From PakNews: “A Western television crew was detained by administration in Pakistan

Positive, realistic sentiments in Monday’s The Times of India. From “How 9/11 changed the Muslim world“: Any real change in the Muslim world has to come from within, and cannot be imposed by US might. But the US can change the internal dynamics in Muslim countries by strengthening secular forces and weakening the mullahs. Its firmness on terrorism has achieved this. The change in power equations within Muslim countries will

Hey, all. The wife’s doing some more work on the site (adding more blog-goodies and scrollables), but I’ll be posting later on (if the rum doesn’t do me in first…Umm. Rum…). [Welcome back, Boja. Please, tell me you have a tan — ed.]

Joel Miller’s “Seized by Failure” (Reason) explains why it’s been so easy getting such affordable shit over the last decade or so. Turns out a gram of heroin that cost more than 275 ‘smack’eroos in ’87 (using 1999 dollars) only drains the pocket today to the tune of $50 (often less). All ’cause of an increase in product — and all during the tiresome “war on drugs” epoch. As for

According to his father, 18-year old Elijah Wallace, “who told police he sent an anthrax-laced letter to Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, is a compulsive liar who has been treated in a state psychiatric hospital,” The Washington Post reports. Wallace “made the claim when he was arrested for breaking into a vacant home Friday. Police found him hiding in a closet with a gun and two knives.” ‘He’s telling a

In a column ostensibly about former Prez Clinton’s panic over his receding “legacy,” Ann Couter gets a bit, er … side tracked: The Afghan ‘negotiation phase’ immediately precedes the traditional Afghan’s ‘surrender phase.’ This entails the following: The defeated party surrenders and then comes out shooting. This is repeated several times. Finally, the vanquished party runs out of ammunition and is forced to surrender — but seriously this time —

“HERE

Ken Layne has skewered Cornel West nicely (and extensively). He also mentions J.P. Donleavy (one of Jeff’s favorites, I believe) in reference to a fine Lileks’ bleat. Curioser and Curioser…

Just because I find his work so remarkably irritating, I’ve “responded” to Ted Rall’s latest offering, “Snappy New Jeer” — another shallow dish of fetid word salad that’s light on the lettuce and heavy on the crumbled cheese. Actually, I suppose I haven’t so much responded to him as I have “reacted” to his bilious twaddle — by way of smarmy rejoinders of my own. Rall’s bunk will be block

My wife’s been working on the new site design all day — cool, ain’t it? — so I haven’t done much posting today. I did receive a nice bit from the wonderful Dr. Anne, which I’ll post soon. In the meantime, hope you enjoy the new design.