Other Worldly Views:

Today's AOL news site presents 28 images gathered from the universe. Sometimes it's good to look beyond our own little world for a little perspective.

Back Here on Earth:

Basra is the laboratory for Iraqi self-governance. So far, the experiment seems to suggest that the prognosis is that Iraq will eventually be governed by whichever strongman comes out on top, likely another Saddam. So, years of war, thousands dead. Back where we started. Brilliant. Now you know why McCain is thinking in terms of a century of occupation. Solomon Moore reports on the situation in today's New York Times.

Guns and Politics:

Gail Collins brings up the dirty word, "gun control," (actually it's a phrase, but "dirty phrase" lacks impact) in her Op-Ed column in today's Times. Will anybody else talk about the verboten topic, considering the gun violence that has taken place recently? Probably not.

You can't win elections if you can't win swing states, and let's face it, Virginia's economy depends upon gun dealers selling guns without background checks at gun shows. The National Rifle Association (a euphemism for a group of gun dealers and manufacturers who will sell any kind of weapon to any person or group under any circumstances at any time) has too much money and will spew hate at any candidate who dares voice a plan to help stop violence in schools like that which occurred yesterday in California where a fourteen-year-old boy murdered a classmate with a handgun.

All the focus on that incident is on the fact that the crime is being considered a hate crime, with not a word about the fact that the crime was committed with a handgun brought into the school.

Three years ago yesterday, the great man said, "This notion that the United States is getting ready to attack Iran is simply ridiculous. And, having said that, all options are on the table." — George W. Bush during an Israeli television interview, February 22, 2005.