Morning News

The NY Times has a bunch of interesting stuff this morning:

More dirt on the Mayhem Magnet -- seems he was helping a NJ trash company with (alledged) Mafia ties get a contract with NYC. OK, the idea that a NJ trash company would be affliated with the mob is a bit of a strech but it is the LIBERAL NEWS MEDIA that's reporting this -- and the Daily News. Rambito got $7K and his brother got a job but the whole thing could be explained and Hiz "Honor" (Rudy, that is) didn't see stuff like this as insurmountable.

Digression: a few years ago my S.O. and I were in Central Park when we came upon a wedding party, lined up and posing for a photograph. A cop walked up to the photographer and asked, loudly, "where's your permit?" The photographer was stunned -- a permit to photograph in Central Park? The cop kept insisting until the groom stepped up to the officer and suggested they go talk. As they moved away from the group, you could see the groom's hand go to his pocket, then the inevitable handshake. The cop left and the photograph was made.

It's just a question of scale, that's all.

Also in the Times: Tommy Friedman can't understand why the EU and the Arab League won't step up and help with Iraq, that little fracas Tommy helped to promote but now wrings his hands over. Yo, Tom, why should Olde Europe and the Arabs help the Great Crusader? Ever hear of trust? Ever hear of the Palestinians? You, Brooks and Safire must have a misconstruing the point contest going. Work harder, Brooks (who thinks he's a sociologist) is ahead but not by much. Safire's quitting, so you'll get a break there.

Finally, there's a picture of Iraqi police arresting some guys for trying to smuggle sheep into Saudi Arabia. Guess the Mayhem Magent's early departure from Iraq as a police trainer didn't affect their ability to collar those shephards, did it. The photo's next to a story about 8 American troops dying. No word if the sheep were affliated with Abu Musab al-Zarqawi or had any WMD (wool of mass destruction).