“…a spectacle of abject political cowardice masking itself as a demonstration of ‘dissenting’ bravery” — Christopher Hitchens, Slate. Well. There‘s a blurb that won’t be showing up on the Special Edition DVD packaging, I’ll bet. **** h/t Ray.

From London’s Evening Standard: The threat of a terrorist attack using nuclear weapons is “real and imminent”, the head of the UN’s nuclear watchdog said today. Mohammed al Baradei, chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said it was a “race against time” to prevent terrorists from obtaining nuclear materials. His words echo repeated warnings by Tony Blair of the danger posed by an alliance between rogue states and terrorist

Jesse who’s this now? Sorry, never heard of the guy.

In an editorial for the Chicago Sun-Times, Jesse Jackson writes that despite our military prowess, the US lacks the moral authority to — wait. Wait wait wait. You know what? Who cares what Jesse Jackson writes. The last time this two-bit, race-baiting shakedown artist was relevant I was wearing parachute pants and hanging velvet Def Leppard posters all over my room. No. My new, permanent response to all things Jesse

Abu Ghraib would make a kickass band name. If the band were really edgy, I mean. Lots of long drum solos and the like… Definitely. Totally kickass! update: I like Twix. Like, lots.

**** update: more soft journalism. No pun intended.

“Islamic militants in Iraq threatened to behead a South Korean hostage by Monday night unless his country scrapped plans to send 3,000 more troops — a demand rejected by Seoul.”* And because Abu Ghraib. And root causes. And deer ticks. And vinyl siding. And Empanadas Chilenas. And Beach Boys CDs. And, well, you know the drill…