“As the number of undocumented, would-be migrant workers found dead in the deserts of the Southwest since last October climbs into the 100s, why does a multi-million dollar European clothing company want me to dress like a Spanish-speaking laborer?” Pacific News Service

Smiling mouse smells like a rat: “For some reason unknown to me, my daughters love watching Tom and Jerry cartoons. I guess the image of a little mouse smiling innocently before whacking the cat in the head with a 10-pound sledge hammer is riveting entertainment for children.

Even at their young ages, they know what is going to happen.

The giggles start before the weapon of choice is even shown on the screen.

That’s why the newly announced amnesty for file traders makes me smirk a little. The Recording Industry Association of America is smiling, offering a reassuring piece of mind to users who will admit they have downloaded or shared music files in the past.

Of course, those users have to provide a copy of a photo identification, sign a notarized form promising to delete any music files they may have downloaded and pledge not to do anything so nefarious ever again.

In exchange, the RIAA mouse promises not to add lumps to the user’s noggin with its legal ball-peen hammer.” Tuscaloosa News

“Somewhere in The Godfather, Brando says something like, ‘Children are allowed to make mistakes, not so adults.’ Among adults naivety is perilous.

I hate to be a party-pooper, but can’t we see what’s coming? In Iraq there will be no democracy. There will be less brutality, perhaps, but nothing to resemble what John Locke had in mind. Afghanistan should be a lesson. We did what we had to do. We chased out the Taliban and it is better over there, but not terrific. Miniature Osamas rule from tribe to tribe and it is still much safer for women to remain covered up and indoors. Variations, but same old same old.

Throughout the Ishmaelite world, there will only be more resentment, probably even reprisals against us. For this is not about Iraq, where we are also doing what we have to do, and it is not about Israel. This is about the Big Picture. Ishmael wants ‘Jerusalem and even Rome.’ ” — Jack Engelhard, author of Indecent Proposal, former radio and newspaper editor covering the Mideast and former American volunteer in the Israeli Defense Forces, Jewsweek [via walker]