So, congratulations to the Republicans (and Ben Nelson) for filibustering financial reform. I know they’re proud of themselves, but I just want them to know I’m proud, too. I’m just glad I could be here for it. Better here than the Gulf of Mexico, I guess, where over 40,000 gallons of oil a day are oozing out of of that ill-fated drilling platform. The oil spill is covering 1,800 miles so far. Not to worry, though. I’m sure oil industry profits won’t suffer.

Kudos, too, to Seattle authorities, who swooped down on Gizmodo editor/blogger Jason Chen for publishing photos of a next-gen iPhone left in a bar.

Authorities seized computers, digital cameras, a cell phone and other items from a technology blog editor who posted pictures and details of a lost iPhone prototype.

A computer-crime task force made up of multiple law enforcement agencies searched Gizmodo editor and blogger Jason Chen’s house and car in Fremont, Calif., on Friday, according to a statement and search warrant documents provided by Gizmodo. Members of the Rapid Enforcement Allied Computer Team took several computers, hard drives, digital cameras, cell phones and other gadgets, plus Chen’s American Express bill and copies of his checks.

Last week Gizmodo had one of the Web’s hottest scoops when it posted photos of an Apple device that appeared to be a next-generation iPhone. It had been found in a bar in Redwood City, which is in San Mateo County, and sold for $5,000 by an unknown person to Gizmodo, a gadget blog owned by Gawker Media Inc. After Chen posted photos and details about the phone, Apple acknowledged the device belonged to the company, and Gizmodo returned it. Gawker Media said California’s shield law, which protects journalists from having to turn over anonymous sources or unpublished material to law enforcement during a search, should apply to Chen’s property.

Don’t mess with Apple, dude. You’re lucky they didn’t get you shipped off to Gitmo.

I’m across from the Australian Embassy, so I think I’ll go over and protest this at lunch time.

An Australian restaurant has been forced to apologize and pay compensation after refusing to let a blind man enter because they thought his dog was gay.

In May 2009, Ian Jolly, 57, was attempting to dine at the Thai Spice restaurant in Adelaide, when he was refused entry after staff misheard his female companion, and thought his “guide dog” was a “gay dog.”

“The staff genuinely believed that Nudge was an ordinary pet dog which had been desexed to become a gay dog,” the owners said in a statement to South Australia’s Equal Opportunity Tribunal.

Jolly is now set to receive a written apology and $1,400 compensation.

Well, with a name like Nudge….

Oh well, time to get ready to get ready, I guess.