So, the finalists for the Koufax Awards are up at WampumBlog. In case you’re wondering about the genesis of the name…what was Sandy Koufax famous for (besides that Sabbath thing)?

The Koufax Awards are also a good way to get an overview of the “top guns” of the progressive side of the blogosphere, in case you’re dipping your toes into the waters and are scared silly of the list of blogs I have over there.

For those of you who do not read Riverbend, go read how things are going over there from the horse’s mouth:

I usually ignore the emails I receive telling me to ’embrace’ my new-found freedom and be happy that the circumstances of all Iraqi women are going to ‘improve drastically’ from what we had before. They quote Bush (which in itself speaks volumes) saying things about how repressed the Iraqi women were and how, now, they are going to be able to live free lives.

The people who write those emails often lob Iraq together with Saudi Arabia, Iran and Afghanistan and I shake my head at their ignorance but think to myself, “Well, they really need to believe their country has the best of intentions- I won’t burst their bubble.” But I’m telling everyone now- if I get any more emails about how free and liberated the Iraqi women are *now* thanks to America, they can expect a very nasty answer.

You know, shortly before the war started, I saw on the news (a rare occurence—I do not watch the news on television, which seems to me to be completely content-free, even with all of its pictures; if a news program starts on a channel not in the pocket of Viacom, GE, Disney, or ADM, let me know) some story that included an excerpt from the Iraqi state news, which had a female newsreader. Who was not covering her head in any way.

And I thought, I wonder what other Islamic nation we’d see that in?

(ObHappyNewsSlam: she wasn’t 26, anorexic, and blonde either.)

Oh yeah. Those Iraqis are so fucking free they can fly.

Man, I am so glad I don’t drink: The State of the Union Drinking Game.

My personal favorite is what to do if the Res says, “Don’t mess with Texas!”

Update: Damn. South Knox Bubba rules. He’s gone one better than the Drinking Game and really put his money where Bush’s mouth is.

Damn. Bubba’s going to listen to the speech and check the transcript? That is dedication. I think I have to soak in a lavender bath Tuesday night. But I think I’m in with Bubba…now I just gotta pick a charity…

And yet more update: Adam Felber’s totally hilarious SOTU drinking game. My favorite bit:

At any point during the War portion of the speech, any player may assume the role of Rogue Nation – exclaiming “Yikes!” and then ducking and cowering. Everyone else must follow suit immediately. The last player to do so becomes the Next Pre-empted Nation, who is then obliged to take a drink.

No matter how dangerously drunk the Pre-empted Nation becomes, nobody is permitted to suggest that they be given a break. Anyone who does so immediately becomes “France,” and is obliged to finish their own drink while being ridiculed by the other players.

Update, Tuesday: I’ve decided on my charity. It’s CoffeeKids, a charity devoted to making the lives of coffee growers better.

Update, Thursday: And CoffeeKids has my money.