Wired’s Noah Shachtman rounds up some of the better mockeries of Iran’s attempt to Photoshop a failed missile launch into a success.  My favorite may be the old school approach of a Boing Boing commenter: While the Photoshop folly is deserving of mockery, Galrahn at Information Dissemination has a more serious look at the signs that an attack on Iran by Israel in the autumn, and how a number of elements from the

Barack Obama’s scheme to deliver a major foreign policy address at the Brandenburg Gate in the heart of Berlin complicates German US-relations, as the government would like to avoid offending both Obama and John McCain.  It also mucks about with German domestic politics.  It is a  move that is not only inconsistent with Obama’s complaint that the US is not sensitive enough to our relationships with our allies, but also indicative of Obama’s inexperience and hubris.

Haven’t done a Polly Toynbee post in a while. Also, happy 7-11 to seveneleventy.

When asked about the contents of his iPod, John McCain declares the love that dare not speak its name: “Dare I say Abba?” he replied. “Everybody says, ‘Ugh. Abba.’ Why is that? Abba was the largest-selling record act ever. Nobody likes them, but they sold more records than anybody in the history of the world, including the Beatles. But everybody hates them. You’re a no-class guy if you like Abba.

This morning’s Washington Post confirms some of yesterday’s speculation here about Barack Obama’s fundraising efforts. Internet donations to Obama have slowed, forcing the campaign to expand efforts to raise money from high-dollar donors in order to meet budget projections: “It’s one of the reasons why the Clinton people are so important,” said Kirk Wagar, Obama’s Florida finance chairman. “Most of us have beaten our Rolodexes pretty badly.” Yet Obama managed to botch an

Prayers for him, his wife, and his baby: From: “John Stephenson” Date: July 10, 2008 9:34:51 PM MDT Subject: Urgent Prayer Request for My Co-Blogger Please keep my co-blogger, his wife, and un-born child in your prayers. Gribbit, my snarky co-blogger, has been going through a lot lately. He explains it extensively at STACLU and his own blog. His family needs lots of prayers. Please let others know about this,