Al Gore's son busted for drugs in hybrid car  —  LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The 24-year-old son of former Vice President Al Gore was arrested for drug possession on Wednesday after he was stopped for allegedly speeding in his hybrid Toyota Prius, a sheriff's official said.

New Video From Al Qaeda Number Two  —  Maddy Sauer Reports:  —  As Americans celebrate the 4th of July today, Al Qaeda's top deputy Ayman Zawahiri is appearing in a new internet video praising jihadi fighters in Iraq and elsewhere.  Dressed in all white and sitting before a news studio background …

Romney-Clinton encounter friendly  —  CLEAR LAKE, Iowa — Former Gov. Mitt Romney and his wife, Ann, had a little time to kill before the start of the Independence Day parade here, so they decided to go say hello to the other presidential candidate and her spouse taking part in the festivities.

The Reign of Witches Is Coming to an End  —  Today is the Fourth of July.  We should remember that on this day our ancestors (well, mine anyway) rose up against tyranny, committing themselves on principle to a path which could well have led to their eradication—had their rebellion failed.

Splitting Hairs, Edwards's Stylist Tells His Side of Story  —  Man Behind Pricey Coifs Details Long Relationship  —  For four decades, Joseph Torrenueva has cut the hair of Hollywood celebrities, from Marlon Brando to Bob Barker, so when a friend told him in 2003 that a presidential candidate needed grooming advice, he agreed to help.

No Joy This Fourth Of July  —  "A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people."  ~ Declaration of Independence  —  I've always enjoyed the Fourth of July.  —  It's summer, it's a festive holiday about celebration …

Mosque chief arrested trying to flee in burqa  —  THE leader of a radical Pakistani mosque was arrested while trying to flee in a woman's burqa as security forces stepped up pressure on a few hundred hardcore followers still holed up inside.  —  Firebrand cleric Abdul Aziz's capture sparked …

The Summer of Drugs  —  Forty years ago, dirty, stinky hippies converged on San Francisco to "turn on, tune in and drop out."  —  This summer marks the 40th anniversary of the so-called Summer of Love.  Honest and intelligent people will remember it for what it really was: the Summer of Drugs.

The Brits and The Others  —  Like Mark and Victor, I too have a very bad feeling about Gordon Brown.  Those Orwellian language changes spooked me, as did the appointment of M.M. Brown.  The obvious intent is to reduce the whole unpleasantness to a policing problem, which is what they did with the I.R.A. …

HERO CABBIE: I KICKED BURNING TERRORIST SO HARD IN BALLS THAT I TORE A TENDON  —  HERO CABBIE..  —  A HERO cabbie who took on the Glasgow Airport terror suspects told yesterday how he booted one of them in the privates.  —  Alex McIlveen, 45, kicked the man, whose body was in flames, so hard that he tore a tendon in his foot.

Accountability By Footnote  —  In case you were wondering how truly unusual it is for a President to swiftly commute the prison term of a loyal minion (via NYTimes) in an effort to continue to obstruct justice, wonder no more (via Sentencing Law blog):

Panic in Zimbabwe as shops empty  —  Panic buying swept through the streets of Zimbabwe yesterday, as stores ran out of basic goods and shopkeepers complained that they were selling goods at a loss after the government ordered prices to be halved in a last-ditch effort to tackle hyper-inflation.

Memorial to SEAL to be dedicated today  —  While many people will be busy celebrating the nation's birthday with barbecues, fireworks or camping getaways, others will also be celebrating the memory of a fallen Navy SEAL.  —  With distinguished guests such as Secretary of the Navy Donald C. Winter …

Arrest outside Obama's hotel  —  OTTUMWA, IA — Iowa police arrested a man outside the hotel where Barack Obama spent Tuesday night after the man was confronted by Obama's Secret Service detail.  —  Ottumwa Police Lieutenant Tom McAndrew said Davit Zakaryan, of Cincinnati, Oh. …