With Time, A Grim and Haunting Perspective on the Toll of War for Iraqis

While we were debating whether or not to call what was happening between sectarian militias "civil war," Iraqis were living it, and still are.

Inside Iraq: Living With the Enemy

The Early Objections...

... to Judge Sonia Sotomayor's nomination leave something to be desired.
Megyn Fox was playing devil's advocate on Fox News this morning, but perhaps she was playing too hard for Mr. Franks, whose main argument seemed to be that he can read the president's mind. (Also, the issue of abortion, via that conveniently co-opted phrase "right to life," was, in his view, first and foremost in the minds of the nation's founders when they were drafting the Constitution.)

REP. TRENT FRANKS, R-ARIZ.: She, you know, has been touted as a bipartisan pick, but she is a reliable liberal on the Supreme Court. And I think Mr. Obama knew that, that she would probably very likely have a pro-abortion perspective that would overcome any right to life, that really is the whole foundation of the Constitution.

And there is clearly a liberal bias in her -- in her votes, and that's borne out in the -- in the record, across the board.

MEGYN KELLY, FOX NEWS ANCHOR: But where do you get that from? I mean, I've looked back at her opinions, and granted, it hasn't been that long that we've been poring over her history, but I see no pro-abortion ruling on there. I see one ruling she issued that was actually pro-life.

FRANKS: Yes, no, I'm not -- I'm not pointing out the life issue, in particular, in any rulings that she's made, but I'm convinced that Mr. Obama knows what her perspective there is.

Today's Reading: Killer Robots and Invisible Agents

I just think the following is the best MSNBC web article title ever:

Robot Warriors Will Get Ethics Guide

And Scientific American has a really good article by Michael Shermer, author of Why People Believe Weird Things:

Why People Believe Invisible Agents Control the World

Music Opens the Heart (It's Not a Metaphor)

Music and laughter open up blood vessels and produce protective chemicals, says Maryland cardiologist.
It has to be music one enjoys, however, and it can't be played in a loop. (I have my doubts about the latter, though. Some songs just seem to get better after the fourth consecutive listen.)