The Morning Afflatus . . .

"What constitutes the bulwark of our own liberty and independence? It is not our frowning battlements, our bristling sea coasts, the guns of our war steamers, or the strength of our gallant and disciplined army. These are not our reliance against a resumption of tyranny in our fair land. All of them may be turned against our liberties, without making us stronger or weaker for the struggle. Our reliance is in the love of liberty which God has planted in our bosoms. Our defense is in the preservation of the spirit which prizes liberty as the heritage of all men, in all lands, everywhere. Destroy this spirit, and you have planted the seeds of despotism around your own doors. Familiarize yourselves with the chains of bondage, and you are preparing your own limbs to wear them. Accustomed to trample on the rights of those around you, you have lost the genius of your independence, and become the fit subjects of the first cunning tyrant who rises." - Abraham Lincoln (from the Lincoln/Douglas debates)

Too cute to pass up:

Apple Appeal . . .

There's a rumor this morning that Apple's going to release a new version of the iPod (again). You'd think that they would want to fix the faulty screen on the Nano first . . . Apple admits to Nano faults

Just Another Iraqi Sunrise:

Well, at least someone has a plan:
Seized Letter Details Al Qaeda Plans in Iraq

The Miers Muck . . .

Aw c'mon Laura . . . is it possible your husband just made an(other) exceptionally bad choice?
Laura Bush: "Sexism" Charges May Be Hampering Miers Nomination