Dropping my debut post [Ben]

Well, I just received my midget-sized spinning medallion and 2.0 Signature Line velour, so it's official. As the newest member of teh n00z I'll be assaulting you all with poorly conceived and self-righteous political commentary, mundane observations about whatever, and weekly gardening tips. For your enjoyment, these tidbits will be composed in varying states of inebriation. Most 'good' writers rely on alcoholism for credibility, and if anyone's looking for an easy way out, it's me. Additionally, I think the chic white on black redesign is going to lend some much needed indy-gravitas to whatever I manage to spew here.

Bonus gardening tip: Opium poppies thrive in third world countries with fragile, fledgling democracies. Thanks to the United States' spastic and spectacularly unsuccessful War on Drugz, it's possible to enjoy beautiful foliage and financial windfall simultaneously. Muslim extremists, take a moment to contemplate the aesthetic pleasures of poppy cultivation--there's more to this plucky little flower than it's utility in financing your murderous campaign against books and bare female flesh.

For more information about opium poppies and why every politician in the US should go drown themselves, read this: http://slate.msn.com/id/2110987/.