26 September 2007: Morning By The Morning News — 26 Sep 2007 Military rulers in Burma impose curfew, ban assemblies after another day of pro-democracy protests; several hundred monks attacked with tear gas. Exactly how many Burmese monks are there anyway? Ahmadinejad: "The nuclear issue of Iran is now closed." Ahmadinejad may say there are no gay people in Iran, but that doesn't stop the country from hanging them. More uplifting: Just-released 2007 Ibrahim Index of African Governance (see pdf summary). Hitchens: George Bush at his worst is preferable to Gerhard Schröder or Jacques Chirac--politicians who put their own countries in pawn to Putin and the Chinese and the Saudis. Senators and brass try to seize more control over Blackwater before scandal spills out of control. The entrance of the profit motive onto the battlefield opens up vast, new possibilities. Five informed reactions to Blackwater. Sunni extremists carry out plan to assassinate police, ministry officials, and tribal leaders throughout Iraq--and Americans ask, what's new here? Medical marijuana and the Iraq veteran, when it's mainly for getting high to watch Zodiac. Though weed doesn't play a role, interactive USA Today quiz matches your take on the issues with the presidential candidates'. Lots of language notes explain precisely what's meant by "I'll be done drove." Script you can read to counter telemarketer calls. Your morning inspiration, number one: Christian Ferras plays first movement of Sibelius Violin Concerto. Number two: Man decides to move house himself; man's house has been stuck on a freeway shoulder for 10 days.
