[update – response to Tbogg, et al, here] A bit of perspective, from the Weekly Standard‘s “Scrapbook,” Jan 2, 2006: As The Scrapbook enjoyed an afternoon walk down Washington’s M Street last week, it passed an array of newspaper vending machines, for the New York Times, the Washington Post, and USA Today, among others. A scan of the headlines found the words “Domestic Spying” on all the front-page headlines. This

Nora Younis provides an eyewitness account of the Sudanese refugee sit-in in Egypt that erupted in violence when police stormed the protest center, which had been set up in an upscale Cairo neighborhood in front of the UN refugee office. The three-month sit in came to an end when police used water canons and beat refugees as an audience of Egyptians stood by and cheered. As one Sudanese refugee told

From Ynet News: The U.S. government has called on NATO members to prepare for a possible attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities, the German daily Der Spiegel reported Saturday. NATO officials said the United States is seriously weighing the possibility of military action against Iran. Seems unlikely on it’s face, but at the same time, President Bush has been adamant that he will not allow Iran nuclear weapons, and it seems

—Feh.  Bad timing, I’m afraid.  Fact is, I’ve already got the little guy secured with a couple bungee cords and electrical tape into a beautifully compact geodesic sphere, which I’ve jerry-rigged with white Christmas lights and adorned with fifty-one 1/2” candied glass panels designed to mimic the Waterford Crystal triangular plates used in the Times Square New Year’s Eve ball.  Tomorrow night, at precisely 11:59:58, I drop the bastard from

From AFP: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad threatened former Lebanese premier Rafiq Hariri just months before he was assassinated, Syria’s ex-vice president Abdel Halim Khaddam said “I will destroy anyone who tries to hinder our decisions,” Assad told Hariri during a meeting in Damascus, Khaddam told Dubai-based television Al-Arabiya in an interview from Paris. Khaddam said the meeting took place a few months before the February 14 assassination of Hariri in

RedState has gathered together several sets of predictions for 2006.  Three words, friends:  Fear the crickets.

This seems fairly significant.  Apologies to those of you already familiar with the particulars of the decision.  From the First Amendment Center, “6th Circuit upholds Ky. Ten Commandments display”: A federal appeals court ruled today that a Kentucky courthouse can keep its display of the Ten Commandments because other historic documents also are included. The ruling by a three-judge panel of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upholds a

Sure, I could write a post on Bahraini feminists, or the destructive sense of entitlement we’ve instilled in our moronic kids—but then, I could head to Best Buy and burn the cash I have left on my gift card, instead. And be honest now.  What would you do? **** (h/t Allah) **** update:  spent way too much on noir DVDs.  If any of you were planning on hitting my tip

From ABC News: Security screeners at 40 major airports across the country will be trained next year to use casual conversation to flush out possible terrorists. The Transportation Security Administration will first teach screeners what suspicious behaviors to look for in travelers. These can include nervousness, wearing a big coat in the summer or reluctance to make eye contact with law enforcement. Then, the screener will quiz passengers on their

Congrats to Steve and Melissa Green on the birth of their son, Preston Davis. Wonderful times ahead—though the first few months will feel a bit like SEAL training.  Which is why you’ll want to make sure John McCain knows that your sleep deprivation is by choice.  Otherwise, Preston could be brought up on torture charges before he turns two months.