As if things weren't bad enough...

4 killed by celebratory gunfire after Iraq's Asian Cup victory.

Two thoughts:
(1) Our soccer fans could be worse; and
(2) "celebratory gunfire."
sigh

Layton wants PM to demand air strikes' end

From the Toronto Star:

Independent counts by the United Nations and the Associated Press have shown that U.S. and NATO operations have claimed more civilian lives than the Taliban insurgency.

By the UN's count, as of July 1, civilian deaths caused by international or Afghan forces this year number 314, while insurgents have killed 279 civilians. The AP reports lower numbers, but a similar ratio: 213 civilians killed by international forces, and 180 by the Taliban.

Read the full article here.

Ten Politically Incorrect Truths About Human Nature

A few of these are a bit sketchy or could be better explained (I always bristle at the word 'natural'), but there is use in emphasizing "biological influences on human behavior, because most social scientists explain human behavior as if evolution stops at the neck and as if our behavior is a product almost entirely of environment and socialization."
Read and rant (and disagree and discuss and...)

It's nice to have friends

Bush spares Libby from serving 2½ years in jail.

Sigh.