Lazy Labor Day

Happy Labor Day. First, the news.

Guardian: We can't give up on Afghanistan; AFP: US Concensus on Afghanistan Begins to Crumble; UPI: Commentary: Strategic retreat?, Outside View: The NATO-Afghanistan dilemma

Sydney Daily Telegraph: Smokes and Fatty Foods the Fitness Regime for [Russell Crowe]; Rusty Crowe's Fatty Fitness Regime with a [Cigarette]; BBC: Russell Crowe challenges journalist to bicycle duel; Sydney Daily Telegraph: Movie Star vs. Gossip Girl: Now Looks Who's Rusty - Russell Crowe was recently sited on a bike ride in Sydney with his trainer, which was interrupted by a few cigarettes and a stop at a fast food joint for tacos. He was lambasted by the Daily Telegraph in Sydney, then challenged the offending journalist to a twelve mile bicycle race through Sydney - in which he completely trounced her. I find the whole thing to be completely and totally hilarious.

AP: Scottish Separatist Government Pushes for Independence - Good luck, kids.

Fox: Scotland's Parliament Votes Not to Back Lockerbie Bomber's Release - It's a little bit late for that, kids.

CNN: 1990s Arctic temps warmest in two millennia - So, what they're saying is that Arctic temperatures peaked ten or fifteen years ago, and they've been coming down since then? Great success! I guess we don't need that "Cap and Trade" bullshit!

BBC: Trail-blazing for Morocco's Berber speakers

BBC: My father was Hitler's bodyguard

BBC: How to make a perfect cuppa

Guardian: Satellite imagery of Mars; Gizmodo: Indian Probe Takes Clear Photo of Apollo 15, Hopefully Smashing Conspiracy Theories Forever

Guardian: Drax climate change protesters sentenced today - I didn't even hear about this. A bunch of hippies hijacked a coal train. Yet another reason not to take anything that hippies say seriously.

Times: David Bebber in Libya - Another interesting pictorial of life in Libya. I remain fascinated with this country and its crazy malignant despot, Crazy Uncle Moammar.

Times: Russia uses tough tactics in tinderbox republic [Ingushetia]

Times: Former spy who masterminded Libyan democracy

Gizmodo: Amazon Tries to Make Amends for Deletion of 1984 with Warm Words, Cold Hard Cash

Today, four years ago, I spent most of the day cruising around Aberdeen, to include an excellent lunch at Jimmy Chung's Chinese Buffet (website). That afternoon, I went to the Northlink Ferry Terminal, boarded the MV Hrossey, and got off at Kirkwall, Orkney. Brilliant.

Check back tomorrow, and enjoy your holiday.