Writerz Block 2008

Close-ups here.

(Thanks, Bombingscience!)

Banksy in New Orleans

Pics of this and other recent Banksy's in N.O. at jonnodotcom (via Bombingscience; thanks, all!)

Graffiti Research Lab Co-Founder Detained by Chinese

"Days without potable water, hours of interrogation, sleep deprivation, and the theft of more than $20,000 in cash and equipment are among the hardships two New Yorkers say they endured as prisoners of the Chinese government during the Beijing Olympics.

"'They threatened our lives, threatened the lives of people we know, of our family members, and they told us that they could get us, even outside of China,' [GRL co-founder] James Powderly said yesterday."

More at The New York Sun; see also boingboing and cnet.

Denver Police Unlawfully Confiscate Artists/Journalists' Equipment and Notes

The three artists/journalists whose rights were violated "have a track record of documenting police abuse."

Made Me Laugh

(madhatter via tom moody; I'd be happy to live with either of tm's selections -- thanks!)

You Go, Dennis.

Wachet auf!

K.O. Interviews Maher on the DNC 2008 Thus Far.

Please Register Now, and Vote!

(If you think Obama has it in the basket, read this and think again).

Application and info re- registration in Texas here, or, last I checked, you can pick up an application in any U.S. post office. For info re- other states, try your Secretary of State's website.

Please encourage your friends to register and vote as well.

If you think you're already registered, double-check it here (not sure-fire, but convenient and worth doing).

Basic requirements in Texas:

• Your voter registration will become effective 30 days after it is received or on your 18th birthday, whichever is later. Your registration must be effective on or before an election in order to vote in that election.
• You must be at least 17 years and 10 months old to register, and you must be 18 years of age
by election day.
• You must register to vote in the county in which you reside.
• If you move to another county, you must re-register in the county of your new residence.
• You must provide your Texas driver's license or personal identification number. If you do not have a driver's license or personal identification number, then give the last four digits of your social security number, or if you do not have any of these identification numbers, then you must indicate by checking the appropriate box on the application side.
• If you do not have a Texas driver's license or a social security number, you will be required to present identification when you vote in person or enclose a copy of such identification with your ballot if you vote by mail. Identification includes: a current and valid ID; a copy of a current utility bill; bank statement; government check; paycheck; or other government document that shows your name and address.
• If you have been convicted of a felony, you must have completed all of your punishment, including any parole, supervision, period of probation, or you must have received a pardon.

Election Day is Tuesday, November 4. In Texas, the deadline to register and be eligible to vote in the election is October 6, 2008. This can be either the postmark date or the date the application is received in the office of the voter registrar.

Never forget.