Psych Central has named the ex-SW scribe's Furious Seasons blog as its top bipolar blog of 2008. Congrats, Philip.

Our adorable Dategirl, Judy McGuire (pictured above, feigning fellatio) will be a guest on Maxim Radio's "Sex Files" program on October 15 from 11 a.m.-noon our time. And remember, Judy can be heard every Friday morning at 7 here in Seattle on Movin' 92.5's "Ladies Room" broadcast. Yummy.

Enough with the uppity Uptight and his book contract. SW comic artist Scott Meyer has beaten him to the punch. Meyer's strip, Basic Instructions, which was first published in SW and has since been picked up by some other alt-weeklies, including SF Weekly and the San Diego Reader, is being collected into a book from indie comics giant Dark Horse. It'll be available for sale this week, Meyer says.

For more about Meyer, including a Reader Advisory about how not to use the Instructions, as well as info about the artist's favorite wallet, you can visit his site.

Readers looking for a Saturday night activity should consider the grand fundraising party to be hosted by Weekly filmmaker Jason Reid in and around his Georgetown abode. The money will go to the production of Man Zou, a documentary he'll film while riding his bicycle from Beijing to Shanghai. At the party, you'll be able to ride a Rickshaw through a virtual version of his itinerary, take a dip in the dunk tank (it's going to be hot), and support the arts by engaging in a variety of other silly activities. Full info here.

Bring your friends and neighbors. It's time to kick of Best of Seattle ® voting season with a caucus. No matter your precinct, come on down, have a drink (or 7), and make your voice heard in the most important vote in a generation!

Green Room (Showbox @ the Market)
5 -- 8 p.m.
Drawing every half hour
Ballots on-hand for voting!
Drink specials

Today marks the kick-off of Seattle's True Independent Film Festival, or STIFF. This renegade festival features the best in independent filmmaking from Seattle and beyond. I pimp it partly out of self-interest--Haymaker & Sally, the buddy cop comedy I made with Buzzer Beater filmmaker Jason Reid, will be playing this afternoon and next Wednesday night--but also because it features a whole host of exciting movies at venues like the Jewel Box Theater and the Central Cinema (both of which will allow you to enjoy a drink while you take in the cinematic goodness).

Trailers and info after the break. Click on the film names for more info, including showtimes and online ticket sales

Amy Bloom was a delightful speaker and there was a great turnout for this Nextbook event. Ms. Bloom left first thing this morning for L.A. where she's in deep negotiations with a big-name producer about a film adaptation of Away. She says you're generally given two options: they'll write you a decent-sized check and give you the opportunity to contribute to the screenplay; or they'll write you a much bigger check if you agree to walk away from your novel and let them make as big a travesty of it as they like.

Mark Fefer Interview Amy Bloom, author of the novel, Away
Where: Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center
When: 7:30 p.m.
Cost: $6-$8

Those of you familiar with the pages (virtual and printed) of Seattle Weekly know the MF Truth is the venue for our chief, Mark D. Fefer, to take to task all the issues he was unable to pawn off on one of us. But, most of you are very likely unfamiliar with the MF Treatment. He prefers to call it our daily "interview." Yes, as if we all have to interview for our jobs on a daily basis. Fef only has time to bring you the Truth every couple weeks 'cause he's so preoccupied giving us the Treatment, which usually includes a copy of the current issue, a copy of Kenny G Does Celine Dion, and one of those special quills Dolores Umbridge used to punish Harry Potter in the Order of the Phoenix.

Tonight, author Amy Bloom will get her own version of the MF Treatment, when our editor interviews her at the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center.

Good luck, Amy.

Fresh off her extremely exciting mention in a recent issue of People (see above!), Judy gets chatted up by a pair of bloggers--former Village Voice sex columnist Rachel Kramer Bussel and Seattle anti-cubist Michelle Goodman.