Guest Bloggers and a Play: Two Big, Rude Announcements:
1. The Rude Pundit is packing right now to leave on one of his walkabouts in Red State America. He's heading to Louisiana, and he's taking a week off, starting Monday, because, for the love GodAllahWhoeverOrNobody, he needs to shut off his brain for a little while. But never fear. He's leaving you in the hands and keyboards of five awesome bloggers.

And here's your line-up:

Monday, July 19: Will/Wolf of Back2Stonewall

Tuesday, July 20: Pam Spaulding of Pam's House Blend (Pam's the returning champ. It's her third go-round as a designated rudester.)

Wednesday: Jim Burroway of Box Turtle Bulletin

Thursday: Michael Petrelis of Petrelis Files

Friday: Monica Roberts of Transgriot

Yup, you've figured out the rainbow connection: they're all LGBT bloggers, and more may be added. That's right: It's Big Lesbian, Gay, Bi, and Trans Week at the Rude Pundit's joint next week. While he will be down in Louisiana, checking out oily marshes and doing his part by contributing to the local bar economy, come join the dance party over here. The iPod's got a kickass raggacore mix, the ecstasy is kept in a carved-out copy of Karl Rove's autobiography, and the extra tequila is behind the tequila.

2. Tickets are on sale now for the first of two plays the Rude Pundit is directing this summer. Opening on Tuesday, July 20, Hunter Gatherers by Peter Sinn Nachtrieb, about two married couples whose evening devolves into mayhem, has sex, violence, nudity, profanity, and animal sacrifice (which is what the Rude Pundit calls "Wednesdays").

And while it's being performed at a theatre at Baruch College in NYC, it's being done by ONETime Productions, a young company with young and luscious actors who are way too willing to do the depraved things the Rude Pundit has told them to do. In other words, good times are guaranteed for all.

(The Rude Pundit knows for certain he'll be at the Saturday, July 24 performance.)