A tour around the blogsphere while waiting for the latest round of pollution alerts to end:

The situation in Iraq remains tense, but, at least the violence between Sunni-Shiia seems to have been kept in check by level-headed leaders. I continue to think the Samarra mosque bombing has brought Iraq to a pivotal moment in its brief post-Saddaam history. NRO’s Victor David Hanson writes that it is now a race between two sides with decidedly conflicting goals. Hint: it’s not the two sides mainstream media reporting would have you believe.

UPDATE: This news can only help.

A delay in the HSA/UAE port deal? I’m still up in the air about the whole thing, I’m sure others are as well. Let the powers that be hash it out and decide what’s best for everyone.

Might this be a cheaper way of reducing illegal immigration from Mexico than building a wall (at least where the Rio Grande is)? I know it would make me think twice… 🙂

Judging from this story, I guess I should be glad I’m even breathing, never mind coughing and wheezing…

Now that Johnny Damon is gone, who can my wife Tracey now idolize on the Red Sox? Red at Surviving Grady makes the case for rehabbing outfielder Gabe Kapler. The Hammer. Not a bad choice, I think.

Time for Rob to hang the hummingbird feeders in Bush, Louisiana. I’m no hummingbird expert by any stretch, even though I think they’re always around since the bougainvillea never stops blooming here in sunny Arizona. I think I’ve seen this one, though.

(BTW, today Goodboys Nation is CrabAppleLane Blog’s “blog of the day”. I stumbled upon Rob’s blog while seeking out Louisiana weblogs in preparation for a pre-Katrina visit to New Orleans last year. Since then, I have always found it to be both delightful and informative. I hope you’ll add it to your Favorites – be sure to tell him The Great White Shank sent you! Thanks for the publicity, Rob.)