Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama spent a Missouri Monday defending his patriotism, in light of recent attacks.

“At certain times over the last 16 months, I have found, for the first time, my patriotism challenged — at times as a result of my own carelessness, more often as a result of the desire by some to score political points and raise fears and doubts about who I am and what I stand for.”

Obama has taken a decent bit of rapping on his patriotism in general, stemming from an incident where he didn’t wear a flag pin, as well as from allegations that he doesn’t say the pledge of allegiance.

No flag pin?! RELEASE THE FUCKING HOUNDS!

Do you really want to hurt me? Do you really want to make me cry: Boy George’s North American tour was cancelled, despite all attempts to appeal to the US Visa Office. This would have been Boy George’s first North American tour as a solo artist in a decade. Cue the tears and sobs of thousands of pop/reggae/electronica-loving middle-aged women. Says he,

“I was really hoping that the issue would be resolved and that some kind soul at the US Visa Office would realize that if the police in the UK placed no restrictions on my movements, that should have been good enough for them. I am very sorry that I will not see all my American fans this year, but I wish them a happy and healthy Fourth of July. I include the Visa Office in those good wishes and realize they are doing a very difficult job and I just got unlucky.”

At least he’s graceful about it. Kanye West would have had a conniption, no?

So my girlfriend finally decided that my favorite shorts, some ancient se7en jeans that long ago became cut-offs, have long since passed their expiration date and need to be thrown in the trash immediately. This is a sad day. I mean, besides the giant blood stain on the left leg, the thin strand of material separating my balls from the free air and that fact that anyone caring to look can basically see the outline of my dick at any point during the day, I don’t really see what’s wrong with these shorts. But whatever. I’ll just get some new ones, which will some day be old ones, and then one day I’ll die and it won’t matter anyway.

Just posted two new interviews to the homepage: Wyatt Nation’s chat with former Black Flag guitarist and SST Records honcho Greg Ginn, currently touring with two of his new projects Jambag and the Texas Corrugators, and new Synthesis contributor Spencer Rouse’s feature on the Chicago Afrobeat Project. Check them out on the front page, along with new reviews of TopR’s Marathon of Shame DVD and Alkaline Trio’s Agony and Irony, which hits stores tomorrow.

Featuring members of The Red Robot, Green Rifle, Greener Pastures, Oh Dae Su, Jessica Pratt, and Fire Breathing Dragons. Real men move to Chico.

Formed from ex-members of Sacramento’s Mister Metaphor, Seattle, WA’s, Bridges are a progressive math-pop conglomerate with more syrup-sweet melodies than you can shake an abacus at. The band is currently on tour through mid-July on the West Coast, and last night melted the apathy of a cozy crowd at Chico, CA’s Cafe Coda.

The group played for about 40 minutes, without stopping for anything, fashioning a seemingly endless song, which was actually several seamless segues into different tunes. Think early Velvet Teen or don’t. If you live on the West, check these guys out at these select dates. You won’t be disappointed.