gleans + 1xORA + 1xaddenda at 9:50 PM EDT, 3/17

'Merlot' a No - No on Utah License Plate

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Merlot can be a variety of grape or a type of red wine, but not an acceptable personalized license plate in the state of Utah.

Russian’s Account Further Clouds a Poisoning Mystery

By STEVEN LEE MYERS and ALAN COWELL

An interview with the only possible suspect in the poisoning of Alexander V. Litvinenko only deepens the mystery.

 

Free-Speech Case Divides Bush and Religious Right

By LINDA GREENHOUSE

A Supreme Court case about the free-speech rights of high school students has opened a fissure between the Bush administration and its usual allies on the religious right.

 

Coupled to Dorothy

Peter Stothard looks back on his first five years at the TLS

For publishers, every day is Mother's Day
The women who so identified with Bridget Jones a decade ago have now settled down and had children. The book industry noticed - and the current glut of 'yummy-mummy lit' is the result.

 

Gang mayhem grips Los Angeles
Conflict between Hispanic and black gangs spreading across LA.
Full US coverage

 

A meeting of great minds
Notebook: Some of our greatest mathematical minds are chatting when the topic turns to money, and Hollywood.
More on Italy

 

Iraqis: life is getting better <== whatever it is they are smoking, I want some

The survey of over 5,000 Iraqis found most optimistic despite suffering sectarian violence since the invasion four years ago

From Shock & Awe to the 'surge' without end
Independent - Four years ago this Tuesday, George Bush began his ill-fated Iraq campaign. Today's news that the US is sending an extra battalion to Baghdad will push troop levels to 160000 - 10000 more than at the time of the invasion.

***today's ORA***

Agent Zigzag (Hardcover)
by Ben Macintyre (Author)

***addenda***

March 18, 2007

Shaken And Stirred

Welcome to the Club

By JONATHAN MILES
DO not be fooled. The Poona Club is just a state of mind.

Duly forewarned, you may now peruse the newly added cocktail menu at Fatty Crab on Hudson Street, which recently received its liquor license and has this to say about its Poona Club cocktail: “Back in the days of British India, the Poona Club was famous for its — well, you’ll have to look it up.”

. . . .