From FOXNews: Has North Korean leader Kim Jong Il subverted the United Nations Development Program, the $4 billion agency that is the U.N.’s main development arm, and possibly stolen tens of millions of dollars of hard currency in the process? According to a top official of the U.S. State Department — using findings made by the U.N.’s own auditors — the answer appears to be a disturbing yes, so far

overheard in the express check-out line at Safeway, 5:37 PM: 20-something guy in fur-lined jacket:  “—Anyway, I don’t think we need to be sending more people off to die in Bush’s illegal war for oil.  You know?” “Joeleen” the bagger: “Would you like your nuts in a separate bag, sir?”

From the AP: A gay and lesbian advocacy group demanded an apology Wednesday from “Grey’s Anatomy” co-star Isaiah Washington for comments made following the Golden Globe Awards. During a backstage interview Monday, Washington denied involvement in a heated on-set incident last year during which an anti-gay slur was reportedly uttered. “No, I did not call (co-star) T.R. (Knight) a faggot,” Washington told reporters. “Never happened, never happened.” On Wednesday, Neil

I had the opportunity, during lunch, to add a handful of oyster crackers and a few dashes of Tabasco sauce to my New England clam chowder.  Whether or not I did I’m not going to say—because the point is, had I wanted to, I certainly had that option.  And there’s not a goddamned thing Harry Reid could’ve done about it, either.

Harry Reid and the “progressive” Democrats—protecting the American public from itself, one bit of proposed legislation at a time.  From David Hardy: S.1 has been introduced in the Senate as “lobbying reform”—which in this case means “First Amendment infringements.” An amendment has been attached, which requires registration of bloggers with more than 500 readers, and who comment on policy issues. Violation would be a criminal offense. […] As the bill

There are eight million stories in the naked city—a vanishingly small number of which, sadly, feature hookers dressed in cotton candy mini skirts and a protagonist named “Fudgy.” I blame the trans-fat police.  And of course the entire state of New Jersey.

Jill at Feministe writes a long and courteous response to my MLK Day post that attempted to detail just how racial categorizations are structured, and how—when pressured—they tend to collapse under the weight of their own logical incoherence.  Some of her commenters, naturally, weren’t so courteous—I’m a faux Jew, an idiot, long-winded and hopelessly daft when it comes to appreciating differences, etc.—such responses being par for the course when what

Progressive podcast kvetch and former leftwing radio talk show diva Taylor Marsh accuses conservatives of “freaking out” over the potential return of the Fairness Doctrine, scuttled in 1987 by Ronald Reagan after its dubious 18 year hold on broadcast radio. Writes Marsh, who accuses me of being my “usual obtuse self” (glad to know you read my site, Taylor!): The short version of the Fairness Doctrine is that in 1987

Carter:  “I don’t care that we don’t ‘need’ anymore just now.  When I tell you to shove more bagels into the ovens, I expect you to shove more bagels into the oven.”* **** h/t CJ Burch

me: “I hate to admit this, but I had one of those flaky breakfast croissants the other day?  And it was freakin’ awesome!” my patriotism: my patriotism: my patriotism: “I don’t even know who you are anymore, man.”