Is it just me, or does anyone else want to read for themselves this 18-page letter that Mahmoud "The Passionate Persian" Ahmadinejad sent Mr. Bush?

I find it somewhat unlikely that someone who was in fact elected president would declare that "democracy has failed worldwide," as the AP led with. There's a quote a bit later on that says "Those with insight can already hear the sounds of the shattering and fall of the ideology and thoughts of the Liberal democratic systems," but it's quite unclear whether the subject is "democracy worldwide" or specifically our style of democracy in Iraq.

It seems to me that the press is playing along with the administration here, giving them cover for not engaging Iran in bilateral talks and, let us not forget, throwing former president Mohammad Khatami (who was a real reformer) under the bus with all that "Axis of Evil" crap, a huge softball for hardliners and clerics. One thing to remember as the war-talk with Iran ratchets up is that as an institution the media probably wants war. It makes for great television and helps them feel very important.

Took a yuppie (pink dress shirt) SUV door this evening on my way to my man Kevin's birthday dinner in the West Village. I almost dodged it, but there wasn't a lot of room to maneuver, traffic pretty tight for a sunday evening. I tried to break and cut around when I saw the door starting to open, but the edge clipped my front wheel, which stopped the bike, spilling me sideways and over the bars.

I came through without much damage. No fancy photos to show like before. Just a little bruise and scrape on my arm.

These things happen. It's part of the deal of riding in the city -- which I still think is safe. People are going to open their doors into traffic without thinking. We can't let that scare us off.

This guy who hit me was in the wrong. People are not supposed to open up their car doors into traffic. Since I was pretty sure when I got up that I didn't have any real physical damage, I just let it go, but I could have waited for the police and used my TransAlt spoke card (which has the specific laws you need to reference) to get him to write up an incident report. The pink-shirted yuppie guy would probably get a ticket and I would have a chance to collect something through his insurance agency should I have medical bills or need to replace part of my bicycle.

Still, I'm not gonna call the law on this guy. Maybe if he'd been a horrendus asshole I would have, but he was spooked and apologetic. I didn't want to be a dick about it, so I didn't try to guilt trip him into money for my wheel or anything either. Just walked it off and went to dinner. Selah.

So I'm fine, but the bike is going to have issues. The front wheel is a total loss, and there may now be enough damage overall to render it kaput. It's been through three real falls, a lot of rough riding and years of being locked up on the street, and that's just since I got my hands on it. The frame dates from the late 80's/early 90's, and it was originally owned in Hawaii, which I know because it still has the Honalulu bike registration sticker. I bought it from Pedal Revolutions, a used bike barn in the Mission, so it may have had other owners in California as well. Then I brought it to New York City, and now this.

Lately, it's been really pulling to the left and I've realized that the core triangle of the frame is out of whack. The headset is also coming loose, requiring daily hand-tightening. Now I think it might not be worth sinking any more money into. It's been my plan to give it to Frank to strip for parts when I take off in June anyway, so it seems like the bell is tolling.

Ok for now. Next week I'll be 27. Oh man.

Know this: the history of the United States is one of immigration outside the bounds of law. Every significant immigrant population in our history (from the Irish, the Italians, Eastern Europeans and Scandinavians to the Chineese, Koreans and Filipinos) have always had substantial "without papers" elements.

It's the most American thing in the world.

"Si se Puede!" goes the chant. "It can be done!" This is the American spirit. This is who we are as a nation. We're about striving, ambition, optimism, the "can do" attitude. This is what has made this country so successful: hard work, competition, meritocracy, and a willingness to take risks and embrace change.

We are the way we are in no small part because most of us (descendants of slaves and those on the Rez excepted) are here because somewhere back in our family history, someone decided to take an enormous leap. Many of our ancestors did not go through the bureaucracy and red tape of acquiring paperwork to make this process "legal."

This is important! It's good! People who make this leap, who are willing to grab life by the horns and make it happen, are the lifeblood of this country. They are inventive. They are entrepreneurial. They hustle. They do what needs to be done to make a better world for their children, infusing the economy and culture with energy.

This has always been how it worked, and it's no secret that this a large part of why America has worked as well. We also got a big statue as a present from France for our rockin' immigrant-loving ways. It's pretty nice.

It's not all wine and roses of course. Immigration is an essential part of what the US is, but it has always created problems, especially on the local level. It places strain on communities and creates change, which inevitably some people dislike.

However, our historical legacy has been to work hard on solving these problems so that we can grow and prosper as a greater whole. It's a part of our history we can be damn proud of, and one we turn away from at our peril.

I hope that people can see the current immigration hoopla for what it is: an election-year tactic cooked up by a corrupt and unpopular Republican congress looking to save their sorry asses in November. The nativists are on the wrong side of history and the wrong side of the facts as well.

In the torrentfeed, yo.

JUST HOOK IT TO MY VEINS!