SUPER SIZE ME, now playing at the Drexel East, is one of the very few films that can be called a "Must-See" for all Americans.  Whether you eat at McDonald's or not.  

It's rare a piece of reportage that can cut to the very heart---or stomach---of the American way of life.  But Morgan Spurlock's solid, brilliant and cunning documentary is one for the ages.

Spurlock builds his case carefully.  In great physical condition to start, he visits three physicians and a physical therapist to document his weight, cholesterol, heart functions and more.  He starts out at six-feet-two, 185 pounds, with vital statistics that could easily get him sent to Iraq (which McDonald's would probably like to see at this point).  .

Then he embarks on a solid month of eating at McDonald's.  Starting with what must be the most graphic barf in US film history (you might do well to turn your head during this scene), we follow the downward spiral of Spurlock's body to the brink of fast food death.  

The film is alternatively hilarious and infuriating, academic and personal.  

The U.S. Senate will vote on the Federal Marriage Amendment on July 15.

The "pro-family" (read: homophobic) American Family Association (AFA) is planning a national anti-gay marriage Senate call-in day on July 12. It's important that those of us who care about freedom and equality also make calls on that day in support of gay marriage.

The AFA has convienently tabulated a list of addresses and phone numbers of Senators who support or oppose the amendment www.protectmarriagerally.com/default.asp#sj30.

Note that at this point, freedom and equality prevail, with 75% of Senators opposing the amendement. Let's keep it that way!

Make a call on July 12, and send a letter before then! Equality and liberty depend on it!

For more information about marriage equality and to sign a petiion supporting the right of homosexuals to marry, visit www.hrc.org/millionformarriage/index.shtml

George W. Bush's environmental record can be dummied down to one simple word: devastating.

Not only has President Bush gutted numerous environmental laws--including the Clean Air and Water Acts--he has also set a new precedence by disregarding the world's top scientists and the Pentagon, as their concerns about the rate of Global Warming grow graver by the day.

As Mark Townsend and Paul Harris reported for the Observer in the UK in February of 2004, '[The Pentagon report] predicts that abrupt climate change could bring the planet to the edge of anarchy as countries develop a nuclear threat to defend and secure dwindling food, water and energy supplies. The threat to global stability vastly eclipses that of terrorism, say the few experts privy to its contents.'

Indeed one of Bush's first actions in office was to forge the dirty 'Energy Policy Act of 2003', which calls for a slash in renewable energy funding and an increase in fossil fuel consumption. The bill, authored by Vice President Cheney's Energy Task Force, met with a reported 39 oil lobbyists and executives to form the outlandish legislation. Portions of

Political myth-making goes into overdrive every four years. With presidential campaigns fixated mostly on media, an array of nonstop spin takes its toll while illogic often takes hold: When heroes are absent, they're invented. When convenient claims are untrue, they're defended.

Many supporters come to function as enablers -- staying silent or mimicking their candidate's contorted explanations to try to finesse the gaping contradiction. Fast talk substitutes for straight talk. A kind of "covering fire" across media battlefields makes it easier for the candidate to just keep on dissembling.

There are true believers, of course -- people who believe every word that comes out of their own mouths when, for instance, they stand at the podium of the Republican or Democratic convention. Whatever the extent of their sincerity, only superlatives will do as speakers unequivocally praise George W. Bush or John Kerry.

The fact that Bush keeps saying things that aren't true should matter. His repeated statements about Iraqi weapons of mass destruction, or supposed links between 9/11 and Saddam Hussein (again explicitly

(COLUMBUS, OH, 6/15/04) - On Wednesday, June 16, the Ohio office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Ohio) will hold a news conference in reaction to the arrest of Nuradin Abdi, a Columbus Muslim who was indicted Monday on four counts of conspiring to provide support for Al-Qaeda.

The news conference will take place following the conclusion of Nuradin's bond hearing on Wednesday afternoon at the U.S. Federal Courthouse in Columbus, Ohio.

WHERE: U.S. Federal Courthouse, 85 Marconi Blvd., Columbus, Ohio WHEN: Following conclusion of bond hearing (Hearing at 1:30 pm)

"Given previous cases involving American Muslims in which evidence proved to be faulty or non-existent, we are concerned about the strength of the charges against Mr. Abdi," said CAIR-Ohio Executive Director Jad Humeidan.

Humeidan cited the cases of Army Chaplain James Yee and Oregon attorney Brandon Mayfield. Both men were cleared of all charges following extensive damage to their reputations.

There are an estimated 150,000 Muslims in Ohio. CAIR, America's largest