“A gang of robbers dressed as clowns tied up a shopkeeper and pointed a shotgun at him before they were chased through Manchester city centre. “The three men in fancy dress entered Brannigans in Peter Street at 1000 BST on Monday,” The BBC reports. They handcuffed the trainee manager and threatened him with a sawn-off shotgun and a 10-inch knife before they fled with a small amount of money. Their

…Now, to whom might I dedicate this Claudia Winkler excerpt… It is not American cultural imperialism to believe that the principles of popular sovereignty are part of the solution in the Islamic world, or to act on that belief. Says Carl Gershman, president of the National Endowment for Democracy, who has thought about these issues as much as anyone alive, ‘Our job is to provide as much help to all

“Federal officials have sued a Pembroke Pines man over custody of a moon rock. “Well, technically, they sued the rock,” The Miami Herald reports. In United States of America vs. One Lucite Ball Containing Lunar Material, federal lawyers argue that the Republic of Honduras is the rightful owner of said rock. But retired businessman Alan Rosen, who lives in Pembroke Pines, said he bought the rock fair-and-square from a retired

“The Meow Mix Company announced plans to launch television programming targeted specifically for cats, according to Local 6 News [in Central Florida]. “The program, which is scheduled to launch this fall, will feature visuals that are appealing to cats, such as birds, mice and bouncing balls.” In addition, there will be information about cats for owners to watch. The idea to begin the show reportedly came from research that found

You know what’s kinda cool? Steganography. Brendan O’Neill: Biggest tool around. (And perhaps the dullest tool, too). I just love stuff like this.

Jeez. I feel so, well…scolded, frankly. Such a silly little well wisher I am. Quick question, though: are most Iranians really Arabs, Brendan…? Or is that just, y’know — the kind of license granted professional journalists like you? P.S. You’re a jackass, but that’ll just be our little secret. But do please grow up, won’t you…?

Here’s an excerpt from a conversation I had today with a neighbor of mine, who for some ungodly reason was mowing his lawn in 92-degree heat: Me: “Hot enough for you out here?” Neighbor (cutting his engine): “What’s that?” Me: “I say, is it hot enough for ya’ today?” Neighbor (wiping brow with forearm): “You bet. ‘s hotter’n a witch’s tit, in fact. Ain’t that what they say? — hotter

Stephen Schwartz’s Weekly Standard piece, “All the Hate That’s Fit to Print,” takes a close look at the American Muslim media. Not surpisingly, Schwartz finds some troubling rhetoric emanating from the non-mainstream periodicals: When the shooter who chose July 4 to start a gun battle at Los Angeles airport’s El Al ticket counter turned out to be Hesham Mohamed Hadayet — an Egyptian native with a ‘Read Koran’ sticker on

“Hypocrites!”

It occurred to me at the time, too, but I failed to note it here. To my shame. So now I’m noting it here (to my credit): That attempt on Chirac’s life? Very Day of the Jackal. (Note: Sadly, I’ve never read the Forsyth book. But the film is an absolute classic in the genre of political thrillers. If you haven’t yet seen it, get your ass to a video