It’s who they are; it’s what they do. Maybe (see dorkafork’s comments, below). Further, see Sara’s reproduction of Larwyn’s analysis: It is certainly worthy of note that the “Haye I.B Ahphorgerie” image and comments were subsequently excised from the discussion thread, something that could only have been done by a site administrator or Kos himself. However, the management failed to clean up in the site archive from where these images

The captives emerged from a coca field looking confused, despondent even, as the rebels tied plastic handcuffs on their wrists before putting them on a helicopter in a video released here on Friday of the rescue this week of 15 hostages in the Colombian jungle. Cool. Also, historical revisionism. Cause for celebration: dead terrorist released for time served, good behavior. Marvel Comics: McCain Battles Nemesis, The Teleprompter

pimp misery language studies, with a guest appearance by Maha.

Richmond, VA-based Commonwealth Catholic Charities is under federal investigation after staffers provided a 16-year-old illegal immigrant with transportation and signed a consent form for an abortion — two months after helping her implant a contraceptive.  Federal law prohibits using federal funds to pay for abortions except in cases of rape, incest or when the woman’s life is in danger.  Virginia law and federal guidelines require those younger than 18 to have parental consent for

The “Moderate” (but reliably Lefty) Voice has a new post up from “Damozel” noting that Iran has rejected the latest truckload of carrots offered to get the Islamic theocracy to suspend its nuclear program. Damozel’s reaction? So no encouraging news there, I’m afraid.  Are you as nervous as I am, with Israel and its military exercises and one of Bush’s favorite evildoers calling the tune?  Not to mention Seymour Hersh’s

The Washington Post’s Glenn Kessler reports: Government workers repeatedly snooped without authorization inside the electronic passport records of entertainers, athletes and other high-profile Americans, a State Department audit has found. One celebrity’s records were breached 356 times by more than six dozen people. The audit, by State’s inspector general, was prompted by the discovery in March that three of the department’s contract workers had peeked at the private passport files

A thief who broke into the vehicle as it was parked on 53rd Street near Second Avenue saw the explosives, then drove the van from the mostly residential block to a remote location near the waterfront. The thief, who has an arrest record, then phoned a cop he knew from a previous run-in with the law. ” So I says to Rusty, “Dude! how could you drop the keys to

The Guardian claims to have a confidential World Bank report which concludes that biofuels have forced global food prices up by 75% — more than the IMF estimate of 20-30%, and far more than the US government’s claims that biofuels contribute less than 3% to food-price rises. The Guardian and the New York Times suggest the World Bank report is being held back to avoid conflict with the US, though bank chief Robert

Wow.  Way to go, Rocks.  Two more, please.

To his European fans, Obama is the symbol of American renewal. They know three things about him. That he is young. That he is African-American. And that he has a Muslim name. Europeans live in countries with large, unassimilated Muslim minorities. The idea that someone with Obama’s name and background could become President of the United States astonishes and impresses them. Europeans are thrilled by the idea that the United