Last December, when the National Intelligence Estimate downgraded the immediate nuclear threat from Iran, it seemed as if Fallon's caution was justified. But still, well-placed observers now say that it will come as no surprise if Fallon is relieved of his command before his time is up next spring, maybe as early as this summer, in favor of a commander the White House considers to be more pliable. If that were to happen, it may well mean that the president and vice-president intend to take military action against Iran before the end of this year and don't want a commander standing in their way.

Admiral Fallon resigned this morning. Is the balloon going up?

The Man Between War and Peace

The mayor has officially proclaimed Feb. 27, 2008, as “Give our Georgia Friends a Drink Day.” The proclamation comes as a result of the Georgia Legislature passing a joint resolution that seeks to pursue reestablishing the boundary between Georgia and Tennessee.

Here's some water (and if you read the proclamation, a sharp stick in the eye).

2/26/2008 - Chattanooga Sending Truck Load Of Water To Atlanta - Breaking News - Chattanoogan.com

In Hillsborough County, Florida, police were caught, by their own surveillance cameras, dumping a quadriplegic man from his wheelchair and onto the ground.

Can you say "screwed?" And it'll be a good thing too.

Florida Police Dump Quadriplegic Man From His Wheelchair - Media on The Huffington Post

Rock 'n' roll pioneer Ike Turner's death last month at age 76 was caused by a cocaine overdose

Can't say I'm surprised.

Ike Turner's death tied to cocaine - Yahoo! News

I peered out from the side of the desk as a man, dressed as a member of the Afghan security forces with a long beard came from the men's locker area, firing an AK-47. He turned his head, saw me crouched behind the desk, looked directly at me and then fired into the chest of the other woman. She fell to the ground and he ran out, stepping over her body.

Scary as hell.

Lisa Gans: Eyewitness To Terror At Kabul Hotel

A court commissioner gave sole physical and legal custody of Britney Spears' two little boys Friday to ex-husband Kevin Federline and suspended the troubled pop star's visitation rights.

When K-Fed is so much better with the kids that he gets sole custody and visitation is revoked, there's something SERIOUSLY wrong with Brit's brain.

Court awards Spears' kids to K-Fed - omg! news on Yahoo!

The arms traffickers have left Mexico awash in AK-47s, pistols, telescope sighting devices, grenades, grenade launchers and high-powered ammunition, such as the so-called cop-killer bullets believed to be able to penetrate bulletproof vests.

"You're looking at the same firepower here on the border that our soldiers are facing in Iraq and Afghanistan," Thomas Mangan, a spokesman in Phoenix for the ATF, said in an interview.

So, we get their tired, their poor, their huddled masses yearning to breathe free, and they get our automatic weapons (and factories, but that's a different point). What happens when we start getting their tired and poor armed with what used to be our guns?

U.S. Guns Behind Cartel Killings in Mexico - washingtonpost.com

The Canadian dollar has reached parity with the U.S. dollar for the first time since 1976.

ummm.... holy shit?

ABC News: Dollar Drops to Canadian Dollar's Level

A Polk County judge on Thursday struck down Iowa's law banning gay marriage.

The ruling by Judge Robert Hanson concluded that the state's prohibition on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional and he ordered the Polk County recorder to issue marriage licenses to six gay couples.

That's ain't them damn liberals in Massachewsetts doin' this. It's pig raisin' country!

Update Having now read the opinion, the following line really stands out.

"So far as this court can tell, (symbol thingy I don't have a key for)595.2(1) operates only to harm same-sex couples and their children."

(underline in the original p.55)

That sounds pretty damning to me...

Update 2 The order has been stayed pending appeal.

Gay Marriage in Iowa? Yep! - DesMoinesRegister.com

U.S. computer company Apple Inc. and German automaker Volkswagen AG are discussing the possibility of building an "iCar" which would feature products by the producer of the ubiquitous iPod personal music player.

The IT people here are worried...

I have to fix what???

Volkswagen and Apple heads discuss possible