2 February 2009: Afternoon

Don't read too much into Iraqi election tea leaves; Iraq is still broken.

Iraq reconstruction effort riddled with waste and failures, finds new report.

Faux Czech kingdom endures real headaches in contest for leadership.

Afghani, Pakistani, Indian officials unnerved by Obama's appointment of outspoken Richard "the Bulldozer" Holbrooke.

In Japan, superstitions about blood type affecting who companies hire.

Rich: While most Americans are fearing fear itself, G.O.P. politicians are tripping over themselves in morbid terror of Rush.

Photos from "the safest most dangerous taste of physical and mental endurance pain in the world."

Why 350 is the most important number on the planet; why Cash4Gold is a rip-off, and how it protects its image with bribes.

"Musical docudrama," where a play about evangelical Christianity is part fiction, part journalism.

Information on cheap concert-going.

Notes from a quest to track down sculptures in Google Maps (and the extraordinary work of pmoore66).

Evolution of the Super Bowl's logo.

I would like to state that I am a fan of the rock band Slipknot. YouTube comments translated into English.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies to feature "original text of Austen's beloved novel with all-new scenes of bone-crunching action."

Bitchy, enjoyable ranking of the contestants for Next Top Model.