This is very alarming - it really should be getting more press coverage.

Quoted: On Wednesday, Senate Republicans blocked a bill that would have overturned a Supreme Court ruling (PDF) that sharply limited pay-discrimination suits based on gender under Title VII.

Interesting story on a lawsuit that's emerging in Turkey around head scarves.

Quoted: The debate surrounding head scarves, banned in French schools and some German state institutions, has just re-emerged at the center of an extraordinary lawsuit, one that could, if successful, bring down the Turkish government.

I heard about this on 60 Minutes. Gore gave a great interview - he seems really excited and at peace with his life trajectory. And why shouldn't he be?

Quoted: Nobel prize winner and former Vice President Al Gore plans to launch a three-year advocacy campaign calling for the United States to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.

Big article (even a bit of a scoop) for Slate!

Quoted: What did Barack Obama offer Bill Richardson for his endorsement? Nothing, say both the Obama and Richardson camps, but this is the question angry and jilted Clinton supporters are asking in the wake of Richardson's announcement that he would support Obama rather than their woman.

A provocative piece from 'The Root' about why Obama's speech may have been too little, too late. It has less to do with Obama, though, than how Americans fail to connect present sentiments (in this case, about racism) to their historical roots.

Quoted: Even though he strongly and correctly argued that today's racial disadvantage is based on the white supremacy of the past, we know that many, many whites do not connect the black situation today to either the injustices of the past or the present.

So 'The Root' is an African-American focused sister publication of Slate. They've had a lot fascinating content on race and politics, and as you can imagine, today was a huge day for them with the Obama speech. But I think this piece is especially fascinating and a good intro to the identity issues they're addressing.

Quoted: Enough with the dirty looks. Race is not the overriding feature of my identity.

Sad end to what was such a prolific career.

Quoted: New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer resigned on Wednesday, completing a stunning fall from power after he was nationally disgraced by links to a high-priced prostitution ring.

Oh man, Geraldine Ferraro is lucky this comment got lost in the Spitzer scandal: “If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position. And if he was a woman (of any color) he would not be in this position. He happens to be very lucky to be who he is. And the country is caught up in the concept.”

Quoted: The 2008 presidential election has perfected a new category of gaffe: the otherwise sane, rational person saying something utterly irresponsible. Welcome to the club, Geraldine Ferraro.