You probably have heard there was an orgy... of Democratic politicking in Portland yesterday, a ribald affair headlined by President Barack Obama and gubernatorial hopeful John Kitzhaber. The protesters weren't all that nasty. And the traffic in the Rose Quarter? Can't tell you, because I biked to the convention center. But if you really want to know what it was like, start with this excellent summation of the night. You can also read the O's straight-ahead piece here.

But I don't bicycle often enough (I know: Boo!). Although here's one more reason why I should: Human-fueld global warming, say those who study such things, is likely causing the largest die-off of ocean coral in years.

WikiLeaks is holding on to as many as 400,000 "low-level" Iraq war documents, and now a freaked-out Pentagon is planning a series of awkward conversations with some of the more vulnerable Iraqi citizens named in those papers—warning them their names might be made public and offering protection. Just in case.

What's another 1.53 million cars when you've already recalled 10 MILLION? Toyota has announced that another batch of screwy automobiles needs to be taken back and fixed. This one mostly involves Lexus and Avalon models, and the issues, this time, involve brake fluid and fuel pump systems.

Anything I might say about this would only be too obvious. Mexican authorities gathered a crowd of dignitaries, in a scene reminiscent of a 1950s atom bomb test, to publicly torch 134 tons of marijuana, a haul authorities are calling the largest seizure of the drug in Mexico's history.

Visitors to Sikhism's Golden Temple in Amritsar are required to wear head coverings. And that might be why, when he visits India next month, President Barack Obama apparently won't be stopping there after all. "Optics" and whatnot.

Pissed about the White House's relentless defense of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"? This article attempts to pin it on tradition. "The Justice Department defends laws adopted by Congress and signed by a president, regardless of whether the president in office likes them," it says. Even when the law in question is obvious discriminatory horseshit.

Smacking around Playboy. Caligula. A photo spread that defrocked Miss America. Letters that started with "I never thought this kind of thing could happen to me..." Bob Guccione, founder of Penthouse, is dead at 79.

HEY BLAZERS FANS, PAY ATTENTION: Our very own Ezra Ace Caraeff will be live-blogging tonight's hot, steamy man-on-man action right here on Blogtown. Bone up on your hoops here.

Finally, here are some Penthouse letters. (OK, so, this is really about letters sent to Darondo's Penthouse; but you're at work, so shut it... Also, Darondo has a point! "Treat American women right!")