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About a month after September 11, many people were delighted, some shocked, and not a few offended to find someone had forwarded them the latest exponentially spreading Web phenomenon: an online comic strip starring a handful of savagely sarcastic office workers engaged in flippant and profane discussions about the current events of the time.

The first panels featured a clip art representation of a Dan Quayle-ish business executive intoning over the phone, "Oh yeah! Operation Enduring Freedom is in the house!" The response from his clip-art compatriot, an equally dapper African American on the other end of the line, repeats the line and adds some extra punch better not repeated here.

Thus the tone was set for "Get Your War On," a comic strip the New York Times has called "a textbook illustration of the viral reach of the Web." The vaunted paper titled the article, "Like Dilbert, but Subversive and Online." And in case you haven't already gotten the idea, we'd like to warn you: If you're uncomfortable with subversive and online, don't venture further.

"Get You War On" has since spawned two book collections, a regular run in "Rolling Stone," and a theatrical play. The satirist behind this Internet success story is 35-year old David Rees, a former temp worker who had created a pair of absurdist comic strips before September 11th jolted him into more controversial—and politically relevant—territory. David recently answered some questions for us over email.  Read the full profile...

It's amazing how all the guys and gals running for office this election season are special. But don't take our word for it. Verification is amply available at Lonely Candidate, where they're tracking each and every time a candidate or proxy claims to possess a unique quality, resume item, or political position by starting a sentence with the words "I'm the only..." Examples:

• Rudy Giuliani: "I'm the only Republican candidate who can beat Hillary Clinton."
• Bill Richardson: "I am the only candidate for a constitutional amendment to balance the budget."
• Dennis Kucinich: "...I'm the only candidate willing and eager to challenge the insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies."
• John McCain: "I'm the only candidate in this race prepared to be Commander-in-Chief from day one and dedicated to continuing the fight against Islamic fundamentalists."

OK, save your "whoop-dee-doos" and "well la dee das" until you've browsed a few more. Like how about this one from Minnesota Democratic candidate for senator Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer: "I'm the only candidate in this race who has a hyphenated last name."

Talk about a shoo-in.