The Saudis too know how to read election results: “Abdullah’s bowing out of the April 17 event is, in fact, one more warning sign that the Bush administration’s downward spiral at home is undermining its ability to achieve its policy objectives abroad. Friends as well as foes see the need, or the chance, to distance themselves from the politically besieged Bush.” — Jim Hoagland (Washington Post)

‘I died and came back…’: “While asphyxiation games have been around for many years, a series of locally publicized deaths around the country over the last few years, coupled with a realization that teenagers are seeing the game on Internet sites like YouTube, and playing it in more threatening variations — more often, like Levi, alone with a rope — are sparking a vigorous and open discussion in schools and among parents’ groups, summer camp administrators and doctors.” (New York Times )

A close look at Catholic conspiracy theories: “Question: Who’s afraid of Jews in the boardroom? Freemasons in the basement? Reds under the bed? Black helicopters in the sky? Answer: A surprising number of otherwise sensible people. Even under the new shadow of terrorism, old fears live on, breeding bogeys that knot together in a vipers’ tangle of menace.” (Crisis [thanks to walker])