James has been following a new development…
ABC news:

But in the wake of Berg’s gruesome murder, it becomes a stranger than fiction coincidence – an American who inadvertently gave away his computer password to one notorious al Qaeda operative is later murdered by another notorious al Qaeda operative.

Paul, at Wizbang broke the story
CNN:

WEST CHESTER, Pennsylvania (CNN) — When Nicholas Berg took an
Oklahoma bus to a remote college campus a few years ago, the American recently beheaded by terrorists allowed a man with terrorist connections to use his laptop computer, according to his father.
Government sources told CNN that the encounter involved an acquaintance of Zacarias Moussaoui — the only person publicly charged in the United States in connection with the September 11, 2001, terror attacks.

It appears that spring may finally be here for good. The roads, however, are still an absolute mess. Sand, gravel, everywhere. Why does this matter?
Aretha! Aretha is my 1981 liquid cooled Yamaha RD350. Someone once described riding an RD as being somewhat akin to leading an angry Rottweiler through a room of yapping Chihuahuas – on a shoelace. (The little photo of me on the sidebar was taken when I was repacking the mufflers.) You do not ride fast angry Rottweilers on roads strewn with winter sanding crap.
Two strokes have “peaky” powerbands. If you’ve ever ridden one, that sentence just made you grin. Remember that moment when the Starship Enterprise enters warp speed? And the stars turn into streaks of light? That’s what happens when you hit the powerband.
You move through 5K, 6K, 7K rpm fairly smoothly and uneventfully (though with increasing volume) and then, without warning, at around 8000 rpm — wham — suddenly the lightpoles and other objects beside you turn into streaks. At 10K there’s only one thing to do. Shift into second.

Oh, why did I mention Kyoto?

Because this is what happens when you start an RD in a basement

But soon.


More photos here. And yes, I truck her to my riding destinations. Until you’ve ridden a vintage two stroke for more than 7 hours, in 40 mph cross winds, as I have – keep your snarky comments to yourself, thankyouverymuch.

No name has been released, but the home the warrant was issued for was owned by one Mahboob Khawaja, author of the book Muslims and the West: Quest for Change and Resolution.

Globe And Mail – Dr. Khawaja has also written several essays disapproving of U.S. foreign policy and the war on terrorism and commenting on “corrupt Arab leadership” and “American-Zionist political encroachment in the Middle East.”
He was once listed as policy adviser and a member of the international affairs, politics and religions faculty at Syracuse University in New York.
There was no answer at the home last night.
Neighbours said the owner lives in the house with his wife and four adult children and that he is a university professor who works overseas.

I’ve been busy painting a helmet today, and am still a little addled from breathing paint, so I’ll just hand you off to Dr. Joyner at OTB for a round up of the navel gazing going at the 911 commission today. I really don’t get the purpose of this entire “he said, they did” exercise. It’s not as though there’s much to be learned in order to “avoid mistakes of the past”. People have been whining for 2 full years about the changes in foreign policy, homeland security and intelligence gathering by this administration.
James has some good exerpts from op-eds and this must read link to Glenn Reynolds:

BUSH CAN’T GET A BREAK: Now he’s being blamed for not invading Afghanistan in 1998! Here’s the relevant passage from MSNBC:

The report revealed that in a previously undisclosed secret diplomatic mission, Saudi Arabia won a commitment from the Taliban to expel bin Laden in 1998. But a clash between the Taliban’s leader, Mullah Mohammad Omar, and Saudi officials scuttled the arrangement, and Bush did not follow up.

Damn him — governing Texas while Rome burned! Why didn’t he send the Texas Rangers to finish off Bin Laden? (“One mullah, one Ranger!”) Sheesh. Can you say “Freudian slip?”

and here too.– think of it as antidote for the Breathless Revelation Reporting on CBC/CTV news tonight.

The Government Of Canada, that’s who!
CTV

While Ol’ Doc Joyner waxes nostalgic with a Slate article about (Is there a “gag” tag?) Fleetwood Mac, I was taken back to the early days of my own music tastes … ( “Sub-ma-rine mission for you, boyz”) … ironically – the 70’s rock star dead pool overview? Pre- punk Alice Cooper is still around to piss on John Denver’s grave, the body count for the Sex Pistols is one to the Gibb brother’s two, and punk is undergoing its latest incarnation – Fright Wing Republicans.

NYT – With names like GOPunk, Anti-Anti- Flag and Punkvoter Lies, the sites are a curious blend of Karl Rove and Johnny Rotten, preaching personal responsibility and reflexive patriotism with the in-your- face zeal of a mosh pit. When he’s not banging his head to the Misfits, the Vandals or the Bouncing Souls, for example, Mr. Rizzuto spends his time writing essays denouncing Michael Moore and “left-wing propaganda,” and urging other conservative punks to join his cause.

We were conservatives way back then, too, kiddies.

I listened to George Bush’s speech today.
So did Alaa

I have just listened to President Bush’s speech on CNN. I just couldn’t leave the keyboard without saying something. Because the warmth of the Presidents’ words of friendship and commitment to our people really did make my eyes moisten. Not even the openly hostile report by the CNN reporter could spoil the feeling.
God will be on the side of good men, and it is clear for this middle-aged man who the good men are.
Hail dear El Bush. Thanks to you and all the Coalition men and women. Long may live our alliance and friendship. Victory by the Grace and Help of Allah is assured.

Elena is a 25 year old who lives in Ukraine. She offers this motorcycle travelogue of the Chernobyl “Dead Zone” today.

The word CHERNOBYL scares holly bijesus out of people here. If I tell someone that I am heading in “dead zone”… you know, what I hear.. In best case- “are you nuts?” My dad used to say that people afraid of a things which they don’t know. Dad is nuclear physicist and he also says that of all dangerous things he can only think about one, which is riding on fifth or sixth gear on my bike.

Her site is on Angelfire – I suspect it’s going to get too much attention for her bandwidth allowance, but bookmark it for later, if you can’t get through.
hat tip = Politburo Diktat