From Yahoo (IPS):
A report prepared by the top CIA official handling the matter says Saddam Hussein was not responsible for the [Halabja] massacre, and indicates that it was the work of Iranians.
This is the infamous "gassing of the Kurds" incident that is the basis for the "Saddam used WMD against his own people" mantra. Before the war I remember hearing that it was really the Iranians, but then it seemed like anyone saying this was branded a nut job (or worse - a Saddam lover,) and I admit to being sort of convinced by this into believing it was Saddam.

Has anyone been following more closely? Is this the standard line now? Are you no longer crazy to suggest it was the Iranians? And has this been widely known, or is this new story big news?

That could be a little tough for the administration...
I've been trying, when appropriate, to get people to move away from Internet Explorer (just doing my part for homeland security.) So I guess I should stick with the follow through. To wit: there is a bug in Mozilla (and thus in Firefox) when run on Windows 2000 or Windows XP that can allow for remote execution of code. This bug has already been patched, so all you need to do is update your software to the latest version. For Firefox that would be 0.92. Here's the mozilla page with complete details on the vulnerability and what you need to do.
Waltzing Matilda

Bruno’s contention that “waltzing matilda” refers to hanging by the neck sounds plausible, but the references I’m finding confirm the (perhaps bowdlerized) meaning that I’ve always heard, in which waltzing matilda means carrying a swag bag, like a hobo with his belongings tied in bundle hanging on a stick. Perhaps there was a double reading intended.
feel like ive posted this before but...cinecultist.
"The architecture of Movie New York
Celluloid Skyline: New York and the Movies.
Great images. Makes me think, I love this City.
I got the scoop, its KERRY GEPHARDT
Parkett turns 20
From the WaPo:
In Nicholson Baker's new novella, "Checkpoint," a man sits in a Washington hotel room with a friend and talks about assassinating President Bush.
flight 404
its still 1974 in the i heart the 70's marathon on vhi
brando dead at 80
A silly season story, but a cool picture of an SUV in a swimming pool (via eyebeam reblog).
Bruce S on creeping Lysenkoism in the federal government under Bush.
Just incase someone is thinking about a career change. Reykjavik
"The government needs to establish guidelines for canceling or rescheduling elections if terrorists strike the United States again, says the chairman of a new federal voting commission."
any thoughts on billmon going commentless?

i dont spend that much time in comment threads but i still find them useful. wasnt one of the innovation of blogging the possibility for an open forum? i understand they can be unruly but should that be the determining factor?

im grateful for billmons prodigious output but he sure can be thinskinnned at times.
x1B (ESC)
Incredibly Advanced Video Compression
barbie loses suit.
medicinal leeches
Oh yeah, it’s Election Day in Canada. How’d that slip my mind? Haven’t seen it on the TV news yet...
Hey Bill, Selma or anyone, I'm working on a storyboard and looking for loads of interior (esp. interior) and exterior shots of a house, a sort of vertual tour. The house I'm after is a big family home, Modern design but not a masterpiece. Ideally but not necessarily the pics would capture the personality of the residents- their furniture, possessions, dishes cluttering the kitchen counter etc.
So far I'm having trouble finding what I'm looking for (kind of a tall order I guess) Seen anything like this? Any ideas?
TIA
Who’s Afraid of Blue, Red and Green?.
I looked up and thought of you.
(and here are the 568 entries.)
tonights king of the hill and the simpsons both had olive garden restaurant jokes. product placement or joke meme?
Kim Jong Il's eating habits:
The North Korean leader might be one of the world's most enigmatic figures, but thanks to a growing and eclectic body of books and articles that detail Kim's epicurean habits, more is known about what he eats than nearly any other head of state.