Links and Minifeatures 09 15 Friday

A sign of hope in desperate times: First Rabbis since 1942 ordained in Germany

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Conn. mom breaks record for biggest baby. 14 pounds 13 ounces. Hilda was big at 8/15 and Ramona was nicknamed "babyzilla" for being 10 pounds at birth. But nearly 15 pounds? Oiks!



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Iran says open to "new conditions" over atom standoff.



Is there anybody left who honestly thinks that Iran is serious about adhering to any agreements it makes having to do with nuclear weapons? That they are not just negotiating to buy time while they build some?



77% Believe Iran is Likely to Have Nukes "Soon"



Pigilito has some worthwhile thoughts.



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Largest known dwarf planet named Eris

Eris' discoverer, Michael Brown of the California Institute of Technology, said the name was an obvious choice, calling it "too perfect to resist."

I could not imagine a better name for it.

Eris' moon also received a formal name: Dysnomia, the daughter of Eris known as the spirit of lawlessness.

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Lileks Screed. Now.



In the same vein, A DEADLY KINDNESS



John Leo on "They Killed My Baby!" Journalism.



Iraq the Model asks France some questions.



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I think more people should read this Asymmetrical Information post on confirmation bias, value judgements, and torturing data.



One of my favorite lines has long been, "If you torture the data enough, it will confess." A somewhat different version of "figures don't lie, but liars do figure."



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Armies of Liberation

Concluding his speech, Saleh said, "We greet all of you, people of Lahj, and affirm that we will work to distribute residential and agricultural lands among young people all over the country. By the end of 2008, there will be no jobless youths."

If that were likely to be a valid or productive response to the situation, why haven't you done it at any time in the last 27 years?



Mugabe made this promise one of his cornerstones, in order to appeal to the poverty stricken masses he'd hurt so much with his policies. He was even crazy enough to do it. Result? Famine.



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Belmont Club has a short tribute to Oriana Fallaci.



If you're the religious or spiritual sort you might stop a moment and say a blessing for her. She will be missed.



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Wizbang says essentially the same thing I said about voter ID quite some time ago.



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Iraqi Official Testifies to Links Between Saddam and Al Qaeda



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Captain's Quarters: "Since When Has Geneva Protected Our Troops?" Not since 1918. That doesn't mean it's not the right thing to do. Just that this particular argument makes no sense.