Open Thread and Diary Rescue

This evening's Rescue Rangers are vcmvo2, jlms qkw, grog, dadanation, srkp23, and joyful, with watercarrier4diogenes at the Editor's desk, wondering just how vacuous the Halperins, Broders, and Kristols of the Village can get.

The Rangers have sifted and sorted through 243 diaries to bring you these 12 great examples of the excellent writing and breadth of subjects that Teh Orange has become known for.

• bob zimway isn't afraid to address the elephant in the room, overpopulation, and offers up a proposal to reduce Your Footprint: Cap and Trade Time. (srkp23)
• testvet6778 reports on the VA's latest buck-passing exercise as it looks to avoid helping veterans handle their various illnesses in Gulf War veterans need help now not another study!!! (grog)
• Join exlrrp as he celebrates a milestone birthday today in 60 years: what a long strange trip its been. (dadanation)
• dancewater relives a famous diary with current undercovered news in A week in Iraq/Anne Frank's blog. (jlms qkw)
• A double-shot of diaries on Bush's goodbye present to the anti-choicers: chainsaw mary, a fourth-year medical student gives her perspective on "Conscientious Medical Refusal" and Avenging Angel examines the Sweeping Bush Rule to Limit Abortion, Birth Control Access. (srkp23)
• StanMO patiently details the #1 Most Underreported News Story: What's the Point? (srkp23)
• Midwest Millian reports on the importance of the ability to do an effective recount in Georgia, Minnesota, and the Importance of Verified Voting. (vcmvo2)
• Barry C aka Casey shares a round-up most excellent of Marijuana News Medical and Otherwise. (srkp23)
• sortoflikenathan discusses solutions for the "Mess-o-potamia"(TDS) in How to Leave Behind a Stable Iraq: Withdrawal + Electoral Reform. (jlms qkw)
• GirlZero introduces us to her wonderful grandfather in The Most "Pro-America" American was at My Thanksgiving Dinner. (srkp23)
• bamabikeguy continues to regale us about his tinkerer's obsession with two-wheeled, internal combustion contraptions in Intro to Motorized Bicycles Part III- Efficient Engines. (grog)

jotter has High Impact Diaries: December 1, 2008 and brillig has Top Comments- 12/02/08 Too Many Books? Edition.

Enjoy and please promote your own favorite diaries in this open thread (even if you're the author! Here's where that's actually appreciated). And, of course, since it's an open thread, PLAY NICE, OK? 8^)