Thieves have stolen nearly $300 million from a bank in Baghdad, police and a bank official said Thursday, in what is probably one of the biggest thefts in Iraq since the 2003 war to topple Saddam Hussein.

It's outrageous, but this story seems to have barely blipped on the MSM's radar.

UPDATE: IRAQI's math skills lacking.  MSNBC is reporting it was really $500,000 stolen.  Perhaps we need NIFMLB (No Iraqi Finance Minister Left Behind).  Never mind my little missive...  Go recommend Bob Johnson's (or Bob's Johnson if you know a Bob and you feel so inclined).  Is it Friday yet?  Thanks Ellicatt...

ATTENTION!!!  The Maryland House of Delegates is trying to bring Intelligent Design, aka "Creationism", to the Maryland public school system.  Please join me in signing this petition expressing your opposition.  Copy of bills in extended.

Seems to be a rash of chopper crashes lately.  Just how badly is readiness and maintenance being affected by the fiasco over in Iraq?  Some news links in extended.

This is interesting. (from slashdot)

Apparently the government has asked printer manufacturers to embed serial numbers in their printouts.  It's purportedly to track counterfeiters, but it could also be used to track leakers, whistleblowers, etc. No?

Abortion and pro-choice is a hot topic here of late and there've been a few interesting positions staked out.  They run the gamut from What you don't understand about Pro-choice women to What We Learned Today About Abortion.  Here's my take on the issue, what I believe, and where I fall in the spectrum of opinion.  My intention is not to offend, but rather to add my thoughts to the discussion.

It's somewhat disturbing that our Congress is so schizophrenic at the moment that they see no reason not to appoint a man as Attorney General who facilitated incapacitating people by strapping them to a board and forcefeeding them water until they feared they might die.  

A very short time later they consider it imperative to consider legislation that would make it a crime NOT to forcefeed a braindead person in order that she be prevented from dying.  

Unbelievable.

I received an email from my dear Republican sister yesterday titled "True American".  The gist of it was a Republican rant along the lines of "What I Am" read it if you want, although you're not missing much.  At first I was annoyed, but then thought, well, what am I?  

Just wanted to share an anecdote.  My wife works in an elementary school in Maryland.  The sixth graders in math class held a mock election today where they were asked to put their heads down and raise their hands for the candidate of their choice in the presidential election.  

Subject: Fw: The Really Rich Folks

John Kerry, man of the common folk.... he understands your pain, really... trust him - yeah - right
The many homes of Democrat Presidential candiate, John F. Kerry.

Fox Chapel, Pennsylvania  (Assessed value: $3.7 million)
...
(yadda yadda yadda, R/W spin BS)