More Nozickiana -- The Economist has an excellent combined obituary and review of Invariances.

Axis of Evil: Laugh Riot -- If the Axis of Evil held an Olympics of self-satire, North Korea would sweep the gold. At the official North Korean website, one can read side-splittingly banal anecdotes about Kim Jong Il, such as this inspiring gem:

It happened when the president gave field guidance to Kaesong area on September 14, Juche 61 (1972). He asked officials there what was the special food of the area.

None of them could give a correct answer to the questions repeatedly put by him in the course of the on-the-spot guidance.

While visiting factories in the city he met old men who had lived there for years and found out that loach soup was a special food of the city.

And he made sure that a new restaurant was built there to serve only loach soup to the customers.

Gripping!

And don't miss these breaking stories!

Poultry Makes Rapid Progress in DPRK

Books on Kim Jong Il's greatness off the press

"Comrade Kim Jong Il, The Great Leader Of The Juche-Oriented Revolutionary Cause" (five volumes), a library comprehensively dealing with his greatness, on the occasion of his birthday.

It's easy to laugh in the face of evil when you just can't help it!

Now I Can Die -- Message from Kathy Kinsley in the comments beneath the picture below:

I hereby declare you an honorary Bellicose Woman ™

I'm honored beyond the bounds of speech. Now if I could only honorarily date myself.

Picturing the Blogosphere -- The photo frenzy over at Samizdata inspired me to search my archives for a picture of myself wearing camouflage, shooting automatic weapons, releasing a falcon, or something equally manful. I came up empty handed. Instead, I offer myself at seventeen years wearing a dress and wig in the classic drag farce, Charlie's Aunt. Real men wear upholstery.

Best American Example of Enlightenment? -- I was delighted to discover that this Yahoo! search phrase offers up, yes, The Fly Bottle!

Perry... So Very -- Patriotic! Samizdata's Perry de Havilland has some great thoughts on the meaning of patriotism for those of us with little allegiance to the notion of citizenship or the nation state. Recommended!