15 March 2011: Morning By The Morning News — 15 Mar 2011 Japan's nuclear crisis verges toward catastrophe; "unpalatable options" even if full meltdown is averted. Sunni vs. Shiite as Iran calls arrival of Saudi troops in Bahrain "unacceptable." Hitchens: If we do nothing in Libya now, let's be wise and prepare to do something in the near future. Middle East governments buying off citizens' economic discontent; consequences may be severe. Op: Don't give money to Japan--give unrestricted funds to NGOs that don't issue appeals for specific emergencies. Wireless carriers offering free calling and texting to Japan. Long read: Connectivity is a given in Africa; the near future is all about smartphones and Facebook's zero-rating. Call to arms: California's earthquake detection system has a long way to go to match Japan's comprehensive network. Op: Don't buy Newsweek's ring of fire--San Francisco will have quakes, but not simply as a consequence of Japan's. Monterrey, Mexico's crown urban jewel, poised for economic boom, but violence threatens every step. Video story: Space shuttle viewed from airplane, and the woodpeckers that halted a rocket launch. N.F.L. succinctly summarized: "a socialist paradise that happens to bring with it capitalist-size profits." Contrarian predictions to help win an office NCAA basketball pool--e.g., choose Texas over Kansas. March Madness book contests proliferate, and TMN is very flattered. Tom Waits encourages you to mishear things if you want new ideas.
