New York’s currently: ignoring the weatherman

 As Iraqi troops struggle with their role in a possible strike on the Imam Ali mosque in Najaf, Moqtada al-Sadr sends word that he’ll hand over control of the mosque, in order to save it.

 How the Swift Boat anti-Kerry ads began, 30 years ago. And: The Iraqi soccer team really, really, really doesn’t want to be in Bush campaign ads.

 A massive collection of textfiles you’ll want to read. Such files may include Ian Frazier’s Coyote v. Acme.

 Ted Kennedy was stopped for questioning at airports five times in six months because a name similar to his appeared on no-fly lists.

 Tonight freebasing, er, vaporizing liquor will be all the rage in Manhattan.

 Celiac Chicks are the coolest for what they’re doing to make true gluten-free dining-out possible. Related: Child’s wheat allergy gets her first communion invalidated.

 Italo Calvino’s widow “Chichita” takes Corriere della Sera to court over publication of old love letters written by Calvino to a married woman.

 Casting cock-ups, as when Helena Bonham-Carter was in Planet of the Apes, or when Kevin Costner was in…too much, really.

 Straight-Edgers: See who’s gone to the other side at the Edge Break List.

 But can you get Palpatine to read your vows? A Star Wars wedding.

 Biggie’s lyrical shrine to non-Lexus Asian import cars.

 1961 illustrations of New York. (Note: “weiter” means “next”) [via coudal]

 An obituary on the extraordinary life of Czeslaw Milosz.

 Does Dick Cheney speak only to the lizards?

 Eighties MP3s of the bands that would become everything to the ‘90s: My Bloody Valentine and Nirvana.

 Keep your lexicon up-to-the-second with new words at Double-Tongued.

 Thanks to all who have donated this and any other week to TMN!