More Ties to al Qaeda Found in Gaza Kidnappings  —  The Global Islamic Media Front today released a copy of the Steve Centanni & Olaf Wiig hostage video in an internet posting.  Along with the video, the al Qaeda propoganda production and distribution outlet also released photos of personal IDs found …

Video: All Your Fakes Are Belong to US (Bloggers)  —  A video from our very own Sout al Kuffar!  PS-sorry about the slow load time, it's a Youtube side problem.  —  PPS-Please vote for this video at Youtube here.  Just click on the red star that is farthest to the right if you think al Kuffar's work is awesome.

Row over new stem cell claims  —  Scientists say they have developed a new method of growing stem cells which overcomes the objections to using human embryos and cloning.  —  But the research by a team of US-based scientists has been greeted with scepticism among UK scientists and has not swayed religious objectors to embryo research.

The Great Ambulance Hoax: All your fakes are belong to us  —  ***updated with MSM contact info below...Dan Riehl follows up with observations about the ambulance license plates...Related: Daniel Freedman on Hezbollah's helpers at the Red Cross...Somewhat related: NYer arrested for broadcasting Hezbollah TV...***

Careers and Marriage  —  Forbes.com published a story Aug. 22 by editor Michael Noer on two-career relationships that provoked a heated response from both outside and inside our building.  Elizabeth Corcoran, a member of our Silicon Valley bureau and principal author of the magazine's current cover story …

FDA Approves Over-the-Counter Access for Plan B for Women 18 and Older Prescription Remains Required for Those 17 and Under  —  The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today announced approval of Plan B, a contraceptive drug, as an over-the-counter (OTC) option for women aged 18 and older.

The Ayatollah's Answer  —  Iran's nuclear strategy is to divide and conquer the U.N.  —  Two months ago the U.N. Security Council offered Iran a choice: Stop enriching uranium in violation of its treaty agreements, and the world would negotiate better diplomatic and commercial relations.

Self-Inflicted Wounds  —  First published as a weekly in 1884 as The Journalist, Editor & Publisher (E&P) is a monthly journal covering the North American newspaper industry.  —  Since 2002, Greg Mitchell has been the Editor of E&P, and he writes both an online and print column.

What the Terrorists Want  —  On Aug. 16, two men were escorted off a plane headed for Manchester, England, because some passengers thought they looked either Asian or Middle Eastern, might have been talking Arabic, wore leather jackets, and looked at their watches — and the passengers refused to fly with them on board.

Black students ordered to give up seats to white children  —  Status of Red River Parish bus driver is unknown.  —  vwelborn@gannett.com  —  COUSHATTA — Nine black children attending Red River Elementary School were directed last week to the back of the school bus by a white driver who designated the front seats for white children.

Evidence ruled sufficient in penis pump case  —  The female airport security guard held the small, black, squeezable rubber object she'd just plucked out of Mardin Amin's backpack, and eyed it suspiciously.  —  Standing next to his mother, an embarrassed Amin whispered out of one corner …

Steele gaining blacks' support  —  The Maryland Democratic Party's traditional support among blacks appears to be slipping, now that hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons — who has helped register thousands of Democratic voters — has endorsed Republican Michael S. Steele for the U.S. Senate.

'Hitler' restaurant to change name  —  BOMBAY, India - The owner of a restaurant named after Adolf Hitler said Thursday he will change its name because it angered so many people.  —  Puneet Sablok said he would remove Hitler's name and the Nazi swastika from billboards and the menu.

First glance  —  Politics isn't waiting for the big anniversary to arrive.  Six days before the one-year mark since Hurricane Katrina hit, President Bush met yesterday with a Katrina survivor and proclaimed the week of August 27 "Minority Enterprise Development Week" in an effort …

Marine Called Haditha Shootings Appropriate  —  A sergeant who examined the scene hours after Marines killed two dozen Iraqis in Haditha last year said the shootings appeared to be an appropriate response to a coordinated insurgent attack, according to a sworn statement obtained by The Washington Post.

General: Iran Training Shiite Insurgents  —  WASHINGTON — The Iranian government is training and equipping much of the Shiite insurgency in Iraq, a senior U.S. general said Wednesday, drawing one of the most direct links by the Pentagon.  —  Brig. Gen. Michael Barbero also said it was too soon …

Pluto gets the boot  —  Pluto no longer a planet, say astronomers  —  PRAGUE, Czech Republic (AP) — Leading astronomers declared Thursday that Pluto is no longer a planet under historic new guidelines that downsize the solar system from nine planets to eight.

Fortune Cookie Neoconservatism  —  Everyone knows you can get a good laugh out of your meal at the local Chinese Buffet by opening your fortune cookie, reading the message aloud and adding two words on the end of the message: in bed.  If you haven't tried it before here are some examples:

Ann Coulter gets her freak on  —  Whenever Ann is faced with the reality that Osama hasn't been caught yet by this administration-well-Poor Ann.  Kirsten Powers actually responds to Coulter's ridiculous line that Afghanistan is going swimmingly and brings up the fact that Osama is still alive and well.

A Plan to Hold Iraq Together  —  Four months ago, in an opinion piece with Les Gelb, president emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations, I laid out a detailed plan to keep Iraq together, protect America's interests and bring our troops home.  Many experts here and in Iraq embraced our ideas.