined the street with their cars and are pointing their guns toward the store from behind open car doors.

5 elementary schools are on lockdown.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

I'm off to Charlotte today for the Democratic National Convention. I'll be on Daily Kos Radio (see this for more details), but I will also be recording some sights and sounds and writing a bit. You'll see some of that here, via J.

In the meantime, I think Ryan Lizza's account of the Bill Clinton-Barack Obama relationship believable, but who really knows?

Open Thread.

Lots and lots of games today. Of particular note, Penn State gets a glimpse of the future under Bill O'Brien, the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame are in Ireland to play Navy. And the destruction of Michigan by Alabama tonight in Texas. The picks (3-0 yesterday (told you it would be better, 4-3 for the year.):

Navy +14 1/2 over Notre Dame, Marshall +26 over WVa, Ohio +7 over Penn State, Northwestern Pick over Syracuse, Ohio State -25 over Miami of Ohio, Western Michigan +10 over Illinois, Tulsa -1½ over Iowa State, Southern Mississippi +20 over Nebraska, Colorado -6 over Colo St., Auburn +3 over Clemson, North Texas +44 over LSU and last, but not least, Alabama -14 over Michigan (5 units).

Open Thread.

3 college picks tonight: Boise (+71/2), Tennessee (-3) and San Jose State (+25).

Started off terribly last night, 1-3. Tonight will be better!

Open Thread.

So who had the worse night? Mitt Romney? Clint Eastwood? Or me? My wallet is lighter (1 of 4 yesterday with my college picks (thank gawd the BiG is turrible.) Mitt Romney was stiff. But I got to go with Clint Eastwood. He became a national punchline. Pains me to write that. Love Clint Eastwood. But it is what it is.

Open Thread.

You know what today is right? The first day of the college football season! Hallelujah!! You folks watch Romney. I'll be watching some SEC football!

Here are my picks today: Vanderbilt +220 over South Carolina. (Vandy to win!), Washington State +12 over BYU (what will be the big viewing event in Utah tonight?), UNLV +9 over Minnesota (the BiG is turrible as Charles Barkley might say), and finally, Rice (+17) over UCLA (UCLA has been consistently awful at the beginning of the season.)

Open Thread.

You watching the Republican Convention? I'm not. Reading legal documents. I think I have the better deal.

Open Thread.

Tune in to Daily Kos Radio today at 11 Eastern, right after the Kagro in the Morning show. I'm solo again today.

Listen here.

What will I talk about? See this:

Open Thread.

I was on Daily Kos Radio, on my own today.Podcast here:

Also here or here or here.

Open Thread.