”Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Action are meaningless without Freedom to Think.”Bergen Evans What a pleasure it has been to enjoy Ken Burns’ The National Parks: America’s Best Idea on PBS (if you haven’t tuned in, it’s inspiring!) As I have been watching the nightly episodes, it occurred to me to consider America’s second best idea. I didn’t have to think long; the blogosphere offered a couple of controversies that confirmed my choice.

Singer Britney Spears wrapped up her Circus Tour in Las Vegas at the Mandalay Bay venue with a Lap Dance for Lance Bass! Get the details here. Britney Spears gave fans a little bonus as she wrapped up the North American half of her Circus Tour! Spears’ treat for the crowd was none other than friend Lance Bass. Sean Lennon Never Knew Dad Was a Beatle! Gabby Babble Boyz II Men Open Arms (Video). Shallow nation Exclusive Video Interview: Tamara Taylor of ‘Bones’.

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Mohsin Mohi-Ud Din,  an American Muslim,   explores Muslim-American relations in an article for The Huffington Post . According to the piece, both the Muslim Community and non-Muslim Americans tend to “let the negative marginalize the good and true” about all involved. Among many factors explored, Mohi-Ud Din describes how Muslims “are often confused by your (America) political and military actions, which sometimes contradict the pro-freedom, pro-democratic, pro-human rights rhetoric.” He cites specifically civilian deaths throughout the Muslim world as well as the CIA supported 1953 coup against the democratically-elected Mohammad Mossadeq in Iran.

Controversy is surrounding Obama’s campaign to secure the Olympics in Chicago. WASHINGTON (CNN) — President Obama’s decision to head to Copenhagen, Denmark, later this week to make a push to bring the 2016 Olympic Games to Chicago is not without political controversy. Critics say Obama is making a risky move, since key issues — ranging from Iran’s nuclear ambitions and health care reform in Congress to deteriorating conditions in Afghanistan — are pressing on the administration.

Knox News : The Buddhist monk reaches a top speed of 5 mph as he maneuvers his 16-year-old Toyota around the grounds of the meditation center in West Tennessee. It is a practice excursion to make sure that the monk, Khenpo Gawang Rinpoche, is familiar with the car the next time he takes his driver’s license test. A scholar among Buddhists, he has the equivalent of a doctorate in religion and literature. That means nothing to driver’s license examiners who have flunked him three times on Tennessee’s written driver’s exam.

guardian.co.uk JK Rowling Joins Twitter : Harry Potter Author Doesn’t Follow, Won … Huffington Post (blog) Harry Potter author JK Rowling has finally gotten a Twitter account– but don’t expect her next novel in Tweets. The Telegraph reports Rowling decided to … JK Rowling jumps on the Twitter bandwagon guardian.co.uk Book Report: JK Rowling’s on Twitter Lincoln Journal Star JK Rowling sets up Twitter account The Press Association MiamiHerald.com

An online poll which asked if President Barack Obama should be assassinated is being investigated by the United States Secret Service. The survey, posted on Facebook over the weekend, was immediately removed after company officials were alerted to its existence. It was put up on the social networking site using a third-party application that was not connected with Facebook itself. The poll asked: “ Should Obama be killed ?” The answer choices: “No,” “Maybe,” “Yes” and “Yes if he cuts my health care.” More than 700 respondents took the survey before it was shut down.

The only surprising thing about hearing that Law & Order was going to take on the Bush administration over “torture” is the realization that Law & Order is still on the air.  This car-wreck of a series has been bouncing around NBC’s schedule since the first Bush administration doing the impossible – making lawyers look even worse.  Thanks, guys. Law & Order’s  mysteries are as unpredictable as where the sun will come up tomorrow morning.

This may seem like a little inside baseball, but bear with me, because it will directly affect some of your favorite blogs.
Here at the Blend we have inboxes overflowing with emails asking us to cover this story or that event — from advocacy organizations, tips from readers, PR firms, and the news media. It’s pretty clear that the equality rights movement is highly dependent on blogs and citizen journalism to analyze, report and advocate in the unique way that we do.